Last visit was: 24 Apr 2026, 19:55 It is currently 24 Apr 2026, 19:55
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,088
 [24]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
22
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,088
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,173
Own Kudos:
11,462
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,862
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,173
Kudos: 11,462
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Shwarma
Joined: 10 Sep 2023
Last visit: 25 May 2025
Posts: 210
Own Kudos:
193
 [1]
Given Kudos: 65
Location: India
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q82 V83 DI84
GPA: 4
Products:
GMAT Focus 1: 655 Q82 V83 DI84
Posts: 210
Kudos: 193
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
gmatphobia

It says y is a number right
So why are we not considering
Y= negative or fraction scenario?
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 19 Apr 2026
Posts: 3,173
Own Kudos:
11,462
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,862
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,173
Kudos: 11,462
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
 
Shwarma
gmatphobia

It says y is a number right
So why are we not considering
Y= negative or fraction scenario?
­Shwarma

The nature of \(y\) doesn't change the above hypothesis. As \(a, b,\) and \(c\) are constants and can hold only one value at any given time, only one value of \(y\) will satisfy (complete) the equation. \(y\) can be an integer or a non-integer. Also, \(y\) can be positive, negative, or zero. ­
User avatar
aronbhati
Joined: 13 Jul 2024
Last visit: 21 Apr 2026
Posts: 44
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 112
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Finance
GPA: 8.25
Posts: 44
Kudos: 6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Bunuel,

Can you explain to me why the answer is E when the question is like If a, b, and c are[color=#333333] different cconstants, how many different numbers y are there such that a*y+b=c[/color]

Bunuel
­If \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are positive constants, how many different numbers \(y\) are there such that \(a*y + b = c\)?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Infinitely many
E. Cannot be determined from the given information­
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,088
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
aronbhati
Hi Bunuel,

Can you explain to me why the answer is E when the question is like If a, b, and c are[color=#333333] different cconstants, how many different numbers y are there such that a*y+b=c[/color]

Bunuel
­If \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are positive constants, how many different numbers \(y\) are there such that \(a*y + b = c\)?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Infinitely many
E. Cannot be determined from the given information­


That question is discussed here: https://gmatclub.com/forum/if-a-b-and-c ... 29288.html

Notice that this question says "positive constants ", while the one you mention says "different constants".
User avatar
naikabhishekjanu
Joined: 13 Jan 2021
Last visit: 09 Jan 2026
Posts: 9
Given Kudos: 122
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Finance
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V34
GMAT 1: 660 Q48 V34
Posts: 9
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Buneul,

We say we get only one value of y for (c-b)/a because in the question it is mentioned a, b, c are positive constants? If the question stem had mentioned them as integers then we would have infinitely many solutions. Please let me know if my assumption is correct
Bunuel
Official Solution:

If \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are positive constants, how many different numbers \(y\) are there such that \(a*y + b = c\)?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Infinitely many
E. Cannot be determined from the given information­


Since \(a\) is nonzero, then \(y = \frac{c - b}{a} = \frac{c - b}{nonzero \ number}\).

As a result, regardless of the value of \(c - b\), the equation \(a*y = c - b\) will always have only one solution, given by: \(y =\frac{c - b}{nonzero \ number}\).


Answer: B­
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,818
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,873
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,818
Kudos: 811,088
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
naikabhishekjanu
Hi Buneul,

We say we get only one value of y for (c-b)/a because in the question it is mentioned a, b, c are positive constants? If the question stem had mentioned them as integers then we would have infinitely many solutions. Please let me know if my assumption is correct
Bunuel
Official Solution:

If \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are positive constants, how many different numbers \(y\) are there such that \(a*y + b = c\)?

A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. Infinitely many
E. Cannot be determined from the given information­


Since \(a\) is nonzero, then \(y = \frac{c - b}{a} = \frac{c - b}{nonzero \ number}\).

As a result, regardless of the value of \(c - b\), the equation \(a*y = c - b\) will always have only one solution, given by: \(y =\frac{c - b}{nonzero \ number}\).


Answer: B­

What matters is that a is non-zero (which it is, since it's given as positive). That’s it. As long as a ≠ 0, the equation will have exactly one solution for y, regardless of whether a, b, and c are integers, positives, or anything else.
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 24 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,986
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,986
Kudos: 5,859
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
If \(a\), \(b\), and \(c\) are positive constants, how many different numbers \(y\) are there such that \(a*y + b = c\)?

a*y + b = c
y = (c-b)/a;

y will have a unique solution regardless of the value of a, b & c.

IMO B
Moderators:
Math Expert
109818 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts