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apoorvpan
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| Updated on: 08 May 2012, 00:46
Originally posted by apoorvpan on 07 May 2012, 18:33.
Last edited by Bunuel on 08 May 2012, 00:46, edited 1 time in total.
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E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

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85% (00:32) correct 15% (00:41) wrong based on 493 sessions

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Does x = y ?

(1) x^2 = y^2
(2) |x| = |y|
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E
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 07 May 2012, 21:05
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Clearly (E)

Stt (1): x=-y is also possible, so x=y is not necessary. Insufficient
Stt (2): x=-y is also possible, so x=y is not necessary. Insufficient

Even by combining both the statements, x=-y is still possible, so x=y is not a certainty or an impossibility. Insufficient.

E it is.
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 08 May 2012, 00:49
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apoorvpan
Does x = y ?

(1) x^2 = y^2
(2) |x| = |y|
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Notice that both statements are saying the exact same thing since x^2=y^2 is the same as |x|=|y|. Now, if x=y=1 then the answer is YES but if x=1 and y=-1 then the answer is NO. not sufficient.

Answer: E.
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 27 Jun 2012, 11:15
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The answer is E.

x=y?

1) X^2=y^2
Remember to beware of even exponents! They are dangerous. This simply means that |x|=|y|.
2)|x|=|y| Says the same thing as the above.

None of these tell us whether x and y are negative or postive. The answer is E.
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 07 Nov 2019, 11:26
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Does x = y ?

(1) x^2 = y^2
(2) |x| = |y|
Show more

Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. For DS problems, the VA (Variable Approach) method is the quickest and easiest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember that equal numbers of variables and independent equations ensure a solution.
Visit https://www.mathrevolution.com/gmat/lesson for details.

Since we have 2 variables (\(x\) and \(y\)) and 0 equations, C is most likely the answer. So, we should consider conditions 1) & 2) together first. After comparing the number of variables and the number of equations, we can save time by considering conditions 1) & 2) together first.

Conditions 1) & 2)

The condition 1) is equivalent to \(x = y\) or \(x = -y\) for the following reason.
\(x^2 = y^2\)
\(⇔ x^2 - y^2 = 0\)
\(⇔ (x-y)(x+y)=0\)
\(⇔ x = y\) or \(x = -y\)


The condition 2) is equivalent to \(x = y\) or \(x = -y\) for the following reason.
\(|x|=|y|\)
\(⇔ |x|^2 = |y|^2\), we can square both sides since they are greater than or equal to
\(⇔ x^2 = y^2\), we can eliminate | | notations from both sides
\(⇔ x^2 - y^2 = 0\)
\(⇔ (x-y)(x+y)=0\)
\(⇔ x = y\) or \(x = -y\)

"\(x=y\)" means the answer is 'yes'.
"\(x=-y\)" means the answer is 'no'.

Since both conditions together do not yield a unique solution, they are not sufficient.

Therefore, E is the answer.

Normally, in problems which require 2 equations, such as those in which the original conditions include 2 variables, or 3 variables and 1 equation, or 4 variables and 2 equations, each of conditions 1) and 2) provide an additional equation. In these problems, the two key possibilities are that C is the answer (with probability 70%), and E is the answer (with probability 25%). Thus, there is only a 5% chance that A, B, or D is the answer. This occurs in common mistake types 3 and 4. Since C (both conditions together are sufficient) is the most likely answer, we save time by first checking whether conditions 1) and 2) are sufficient, when taken together. Obviously, there may be cases in which the answer is A, B, D, or E, but if conditions 1) and 2) are NOT sufficient when taken together, the answer must be E.
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 07 Nov 2019, 19:46
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x = y?

St 1: x^\({2}\) = y^\({2}\) ==> (x-y)(x+y) = 0 ==> x = y or -y ==> insufficient

St 2: |x| = |y| ==> x = y or x = -y ==> insufficient

Sts 1 & 2 ==> we have no new info since sts 1 and 2 are the same ==> answer is E
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 08 Nov 2019, 00:20
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Does x = y ?

(1) x^2 = y^2
If x=1 and y=1 [So, (1)^2=(1)^2] , x=y
If x=1 and y=-1 [So, (1)^2=(-1)^2 ] , x is NOT equal to Y
INSUFFICIENT.

(2) |x| = |y|
If x=1 and y=1 [So, |1| = |1| ] , x=y
If x=1 and y=-1 [So, |1| = |-1| ] , x is NOT equal to Y
INSUFFICIENT.

Combining:
Since same values make both statements INSUFFICIENT, no need to combine.
E is the answer
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Does x = y ? (1) x^2 = y^2 (2) |x| = |y| 17 Apr 2022, 03:10
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