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Sub 505 (Easy)|   Algebra|                        
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Bunuel
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 15 Jan 2014, 02:50
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A
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82% (00:31) correct 18% (00:39) wrong based on 1238 sessions

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What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4
(2) (a - b)^2 = 16
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A
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 15 Jan 2014, 02:50
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SOLUTION

What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4 --> re-arrange: a-b=4. Sufficient.

(2) (a - b)^2 = 16 --> a-b=4 or a-b=-4. Not sufficient.

Answer: A.
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 16 Jan 2014, 00:50
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Hi Bunuel,

I think that the second statement is (a-b)² rather than (a-b).
Am I right?

Thanks.
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 16 Jan 2014, 01:52
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The Question 37, Page 155 in Data Sufficiency Sample Questions of Quant Review is as follows:

What is the value of a - b ?

(1) \(a = b + 4\)
(2) \((a - b)^2 = 16\)

Solution:

Statement (1)

\(a= b+4\)
Or, \(a-b=4\)
As the value of a-b can be uniquely determined, statement (1) is sufficient.

Statement (2)

Solving the equation, \((a - b)^2 = 16\),
we have either \(a-b= 4\) or \(a-b= -4\).
As the value of \(a-b\) can not be uniquely determined, statement (2) is not sufficient.

Answer: (A)
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 18 Jan 2014, 14:49
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Bunuel
SOLUTION

What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4 --> re-arrange: a-b=4. Sufficient.

(2) (a - b)^2 = 16 --> a-b=4 or a-b=-4. Not sufficient.

Answer: A.
Show more

how is 1 sufficient when a & b can still be any combination of numbers i.e. (0,4), (1,5) (2,6).....and on and on
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 19 Jan 2014, 10:36
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TroyfontaineMacon
Bunuel
SOLUTION

What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4 --> re-arrange: a-b=4. Sufficient.

(2) (a - b)^2 = 16 --> a-b=4 or a-b=-4. Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

how is 1 sufficient when a & b can still be any combination of numbers i.e. (0,4), (1,5) (2,6).....and on and on
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Yes but we are asked to find the value of a-b, not the individual values of a and b.
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 27 Nov 2014, 07:23
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Bunuel
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SOLUTION

What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4 --> re-arrange: a-b=4. Sufficient.

(2) (a - b)^2 = 16 --> a-b=4 or a-b=-4. Not sufficient.

Answer: A.

how is 1 sufficient when a & b can still be any combination of numbers i.e. (0,4), (1,5) (2,6).....and on and on

Yes but we are asked to find the value of a-b, not the individual values of a and b.
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Hi Bunuel,

I have learnt from GMATClub that the root of a positive number is always positive-so root of 16 should only be 4 right (for GMAT purposes). So-the answer should be D right?
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 27 Nov 2014, 07:27
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KS15
Bunuel
TroyfontaineMacon


how is 1 sufficient when a & b can still be any combination of numbers i.e. (0,4), (1,5) (2,6).....and on and on

Yes but we are asked to find the value of a-b, not the individual values of a and b.
Hi Bunuel,

I have learnt from GMATClub that the root of a positive number is always positive-so root of 16 should only be 4 right (for GMAT purposes). So-the answer should be D right?
Show more

The correct answer is A.

When the GMAT provides the square root sign for an even root, such as a square root, fourth root, etc. then the only accepted answer is the positive root. That is:

\(\sqrt{9} = 3\), NOT +3 or -3;
\(\sqrt[4]{16} = 2\), NOT +2 or -2;

Notice that in contrast, the equation \(x^2 = 9\) has TWO solutions, +3 and -3. Because \(x^2 = 9\) means that \(x =-\sqrt{9}=-3\) or \(x=\sqrt{9}=3\).
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 23 Mar 2017, 11:40
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Is this really a 550-level question?
Looks like 400-level one
Just kidding......;
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 05 Jul 2021, 05:48
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Bunuel
What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4
(2) (a - b)^2 = 16
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Solution:

Question Stem Analysis:

We need to determine the value of a - b.

Statement One Alone:

Since a = b + 4, we have a - b = (b + 4) - b = 4. Statement one alone is sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

Taking the square root of both sides (and recall that √(x^2) = |x|), we have:

|a - b| = 4

This means a - b can be either 4 or -4. Statement two alone is not sufficient.

Answer: A
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What is the value of a - b ? (1) a = b + 4 (2) (a - b)^2 = 16 01 Mar 2026, 13:45
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Bunuel
What is the value of a - b ?

(1) a = b + 4
(2) (a - b)^2 = 16
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