If |x – 3| = 5, what is the value of x?

Question

If |x – 3| = 5, what is the value of x?
 
(1) x < 0
(2) x^3 = –8

rudra316 · Answer

x>3. x = 8 x<3, x = -2 (1) x < 0 =>x =- 2 (2) x^3 = –8 => x <0 x = -2 Both choice are sufficient. Option D

georgekaterji · Answer

lx-3l=5

So basically, we have to know whether the value inside the absolute is positive or negative, that is, we have to know if x-3>0 or x-3<0. So knowing the range of possible value of x would be sufficient.

Statement1: x<0, so x if for sure less than 3, so lx-3l=3-x (to make the value inside the absolute positive)=5 =>x=-2 => sufficient

Statement2: x^3=-8, so x=-2 => sufficient

Answer is D. Both statements are sufficient

Vinayak Shenoy · Answer

IMO D Given x-3=5 when x>0 ==> x=8 3-x=5 when x<0 ==> x=-2 what is the value of x? statement 1 says that x<0 giving the value of x as -2 Sufficient Statement 2 x^3=-8 ==> x=-2 Sufficient Hence D

mvictor · Answer

from the given statement, x is either -2 or 8.

1. x<0 -> x must be -2. sufficient.
2. x^3 = -8, x must be -2. sufficient.

answer is D.

GMATinsight · Answer

Question : What is the value of x?  
Given, |x – 3| = 5
i.e. x = 8 or -2

Statement 1: : x < 0 
i.e. x must be only -2, Hence
SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: : x^3 = –8 
i.e. x must be only -2 out of 8 or -2, Hence
SUFFICIENT

Answer: option D

gillyelephant · Answer

I'm sorry to ask, but are these questions actually 600-700 level? Seem to easy.

Posted from my mobile device

GMATinsight · Answer

Yes this question is 600-700 level questions due to the following facts

1) This question is a DS question
2) Question requires the properties of Inequality and Absolute value which is supposed to be a difficult topic

jkolachi · Answer

Lol i agree, this was very easy but you will be surprised how many people would select C. Its a C trap answer. Under test conditions with stress, many people will carry over the -2 vs 8 mindset, and see X cube is -8 and quickly select C and move on.

Nunuboy1994 · Answer

2 ways to approach absolute value

Pos

x-3 =5
x =8

Neg

-l x -3l =5 
 -x + 3 =5
 -x = 2
 x= -2

D

AkshdeepS · Answer

Question : x = ?

Given |x – 3| = 5

x – 3 = 5 or x - 3 = -5

x = 8 or x = -2

St 1: x < 0

means -2 is the valid answer as -2 < 0 Sufficient

St 2: x^3 = -8

x = -2 Sufficient

(D)

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If |x – 3| = 5, what is the value of x?

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GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS) Questions

If |x – 3| = 5, what is the value of x?

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