Last visit was: 26 Apr 2026, 22:37 It is currently 26 Apr 2026, 22:37
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: 26 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,921
Own Kudos:
811,470
 [6]
Given Kudos: 105,908
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,921
Kudos: 811,470
 [6]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
3
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
Sammy599
Joined: 18 Jun 2015
Last visit: 13 Mar 2025
Posts: 47
Own Kudos:
48
 [1]
Given Kudos: 24
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44
Products:
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44
Posts: 47
Kudos: 48
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Leo8
Joined: 23 May 2017
Last visit: 11 Sep 2020
Posts: 182
Own Kudos:
401
 [4]
Given Kudos: 9
Concentration: Finance, Accounting
WE:Programming (Energy)
Posts: 182
Kudos: 401
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
profileusername
Joined: 02 Feb 2016
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 40
GMAT 1: 690 Q43 V41
GMAT 1: 690 Q43 V41
Posts: 75
Kudos: 48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Why can we not apply the exterior angle formula on angle CXY and angle XYB from the information in statement (1) to get the values for angle AXY and angle AYX?
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,481
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,481
Kudos: 5,779
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheMastermind
Why can we not apply the exterior angle formula on angle CXY and angle XYB from the information in statement (1) to get the values for angle AXY and angle AYX?

Hi TheMastermind ,

Even if you apply the exterior angle formula on statement 1, you will get

angle CXY = angle A + angle AYX -- (1)

angle XYB = angle A + angle AXY --(2)

Adding (1) and (2),

I will get,

angle CXY + angle XYB = 270

or 2 * angle A + angle AYX + angle AXY = 270

or angle AYX + angle AXY = 270 - 2 (90)

or angle AYX + angle AXY = 90.

Fine, we already know that the sum of these two angles is 90. So, we didn't find anything special.

Now, you cannot say that each of these angles are equal because we don't know whether we have AX = AY.

Hence, this method will not yield us what we want.

I hope that makes sense. :)
avatar
profileusername
Joined: 02 Feb 2016
Last visit: 21 May 2025
Posts: 75
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 40
GMAT 1: 690 Q43 V41
GMAT 1: 690 Q43 V41
Posts: 75
Kudos: 48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
abhimahna
TheMastermind
Why can we not apply the exterior angle formula on angle CXY and angle XYB from the information in statement (1) to get the values for angle AXY and angle AYX?

Hi TheMastermind ,

Even if you apply the exterior angle formula on statement 1, you will get

angle CXY = angle A + angle AYX -- (1)

angle XYB = angle A + angle AXY --(2)

Adding (1) and (2),

I will get,

angle CXY + angle XYB = 270

or 2 * angle A + angle AYX + angle AXY = 270

or angle AYX + angle AXY = 270 - 2 (90)

or angle AYX + angle AXY = 90.

Fine, we already know that the sum of these two angles is 90. So, we didn't find anything special.

Now, you cannot say that each of these angles are equal because we don't know whether we have AX = AY.

Hence, this method will not yield us what we want.

I hope that makes sense. :)

But the sum of those two angles is equal to 90. Shouldn't that mean that we have an isosceles right angles triangle with sides AX as equal to AY?
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,481
Own Kudos:
5,779
 [1]
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,481
Kudos: 5,779
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
TheMastermind
But the sum of those two angles is equal to 90. Shouldn't that mean that we have an isosceles right angles triangle with sides AX as equal to AY?

Hi TheMastermind ,

No, If the sum of other two angles is 90, that doesn't mean the angles are equal to each other and thus the sides are equal.

What if we have one of the two angles as 30 and the other 60? The sum will still be 90 but the triangle is not an isosceles triangle.

Does that makes sense?

Feel free to ask any doubts, if you have any.
User avatar
abhimahna
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 18 Jul 2015
Last visit: 06 Jul 2024
Posts: 3,481
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 346
Status:Emory Goizueta Alum
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,481
Kudos: 5,779
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
spatel2
abhimahna it seems like the OA is incorrect on this one

Hey spatel2 ,

No, the answer is correct. Please recheck your solution.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,990
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,990
Kudos: 1,118
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109921 posts
498 posts
212 posts