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Bunuel
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My answer:E

St1: X=1 or x=-1
St2: x=1 or x=-1


Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)

Par of GMAT CLUB'S New Year's Quantitative Challenge Set

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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)


Hi Bunuel Sir.... Can you let me what is the mistake in my method .
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)



as per statement 2 .. can we not use the common base concept ?? then x=5 would be the answer and would be sufficient ??
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)



as per statement 2 .. can we not use the common base concept ?? then x=5 would be the answer and would be sufficient ??

We have to think outside of the box for this one. The base here can be x =1 and any exponent of 1 is still 1. Similarly for -1, as long as the exponents are both even/odd.
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)

Analyzing the question:

We are playing around with exponents of exponents. When evaluating exponents we want to keep a few special cases in mind and test them out: The exponent being 0 or 1, the base being 0 or 1. Here we should also test -1 since we see absolute values.

Statement 1:
x = 1 or x = -1 satisfy this, insufficient.

Statement 2:
This one is a little tricky, x = 5 and x = 1 both satisfy this equation. Since 5 is an odd exponent, we should test out x=-1 as well, which works.

Combined:
x = 1 or x = -1 satisfy both statements, insufficient.

Ans: E
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:


If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?

(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)

(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)
x = 1 or x = -1
NOT SUFFICIENT

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)[/quote]
x = 1 or x = -1 or x=5
NOT SUFFICIENT

(1) + (2)
(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)
x = 1 or x = -1
(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)[/quote]
x = 1 or x = -1 or x=5
x = 1 or x = -1
NOT SUFFICIENT

IMO E
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Bunuel

GMAT Club Tests' Fresh Question:



If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) \(|x^x| = 1\)
(2) \(x^5 = x^x\)

(1) \(|x^x| = 1\): insufic.

\(|x^x| = 1…x=1…|1^1|=1\)
\(|x^x| = 1…x=-1…|-1^{-1}|=1\)

(2) \(x^5 = x^x\): insufic.

\(x=1: x^5 = x^x…1^5=1^1…1=1…|1^1|=1\)
\(x=-1: x^5 = x^x…-1^5=-1^{-1}…-1=-1…|-1^{-1}|=1\)

(1&2): insufic.

\(x=1: x^5 = x^x…1^5=1^1…1=1…|1^1|=1\)
\(x=-1: x^5 = x^x…-1^5=-1^{-1}…-1=-1…|-1^{-1}|=1\)

Answer (E)
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If x ≠ 0, what is the value of x ?


(1) |x^x|=1
x^x could be +1 or -1
Insufficient

(2) x^5=x^x
x could be 1,-1, or 5.
Insufficient

1)+2)
We still have 1 and -1 both
Insufficient
E
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