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Bunuel
If |12x − 3| = |3x + 15|, what is the value of x?
|12x − 3| = |3x + 15|
Case 1:
12x − 3 = 3x + 15
9x = 18
x = 2

Case 2:
12x − 3 = -3x - 15
15x = -12
x = -12/15

Therefore x = 2 or -12/15

(1) x > 0
Which means it has to be 2 and not -12/15
Sufficient

(2) x is an integer
Which means it has to be 2 and not -12/15
Sufficient

Hence, D.
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Bunuel
If |12x − 3| = |3x + 15|, what is the value of x?

(1) x > 0
(2) x is an integer


|x| = \sqrt{x}

|12x-3| = |3x+15|
\sqrt{12x-3}=\sqrt{3x+15}
squaring both sides
(12x-3)^2=(3x+15)^2 ---> (12x-3)^2 - (3x+15)^2 = 0
(12x-3+3x+15)(12x-3-3x-15)=0
x=-12/15 or x= 2

Statement 1: sufficient since x can only be 2
Statement 2: sufficient since x can only be 2

Answer is D
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Bunuel
If |12x − 3| = |3x + 15|, what is the value of x?

(1) x > 0
(2) x is an integer

How to take ranges in these questions? Squaring is very cumbersome.
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Bunuel
If |12x − 3| = |3x + 15|, what is the value of x?

(1) x > 0
(2) x is an integer
Given: |12x − 3| = |3x + 15|

So, EITHER 12x − 3 = 3x + 15 OR 12x − 3 = -(3x + 15)
If 12x − 3 = 3x + 15, then we can solve the equation to get x = 2
If 12x − 3 = -(3x + 15), then we can solve the equation to get x = -0.8

Target question: What is the value of x?

Statement 1: x > 0
Since x equals either either x = 2 or x = -0.8, we can be certain that x = 2
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: x is an integer
Since x equals either either x = 2 or x = -0.8, we can be certain that x = 2
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: D
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You don't have to necessarily square -
Statement 1) You know x is positive so both mods are positive; x=2
Statement 2) x could be either positive or negative; x=2 if positive you know, and if you solve for x=negative then also you know the ans is 2, hence both statements alone are sufficient

lakshya14


How to take ranges in these questions? Squaring is very cumbersome.
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