Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 22:31 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 22:31
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
smyarga
User avatar
Tutor
Joined: 20 Apr 2012
Last visit: 06 Aug 2020
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
822
 [10]
Given Kudos: 39
Location: Ukraine
GMAT 1: 690 Q51 V31
GMAT 2: 730 Q51 V38
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 730 Q51 V38
Posts: 82
Kudos: 822
 [10]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 12 Mar 2026
Posts: 1,841
Own Kudos:
8,509
 [4]
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,841
Kudos: 8,509
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
prakhar992
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 05 May 2019
Last visit: 26 Dec 2022
Posts: 78
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 133
Location: India
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
GPA: 2.8
GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35
Posts: 78
Kudos: 12
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 12 Mar 2026
Posts: 1,841
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,841
Kudos: 8,509
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Since the line cuts the circle at only one point, roots of the \(x^2 + (kx+b)^2 =1\) must be equal. {complex roots of a quadratic equation always occur in pair and are complementary, hence if you have one real root, other must be real.}

Red line doesn't cut the circle. For this line, discriminant of the equation is negative. (equation doesn't have any real root)

Brown line cuts the circle at 2 distinct points. For this line, discriminant of the equation is positive. (equation has 2 distinct roots or 2 distinct values of x)

Blue line (line given in our question) cuts the circle at one distinct point. For this line, discriminant of the equation is zero. (equation has 2 equal roots or 1 value of x)

If you still have any doubt, you can ask.


prakhar992
nick1816
If \(y=kx+b\) is tangent to the circle, there must be a unique solution of both equations.

\(x^2 + (kx+b)^2 =1\)

\(x^2 + (kx)^2 +b^2 +2kxb -1 = 0\)

\((1+k^2) x^2 + 2kbx + b^2-1 = 0\)

If there is unique solution of this equation, discriminant of this equation is equal to 0.

\((2kb)^2 - 4 (b^2-1)(k^2+1) = 0\)

\(4k^2b^2 - 4k^2b^2 -4b^2 + 4k^2 +4 = 0\)

\(b^2 - k^2 = 1\)

Our Question stem is whether b^2 - k^2 = 1 or (b+k)(b-k) = 1.

Statement 1-

We have no idea about (b-k).

Insufficient

Statement 2-

\(b^2-k^2=1\)
That's exactly what we looking for.

Sufficient






smyarga
Is line \(y=kx+b\) tangent to circle \(x^2+y^2=1\)?

(1) \(k+b=1\)
(2) \(b^2-k^2=1\)


Why the discriminant has to be Zero? Can you please explain? Is possible, via graph?

Attachments

Untitled.png
Untitled.png [ 5.26 KiB | Viewed 2248 times ]

User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,961
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,961
Kudos: 1,117
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
109795 posts
498 posts
212 posts