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30 Jan 2023, 04:43
Kudos
Bookmarks
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
93% (00:34) correct
7%
(00:25)
wrong
based on 30
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Is a = b ?
(1) a^2 = b^2
(2) a = 1
(1) a^2 = b^2
(2) a = 1
Pure algebraic questions like this one are no longer part of the GMAT Data Sufficiency syllabus.
For relevant Data Sufficiency questions, please check the Data Sufficiency forum:
Data Sufficiency Forum
Data Sufficiency Forum
30 Jan 2023, 09:33
Kudos
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Bunuel
Solution:
Pre Analysis:
- We are asked if \(a=b\) or not
- This is a YES-NO question
Statement 1: \(a^2 = b^2\)
- \(a^2 = b^2\) can be simplified to \(|a|=|b|\)
- This doesn't necessarily mean \(a=b\)
- We can have \(a=b=2\)
- and also \(a=2\) and \(b=-2\)
- Thus, statement 1 alone is not sufficient and we can eliminate options A and D
Statement 2: a = 1
- No information on the value of b
- Thus, statement 2 alone is also not sufficient and we can eliminate option B
Combining:
- From statement 1, we get \(|a|=|b|\)
- From statement 2, we get \(a=1\)
- Upon combining, we get \(|b|=1\)
- Which could mean either \(b=1\) and we can say \(a=b\)
- Or \(b=-1\) and we cannot say \(a=b\)
- Thus, even after combining, it is not sufficient
Hence the right answer is Option E
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