Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 09:17 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 09:17
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
Sub 505 (Easy)|   Algebra|                     
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,780
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,780
Kudos: 810,805
 [12]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
10
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,780
Own Kudos:
810,805
 [3]
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,780
Kudos: 810,805
 [3]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
AKG1593
Joined: 20 Dec 2013
Last visit: 30 Mar 2024
Posts: 180
Own Kudos:
329
 [3]
Given Kudos: 35
Location: India
Posts: 180
Kudos: 329
 [3]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
nutshell
Joined: 21 Mar 2011
Last visit: 04 Jul 2019
Posts: 95
Own Kudos:
311
 [1]
Given Kudos: 104
Status:GMATting
Concentration: Strategy, Technology
GMAT 1: 590 Q45 V27
GMAT 1: 590 Q45 V27
Posts: 95
Kudos: 311
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
This is probably a sub-500 level question:

Multiply second equation by 2, change the sign and cancel y;
After that x can be determined.

Ans is (D) 1.
User avatar
kinjiGC
Joined: 03 Feb 2013
Last visit: 12 Oct 2025
Posts: 789
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 567
Location: India
Concentration: Operations, Strategy
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44
GPA: 3.88
WE:Engineering (Computer Software)
Products:
GMAT 1: 760 Q49 V44
Posts: 789
Kudos: 2,736
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition

2x +2y =-4
4x + y = 1
In the system of equations above, what is the value of x ?

(A) -3
(B) -1
(C) 2/5
(D) 1
(E) \(1\frac{1}{4}\)


4x+y = 1
x+y = -2

Subtracting below equation from first => 3x = 3 => x = 1 - Option D)
avatar
TroyfontaineMacon
Joined: 06 Jan 2014
Last visit: 27 Mar 2014
Posts: 28
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 23
Posts: 28
Kudos: 34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
seems sub 500...I haven't taken an official GMAT yet...I hope this is a 550 question :shock: I need the test to be as easy as possible!

I did it by taking the second equation...creating a "y=" and subbing
User avatar
niran3394
Joined: 11 Jul 2017
Last visit: 04 Jan 2019
Posts: 2
Given Kudos: 72
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
2x + 2y = -4
4x + y = 1

There is a easy method to get the answer in 20 seconds. To determine x, (difference of cross multiply coefficients of y with constants)/(difference of cross multiply coeff. of y with coeff. of x)

x = (2(1)-1(-4))/(2(4)-1(2)) = (2+4)/(8-2) = 6/6 = 1

Similarly we can determine y, (difference of cross multiply coefficients of x with constants)/(difference of cross multiply coeff. of x with coeff. of y)

y = (2(1)-4(-4))/(2(1)-4(2)) = (2-(-16))/(2-8) = (18/-6) = -3
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,986
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,986
Kudos: 5,858
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition

\(2x +2y =-4\)

\(4x + y = 1\)

In the system of equations above, what is the value of x ?

(A) -3
(B) -1
(C) \(\frac{2}{5}\)
(D) 1
(E) \(1\frac{1}{4}\)

Problem Solving
Question: 41
Category: Algebra Algebra Simultaneous equations
Page: 67
Difficulty: 550

GMAT Club is introducing a new project: The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition - Quantitative Questions Project

Each week we'll be posting several questions from The Official Guide For GMAT® Quantitative Review, 2ND Edition and then after couple of days we'll provide Official Answer (OA) to them along with a slution.

We'll be glad if you participate in development of this project:
1. Please provide your solutions to the questions;
2. Please vote for the best solutions by pressing Kudos button;
3. Please vote for the questions themselves by pressing Kudos button;
4. Please share your views on difficulty level of the questions, so that we have most precise evaluation.

Thank you!

Given:
1. \(2x +2y =-4\)
2. \(4x + y = 1\)

Asked: In the system of equations above, what is the value of x ?

1. \(2x +2y =-4\)
2. \(4x + y = 1\); \(8x + 2y = 2\)
(2) - (1)
6x = 6
x =1

IMO D
User avatar
Alextaller81
Joined: 16 Jul 2023
Last visit: 20 Oct 2025
Posts: 6
Given Kudos: 25
Location: United States (MA)
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Strategy
GRE 1: Q179 V170
GPA: 3.1
GRE 1: Q179 V170
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Can someone explain me this in more detail

i did x+y = -2 [-; Minus] 4x +y = 1 which gave me 3x=-3 which gave me answer b) -1
User avatar
uCS2020
Joined: 02 Aug 2020
Last visit: 14 Apr 2026
Posts: 50
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 275
Posts: 50
Kudos: 30
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Alextaller81

(x+y =-2) - (4x+y=1)
This will give you
-3x=-3
x=1

I got x-4x,in this you need to remember that the - sign is showing that 4x is negative and 4x>x so you can apply the rule that the bigger number is negative so the outcome will be negative

X-4x=-3,so in the end that’s how we get to -3x=-3.

I Hope This Made Sense!

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
totaltestprepNick
Joined: 25 Aug 2014
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 469
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 2
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
GMAT 1: 750 Q49 V42
Posts: 469
Kudos: 4
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
\(2x +2y =-4\)

\(4x + y = 1\)

In the system of equations above, what is the value of x ?

(A) -3
(B) -1
(C) \(\frac{2}{5}\)
(D) 1
(E) \(1\frac{1}{4}\)





Nick Slavkovich, GMAT/GRE tutor with 20+ years of experience

[email protected]
Moderators:
Math Expert
109780 posts
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts