Last visit was: 22 Apr 2026, 05:37 It is currently 22 Apr 2026, 05:37
Home
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 22 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,741
Own Kudos:
810,560
 [7]
Given Kudos: 105,819
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,741
Kudos: 810,560
 [7]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 20 Dec 2015, 05:12
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
B
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

89% (00:41) correct 11% (00:51) wrong based on 828 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10?

A. –3
B. –2
C. 1
D. 2
E. 4
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
B
User avatar
Skywalker18
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Last visit: 15 Nov 2023
Posts: 1,973
Own Kudos:
10,161
 [3]
Given Kudos: 171
Status:Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
GPA: 3.2
WE:Information Technology (Consulting)
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 1,973
Kudos: 10,161
 [3]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 20 Dec 2015, 05:30
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
|4x – 2| = 10
=> 4x - 2 = 10
or 4x - 2 = -10

=> 4x = 12 or 4x = -8
=> x = 3 or x = -2

Answer B
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,045
 [1]
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,045
 [1]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 20 Dec 2015, 20:17
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi All,

While this question can be solved algebraically, it can also be solved rather easily by TESTing THE ANSWERS.

Since we're dealing with an absolute value sign, we're looking for one of two possibilities....

Which of the 5 answer choices, when you TEST it (by plugging it into X), will lead to either |-10| or |10|? Once you find it, you've answered the question.

Final Answer:
Show Spoiler
B

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
hdwnkr
User avatar
Joined: 17 Jun 2015
Last visit: 29 Jul 2021
Posts: 160
Own Kudos:
232
 [1]
Given Kudos: 176
GMAT 1: 540 Q39 V26
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V31
GMAT 2: 680 Q50 V31
Posts: 160
Kudos: 232
 [1]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 28 Dec 2015, 13:25
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
| 4x - 2 | = 10

Step 1: Open the modulus along with the conditions

Case 1:
4x - 2 = 10 ; x>0
4x = 12
x = 3

Case 2:
4x - 2 = -10 ; x<0
4x = -8
x= -2

Step 2:
Check the options
-2 is one of the options.

Ans: -2 Option B
avatar
Amey.revankar
avatar
Joined: 06 Jun 2017
Last visit: 17 Nov 2021
Posts: 1
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 30 Jul 2021, 07:51
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
What If 3 and -2, both options will be there?
User avatar
EMPOWERgmatRichC
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Last visit: 31 Dec 2023
Posts: 21,777
Own Kudos:
13,045
 [1]
Given Kudos: 450
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Posts: 21,777
Kudos: 13,045
 [1]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 30 Jul 2021, 20:25
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi Amey.revankar,

In this question, notice how the prompt asks "what COULD be the value of X....?" Obviously, there are two solutions to this Absolute Value equation, but the prompt did NOT ask "what ARE the values of X...?" The specific phrasing in the prompt means that both solutions would NOT be among the 5 answers (only one of them would be).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
User avatar
BrushMyQuant
User avatar
Joined: 05 Apr 2011
Last visit: 03 Apr 2026
Posts: 2,286
Own Kudos:
2,678
 [2]
Given Kudos: 100
Status:Tutor - BrushMyQuant
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
GPA: 3
WE:Information Technology (Computer Software)
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: XLRI (A)
GMAT 1: 700 Q51 V31
Posts: 2,286
Kudos: 2,678
 [2]
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 28 Dec 2021, 04:35
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Given that |4x – 2| = 10 and we need to find which value of x out of the option choices satisfies this.

We can divide both the sides by 2 to get
\(\frac{|4x – 2|}{2} = \frac{10}{2}\)
=> |2x - 1| = 5

Let's understand how to solve this problem using two methods

Method 1: Substitution

Let's take each answer choice and substitute in the question and check which one satisfies the question

A. −3 Put x = -3 in |2x - 1| = 5. We get
|2*(-3) - 1| = 5 => | -6 - 1| = |-7| = 7 \(\neq\) 5 => NOT POSSIBLE

B. −2 Put x = -2 in |2x - 1| = 5. We get
|2*(-2) - 1| = 5 => | -4 - 1| = |-5| = 5 = 5 => POSSIBLE
We don't need to solve further but solving to complete the problem

C. 1 Put x = 1 in |2x - 1| = 5. We get
|2*1 - 1| = 5 => | 2 - 1| = |1| = 1 \(\neq\) 5 => NOT POSSIBLE

D. 2 Put x = 2 in |2x - 1| = 5. We get
|2*2 - 1| = 5 => |4 - 1| = |3| = 3 \(\neq\) 5 => NOT POSSIBLE

E. 4 Put x = 4 in |2x - 1| = 5. We get
|2*4 - 1| = 5 => |8 - 1| = |7| = 7 \(\neq\) 5 => NOT POSSIBLE

Method 2: Algebra

|2x - 1| = 5

Now, there are two ways of solving this

Method 2.1: Squaring

Square both the sides we get
\((|2x-1|)^2 = 5^2\)
=> \((2x-1) ^ 2 \)= 25
=> \((2x)^2 + 1^2 - 2*2x*1\) = 25
=> \(4x^2\) - 4x + 1 -25= 0
=> \(4x^2\) - 4x -24 = 0
Divide both sides by 4 we get
=> \(x^2\) - x - 6 =0
=> \(x^2\) -3x +2x - 6 =0
=> x*(x-3) 2*(x-3) = 0
=> (x-3) * (x+2) = 0
=> x = -2, 3

Method 2.2: Opening Absolute Value

|2x - 1| = 5
=> 2x-1 = 5 or 2x-1 = -5
=> 2x = 5+1 = 2 or 2x = -5+1 = -4
=> 2x = 6 or 2x = -4
=> x = \(\frac{6}{2}\) = 3 or x = \(\frac{-4}{2}\)
=> x = 3 or x = -2

So, Answer will be B
Hope it helps!

Watch the following video to learn the Basics of Absolute Values

User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,961
Own Kudos:
1,117
Posts: 38,961
Kudos: 1,117
Which of the following could be the value of x, if |4x – 2| = 10? 03 Oct 2025, 23:47
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:
Bunuel
Math Expert
109741 posts
Krunaal
Tuck School Moderator
853 posts