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Bunuel

FRESH GMAT CLUB TESTS QUESTION



List M consists of the numbers 1, \(\sqrt{2}\), \(\sqrt{5}\), x, and x^2, and the range of the numbers in list M is 4. what is the value of x?

A. \(\sqrt{5}-4\)
B. \(\sqrt{5}\)
C. \(\sqrt{5}+2\)
D. 5
E. \(\sqrt{5}+4\)

I would first choose the simplest possibility.
Let x^2 be the largest number, so range =x^2-1=4......
\(x^2=4+1=5......x=\sqrt{5}\)

B

Hi chetan2u

How do we know that x can't be less than or equal to -2? In which case x^2 will be largest and x will be the smallest

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Bunuel

FRESH GMAT CLUB TESTS QUESTION



List M consists of the numbers 1, \(\sqrt{2}\), \(\sqrt{5}\), x, and x^2, and the range of the numbers in list M is 4. what is the value of x?

A. \(\sqrt{5}-4\)
B. \(\sqrt{5}\)
C. \(\sqrt{5}+2\)
D. 5
E. \(\sqrt{5}+4\)

I would first choose the simplest possibility.
Let x^2 be the largest number, so range =x^2-1=4......
\(x^2=4+1=5......x=\sqrt{5}\)

B

How do we know that x can't be less than or equal to -2? In which case x^2 will be largest and x will be the smallest

Posted from my mobile device

Hi

In this question 1 , 1.4 , and 2.5 is known to us so to have range 4 there must be a number which gives the value. Range = Largest- smallest. To get perfect 4 it must be integer

Again x ^2 will be always positive irrespective of sign and will be higher than x always so x^2 should be 5 to get range 4.

So x will be sqrt of 5

In your query if x is -2 then you will not get range 4 with the value of x^2
Range would be 3
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Bunuel

FRESH GMAT CLUB TESTS QUESTION



List M consists of the numbers 1, \(\sqrt{2}\), \(\sqrt{5}\), x, and x^2, and the range of the numbers in list M is 4. what is the value of x?

A. \(\sqrt{5}-4\)
B. \(\sqrt{5}\)
C. \(\sqrt{5}+2\)
D. 5
E. \(\sqrt{5}+4\)

I would first choose the simplest possibility.
Let x^2 be the largest number, so range =x^2-1=4......
\(x^2=4+1=5......x=\sqrt{5}\)

B

Hi chetan2u

How do we know that x can't be less than or equal to -2? In which case x^2 will be largest and x will be the smallest

Posted from my mobile device

I have chosen the simplest configuration and that was available..
Say \(\sqrt{5}\) is max and x is minimum, then \(\sqrt{5}-x=4\) or \(x=\sqrt{5}-4\), but then x^2 should not b e greater than \(\sqrt{5}\), as x^2 will becom wthe argest and range will be x^2-x. And when you solve \(x^2>\sqrt{5}\), so discard.

Now x^2 could be the largest and x could be the smallest, then \(x^2-x=4...x^2-x-4=0\), and you do get x as -1.56..., but then check if the square is less than \(\sqrt{5}\), x^2 = 2.438 while\(\sqrt{5}\) is 2.236.....
so this is valid..

But you are not given this value of x, so B.

Bunuel, may be it can be written as
What can be the value of x? instead of what is the value of x?
OR that x is positive.

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