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# What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?

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Intern
Joined: 10 Sep 2015
Posts: 26
What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 09:48
2
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55% (hard)

Question Stats:

65% (01:50) correct 35% (01:54) wrong based on 271 sessions

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What is the sum of all possible solutions to $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$?
A) -1
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
E) 14

Source: GMAT Prep Now - http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... video/1018
SVP
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Posts: 2335
Location: India
GMAT: INSIGHT
WE: Education (Education)
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 11:42
7
4
skylimit wrote:
What is the sum of all possible solutions to $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$?
A) -1
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
E) 14

Source: GMAT Prep Now - http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... video/1018

Let, |x-3| = y

i.e. $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$ ---> y^2 - y = 20
i.e. y(y-1) = 20
i.e. Product of two consecutive Numbers = 20
but 5*(5-1)= 20 and also (-4)*(-4-1) = 20
i.e. y = 5 or (-4)
but $$|x-3|$$ can't be Negative i.e. can't be (-4)

Hence, $$|x-3| = 5$$
i.e. x = 8 or -2
Sum of these two solutions = 8+(-2) = 6

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Joined: 01 Jan 2015
Posts: 63
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 12:24
2
3
skylimit wrote:
What is the sum of all possible solutions to $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$?
A) -1
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
E) 14

Source: GMAT Prep Now - http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... video/1018

Important Property:$$\sqrt{x^2}=|x|$$
Since $$|x-3|=\sqrt{(x-3)^2}$$, $$|x-3|^2= (x-3)^2$$
When $$x>3, |x-3|=x-3$$ and when $$x<3, |x-3|=3-x$$.
When $$x>3$$, $$(x-3)^2-(x-3)=20$$ yields two solutions $$x=-1$$ or $$x=8$$, but since $$x=-1$$ is not in the range $$x>3$$, this solution should be rejected.
When $$x<3$$, $$(x-3)^2-(3-x)=20$$ yields two solutions $$x=-2$$ or $$x=7$$, but since $$x=7$$ is not in the range $$x<3$$, this solution should be rejected.
The valid solutions are $$x=-2$$ and $$x=8.$$ Their sum is 6.
##### General Discussion
Intern
Joined: 10 Sep 2015
Posts: 26
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 09:51
I didn't think of using substitution on this question. I wanted to do the square of |x-3| but couldn't think of I could do that.
My question: is there a way to multiply two absolute values?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49364
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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16 Sep 2015, 21:27
1
skylimit wrote:
What is the sum of all possible solutions to $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$?
A) -1
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
E) 14

Source: GMAT Prep Now - http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... video/1018

Similar question to practice: what-is-the-sum-of-all-possible-solutions-of-the-equation-x-85988.html
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What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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31 Oct 2015, 12:56
that's a very tricky one..I started to think of combinations +/+ +/- -/+ -/-, but then noticed that it can be rewritten:
|x-3|^2-20 = |x-3|
it means that |x-3| = 20
now this is more simple!!!
x-3 = 20 -> x = 23
x-3 = -20 -> x=-17
the sum is thus 6.

is my method correct, or just got the right answer by luck?
Manager
Joined: 01 Jan 2015
Posts: 63
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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31 Oct 2015, 17:48
mvictor wrote:
that's a very tricky one..I started to think of combinations +/+ +/- -/+ -/-, but then noticed that it can be rewritten:
|x-3|^2-20 = |x-3|
it means that |x-3| = 20
now this is more simple!!!
x-3 = 20 -> x = 23
x-3 = -20 -> x=-17
the sum is thus 6.

is my method correct, or just got the right answer by luck?

No, your method is not correct. If you plug in x=23 or x=-17 back to the original equation, you will realize that these are not solutions to the original equation.
Director
Joined: 13 Mar 2017
Posts: 619
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Entrepreneurship
GPA: 3.8
WE: Engineering (Energy and Utilities)
Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?  [#permalink]

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19 Jan 2018, 00:00
GMATinsight wrote:
skylimit wrote:
What is the sum of all possible solutions to $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$?
A) -1
B) 6
C) 7
D) 12
E) 14

Source: GMAT Prep Now - http://www.gmatprepnow.com/module/gmat- ... video/1018

Let, |x-3| = y

i.e. $$|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20$$ ---> y^2 - y = 20
i.e. y(y-1) = 20
i.e. Product of two consecutive Numbers = 20
but 5*(5-1)= 20 and also (-4)*(-4-1) = 20
i.e. y = 5 or (-4)
but $$|x-3|$$ can't be Negative i.e. can't be (-4)

Hence, $$|x-3| = 5$$
i.e. x = 8 or -2
Sum of these two solutions = 8+(-2) = 6

(|x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20)
Let y = |x-3|
So, y^2 - y = 20
y^2 -y - 20 = 0
(y-5)(y+4) = 20

|x-3| = 5,-4
|x-3| = 5 as -4 is -ve and not possible
x-3 = +/- 5
x = 8, -2

Sum of values = 8 -2 = 6

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Re: What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20? &nbs [#permalink] 19 Jan 2018, 00:00
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# What is the sum of all possible solutions to |x-3|^2 - |x-3| = 20?

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