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# What is the value of |a + b|?

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What is the value of |a + b|?  [#permalink]

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08 Jun 2015, 07:40
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74% (01:11) correct 26% (01:18) wrong based on 377 sessions

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What is the value of |a + b|?

(1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16
(2) c + d = 3

Kudos for a correct solution.

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Re: What is the value of |a + b|?  [#permalink]

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08 Jun 2015, 07:52
Bunuel wrote:
What is the value of |a + b|?

(1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16
(2) c + d = 3

Kudos for a correct solution.

Statement 1: (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16

i.e. [(a + b) + (c + d)] [(a + b) – (c + d)] = 16

i.e. $$(a + b)^2 – (c + d)^2 = 16$$

No information about (c+d) hence we can't infer the value of (a+b)

Hence, NOT SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: c + d = 3

No information about (a+b) hence we can't infer the value of (a+b)

Hence, NOT SUFFICIENT

Combining the two statements:

i.e. $$(a + b)^2 – (c + d)^2 = 16$$ AND c + d = 3

i.e. $$(a + b)^2 – (3)^2 = 16$$

i.e. $$(a + b)^2 = 16+9$$
i.e. $$(a + b)^2 = 25$$

i.e. $$(a + b) = +5$$

But anyways, |a + b| = 5

Hence, SUFFICIENT

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Re: What is the value of |a + b|?  [#permalink]

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08 Jun 2015, 08:00
Bunuel wrote:
What is the value of |a + b|?

(1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16
(2) c + d = 3

Kudos for a correct solution.

1) Insufficient because there is a lot of variants possible
2) Insufficient because we know nothing about a and b

1+2) if c + d = 3 than -c-d = -3
so we can rewrite first statement as
$$(a+b+3)(a+b-3)=16$$
$$(a+b)^2-9=16$$
$$(a+b)^2=25$$
$$|a+b|=5$$
Sufficient
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Re: What is the value of |a + b|?  [#permalink]

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09 Jun 2015, 19:06
Hi All,

This is a layered, scary-"looking" DS question, but if you organize the given information in a certain way, you can take advantage of the built-in patterns and get to the correct answer without too much trouble (you will need to take a bunch of notes though and TESTing VALUES will help).

We're asked for the value of |A+B|.

Fact 1: (A + B + C + D) (A + B – C – D) = 16

The equation we have here is certainly complicated, but there are some patterns in it worth noting:
1) (A+B) exists in both parentheses
2) (C+D) exists in the both parentheses (in the 1st, it's added; in the 2nd, it's subtracted)
3) The product is +16, so the parentheses are either BOTH positive OR BOTH negative.

IF...
A = 4
B=C=D=0
(4+0+0+0)(4+0+0+0) = 16
The answer to the question is |4+0| = 4

For the second TEST, I'm going to actually consider the information in Fact 2....what IF... C+D = 3....how would that impact the equation in Fact 1.....

IF...
A = 4
B = 1
C+D = 3
(4+1+3)(4+1-3) = (8)(2) = 16
The answer to the question is |4+1| = 5
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: C+D = 3

This tells us NOTHING about A or B.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we know....
(A + B + C + D) (A + B – C – D) = 16
C+D = 3

Substituting in, we have...
(A+B+3)(A+B-3) = 16

There aren't that many ways to end up with a product of 16 under these circumstances. From our prior TESTs, we know that A+B = 5 is one possibility....

To find the other possibility, I'm going to refer to (A+B) as X....now the given equation is...
(X+3)(X-3) = 16

FOILing this out gives us...
X^2 - 9 = 16
X^2 = 25
X = 5 or -5

Thus the only OTHER possibility is if A+B = -5.
|5| = 5
|-5| = 5
The answer to the question is ALWAYS 5.
Combined, SUFFICIENT

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Special Offer: Save $75 + GMAT Club Tests Free Official GMAT Exam Packs + 70 Pt. Improvement Guarantee www.empowergmat.com/ ***********************Select EMPOWERgmat Courses now include ALL 6 Official GMAC CATs!*********************** GMAT Tutor Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 1345 What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 09 Jun 2015, 19:20 4 Whenever we see a or b, we always see "a+b", and whenever we see c or d, we see "c+d" (or "-c-d" which is just -(c+d) ). So we can make everything look a lot simpler if we just let k = a+b and m = c+d and rephrase the entire question: What is |k| ? 1. (k + m)(k - m) = 16 2. m = 3 Then each statement is clearly insufficient alone, and using both statements, noticing the factors on the left side of S1 are in the difference of squares pattern, we find k^2 - 9 = 16, so k^2 = 25 and |k| = 5, so the answer is C. _________________ GMAT Tutor in Toronto If you are looking for online GMAT math tutoring, or if you are interested in buying my advanced Quant books and problem sets, please contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com Current Student Joined: 29 Mar 2015 Posts: 44 Location: United States Re: What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 10 Jun 2015, 03:02 Bunuel wrote: What is the value of |a + b|? (1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16 (2) c + d = 3 Kudos for a correct solution. 1. $$(a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16$$ --> $$(a + b + c + d) (a + b - (c + d)) = 16$$. Not sufficient since c+d could be 0, meaning |a+b| is 4. If c+d is 1, we have $$(a + b + 1) (a + b - (1)) = 16$$ --> $$(a + b)^2 - 1 = 16$$ --> $$(a + b)^2= 17$$ so not sufficient. 2. Nothing about a or b so not sufficient. Together: $$(a + b + 3) (a + b - 3) = 16$$ --> $$(a + b)^2 - 9 = 16$$ --> $$(a + b)^2= 25$$ so sufficient, the answer is C. Manager Joined: 01 Jan 2015 Posts: 56 Re: What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 14 Jun 2015, 04:26 ST-1 (A+B+C+D)(A+B-C-D)=16 Now we can see the above expression can be written as (A+B)+(C+D) X (A+B)-(C+D) = (A+B)^2 - (C+D)^2 So we got to this expression but cannot solve it further, hence NS ST-2 C+D=3 NS Combining ST1 AND ST2 we get (A+B)^2 - 9 =16 (A+B)^2 = 25 (A+B) = +/-5 |A+B|=5 Answer C Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 47183 Re: What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 15 Jun 2015, 06:12 Bunuel wrote: What is the value of |a + b|? (1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16 (2) c + d = 3 Kudos for a correct solution. MANHATTAN GMAT OFFICIAL SOLUTION: We are asked for the absolute value of a + b, so we will try to manipulate the statements to isolate that combination of variables, a + b. We will start with the easier statement, which in this case is Statement (2). (2) INSUFFICIENT: This gives us information about c and d, and the relationship between them, but no information about a or b. (1) INSUFFICIENT: We can manipulate the equation to group (a + b) and (c + d) terms: (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16 [(a + b) + (c + d)][(a + b) – (c + d)] = 16 Note that this is of the form (x + y)(x – y), where x = (a + b) and y = (c + d). We recognize this as the “difference of two squares” special product, (x + y)(x – y) = x^2 – y^2. Thus, we may transform this expression: [(a + b) + (c + d)][(a + b) – (c + d)] = 16 (a + b)^2 – (c + d)^2 = 16 (a + b)^2 = 16 + (c + d)^2 We don't know the value of c + d, so we cannot determine the value of (a + b)^2. (1) AND (2) SUFFICIENT: From statement (2), we know that (a + b)^2 = 16 + (c + d)^2. From statement (1) we know that c + d = 3. Substituting for c + d: (a + b)^2 = 16 + (c + d)^2 (a + b)^2 = 16 + 3^2 (a + b)^2 = 16 + 9 (a + b)^2 = 25 (a + b) = 5 or –5 |a + b| = 5 The correct answer is C. _________________ Manager Joined: 10 Dec 2011 Posts: 102 Location: India Concentration: Finance, Economics GMAT Date: 09-28-2012 WE: Accounting (Manufacturing) Re: What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 11 Nov 2017, 08:36 Good question. replacing c+d by 3 in both the brackets solves this. I. (a+b+c+d) (a+b-(c+d)) = 16 let a+b=x. II. c+d = 3 (x + 3) ((x-3) = 16. therefore, x = 5 = (a+b) suffient both. C Manager Joined: 10 Dec 2011 Posts: 102 Location: India Concentration: Finance, Economics GMAT Date: 09-28-2012 WE: Accounting (Manufacturing) Re: What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 11 Nov 2017, 08:41 Good question. replacing c+d by 3 in both the brackets solves this. I. (a+b+c+d) (a+b-(c+d)) = 16 let a+b=x. II. c+d = 3 (x + 3) ((x-3) = 16. therefore, x = 5 = (a+b) suffient both. C Math Revolution GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 5866 GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42 GPA: 3.82 What is the value of |a + b|? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 14 Nov 2017, 00:40 Bunuel wrote: What is the value of |a + b|? (1) (a + b + c + d) (a + b – c – d) = 16 (2) c + d = 3 Kudos for a correct solution. Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. For DS problems, the VA (Variable Approach) method is the quickest and easiest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember that equal numbers of variables and independent equations ensure a solution. Since we have 2 variables ( a and b ) and 0 equations, C is most likely to be the answer. Thus, we need to consider both conditions together first. $$(a+b+c+d) (a+b–c–d) = 16$$ $${(a+b)+(c+d)}{(a+b)–(c+d)} = 16$$ $$(a+b)^2 - (c+d)^2 = 16$$ $$(a+b)^2 = 25$$ since $$c + d = 3$$ $$|a+b| = 5$$ They are sufficient. By CMT(Common Mistake Type)4, we need to check A or B and consider each condition only. Condition 1) $$(a+b+c+d) (a+b–c–d) = 16$$ $${(a+b)+(c+d)}{(a+b)–(c+d)} = 16$$ $$(a+b)^2 - (c+d)^2 = 16$$ This is not sufficient, since we don't know $$c+d$$. Condition 2) We don't have anything about $$a$$ and $$b$$. This is not sufficient either. Therefore, the answer is C. Normally, in problems which require 2 or more additional equations, such as those in which the original conditions include 2 variables, or 3 variables and 1 equation, or 4 variables and 2 equations, each of conditions 1) and 2) provide an additional equation. In these problems, the two key possibilities are that C is the answer (with probability 70%), and E is the answer (with probability 25%). Thus, there is only a 5% chance that A, B or D is the answer. This occurs in common mistake types 3 and 4. Since C (both conditions together are sufficient) is the most likely answer, we save time by first checking whether conditions 1) and 2) are sufficient, when taken together. Obviously, there may be cases in which the answer is A, B, D or E, but if conditions 1) and 2) are NOT sufficient when taken together, the answer must be E). _________________ MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy. "Only$99 for 3 month Online Course"
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