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What is the value of r^2 - 2rs + s^2?

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Intern
Joined: 30 Aug 2015
Posts: 25
GMAT 1: 570 Q47 V23
GMAT 2: 570 Q42 V27
GMAT 3: 680 Q50 V35
What is the value of r^2 - 2rs + s^2?  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 09 Feb 2017, 12:36
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15% (low)

Question Stats:

84% (00:34) correct 16% (01:03) wrong based on 54 sessions

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What is the value of $$r^2 - 2rs + s^2$$?

(1) $$s = 4$$
(2) $$r - s = 12$$

Originally posted by inakihernandez on 02 Oct 2016, 10:37.
Last edited by mikemcgarry on 09 Feb 2017, 12:36, edited 2 times in total.
mathematical formatting
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Re: What is the value of r^2 - 2rs + s^2?  [#permalink]

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02 Oct 2016, 18:39
Stem can be written as:

(r-s)^2

St 1: insufficient

St 2: sufficient

B

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Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Posts: 4494
Re: What is the value of r^2 - 2rs + s^2?  [#permalink]

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09 Feb 2017, 13:00
inakihernandez wrote:
What is the value of $$r^2 - 2rs + s^2$$?

(1) $$s = 4$$
(2) $$r - s = 12$$

ohmr wrote:
By converting option one to a quadatric equation we get (r-4)& (r-4) as the two roots which means value of R=+ve4. so wouldn't the ans for this q then by D?(both statement suffice)

Dear ohmr,

I'm happy to respond.

My friend, you are relatively new to GMAT Club. When there's something you don't understand about a question, it's much better to post a reply and ask your question. Opening a report only appropriate if you have evidence that the question is wrong (for example, if you are familiar with the book or website where the question appears, and the way it appears here is different from the source). If it's just your own opinion that the answer is different, please discuss that in the thread itself--don't post a report.

My friend you are confused about a subtlety that confuses many people---the difference between an algebraic expression vs. an algebraic equation.
I. an algebraic expression: $$x^2 - 4x - 21$$
The variable x could take on any value on the number line, and for different values of x, this expression would take different values. In fact, we could set y equation to this expression and get the graph of a parabola.
II. an algebraic equation: $$x^2 - 4x - 21 = 0$$
Unlike (I), this is a complete mathematical sentence. On the entire number line, x = -3 and x = +7 are the only two values that satisfy the equation. These are the two values that solve the equation.

Notice that we can solve an equation---we can solve an expression!

This DS is about finding the value of an expression. It gives us an expression with two variables, and asks us to find the value of this expression.

You were treating it as if were about solving an equation, rather than evaluating an expression.

Does this distinction make sense?
Mike
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Mike McGarry
Magoosh Test Prep

Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. — William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)

Re: What is the value of r^2 - 2rs + s^2? &nbs [#permalink] 09 Feb 2017, 13:00
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