GMAT Question of the Day: Daily via email | Daily via Instagram New to GMAT Club? Watch this Video

 It is currently 02 Apr 2020, 11:54

### 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

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

# What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 62456
What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 22:12
00:00

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

68% (01:32) correct 32% (01:29) wrong based on 134 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

Competition Mode Question

What is the value of x?

(1) $$|x + 2| = 2|x - 2|$$
(2) $$x > 2$$

_________________
VP
Joined: 20 Jul 2017
Posts: 1496
Location: India
Concentration: Entrepreneurship, Marketing
WE: Education (Education)
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 22:44
1
What is the value of x?

(1) |x+2|=2|x−2|
--> (x + 2) = ±2(x - 2)
--> (x + 2) = +2(x - 2) or (x + 2) = -2(x - 2)
--> x + 2 = 2x - 4 or x + 2 = -2x + 4
--> 2x - x = 6 or x + 3x = 4 - 2
--> x = 6 or 4x = 2
--> x = 6 or 1/2 --> No Definite value --> Insufficient

(2) x>2
--> Infinite values are possible --> Insufficient

Combining (1) & (2),
x > 2 & x = 6 or 1/2
--> x = 6 ONLY --> A Unique Value --> Sufficient

IMO Option C
Director
Joined: 07 Mar 2019
Posts: 910
Location: India
GMAT 1: 580 Q43 V27
WE: Sales (Energy and Utilities)
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 22:58
2
What is the value of x?

(1) |x+2|=2|x−2|
x+2 = $$- x - 2$$ or $$x + 2$$
2(x−2) = $$-2(x - 2)$$ or $$2(x - 2)$$

Case I: Both terms +ve
x + 2 = 2(x - 2)
x = 6

Case II: One of the term is -ve,
- x - 2 = 2(x - 2)
$$x = \frac{2}{3}$$

ALTERNATIVELY: -
Since both terms of |x+2|=2|x−2| are positive, squaring both
$$|x+2|^2$$= $$(2|x−2|)^2$$
$$x^2 + 4x + 4$$ = $$4*(x^2 - 4x + 4)$$
$$3x^2 - 20x + 12 = 0$$
$$(3x - 2)*(x - 6) = 0$$
$$x = \frac{2}{3}$$ or $$x = 6$$

INSUFFICIENT.

(2) x>2

Clearly, INSUFFICIENT.

Together 1 and 2
Since x > 2 , x = 6

SUFFICIENT.

_________________
Ephemeral Epiphany..!

GMATPREP1 590(Q48,V23) March 6, 2019
GMATPREP2 610(Q44,V29) June 10, 2019
GMATPREPSoft1 680(Q48,V35) June 26, 2019
Retired Moderator
Joined: 27 Oct 2017
Posts: 1565
Location: India
GPA: 3.64
WE: Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 23:00
2
(1) |x+2|=2|x−2|
Squaring both sides, we get
(x+2)^2 = 4(x-2)^2
Solving we get (3x-2)(x-6)= 0
x = 6 or 2/3
Not Sufficient

2) x>2.
Clearly not Sufficient

Combining 1 &2
we get x = 6. Hence sufficient

_________________
Senior Manager
Joined: 01 Mar 2019
Posts: 484
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Social Entrepreneurship
Schools: Ross '22, ISB '20, NUS '20
GMAT 1: 580 Q48 V21
GPA: 4
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 23:26
1
1)from four possibilities we get x=6,2,2/3...............SO INSUFFICIENT
2) Clearly insufficient
From both we get x=6

OA:C
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Posts: 6049
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GPA: 4
WE: Marketing (Energy and Utilities)
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

25 Nov 2019, 23:41
1
#1
|x+2|=2|x−2|
possible value of x = 6,2/3
insufficient
#2
x>2
insufficient
from 1&2
x=6
sufficient
IMO C

What is the value of x?

(1) |x+2|=2|x−2|
(2) x>2
VP
Joined: 24 Nov 2016
Posts: 1359
Location: United States
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Nov 2019, 02:34
1
Quote:
What is the value of x?

(1) |x+2|=2|x−2|
(2) x>2

positive:|x+2|≥0…x≥-2…negative:x<-2
positive:|x-2|≥0…x≥2…negative:x<2
range:__--__(-2)__-+___(2)__++__

(1) |x+2|=2|x−2| insufic

$$x>2:(x+2)=2(x-2)…x=6…(x≥2=valid)$$
$$-2≤x<2:-(x+2)=2(x-2)…-x-2=2x-4…x=2/3…(-2≤x<2=valid)$$
$$x<-2:-(x+2)=-2(x-2)…-x-2=-2x+4…x=6…(x<-2=invalid)$$

$$x=(6,2/3)$$

(2) x>2 insufic

(1&2) sufic
$$x>2:(x+2)=2(x-2)…x=6…(x≥2=valid)$$

Ans (C)
CR Forum Moderator
Joined: 18 May 2019
Posts: 797
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Nov 2019, 04:46
1
We are to determine the value of x.

Statement 1: |x+2|=2|x-2|
squaring both sides yield (x+2)^2=4*[(x-2)^2]
x^2 + 4x + 4 = 4x^2 - 16x +16
3x^2 - 20x + 12 = 0
(3x-2)(x-6)=0
x=2/3 and x=6
When x=2/3, |2/3+2| = 2|2/3-2|
8/3=2|-4/3|
8/3=8/3
RHS=LHS, hence x=2/3 is a root of the equation
when x=6, |6+2|=2|6-2|
8=8, LHS=RHS, hence x=6 is a root of the equation.

Now we have two values of x satisfying the given equation. x can be 2/3 and x can be 6. We are unable to narrow down to a unique value for x, hence statement 1 is insufficient on its own.

Statement 2: x>2
Clearly insufficient because x can be 3, 4, 5, etc. Statement 2 does not lead to a unique value of x hence it is not sufficient on its own.

1+2:
we know from 1 that x can be 3/2, or x can be 6. Statement 2 says that x>2, hence we can categorically say that x=6.

Combining both statements is, therefore, sufficient.

Director
Joined: 25 Jul 2018
Posts: 642
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Nov 2019, 14:27
1
What is the value of x?

(Statement1) |x +2|= 2|x—2|
—> square both sides:
$$(x+2)^{2} = (2(x—2))^{2}$$

—>( x+2 —2x+4)(x+2 +2x—4)= 0
(—x+6)(3x—2)= 0
x= 6 and $$x= \frac{2}{3}$$
Insufficient

(Statement2) x >2
Clearly insufficient

Taken together 1&2,
x= 6, $$x= \frac{2}{3}$$ and x >2
—> x=6
Sufficient

Posted from my mobile device
Intern
Joined: 18 Nov 2018
Posts: 38
What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

Updated on: 27 Nov 2019, 18:30
1
|x+2| = 2|x-2|
will be broken into 4 cases if solved algebraically -

case 1

|x+2| = x+2 if x>-2

With this inequality, we have 2 sub conditions:

case 1a : |x-2| = x-2 if x>2

this makes the equation as

x+2 = 2(x-2)
x=6

here x>-2 and x>2 makes x=6 a valid answer hence we keep it.

case 1b: |x-2| = -x+2 if x<2

this makes the equation as

x+2 = 2(-x+2)
x=2/3

here x>-2 and x<2 makes x=2/3 a valid answer hence we keep it.

Case 2 - |x+2| = -x-2 if x<-2

This will again have 2 cases

case 2a : |x-2| = x-2 if x>2

Since x>2 and x<-2 so this is invalid case.

Case 2b: |x-2| = -x+2 if x< 2

-x -2 = 2(2-x)
x=6 which does not fit in x<-2 and x<2 hence invalid

So we have 2 answers now. x =6 and x = 2/3
so option b would also be required to get x=6 as the answer.

Hence the answer should be "C" both options required.

Originally posted by nlx23 on 26 Nov 2019, 20:49.
Last edited by nlx23 on 27 Nov 2019, 18:30, edited 2 times in total.
Manager
Joined: 17 Mar 2019
Posts: 169
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Nov 2019, 20:52
1
X=?
Statement 1= |x+2|/|X-2|=2

If we remove the modulus we get x=-2 or x=2. Hence in sufficient

Statement 2 states that x<2

Still insufficient it could be 3,4 etc

When combined and values added only x=6 fits

IMO C

Posted from my mobile device
Intern
Joined: 11 May 2019
Posts: 34
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

26 Nov 2019, 21:27
Option C
By solving the stmt 1 we get three values of x =6,2,2/3
insuff
stmt 2 is clearly insuff

1+2 indicates x can only hav the value 6

Posted from my mobile device
CrackVerbal Quant Expert
Joined: 12 Apr 2019
Posts: 471
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

27 Nov 2019, 06:26
This is a value kind of DS question where we need to find a unique value for x.

Performing a visual scan of the statements, it’s very clear that statement 2 alone will not help us find a unique value for x, since x>2 represents a range. Therefore, the first thing I would do on this question is I would eliminate options B and D since they cannot be the answers. At this stage, I am left with options A, C and E as my possible answers.

Whenever such an opportunity presents itself, where you think some options can be eliminated, grab it with both hands. This means that you will have more time to spend on the statements and options that matter.

Remember that |x| = √$$x^2$$.

From statement 1 alone, |x+2| = 2|x-2|. The absolute value terms can be re-written based on the concept discussed above.

So, |x+2| = √$$(x+2)^2$$ and |x-2| = √$$(x-2)^2$$. Substituting this in the equation, we get,

√$$(x+2)^2$$= 2√$$(x-2)^2$$. Squaring both sides, we have,

$$(x+2)^2$$ = 4$$(x-2)^2$$.
Expanding the expressions based on identities and solving for the values, we obtain two values for x viz x = $$\frac{2}{3}$$ and x = 6. But, we need a unique value for x. Hence, statement 1 alone is insufficient.
Answer option A can be eliminated. Possible answer options are C or E.

Combining the data from statements 1 and 2, we can say that x has to be 6 since that is the only value of x that satisfies the conditions given in both the statements.

The combination of statements is sufficient. Answer option E can be eliminated.
The correct answer option is E.

In absolute value questions where you see a modulus on either side of an equation, it’s a good idea to use the |x| = √$$x^2$$ concept. This will help you to reduce the equation to a quadratic which can then be solved for the values of x.
Also remember to not jump to a conclusion that a modulus will give you two values for x and hence insufficient. That is not the case in all questions. Only when you analyse will you find out.

Hope that helps!
_________________
Re: What is the value of x? (1) |x + 2| = 2|x - 2| (2) x > 2   [#permalink] 27 Nov 2019, 06:26
Display posts from previous: Sort by