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# What is the value of y?

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Intern
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What is the value of y? [#permalink]

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15 Dec 2012, 11:33
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Question Stats:

69% (01:56) correct 31% (00:38) wrong based on 116 sessions

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What is the value of y?

(1) x^2 - y^2 = 5
(2) x and y are each positive integers
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: what is the value of y? [#permalink]

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16 Dec 2012, 02:52
JJ2014 wrote:
what is the value of y?

(1) x^2 - y^2 = 5
(2) x and y are each positive integers

Hi,

From 1, we get (x-y)(x+y)=5 i.e (x-y)=1,5 or (x+y)= 5,1...solving we get 2 values of y (one positive and one negative)

From 2 alone we get nothing

combining 1 & 2 we get X and Y as postive and we get one solution
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Re: what is the value of y? [#permalink]

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16 Dec 2012, 08:06
3
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Expert's post
mridulparashar1 wrote:
JJ2014 wrote:
What is the value of y?

(1) x^2 - y^2 = 5
(2) x and y are each positive integers

Hi,

From 1, we get (x-y)(x+y)=5 i.e (x-y)=1,5 or (x+y)= 5,1...solving we get 2 values of y (one positive and one negative)

From 2 alone we get nothing

combining 1 & 2 we get X and Y as postive and we get one solution

The red part is not correct. From x^2 - y^2 = 5 we cannot say that x-y=1 and x+y=5 (or vise-versa) because for (1) we don't know whether x and y are integers. So, for example it's possible that x-y=10 and x+y=1/2. Even if we knew that x and y are integers, still from (x+y)(x-y)=5 it follows that x+y=5 and x-y=1 (or vise versa) OR x+y=-5 and x-y=-1 (or vise versa).

What is the value of y?

(1) x^2 - y^2 = 5. Infinitely many solutions exist for x and y. Not sufficient.

(2) x and y are each positive integers. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) Since $$x$$ and $$y$$ are positive integers then $$x+y=integer>0$$ and $$x-y=integer$$ AND $$x+y>x-y$$. Thus from $$x^2 - y^2 =(x+y)(x-y)= 5$$ we'd have that $$x+y=5$$ and $$x-y=1$$, from which it follows that $$y=2$$. Sufficient.

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What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 22:07
1
KUDOS
(1)$$x^{2}$$-$$y^{2}$$=5
(2) x and y are each positive integers.
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Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 22:30
Did you want an explanation?
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Senior Manager
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Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 23:28
NonYankee wrote:
Did you want an explanation?

nope just posted the question! If you think its too easy please tag this question as sub 600
_________________

I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed--Michael Jordan
Kudos drives a person to better himself every single time. So Pls give it generously
Wont give up till i hit a 700+

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Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 23:32
1
KUDOS
rajathpanta wrote:
NonYankee wrote:
Did you want an explanation?

nope just posted the question! If you think its too easy please tag this question as sub 600

Ok. Thanks for contributing this problem! As for the difficulty, I have no gauge for the level of questions.
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Senior Manager
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Joined: 13 Feb 2010
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Kudos [?]: 97 [1] , given: 282

Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 23:36
1
KUDOS
NonYankee wrote:
rajathpanta wrote:
NonYankee wrote:
Did you want an explanation?

nope just posted the question! If you think its too easy please tag this question as sub 600

Ok. Thanks for contributing this problem! As for the difficulty, I have no gauge for the level of questions.

we mere mortals talk in terms of difficulty level For you, its a different ball game! you should ask is this a sub-800 question?? LOL
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I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed--Michael Jordan
Kudos drives a person to better himself every single time. So Pls give it generously
Wont give up till i hit a 700+

Manager
Joined: 12 Jul 2011
Posts: 128
Concentration: Strategy, Sustainability
Schools: Booth '15 (M)
WE: Business Development (Non-Profit and Government)
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Kudos [?]: 507 [0], given: 41

Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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28 Feb 2013, 23:46
rajathpanta wrote:
:) we mere mortals talk in terms of difficulty level For you, its a different ball game! you should ask is this a sub-800 question?? LOL

Hahaha that made me literally laugh out loud!
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Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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01 Mar 2013, 01:25
1
KUDOS
Expert's post
rajathpanta wrote:
(1)$$x^{2}$$-$$y^{2}$$=5
(2) x and y are each positive integers.

Merging similar topics.
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Re: What is the value of y?? [#permalink]

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01 Mar 2013, 01:27
NonYankee wrote:
rajathpanta wrote:
NonYankee wrote:
Did you want an explanation?

nope just posted the question! If you think its too easy please tag this question as sub 600

Ok. Thanks for contributing this problem! As for the difficulty, I have no gauge for the level of questions.

I'd say that the difficulty level of this question is ~650.
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Re: What is the value of y? [#permalink]

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01 Mar 2013, 07:29
Hi Bunuel,

X+y=5 and X-y=1. I always used to think that it will mean x+y=5 or x-y=5.
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Re: What is the value of y? [#permalink]

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04 Mar 2013, 04:50
shreerajp99 wrote:
Hi Bunuel,

X+y=5 and X-y=1. I always used to think that it will mean x+y=5 or x-y=5.

When we consider the two statements together we have that both $$x$$ and $$y$$ are positive integers, thus $$x+y=integer>0$$ and $$x-y=integer$$ AND $$x+y>x-y$$.

Next, we also have that $$x^2 - y^2 =(x+y)(x-y)= 5$$, so we have that the product of two multiple, x+y and x-y is equal to 5, a prime number. Since $$x+y=integer>0$$ and $$x-y=integer$$, then x+y must be 5 AND x-y must be 1: 5*1=5.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: What is the value of y? [#permalink]

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08 Oct 2015, 08:07
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Re: What is the value of y?   [#permalink] 08 Oct 2015, 08:07
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