Last visit was: 15 Nov 2024, 12:35 It is currently 15 Nov 2024, 12:35

Close

GRE Prep 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
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 29961
Own Kudos [?]: 36234 [0]
Given Kudos: 25907
Send PM
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12189 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 29961
Own Kudos [?]: 36234 [0]
Given Kudos: 25907
Send PM
avatar
Manager
Manager
Joined: 22 May 2019
Posts: 58
Own Kudos [?]: 51 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
1
Carcass wrote:
I am , instead, a big fun of you :)

Yeah, me too :) :wink:
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12189 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
1
Thanks!!!! :banana
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 26 Jun 2018
Posts: 35
Own Kudos [?]: 44 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
Ans: C

Cant we solve the RHS (QA) and we get (x-y)....
QA : (x-y)
QB : (x-y)

will the terms not cancel out on both sides irrespective of the signs ?
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12189 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
2
anuppatel012 wrote:
Ans: C

Cant we solve the RHS (QA) and we get (x-y)....
QA : (x-y)
QB : (x-y)

will the terms not cancel out on both sides irrespective of the signs ?


My point about this question needing some information that ensures x and y are non-negative is best shown with this example:
Notice that \((\sqrt{x})^2=x\) in MANY cases.
For example, if x = 4, we get: \((\sqrt{4})^2=2^2=4\)
And, if x = 25, we get: \((\sqrt{25})^2=5^2=25\)

However, the same cannot be said if x is a NEGATIVE number.
For example, if x = -1, we get: \((\sqrt{-1})^2=?^2\)
First off, we don't know the value of \(\sqrt{-1}\)
Second, we certainly can't say that \((\sqrt{-1})^2=-1\), since that would mean that it's possible for some number SQUARED to equal -1.

Does that help?

Cheers,
Brent
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 18 Feb 2020
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
You cannot square root a negative # so that why the answer cannot be D.
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12189 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
brajones wrote:
You cannot square root a negative # so that why the answer cannot be D.


Great question!
The problem is that, when x is negative, √x is not a real number. So, we can't really compare the quantities.

For example, if we have...
QUANTITY A: √(-3)
QUANTITY B: 5
.....we can't compare the two quantities, since Quantity A is not an actual real number.
Comparing those two values would be analogous to ...
QUANTITY A: elephant (also not a number)
QUANTITY B: 5
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: \sqrt (x+y)(x-y) [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
78 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1111 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne