Last visit was: 23 Apr 2024, 13:34 It is currently 23 Apr 2024, 13:34

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: 28620
Own Kudos [?]: 33099 [18]
Given Kudos: 25173
Send PM
Most Helpful Community Reply
User avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Aug 2020
Posts: 8
Own Kudos [?]: 11 [6]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
General Discussion
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 28620
Own Kudos [?]: 33099 [0]
Given Kudos: 25173
Send PM
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 10 Feb 2020
Posts: 496
Own Kudos [?]: 334 [0]
Given Kudos: 299
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
Its tricky. Any easy explanation?
User avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Aug 2020
Posts: 8
Own Kudos [?]: 11 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
2
Farina wrote:
Its tricky. Any easy explanation?


If you're comfortable factoring things where the "a" value is not 1, then you essentially just use x^1/3 as your standard x value and factor, and sort out the exponent at the end step. This is because (X^1/3)(x^1/3)=(X^2/3) (because you add the exponents like conventional numbers or fractions when multiplying the same bases raised to a power)

The trick to factoring when the "a" value is not 1 is multiplying the "a" and "c" values to determine what you are trying to make the component x values multiply to. For example, in the given problem we have a=3 b=2 c=-8
3 X -8 = -24
so we factor by finding what multiplies to -24 and adds to our "b" value of positive 2, namely 6 and -4

so then we substitute 2x (with our x in this case being x^1/3) for 6x and -4x which still add to positive 2. We can then factor by grouping and factoring out what we can.

so 3x^2 + 6x - 4x - 8 gets grouped like so:

(3x^2 + 6x) (-4x - 8)

then we factor out what we can leaving a common base inside the parenthesis (which is how you know you're on the right track)

3x(x+2)-4(x+2)

then you use what's in the parenthesis as one factor, and what's outside as the second

(x+2)(3x-4) and you're off to the races.

In the given problem, if you use x^1/3 instead of x it will factor the same but the answer will be correct. Hope this helped

Originally posted by stinkydiver on 04 Aug 2020, 01:21.
Last edited by stinkydiver on 04 Aug 2020, 10:24, edited 3 times in total.
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 28620
Own Kudos [?]: 33099 [0]
Given Kudos: 25173
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Thank you sir for the amazing explanation.

Post it as text and not as images. It would be easiest to search by the students

Regards
User avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Aug 2020
Posts: 8
Own Kudos [?]: 11 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
1
Carcass wrote:
Thank you sir for the amazing explanation.

Post it as text and not as images. It would be easiest to search by the students

Regards


You're welcome!
I will post answers as text from now on.
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 28620
Own Kudos [?]: 33099 [0]
Given Kudos: 25173
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
Expert Reply
Thank you Sir.

it is just a matter of practicality no more than this :wink:
Manager
Manager
Joined: 05 Aug 2020
Posts: 101
Own Kudos [?]: 229 [0]
Given Kudos: 14
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
1
Carcass wrote:
\(3x^{\frac{2}{3}}+2 \sqrt[3]{x}-8=0\)

Quantity A
Quantity B
\(x\)
\(\frac{64}{25}\)



A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.



B is the correct answer.


Factoring the equation you get:

\((3*x^\frac{1}{3} - 4)(x^\frac{1}{3} + 2) = 0\)

Starting with the left equation:

\(3*x^\frac{1}{3} - 4 = 0\)
\(3*x^\frac{1}{3} = 4\)
\(x^\frac{1}{3} = \frac{4}{3}\)
\(x = \frac{64}{27}\)

With the second equation:

\(x^\frac{1}{3} + 2 = 0\)
\(x^\frac{1}{3} = -2\)

\(x = -8\)


\( \frac{64}{27}\) \(<\) \(\frac{64}{25}\)

Because \(\frac{64}{25}\) has the same numerator but a smaller denominator than \(\frac{64}{25}\)

\(x = -8\) \(<\) \(\frac{64}{25}\)

Is obvious.


Since both roots are less than Quantity B, Quantity B is greater, so B is the answer.
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 10 Feb 2020
Posts: 496
Own Kudos [?]: 334 [0]
Given Kudos: 299
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
grenico wrote:
Carcass wrote:
\(3x^{\frac{2}{3}}+2 \sqrt[3]{x}-8=0\)

Quantity A
Quantity B
\(x\)
\(\frac{64}{25}\)



A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.



B is the correct answer.


Factoring the equation you get:

\((3*x^\frac{1}{3} - 4)(x^\frac{1}{3} + 2) = 0\)

Starting with the left equation:

\(3*x^\frac{1}{3} - 4 = 0\)
\(3*x^\frac{1}{3} = 4\)
\(x^\frac{1}{3} = \frac{4}{3}\)
\(x = \frac{64}{27}\)


With the second equation:

\(x^\frac{1}{3} + 2 = 0\)
\(x^\frac{1}{3} = -2\)

\(x = -8\)


\( \frac{64}{27}\) \(<\) \(\frac{64}{25}\)

Because \(\frac{64}{25}\) has the same numerator but a smaller denominator than \(\frac{64}{25}\)

\(x = -8\) \(<\) \(\frac{64}{25}\)

Is obvious.


Since both roots are less than Quantity B, Quantity B is greater, so B is the answer.


x^(1/3) = 4^3/3^3

means if power is in fraction, it will be the power of other numbers on opposite side?
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Apr 2020
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
1
we can write the eqtn like ,

3 x ^ (1 /3) x ^ (1 /3) + 2 x ^ (1 /3) - 8 = 0

let , x ^ (1 /3) = a

so the eqn is,

3 a^2 + 2 a - 8 = 0
solve for a

a = 4/3 or a = -2
i.e ,
x ^ (1 /3) = 4/3 or x ^ (1 /3) = -2
=> x = 64/ 27 or x = -8

both are less than B

so answer is B
Manager
Manager
Joined: 05 Aug 2020
Posts: 101
Own Kudos [?]: 229 [0]
Given Kudos: 14
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
1
Quote:
x^(1/3) = 4^3/3^3

means if power is in fraction, it will be the power of other numbers on opposite side?


x^(1/3) is the equivalent of the cube root of x.

Since we want to solve for x in the equation x^(1/3) = 4/3, we would need to cube both sides.

So you can interpret the sentence as: 4/3 is the cube root of x.
User avatar
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 10 Feb 2020
Posts: 496
Own Kudos [?]: 334 [0]
Given Kudos: 299
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
grenico wrote:
Quote:
x^(1/3) = 4^3/3^3

means if power is in fraction, it will be the power of other numbers on opposite side?


x^(1/3) is the equivalent of the cube root of x.

Since we want to solve for x in the equation x^(1/3) = 4/3, we would need to cube both sides.

So you can interpret the sentence as: 4/3 is the cube root of x.


Cube both sides, got it. Thank you very much
Retired Moderator
Joined: 09 Jun 2020
Posts: 205
Own Kudos [?]: 231 [4]
Given Kudos: 34
GPA: 3.21
Send PM
Re: 3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
3
1
Bookmarks
let \(x^1/3 = p\)

we can re write the equation as \(3p^2+2p-8=0\)

after factorising we will get p=-2 and p=(4/3) as solutions

now \(x=p^3\)
x=-8 and x=64/27
so when x=-8
then quant A < quant B (since x is -ve)

when x=(64/27)
then quant A < quant B

so final answer will be B
GRE Instructor
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 1029
Own Kudos [?]: 1360 [1]
Given Kudos: 24
Send PM
3x^2/3+2 [#permalink]
1
\(3x^{\frac{2}{3}}+2 \sqrt[3]{x}-8=0\)

can be re-written as

\(3x^{\frac{2}{3}} + 2x^{\frac{1}{3}} - 8 = 0\)

we can see that \(x^{\frac{1}{3}}\) is common to both the quadratic (\(x^2\)) and the linear term (\(x\))

So we do a simple u-substitution

\(u = x^{1/3}\)

and rewrite the equation as

\(3u^2 + 2u - 8 = 0\)

Now, we find two numbers that multiply to \(-24\) (\(3 * -8\)) and add to \(2\). They are clearly \(-6\) and \(4\)

So we proceed

\(3u^2 - 6u + 4u - 8 = 0\)

\(3u(u + 2) - 4(u +2) = 0\)

\((3u - 4)(u + 2) = 0\)

\(3u - 4 = 0\)

\(3u = 4\)

\(u = 4/3 \)

OR

\(u + 2 = 0\)

\(u = -2\)

Now since \(u = x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

\(x^{\frac{1}{3}} = \frac{4}{3}\)

cubing both sides

\(x = \frac{64}{27}\)

Since \(\frac{64}{27} < \frac{64}{25}\), Quantity B is greater.

and since we also have

\(u = -2\)

\(x^{\frac{1}{3}} = -2\)

cubing both sides

\( x = -8\)

And since \(-8 < \frac{64}{25}\), Quantity B is greater.

So, either way, Quantity B is greater
Prep Club for GRE Bot
[#permalink]
Moderators:
Moderator
1085 posts
GRE Instructor
218 posts

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