Last visit was: 06 May 2024, 14:11 It is currently 06 May 2024, 14:11

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
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 11710 [2]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Aug 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos [?]: 44 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 04 Aug 2020
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 04 May 2020
Posts: 11
Own Kudos [?]: 9 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the fol [#permalink]
1
considering the values of c as 1369(i.e. 37*37) and d as 361(i.e. 19*19)
=> 1369-361=1008
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 14 Aug 2020
Posts: 34
Own Kudos [?]: 44 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the fol [#permalink]
That is one scenario, but how do you find 37 and 19, except by trying various numbers? I found 33 and 9 fit as well, by making a lucky guess.


meenakship wrote:
considering the values of c as 1369(i.e. 37*37) and d as 361(i.e. 19*19)
=> 1369-361=1008
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 11710 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the fol [#permalink]
2
GreenlightTestPrep wrote:
If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the following is a possible value of c – d?

A) 1008
B) 1018
C) 1022
D) 1030
E) 1038


SOLUTION #1:
All odd integers can be rewritten as 2k + 1, where k is an integer.
So, if c is the square of an odd integer, we can write: c = (2k + 1)² for some integer k.
Likewise, we can write: d = (2j + 1)² for some integer j.

So, c - d = (2k + 1)² - (2j + 1)²
Expand: c – d = (4k² + 4k + 1) - (4j² – 4j + 1)
Simplify: c – d = 4k² + 4k - 4j² – 4j
Factor to get: c – d = 4(k² + k - j² – j)
This tells us that c – d is a multiple of 4
Since answer choice A is the only multiple of 4, it must be the correct answer.

ASIDE: To determine whether a number is divisible by 4, just examine the number created by the last two digits.
So, we know that 1008 is divisible by 4 because 08 is divisible by 4
Conversely, we know that 1018 is NOT divisible by 4 because 18 is NOT divisible by 4
Likewise, we know that 1022 is NOT divisible by 4 because 22 is NOT divisible by 4
etc.



SOLUTION #2:
If c and d are the squares of odd integers, we can let c = x² and let d =y²(where x and y are odd integers)

Now take: c - d
And rewrite as: x² – y²
Factor: (x + y) (x - y)

Since x and y are both odd, we can rewrite the above expression as follows: (odd + odd) (odd - odd)
Simplify to get: (some EVEN integer)(some other EVEN integer)

If an integer is EVEN, we can rewrite it as 2k, where k is some integer.
So, we can take (some EVEN integer)(some other EVEN integer) and rewrite it as: (2j)(2k), where j and k are integers.
Finally we can rewrite (2j)(2k) as 4jk

We’ve now taken c - d and rewritten it as 4jk, where j and k are integers.
Since 4jk is a multiple of 4, it must be the case that c - b is a multiple of 4.

When we check the answer choices, we see that only answer choice A is a multiple of 4.
Answer: A


SOLUTION #3:
Even if you didn't identify an algebraic solution, you can still test some possible values and look for a pattern.
Since c and d are the squares of odd integers, it could be the case that c = 9² = 81, and d =7² = 49, in which case c - d = 81 - 49 = 32
Or it could be the case that c = 9² = 81, and d =5² = 25, in which case c - d = 81 - 25 = 56
Or it could be the case that c = 9² = 81, and d =3² = 9, in which case c - d = 81 - 9 = 72
Or it could be the case that c = 9² = 81, and d =1² = 1, in which case c - d = 81 - 1 = 80
Or it could be the case that c = 11² = 121, and d =9² = 81, in which case c - d = 121 - 81 = 40
At this point, we might recognize that 32, 56, 72, 80 and 40 are all divisible by 4, in which case it could be true that the correct answer is also divisible by 4.
Answer: A

Aside: As you might guess, SOLUTION #3 isn't the most precise way to approach this question, but it still gives you a reasonable chance of identifying the correct answer
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 29 Jun 2019
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the fol [#permalink]
1
(2k+1)^2 is not 4k^2 -4k + 1, it is 4k2+4k+1
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 11710 [0]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: If c and d are the squares of odd integers, which of the fol [#permalink]
Saks5th wrote:
(2k+1)^2 is not 4k^2 -4k + 1, it is 4k2+4k+1


Good catch!
I've edited my response.

KUDOS for you!
Prep Club for GRE Bot
[#permalink]
Moderators:
Moderator
1085 posts
GRE Instructor
218 posts

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