Last visit was: 21 Nov 2024, 11:44 It is currently 21 Nov 2024, 11:44

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
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4812
Own Kudos [?]: 11188 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
GRE 1: Q167 V156
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
Manager
Manager
Joined: 06 Jun 2018
Posts: 102
Own Kudos [?]: 124 [0]
Given Kudos: 4
Send PM
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 07 Jun 2014
Posts: 4812
Own Kudos [?]: 11188 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
GRE 1: Q167 V156
WE:Business Development (Energy and Utilities)
Send PM
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12196 [1]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: Which of the following is equal to (x 2)2 + (x 1)2 + x2 [#permalink]
1
sandy wrote:
Which of the following is equal to \((x - 2)^2 + (x - 1)^2 + x^2 + (x + 1)^2 + (x + 2)^2\)?

(A) \(5x^2\)
(B) \(5x^2 + 10\)
(C) \(x^2 + 10\)
(D) \(5x^2 + 6x + 10\)
(E) \(5x^2 - 6x + 10\)

Key concept: If two expressions are equivalent, they must evaluate to the same value for every possible value of x.
For example, since the expression 2x + 3x is equivalent to the expression 5x, the two expressions will evaluate to the same number for every value of x.
So, if x = 7, the expression 2x + 3x = 2(7) + 3(7) = 14 + 21 = 35, and the expression 5x = 5(7) = 35

So for example, if \(x = 1\), our original expression becomes: \((1 - 2)^2 + (1 - 1)^2 + 1^2 + (1 + 1)^2 + (1 + 2)^2\), which evaluates to be 15.
So, the correct answer must also evaluate to be 15, when \(x = 1\).

So, we'll plug \(x = 1\) into each answer choice....
(A) \(5(1)^2 = 5\). ELIMINATE

(B) \(5(1)^2 + 10 =\) 15 Perfect!

(C) \((1)^2 + 10 = 11\). ELIMINATE

(D) \(5(1)^2 + 6(1) + 10 = 21\). ELIMINATE

(E) \(5(1)^2 - 6(1) + 10 = 9\). ELIMINATE

Answer: B
GRE Instructor
Joined: 24 Dec 2018
Posts: 1065
Own Kudos [?]: 1426 [1]
Given Kudos: 24
Send PM
Re: Which of the following is equal to (x 2)2 + (x 1)2 + x2 [#permalink]
1
\((x - 2)^2 + (x - 1)^2 + x^2 + (x + 1)^2 + (x + 2)^2\)

In the above expression, we can clearly identify two pairs.

\((x-2)^2 \)and \((x+2)^2 \)

\((x-1)^2\) and \((x+1)^2\)

Each of the pair contains two expressions of the form \((a-b)^2\) and \((a+b)^2\)

When you distribute and add them both as demanded by the expression, the \(2ab\) term will cancel out, leaving behind \(2a^2 + 2b^2\)

You can verify this by distributing by FOILing

\(a^2 + b^2 -2ab + a^2 + b^2 + 2ab = 2a^2 + 2b^2\)

So the first pair gives us \(2x^2 + 2.2^2 = 2x^2 + 8\)

The second pair gives us

\(2x^ + 2.1^2 = 2x^2 + 2\)

When we add them both we get \(4x^2 + 10.\)

But there is also an \(x^2\) left in the expression which needs to be added as well. This gives us

\(5x^2 + 10.\)
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: Which of the following is equal to (x 2)2 + (x 1)2 + x2 [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
83 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1111 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

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