Carcass wrote:
If (x−2)(x2−4)=1, then the value of x could be
A. -1 and 2
B. -2
C. -3 and -1
D. -1
E. -2, -1 and 2
STRATEGY: As with all GRE Multiple Choice questions, we should immediately ask ourselves, Can I use the answer choices to my advantage?
In this case, we can easily test the answer choices.
Now we should give ourselves about 20 seconds to identify a faster approach.
In this case, we can also solve the equation.
Since there aren't many values (among the answer choices) to test, I'm going to test the given values.
Test
x=−1 by plugging it into the original equation to get:
(−1)−2(−1)2−4=1Simplify:
−3−3=1.
WORKS!
This means we can eliminate answer choice B, since it doesn't include
x=−1 as a solution.
Now test
x=2 by plugging it into the original equation to get:
2−222−4=1Simplify:
00=1.
Doesn't work.
This means we can eliminate answer choices A and E, since they stated that
x=2 is a solution.
Test
x=−3 by plugging it into the original equation to get:
(−3)−2(−3)2−4=1Simplify:
−55=1.
Doesn't work.
This means we can eliminate answer choice C, since it states that
x=−3 is a solution.
By the process of elimination, the correct answer is D