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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection

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ankagl63 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
7. |x+2|=|y+2| what is the value of x+y?
(1) xy<0
(2) x>2 y<2

This one is quite interesting.

First note that |x+2|=|y+2| can take only two possible forms:

A. x+2=y+2 --> x=y. This will occur if and only x and y are both >= than -2 OR both <= than -2. In that case x=y. Which means that their product will always be positive or zero when x=y=0.
B. x+2=-y-2 --> x+y=-4. This will occur when either x or y is less then -2 and the other is more than -2.

When we have scenario A, xy will be nonnegative only. Hence if xy is negative we have scenario B and x+y=-4. Also note that vise-versa is not right. Meaning that we can have scenario B and xy may be positive as well as negative.

(1) xy<0 --> We have scenario B, hence x+y=-4. Sufficient.

(2) x>2 and y<2, x is not equal to y, we don't have scenario A, hence we have scenario B, hence x+y=-4. Sufficient.

Answer: D.


Option 2 would mean that |x+2 | is == x + 2
but for -2<=y<2 |y+2| is == y + 2

==> x + 2 = y + 2 ==> x = y
Only for y < -2 would |y+2| be == -y - 2
which would give
x + y = -4
i.e. INSUFFICIENT
Please clarify.


Notice that x>2 and y<2 means that x\neq{y}. Now, in case of -2\leq{x}<2 you get x=y which is contradicts x\neq{y}, thus -2\leq{x}<2 case is not possible (valid).

Alternative solution: inequality-and-absolute-value-questions-from-my-collection-86939-160.html#p1111747

Hope it helps.

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