CAT Preparation Online - Simple one from Quadratic Equations

Question

How many integer solutions exist for the equation x² - 8|x| - 48 =0?

Explanation

One approach is to solve when x > 0 and then solve for x < 0. However, there is a slightly simpler method.

Note that x² is the same as |x|², so we can treat the equation as a quadratic in |x|.

Or, |x|² – 8|x| - 48 = 0

(|x| - 12|) (|x| + 4) = 0

|x| could be 12. |x| cannot be -4.

If |x| could be 12, x can be -12 and 12.

Two possible solutions exist. 

CAT - Linear Quadratic Equations

Question:

3x + 4|y| = 33. How many integer values of (x, y) are possible?

A.  6

B.  3

C.  4

D.  More than 6

Correct Answer: (D)

Solution:

Let us rearrange the equation:

3x = 33 – 4|y|

Since x and y are integers, and since |y| is always positive regardless of the sign of y, this means that when you subtract a multiple of 4 from 33, you will get a multiple of 3.

Since 33 is already a multiple of 3, in order to obtain another multiple of 3, you will have to subtract a multiple of 3 from it. So, y has to be a positive or a negative multiple of 3.

y = 3, -3, 6, -6, 9, -9, 12, -12...etc.

For every value of y, x will have a corresponding integer value.

So there are infinite integer values possible for x and y.

Level of difficulty 1