Solve GRE Geometry Problem: X-Y = 30

  • Thread starter Thread starter Spirochete
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Geometry Gre
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around a GRE geometry problem involving two variables, X and Y, where the objective is to determine the value of X-Y. The problem presents two equations: 2X + 2Y = 180 and 2X + Y + 30 = 180. The correct solution indicates that X-Y equals 30, although the initial poster expresses confusion about how this conclusion was reached. By solving the two equations for X and Y, the values can be computed to find X-Y. The thread emphasizes the importance of algebraic manipulation in solving geometry problems.
Spirochete
Messages
125
Reaction score
0
I've attached an MS paint version of a GRE geometry problem. It's a quantitative comparison question. It asks you to compare two values and say whether one is greater, they're the same, or they're not enough information to say which is greater.

In the picture I drew everything is in degrees. It's not necessarily to scale.

As I've said in the picture, the actual answer is that (X-Y) is equal to the value 30. I have no clue how they figured this out though I would've said not enough information to answer.
 

Attachments

  • GRE Geometry Problem.GIF
    GRE Geometry Problem.GIF
    5.4 KB · Views: 467
Physics news on Phys.org
Notice that 2X+2Y=180 and that 2X+Y+30=180.

Two equations, two unknows, solve for X and Y, then compute X-Y.
 
Brilliant. thank you.
 
I picked up this problem from the Schaum's series book titled "College Mathematics" by Ayres/Schmidt. It is a solved problem in the book. But what surprised me was that the solution to this problem was given in one line without any explanation. I could, therefore, not understand how the given one-line solution was reached. The one-line solution in the book says: The equation is ##x \cos{\omega} +y \sin{\omega} - 5 = 0##, ##\omega## being the parameter. From my side, the only thing I could...
Back
Top