x?y=x(x-y)

[doc]

What is the value of the question mark?

[RonPurewal]

is this from a MGMAT CAT problem? if so, please follow the forum rules, and post the entire problem, with all answer choices.

thanks.

[rchitta]

Assuming that ? is not an arithmetic operator (+, -, * / etc)

let us say ? is p, what is asked is:
xy*p = x * (x -y)
p = x * (x - y) / xy

=> p = x/y -1, in other words ? = x/y -1

putting this value back; x( x/y-1)y == x( x-y) ;)

Seems like a funny one to solve...

[esledge]

Seems like a funny one to solve...

Agreed, unless we have the entire question we can't be sure.

The only thing I would suspect is that it is a "funny symbol" function definition. That is, for x?y = x(x-y), if given 3?2 you would compute 3(3-2) = 3. If so, there was probably more to the question, such as some expression with one or more "?" and number answer choices.