PowerPrep Test 2 Questions distance XZ

[mrsultanmehmood]

Points w x y z are on a line not necessarily in that order. The distance between w and x is 2, x and y = 4 and y and z is 9. What is the distance between X and Z?

A 3
b 5
c 7
d 9
e 11

OA E 11

[tommywallach]

Hey Mr. Sultan,

Do you have the question in front of you? The question you've written, as far as I can see, does not have an answer in that list. Could you send me a screengrab of the question?

twallach@manhattanprep.com

Thanks!

-t

[tommywallach]

Hey Mr. Sultan,

[For any readers, he did send me the picture]. Indeed, you did write the question wrong. The question is, which of the following COULD be the distance. As written, there are two possible answers, so I didn't see how it was answerable. But "COULD be the distance" is very different.

Let's just try values that fit the bill.

x = 0, w = 2

Now, y has to be 4 away from x, so y could be EITHER -4 or 4.

Now, z has to be 9 away from there are four possibilities for Z:

If y = -4, z = -13 or 5
If y = 4, z = -5 or 13

Now, x is at 0, so it is either 5 or 13 units away from z.

The correct answer is 5.

-t

P.S. You must have the official answer written down wrong. : )

[mrsultanmehmood]

Oops, sorry, I guess the last minute jitters are really getting to me. Great explanations btw.

Just one clarification. So for questions like these, we should consider the line as a number line with absolute values taking negative and positive values and assuming a easy point like zero for one of them?

[tommywallach]

Hey Mr. Sultan,

Yes, that's a fair point. A lot of questions will set specific points FOR YOU, in which case you won't have a choice. But yeah, if they just mention distances, you might as well make your life as easy as possible!

-t