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Difficulty: HardValue vs. Yes/No Data Sufficiency Decision Logic

In a GMAT Data Sufficiency 'Value' question asking for the numerical value of an expression EE, if a statement allows multiple distinct numerical values for a variable xx, but every permitted value of xx yields the exact same unique numerical value for EE, the statement is sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is True.
The statement is True because Data Sufficiency 'Value' questions only require a single, unique value for the specific expression requested in the question stem. Even if an underlying variable xx can take on multiple values, if all of those values produce identical results for expression EE, the question stem is answered conclusively.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target of the Data Sufficiency question.
The target is the numerical value of the specific expression EE, not the isolated value of variable xx.
Data Sufficiency decision logic evaluates sufficiency based on whether the specific question asked in the stem can be answered uniquely.
2
Evaluate the impact of multiple possible values for variable xx.
Variable xx can take multiple values (e.g., x=2x = 2 and x=−2x = -2).
We must test whether variations in xx cause variations in the target expression EE.
3
Determine if EE yields a single unique output across all permitted values of xx.
All permitted values of xx yield the exact same numerical result for EE.
Since EE is constrained to exactly one value regardless of which permitted value xx takes, there is no ambiguity regarding the target output.
4
Conclude the sufficiency status under GMAT DS rules.
The statement is sufficient.
Obtaining a single unique value for the target expression satisfies the strict criteria for sufficiency in a Value DS question.

Key Concept

Target Expression Uniqueness vs. Variable Uniqueness in Value Data Sufficiency
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Topics

Value vs. Yes/No Data Sufficiency Decision Logic

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