Discussion

Three positive numbers x, y, and z have the following relationships y = x + 2 and z = y + 2. When the median of x, y, and z is subtracted from the product of the smallest number and the median, the result is 0. What is the value of the largest number?
(A)   –2
(B)...
(C)...
(D)...
(E)...
(F)...
*This question is included in Nova Math - Problem Set AA: Probability & Statistics, question #5

The solution is

Posted: 07/26/2012 03:24
Please I don't understand how you factories x(x+2)-(x+2)=0 to get (x+2)(x-1)=0. Please can you explain to me.
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Contributor
Posted: 07/26/2012 03:36
x(x+2)-(x+2)
Use distributive property
Think of (x+2) like y
xy - y = y (x-1), right? Same thing.
Posted: 07/31/2012 18:38
I am still confused on the factoring out the common factor x+2 yields (x+2)(x-1)=0
Could you slow that down and show how to factor out step by step?
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Contributor
Posted: 07/31/2012 19:07
Katie, step by step below

x(x+2) - (x+2) = 0
Let's suppose (x+2) is y. Substitute y for x+2 into the equation:
xy - y = 0. Now, factor out y
y(x-1) = 0. Since y=x+2, substitute x+2 back in.
(x+2) (x-1) = 0

I hope this helps.
Posted: 10/04/2012 11:18
firstly can easily find smallest number。median-median*smallest=0,so smallest x=1 or 0,because xyz are positive,then x=1。then。。。
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Contributor
Posted: 10/04/2012 15:04
Thank you for your post, Zhang Bo.
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