Question: If y= 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is lowest when x =

1. 14
2. 13
3. 0
4. 3
5. 4

Correct Answer: D

Solution and Explanation:
Approach Solution 1:

The problem statement informs that:

Given:

• If y= 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is lowest

Find out:

• The value of x.

(x−3)^2 is always positive.

Therefore, the minimum value of this expression is 0.
Hence, x = 3.
then y = 4.

Therefore, the value of x is 3.

Approach Solution 2:

The problem statement states that if y= 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is the lowest. We need to find the value of x.
We need to look for the lowest value of y.
y has 2 parts: one is 4 and the other part is (x−3)^2.

We do not have anything to do with 4 but we can derive the value of (x−3)^2.
x = 3 will offer us nothing in (x−3)^2.

Negative values will alter the scenario. Hence, (x−3)^2 always offers us a positive value.
Therefore, the value of x is 3.

Approach Solution 3:

The problem statement informs that:
Given: y= 4 + (x - 3)^2

The problem statement asks if y is lowest when the value of x =?

y= 4 + (x - 3)^2
Therefore, we can (x-3)^2 is greater or equal to 0
Hence, y is lowest when (x-3)^2 = 0, or x = 3
Therefore, the value of x is 3.

“If y= 4 + (x - 3)^2, then y is lowest when x =''- is a topic of the GMAT Quantitative reasoning section of the GMAT exam. This question has been taken from the book "GMAT Official Guide 2020".The GMAT Problem Solving questions help the candidates to evaluate knowledge and interpret numerical problems. GMAT Quant practice papers help the candidates to practice several questions that will allow them to learn and get familiar with lots of topics.

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