Data Sufficiency

If x ≠ -y, is x - y / x + y > 1?

1) x > 0

2) y < 0

OA: E

Thanks,
Fambrini

fambrini wrote:If x ≠ -y, is (x - y)/(x + y) > 1?

1) x > 0

2) y < 0

Both statements are satisfied by the following cases:
Case 1: x=2, y=-1, in which case (x-y)/(x+y) = 3.
Case 2: x=2, y=-3, in which case (x-y)/(x+y) = -5.
Since the answer is YES in Case 1 but NO in Case 2, the two statements combined are INSUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is E.

Hi Fambrini,

For these type of questions best way to solve is PLUG-IN.

Be smart while you are plugging-in, here statement I and II are individually are not sufficient.

Statement I is insufficient:

Nothing about "y" value.

Statement II is insufficient:

Nothing about "x" value.

Together also it is insufficient.

Pick values such a way that it satisfies both the statements,

If x = 2 , y = -1

(x - y) / (x + y) = 3/ 1 > 1 answer to the question is YES.

If x = 1, y = -3

(x - y) / (x + y) = 4/ -2 < 1 answer to the question is NO.

So here it's about the magnitude of x and y. just knowing the signs of x and y will not help.

So the answer is E.

Hope this is clear.