is mx + ky > kx + my?
(1) m > k
(2) x > y
Hi all - this is from the GMAC practice test. Can anyone help with regards to the best way to approach this number? Picking numbers seems to be a dawnting task for this particular problem.
Thanks
A4Fever
If m, k, x and y are positive numbers...
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Rearrange the Stem
Is mx + ky > kx + my
mx –my > kx-ky
m(x-y) > k (x-y)
is m >k
St I) m>k , SUFF
St II) InSUFF
Hence A
Is mx + ky > kx + my
mx –my > kx-ky
m(x-y) > k (x-y)
is m >k
St I) m>k , SUFF
St II) InSUFF
Hence A
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Ratke gmat that was precisely my approach also.
We will wait patiently for the OA....
A4fever,
Just so you know; you could use the spoiler function to post the OA's.
Also please post OA'S using SPOLIER if possible when posting questions.
We will wait patiently for the OA....
A4fever,
Just so you know; you could use the spoiler function to post the OA's.
Also please post OA'S using SPOLIER if possible when posting questions.
A general rule says, if 1/a > 1/b thenRetake_GMAT wrote:Rearrange the Stem
Is mx + ky > kx + my
mx –my > kx-ky
m(x-y) > k (x-y)
is m >k
St I) m>k , SUFF
St II) InSUFF
Hence A
(a) If (a * b) > 0, then multiplying both sides of above term by (a * b) , we get b > a
(b) However, if (a * b) < 0, then multiplying both sides of above term by (a * b), we get b < a
On similar concept, We can't just eliminate (i.e divide) (x-y) from both sides.
It may be (x-y) is negative, and in that case we get different answer.
IMO C
- logitech
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m(x-y) > k (x-y)
m(x-y) - k (x-y) > 0
(x-y) (m-k) > 0
both of them needs to be either +, or -
1) INSUF
2) INSUF
1+2) SUF
Hence, C
Any objections ?
m(x-y) - k (x-y) > 0
(x-y) (m-k) > 0
both of them needs to be either +, or -
1) INSUF
2) INSUF
1+2) SUF
Hence, C
Any objections ?
LGTCH
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Can anyone explain why you can't factor with these types of questions? I factored also, but got D since you can factor as
mx - kx > my - ky
x(m-k) > y(m - k)
I assume the answer is because the factors are critical in answering the question so we should never factor out terms for data sufficiency problems?
mx - kx > my - ky
x(m-k) > y(m - k)
I assume the answer is because the factors are critical in answering the question so we should never factor out terms for data sufficiency problems?
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wrtou
Sure! u can factor that way as well as long as u dont "cancel" the expression within (), u are fine.
U can apply the same logic that Logitech applied to get to C.
HT Helps
-V
Sure! u can factor that way as well as long as u dont "cancel" the expression within (), u are fine.
U can apply the same logic that Logitech applied to get to C.
HT Helps
-V
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You certainly can factor here, and it's a very good idea to do so. If you can get the factorization logitech arrived at, then the question is quite quick to answer. What you absolutely *cannot* do is divide both sides of your inequality by, say, (x-y). You need to know if (x-y) is positive or negative; if you don't know whether (x-y) is negative, you don't know if you need to reverse the inequality after you divide by (x-y).
This is the most common trap in GMAT inequalities questions: you will often see slightly complicated inequalities with unknowns, often with fractions, where you are tempted to multiply or divide both sides by an *unknown* (like x, or y, or as above, x-y). To do this, you need to know if the unknown is positive or negative. There are three good questions testing precisely this among the last 20 DS questions in the OG if you want more examples- I don't have the book at hand, but it's easy to pick out the inequality questions with letters and fractions in them.
This is the most common trap in GMAT inequalities questions: you will often see slightly complicated inequalities with unknowns, often with fractions, where you are tempted to multiply or divide both sides by an *unknown* (like x, or y, or as above, x-y). To do this, you need to know if the unknown is positive or negative. There are three good questions testing precisely this among the last 20 DS questions in the OG if you want more examples- I don't have the book at hand, but it's easy to pick out the inequality questions with letters and fractions in them.
For online GMAT math tutoring, or to buy my higher-level Quant books and problem sets, contact me at ianstewartgmat at gmail.com
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great way of solvinglogitech wrote:m(x-y) > k (x-y)
m(x-y) - k (x-y) > 0
(x-y) (m-k) > 0
both of them needs to be either +, or -
1) INSUF
2) INSUF
1+2) SUF
Hence, C
Any objections ?
The GMAT is indeed adaptable. Whenever I answer RC, it proficiently 'adapts' itself to mark my 'right' answer 'wrong'.
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Why cant we cancel (m-k) from both sides here?wrtau23 wrote:Can anyone explain why you can't factor with these types of questions? I factored also, but got D since you can factor as
mx - kx > my - ky
x(m-k) > y(m - k)
I assume the answer is because the factors are critical in answering the question so we should never factor out terms for data sufficiency problems?