Welcome! Check out our free B-School Guides to learn how you compare with other applicants.
Login or Register
 

word problem

This topic has 1 expert reply and 1 member reply
sud21 GMAT Destroyer! Default Avatar
Joined
12 Nov 2011
Posted:
308 messages
Followed by:
3 members
word problem Post Thu Jan 12, 2012 5:38 am
Elapsed Time: 00:00
  • Lap #[LAPCOUNT] ([LAPTIME])
    In the number line, is point P between Q and Z?
    1). The product of P and Q is greater than 0
    2). The product of P and Z is less than 0

    Need free GMAT or MBA advice from an expert? Register for Beat The GMAT now and post your question in these forums!
    sud21 GMAT Destroyer! Default Avatar
    Joined
    12 Nov 2011
    Posted:
    308 messages
    Followed by:
    3 members
    Post Tue Jan 31, 2012 8:41 pm
    The three points P,Q,Z can be anywhere. Those can be left or right of zero, that is, those can be negative or positive or those can be a mix of positive and negative.

    St.(1) Can't be determined.

    St.(2) Can't be determined.

    Ans.E

    Post Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:07 am
    sud21 wrote:
    In the number line, is point P between Q and Z?
    1). The product of P and Q is greater than 0
    2). The product of P and Z is less than 0
    To answer this question, it might be useful to use a number line to show the different cases that follow from each statement.

    Statement 1: The product of P and Q is greater than 0
    i.e., the product is positive. So:
    case a) either P & Q are both negative
    case b) P & Q are both positive

    On a number line, we get:
    case a) _____P_Q____0__________
    case b) ____________0________P_Q__

    Since we have no information about Z, we cannot answer the target question with any certainty.
    So, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT


    Statement 2: The product of P and Z is less than 0
    i.e., the product is negative.
    So one is positive and one is negative

    On a number line, we get:
    case a) _____P______0____Z______
    case b) _____Z______0____P______

    Since we have no information about Q, we cannot answer the target question with any certainty.
    So, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT


    Statements 1& 2:
    Several cases are possible. Here are two:

    On a number line, we get:
    case a) _____Z______0____P__Q____ (P is between Q and Z)
    case b) _____Z______0____Q__P____ (P is not between Q and Z)
    Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statements 1 & 2 are NOT SUFFICIENT, so the answer is E

    Cheers,
    Brent

    _________________
    Brent Hanneson - GMAT Prep Now instructor
    - Check out GMAT Prep Now’s online course at http://www.gmatprepnow.com/
    - Use our video course in conjunction with Beat The GMAT's free 60-Day Study Guide
    - Watch hours of free videos on DS, RC and AWA
    - Our top 3 free videos:
    1) The Double Matrix method
    2) Calculating combinations in your head
    3) Managing your time on the GMAT

    Study Smart! Use Beat The GMAT’s FREE 60-Day Study Guide in conjunction with GMAT Prep Now’s video course and reach your target score in 2 months! With two money-back guarantees, you can try us out risk-free.

    Best Conversation Starters

    1 vipulgoyal 32 topics
    2 hemant_rajput 23 topics
    3 guerrero 18 topics
    4 abhirup1711 17 topics
    5 sana.noor 16 topics
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Members...

    Most Active Experts

    1 image description Brent@GMATPrepNow

    GMAT Prep Now Teacher

    211 posts
    2 image description GMATGuruNY

    The Princeton Review Teacher

    137 posts
    3 image description Jim@StratusPrep

    Stratus Prep

    60 posts
    4 image description Jon@Admissionado

    Admissionado

    49 posts
    5 image description David@VeritasPrep

    Veritas Prep

    31 posts
    See More Top Beat The GMAT Experts