x is a nonzero number. Is xy < 0?

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BTGmoderatorDC: Moderator; Posts: 7187; Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:43 pmFollowed by: 23 members

by BTGmoderatorDC » Sun Jun 09, 2019 9:17 pm

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x is a nonzero number. Is xy < 0?

(1) y is not negative.
(2) y is not positive.

OA C

Source: Veritas Prep

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency | Sun Jun 09, 2019 9:17 pm

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Ian Stewart: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 2623; Joined: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:17 amFollowed by: 355 members; Location: Montreal; Thanked: 1090 times; GMAT Score:780

by Ian Stewart » Mon Jun 10, 2019 5:47 am

Each Statement is clearly insufficient alone, since if y is nonzero, we'll get different answers to the question by making x positive or negative.

Using both statements, y must be zero, so xy = 0, and the answer to the question "is xy < 0?" is 'no', so the answer is C.

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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