x negative

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x negative

by j_shreyans » Tue Sep 30, 2014 9:54 am
Is x negative?

(1) At least one of x and x2 is greater than x3.

(2) At least one of x2 and x3 is greater than x.

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by [email protected] » Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:00 pm
Hi j_shreyans,

This DS question can be solved in a couple of different ways. For example, you can TEST VALUES or use Number Properties. Since this question is based so heavily on Number Properties, I'm going to focus on that approach:

We're asked if N is negative. This is a YES/NO question.

Here are some Number Properties worth knowing for this question (you can prove all of these rules by TESTing VALUES):

If X > 1, then X < X^2 < X^3
If X < -1, then X^3 < X < X^2

IF X = -1, 0 OR 1, then X = X^2 = X^3

If 0< X< 1, then X^3 < X^2 < X
If -1 < X < 0, then X < X^3 < X^2

Fact 1: X or X^2 (or both) are greater than X^3.

Using the above Number Properties:
We COULD have X < - 1, and the answer to the question would be YES.
We COULD have 0 < X < 1 and the answer to the question would be NO.
We COUDL have -1 < X < 0 and the answer to the question would be YES.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: X^2 or X^3 (or both) are greater than X.

Again, using the above Number Properties:
We COULD have X < - 1, and the answer to the question would be YES.
We COULD have 1 < X and the answer to the question would be NO.
We COULD have -1 < X < 0 and the answer to the question would be YES.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we have some "overlap":
We COULD have X < - 1, and the answer to the question would be YES.
We COULD have -1 < X < 0 and the answer to the question would be YES.
Combined, the answer is ALWAYS YES. Combined, SUFFICIENT

Final Answer: C

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