Wonderful Question
statement 1: Sufficient
since a is negative
choosing a =-2 ad b=-3 plugging in will give consistent no
-----------a= -2 and b=-4 plugging will give same
hence sufficient
statement 2: insufficient
choose a=0 and b= 1 yields no as answer
now searching for a number to get a yes and hopefully knock this out for sufficiency
a=2 and b =1 yields a no and a yes hence insufficient..
imo qa is A
BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course
Redeem
Featured Course
Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand
Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.
- 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
- 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
- 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
- 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
- 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
- TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
- 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
- OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
- Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
- MBA Admissions Consulting now available
- 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
- 200,000+ students served
- 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★
5.0
(559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start
then $127/mo
5
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
I think D
Stm 2 we cannot chose 0 for a as per the question. and stm 2 implies that either b =0 or both a and b are negative...plug in a=2, b=0 or a=-1 b=-1 suff
Stm 2 we cannot chose 0 for a as per the question. and stm 2 implies that either b =0 or both a and b are negative...plug in a=2, b=0 or a=-1 b=-1 suff
If a and b are integers, and |a| > |b|, is a · |b| < a – b?
(1) a < 0
(2) ab is equal or greater than 0
Definetly E
Main stem a · |b| < a – b, or b < a – a · |b|, or b < a ( 1- |b|)
So, the Q is:
Is b < a ( 1- |b|)?
(1)
Nothing about b, so INSUFF just to check:
a<0. I hate to pick numbers, but
2 options:
b>0.
a=-5, b=1 then b > a ( 1- |b|)?
a<0, b<0
a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(2)
ab is equal or greater than 0
4 options:
a>0 with b>0
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a>0 with b=0
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(1)(2)
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
E
(1) a < 0
(2) ab is equal or greater than 0
Definetly E
Main stem a · |b| < a – b, or b < a – a · |b|, or b < a ( 1- |b|)
So, the Q is:
Is b < a ( 1- |b|)?
(1)
Nothing about b, so INSUFF just to check:
a<0. I hate to pick numbers, but
2 options:
b>0.
a=-5, b=1 then b > a ( 1- |b|)?
a<0, b<0
a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(2)
ab is equal or greater than 0
4 options:
a>0 with b>0
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a>0 with b=0
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(1)(2)
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
E
4meonly, good work!4meonly wrote:If a and b are integers, and |a| > |b|, is a · |b| < a – b?
(1) a < 0
(2) ab is equal or greater than 0
Definetly E
Main stem a · |b| < a – b, or b < a – a · |b|, or b < a ( 1- |b|)
So, the Q is:
Is b < a ( 1- |b|)?
(1)
Nothing about b, so INSUFF just to check:
a<0. I hate to pick numbers, but
2 options:
b>0.
a=-5, b=1 then b > a ( 1- |b|)?
a<0, b<0
a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(2)
ab is equal or greater than 0
4 options:
a>0 with b>0
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a>0 with b=0
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
(1)(2)
a<0 with b<0. a=-5, b=-2 then -2 < -5 * ( -1 ) or b < a ( 1- |b|)
a<0 with b=0. a=-5, b=0 then 0 > -5 * ( 1 ) or b > a ( 1- |b|)
INSUFF
E
This is a MGMAT question and I am not sure whether it really represents an authentic GMAT question but there are so many take aways we can all benefit from this question.
LGTCH
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
---------------------
"DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR DREAM!"
