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See question screenshot below.
My approach for solving this question:
Q-stem: Is x < 20 ?
Start with statement 2, since this is the easy statement:
(2) y < 20
This tells us nothing about x ... so this is insufficient in determining whether x is less than 20.
Cross out B and D from the possible answer choices. No we have A, C, and E as the remaining possible choices.
(1) x + y < 20
- We have 2 unknowns and 1 equation (or inequality) ... so we cannot solve for x.
- Another approach: Plug-in numbers here.
Scenario 1: x = 25, y = -10 ... so x + y = 25 + (-10) = 25 - 10 = 15. 15 is less than 20, and x in this case is greater than 20.
Scenario 2: x = 15, y = 4 ... so x + y = 15 + 4 = 19. 19 is less than 20, and x in this case is less than 20.
So this is insufficient in answering the question, is x less than 20.
Cross out A as a possible answer choice. We now have C or E remaining.
(1) and (2) together.
The 2 scenarios described above, fulfill the criteria from both statements... i.e. y < 20, and x+y < 20. So it is insufficient to determine if x < 20.
Answer E.
I wanted to see if anyone has another approach to solve this. Thanks in advance for your input.
II
My approach for solving this question:
Q-stem: Is x < 20 ?
Start with statement 2, since this is the easy statement:
(2) y < 20
This tells us nothing about x ... so this is insufficient in determining whether x is less than 20.
Cross out B and D from the possible answer choices. No we have A, C, and E as the remaining possible choices.
(1) x + y < 20
- We have 2 unknowns and 1 equation (or inequality) ... so we cannot solve for x.
- Another approach: Plug-in numbers here.
Scenario 1: x = 25, y = -10 ... so x + y = 25 + (-10) = 25 - 10 = 15. 15 is less than 20, and x in this case is greater than 20.
Scenario 2: x = 15, y = 4 ... so x + y = 15 + 4 = 19. 19 is less than 20, and x in this case is less than 20.
So this is insufficient in answering the question, is x less than 20.
Cross out A as a possible answer choice. We now have C or E remaining.
(1) and (2) together.
The 2 scenarios described above, fulfill the criteria from both statements... i.e. y < 20, and x+y < 20. So it is insufficient to determine if x < 20.
Answer E.
I wanted to see if anyone has another approach to solve this. Thanks in advance for your input.
II
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