D
1)
x=2,y=1
equal
x=-1,y=-2
satisfies
x=0,y=-1
satisfies
suff
2)
x=-1,y=2
satisfies
x=1,y=-2
satisfies
suff
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
Question from GMAT Prep
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
-------------------------------------
--------------------------------------
General blog
https://amarnaik.wordpress.com
MBA blog
https://amarrnaik.blocked/
--------------------------------------
General blog
https://amarnaik.wordpress.com
MBA blog
https://amarrnaik.blocked/
Hi,
Beg to differ on this ....
Is |x-Y| >|X|-|Y| ?
I y<x
II xy<0
Statement 1:
Y < X implies X > Y
When both X and Y are positive;
|x-Y| = X - Y
|X|-|Y| = X - Y
Here, |X-Y| = |X|-|Y|.
When both X and Y are -ve
|x-Y| = distance between X and Y
|X|-|Y| = negative value of the distance between X and Y.
Here, |X-Y| > |X|-|Y|.
As we get conflicting answers, stmt 1 is insufficient.
Statement 2:
The statement says that between X and Y; one is +ve and the other is -ve
|X-Y| = sum of the distances of each of X and Y from the origin
|X| - |Y| = difference between the distances of X and Y from the origin.
Here, I am using the interpretation that |A| = distance of A from the origin.
Since sum of two +ve numbers will always be greater than the difference b/w the two +ve numbers; we can deduce that |X-Y| will always be greater than |X|-|Y|.
Hence, stmt 2 is sufficient.
My choice would be B.
This is a classic trap case - The use of 'proving by examples' failing with an interesting mix of inequalities and modulus.
Hope this helps. Thanks.
Beg to differ on this ....
Is |x-Y| >|X|-|Y| ?
I y<x
II xy<0
Statement 1:
Y < X implies X > Y
When both X and Y are positive;
|x-Y| = X - Y
|X|-|Y| = X - Y
Here, |X-Y| = |X|-|Y|.
When both X and Y are -ve
|x-Y| = distance between X and Y
|X|-|Y| = negative value of the distance between X and Y.
Here, |X-Y| > |X|-|Y|.
As we get conflicting answers, stmt 1 is insufficient.
Statement 2:
The statement says that between X and Y; one is +ve and the other is -ve
|X-Y| = sum of the distances of each of X and Y from the origin
|X| - |Y| = difference between the distances of X and Y from the origin.
Here, I am using the interpretation that |A| = distance of A from the origin.
Since sum of two +ve numbers will always be greater than the difference b/w the two +ve numbers; we can deduce that |X-Y| will always be greater than |X|-|Y|.
Hence, stmt 2 is sufficient.
My choice would be B.
This is a classic trap case - The use of 'proving by examples' failing with an interesting mix of inequalities and modulus.
Hope this helps. Thanks.
Naveenan Ramachandran
4GMAT, Dadar(W) & Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai
4GMAT, Dadar(W) & Ghatkopar(W), Mumbai
IMO B.
1) y<x, consider two cases: y=1 & x=3 then |x-y| = |x|-|y|
when y=-3 and x=-2 then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
hence not sufficient
2)xy<0 implies either x is -ve and y is +ve or x is +ve and y is -ve
with this in mind, we will again consider two cases:
x=-2 and y=3, then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
x=4 and y =-2, then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
hence sufficient.
1) y<x, consider two cases: y=1 & x=3 then |x-y| = |x|-|y|
when y=-3 and x=-2 then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
hence not sufficient
2)xy<0 implies either x is -ve and y is +ve or x is +ve and y is -ve
with this in mind, we will again consider two cases:
x=-2 and y=3, then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
x=4 and y =-2, then |x-y| > |x|-|y|
hence sufficient.
answer should be B
when i look at the original question .... i rephrased to the following:
do x and y have opposite signs?
the reason being:
if x and y have the same sign, then there will be no difference between abs(x-y) and abs(x) - abs (y)
try numbers and see for yourself
on absolute equations such as this, this is generally my first strategy -- it usually works b/c gmat doesnt have too many complicated equations
anyways, with the rephrasing, the statements are kinda easy to interpret.
when i look at the original question .... i rephrased to the following:
do x and y have opposite signs?
the reason being:
if x and y have the same sign, then there will be no difference between abs(x-y) and abs(x) - abs (y)
try numbers and see for yourself
on absolute equations such as this, this is generally my first strategy -- it usually works b/c gmat doesnt have too many complicated equations
anyways, with the rephrasing, the statements are kinda easy to interpret.
