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
DS-9
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
Just pick some crazy numbers.
For example, statement 1 says 4 is closest integer to x+y. So let's make x=2.5 and y=1.5, for a perfect 4. Of course, we could debate that the question is garbage since 2.5 can't be said to be closer to 2 or 3, but let's ignore that for a moment. Now we could also say that x = -2.5 and y = 6.5 for a perfect 4 again. (it says nothing about negatives) Mulitple values are possible.
We can do the exact same thing for statement 2.
Now, putting them together we can again use our x=2.5 and y=1.5, but we could fiddle slightly. x=2.25 and y=1.5 to get 3.75 when we add and .75 when we subtract. Going the other way x=2.75 and y=1.5 we'd get 4.25 when we add and 1.25 when we subtract. Both sets fit the statements, but we bounce from closer to 2 to closer to 3.
Cheers,
Steve
For example, statement 1 says 4 is closest integer to x+y. So let's make x=2.5 and y=1.5, for a perfect 4. Of course, we could debate that the question is garbage since 2.5 can't be said to be closer to 2 or 3, but let's ignore that for a moment. Now we could also say that x = -2.5 and y = 6.5 for a perfect 4 again. (it says nothing about negatives) Mulitple values are possible.
We can do the exact same thing for statement 2.
Now, putting them together we can again use our x=2.5 and y=1.5, but we could fiddle slightly. x=2.25 and y=1.5 to get 3.75 when we add and .75 when we subtract. Going the other way x=2.75 and y=1.5 we'd get 4.25 when we add and 1.25 when we subtract. Both sets fit the statements, but we bounce from closer to 2 to closer to 3.
Cheers,
Steve
I did it this way.
Obviously we can rule out A, B and D.
1) x + y is closest to 4.
2) x - y is closest to 1. That means x > y.
From 1) 3.5 < x+y < 4.5
From 2) 0.5 < x - y < 1.5
Adding both we get
4 < 2x < 6 which means 2 < x < 3. Well x could be nearer to 2 or 3 we don't know. Hence E.
Calista.
Obviously we can rule out A, B and D.
1) x + y is closest to 4.
2) x - y is closest to 1. That means x > y.
From 1) 3.5 < x+y < 4.5
From 2) 0.5 < x - y < 1.5
Adding both we get
4 < 2x < 6 which means 2 < x < 3. Well x could be nearer to 2 or 3 we don't know. Hence E.
Calista.
