BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y)

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 1574
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:52 am
Thanked: 88 times
Followed by:13 members

For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y)

by aspirant2011 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:54 am
For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y) denote the minimum and maximum of x and y, respectively. For example, min (5,2)=2 and max(5,2)=5. For the integer w, what is the value of min(10,w)?

1) w=max(20,z) for some integer z
2) w=max(10,w)

[spoiler]OA: Will be put later. I am unable to understand OG explanation. Can someone explain the above problem in a more easy way[/spoiler]
Top
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
Legendary Member
Posts: 1084
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:33 pm
Thanked: 158 times
Followed by:21 members

by pemdas » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:10 am
we need to find minimum value out of (10,w) means w can be <,> 10. If w>10 then min(w,10)=10. If w<10, then min(w,10)=w
statement(1) says that w is maximum value out of (20 and some integer z) which means that w is either greater than 20 in this case max(20,z)=z or w is less than 20 and max(20,z)=20. In any way max(20,z)>=20 and 20>10 So min(10,w)=10 Sufficient
statement(2) w=max(10,w) can be interpreted as w>10 since w is maximum value. So min(10,w)=10 Sufficient

hence d
aspirant2011 wrote:For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y) denote the minimum and maximum of x and y, respectively. For example, min (5,2)=2 and max(5,2)=5. For the integer w, what is the value of min(10,w)?

1) w=max(20,z) for some integer z
2) w=max(10,w)

[spoiler]OA: Will be put later. I am unable to understand OG explanation. Can someone explain the above problem in a more easy way[/spoiler]
Success doesn't come overnight!
Top
User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 199
Joined: Tue May 17, 2011 6:06 am
Location: Cambridge, MA
Thanked: 192 times
Followed by:121 members
GMAT Score:780

by Ashley@VeritasPrep » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:12 am
The idea is that given a pair of numbers x and y (which could be whatever they want), min(x,y) equals the smaller of the two and max(x,y) equals the larger of the two. So min(x,y) will always equal either x or y (whichever one is less), and max(x,y) will also always equal x or y (whichever one is greater). Therefore, from the get-go, we know that the value of min(10,w) will equal either 10 or w -- and it will equal specifically whichever one of those things is less, 10 or w. From there we move on to the statements.

Does that make the question more intelligible... or still confusing?
Ashley Newman-Owens
GMAT Instructor
Veritas Prep

Post helpful? Mosey your cursor on over to that Thank button and click, please! I will bake you an imaginary cake.
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 1574
Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:52 am
Thanked: 88 times
Followed by:13 members

by aspirant2011 » Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:19 am
yup got it, thanks a lot pemdas and ashley :-)
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:02 pm
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:11 members
GMAT Score:760

by mcdesty » Fri Jul 13, 2012 5:37 pm
I think this question is ambiguous and here is why...
Statement 1 tells us that w =max(20, z) for some integer z.
Isn't it entirely possible that w could equal z or w could equal 20 if we are not told otherwise?
If it is possible to make such a conclusion, statement one will be insufficient and the answer will be B.
I'm not sure what I am missing here...
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Fri Jul 13, 2012 8:31 pm
mcdesty wrote:Statement 1 tells us that w =max(20, z) for some integer z.
Isn't it entirely possible that w could equal z or w could equal 20 if we are not told otherwise?
If it is possible to make such a conclusion, statement one will be insufficient and the answer will be B.
The following cases are possible,
  • 20 > z ---> w = max(20, z) = 20
    20 = z ---> w = max(20, z) = 20
    20 < z ---> w = max(20, z) = z > 20
In all the possible cases w > 10
Hence, min(10, w) = 10

Hope that helps.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 307
Joined: Wed Feb 22, 2012 9:45 pm
Thanked: 12 times
GMAT Score:700

by Gaurav 2013-fall » Sat Jul 14, 2012 12:26 am
Good question. Thanks for posting!
Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that! (Rocky VI)
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 116
Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:02 pm
Thanked: 20 times
Followed by:11 members
GMAT Score:760

by mcdesty » Sat Jul 14, 2012 9:03 am
Anurag@Gurome wrote:
mcdesty wrote:Statement 1 tells us that w =max(20, z) for some integer z.
Isn't it entirely possible that w could equal z or w could equal 20 if we are not told otherwise?
If it is possible to make such a conclusion, statement one will be insufficient and the answer will be B.
The following cases are possible,
  • 20 > z ---> w = max(20, z) = 20
    20 = z ---> w = max(20, z) = 20
    20 < z ---> w = max(20, z) = z > 20
In all the possible cases w > 10
Hence, min(10, w) = 10

Thank you! Looks very easy but a little tricky I guess..
Top

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8086
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times
Followed by:29 members

Re: For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y)

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Thu May 20, 2021 8:42 am
aspirant2011 wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 25, 2011 9:54 am
 For any integers x and y, min (x,y) and max (x,y) denote the minimum and maximum of x and y, respectively. For example, min (5,2)=2 and max(5,2)=5. For the integer w, what is the value of min(10,w)?

1) w=max(20,z) for some integer z
2) w=max(10,w)

[spoiler]OA: Will be put later. I am unable to understand OG explanation. Can someone explain the above problem in a more easy way[/spoiler]
Solution:

Question Stem Analysis:

We need to determine the value of min(10, w). Notice that if w ≥ 10, then min(10, w) = 10. However, if w < 10, then min(10, w) = w. That is, if w < 10, we need to determine the value of w.

Statement One Alone:

Notice that max(20, z) = 20 if z < 20 and max(20, z) = z if z ≥ 20. In other words, w is at least 20. Since w ≥ 20, w ≥ 10 and hence min(10, w) = 10. Statement one alone is sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

Notice that max(10, w) = 10 if w < 10 and max(10, w) = w if w ≥ 10. Since w = max(10, w), we see that w ≥ 10 and hence min(10, w) = 10. Statement two alone is sufficient.

Answer: D

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1