Hey uwhusky,

Yes - and this concept can be quite useful for you on the GMAT, so I'm glad you brought it up.

Statements 1 and 2 MUST BE consistent with each other.

Think about it - one of the more popular answer choices for a lot of these questions is C, both statements together are sufficient. If it weren't possible to get the same answer using both statements together, the GMAT has lost a plausible answer choice...it just can't afford to do that.

So if Statement 1 is sufficient to give you an answer, statement 2 must allow for that same answer to be true.

Let's try a quick example to see how it can be useful:

What is the value of x?

1) x^2 = 81

2) -x > 7

Say you looked at statement 1 and thought that it meant "x = 9". Statement 2 tells you that x < -7, which means that it cannot be 9. This discrepancy means that you have to go back and reconsider the statements - you did something wrong, because they have to be consistent.

Looking back, you may notice that x^2 = 81 means that x could be 9 or -9. Using statement 2, you'd find that x must be -9, and C is the correct answer (which it could not have logically been if the statements were allowed to be inconsistent).


Simply put, if statements 1 and 2 seem to contradict, go back and check your work because that means you did something wrong.

hmmm....this always popped in my head when i did those questions.

and now thanks to u 2, it is confirmed.

Ian Stewart wrote:Great points from Brian above. I'd just add that you will sometimes see *unofficial* questions posted in forums which come from dubious sources and which do not obey this principle - that is, you will see some questions posted here where the statements are *not* consistent. If you notice that, you can be certain you're looking at a question from a question designer who doesn't understand the GMAT, so you can safely skip such questions and move on to more relevant material.

Thank you for confirming the "exact" thought I have in my mind!