Exponents and Roots are Killing Me (and my score)!!!!!!!!!

Hi Rich,

To answer your questions:

Studies:
1)I'm on day 10 of the 60 Day Study Guide emails.
2)I'm using the prep material in the study guide emails (OG 2017, GMAT Prep Now Videos, OG Companion, and Math Forums questions).
3)I scored a 560 on the GMAT practice test. I'm assuming that's a CAT? Math: 32 Verbal: 35 (This was my absolute baseline score, before a single bit of studying or looking at any material).

Goals:
4)My ultimate goal is a 700 but I will be satisfied/certainly accepted with a 650.
5)I'm scheduled to take the GMAT on March 11th.
6)I'm applying to business school in April(ish). I'm also currently enrolled in beginning Accounting and Business Finance undergraduate classes this spring as pre-requisites for the MBA program. I plan to start in the fall.
7)I'm applying to the University of Mississippi. I'm a staff member there with free tuition!

I should also include that I haven't take a single math class since 2008 so I'm a bit rusty (English BA and Education MA). Most of it is coming back to me but I'm frustrated with the exponents/roots category because they can be solved so many different ways that seem contradictory to the similar question right before it.

Thanks! I hope this helps. I

The good news is that exponents and roots are taught in every algebra I (and II) course out there, so there is a lot of practice material. I'd try Forgotten Algebra: it has great explanations and plenty of drills to get you up to speed. There are also loads of great web resources: Khan Academy, Purple Math, Math is Fun, etc.

Let me add a mathematical approach too:

If (x+1) * (|x| - 1) > 0, then either both (x+1) and (|x| - 1) are positive or both (x+1) and (|x| - 1) are negative.

Let's examine the first case: both are positive.
Since (x+1) > 0, we know x > -1.
Since |x| - 1 > 0, we know |x| > 1.
When |x| > 1, either x > 1 or x < -1. But we know x > -1, so x < -1 is impossible.
Hence, x > 1.

Now the second case: both are negative.
Since (x+1) < 0, we know x < -1.
Since |x| - 1 < 0, we know |x| < 1.
When |x| < 1, we know -1 < x < 1.
But we can't have both x < -1 and -1 < x < 1.
Hence the second case is impossible: we can't have both (x+1) and (|x| - 1) negative.

Hence both (x+1) and (|x| - 1) are positive, and x must be greater than 1.