Variables signs problem

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by earth@work » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:48 pm
IMO A

xyz>0 gives us 4 case
1... x(+)y(+)z(+)...all positive or 2 negatives in remaining three cases below:
2....x(+)y(-)z(-)
3....x(-)y(-)z(+)
4....x(-)y(+)z(-)

1. y<0 so case 2 &3 above apply
(x)(y^2)(z^3).... case 2 give<0 & case 3 gives<0 again...sufficient

2. x>0 now case 1 & 2 apply
for (x)(y^2)(z^3)... case 1 is >0 while case 2 is <0 ...insufficient

ans:A

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by Maratha1 » Tue Feb 17, 2009 6:14 pm
earth@work wrote:IMO A

xyz>0 gives us 4 case
1... x(+)y(+)z(+)...all positive or 2 negatives in remaining three cases below:
2....x(+)y(-)z(-)
3....x(-)y(-)z(+)
4....x(-)y(+)z(-)

1. y<0 so case 2 &3 above apply
(x)(y^2)(z^3).... case 2 give<0 & case 3 gives<0 again...sufficient

2. x>0 now case 1 & 2 apply
for (x)(y^2)(z^3)... case 1 is >0 while case 2 is <0 ...insufficient

ans:A
Very good explanation.
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Re: Variables signs problem

by x2suresh » Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:19 pm
jfranco23 wrote:If xyz>0, is (x)(y^2)(z^3)<0?

1. y<0
2. x>0
(x)(y^2)(z^3)<0?
--> (xyz)(z^2)*y<0?
--> is y<0

question is asking is Y<0

Clearly A is sufficient

B is not sufficient.

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Yes or No

by kanha81 » Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:27 am
q: xyz>0, is x(y^2)(z^3) < 0? Y/N

(i) y<0
=> x>0 & z<0 or x<0 & z>0
x>0 & z<0: y^2>0, z^3<0 => xy^2z^3<0. Yes
x<0 & z>0: y^2>0, z^3>0=> xy^2z^3<0. Yes

Suff.

[A] or [D]

(ii) x>0
=> y>0 & z<0 or y<0 & z>0
y>0 & z<0: => y^2>0, z^3<0 => xy^2z^3<0. Yes
y<0 & z>0: => y^2>0, z^3>0 => xy^2z^3>0. No

Insuff.

hence, [A]
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