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DS #500 Test 20 - Q 20

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f2001290: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 400; Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:04 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 1 times

by f2001290 » Mon May 14, 2007 2:55 am

20. Is x negative ?
(1) n^3(1 - x^2) < 0
(2) x^2 - 1 < 0

OA after few explanations

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency | Mon May 14, 2007 2:55 am

bww: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 55; Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:25 am; Location: MA; Thanked: 1 times

by bww » Mon May 14, 2007 6:01 am

I'm getting E, which, according to the answer key, is not the OA.

I) whatever n is, (1-x^2) must be the opposite, i.e. if n is positive, then n^3 is positive and thus (1-x^2) must be a negative value. if n is negative, then n^3 is negative and thus (1-x^2) must be a positive value for its product to be less than 0. regardless, we don't know what x is because x^2 always produces a positive value. I) alone is not sufficient.

II) with x^2-1<0, it is implied that x must be a fraction. again, x could be either negative or positive given the fact that x^2 is always positive. II) alone is not sufficient either.

combining the two statements, we learn that x is a fraction less than 1, but it can be either negative or positive. thus, both statements together are not sufficient, no? am i missing something?

you can also work the inequalities...for I) by multiplying you have n^3-n^3x^2<0 which ultimately produces x^2>0. for II) you have x^2-1<0 which produces x^2<1. so we have 0<x^2<1 when combining the two statements. x must be a fraction, but could be either negative or positive.

Last edited by bww on Mon May 14, 2007 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.

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f2001290: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 400; Joined: Sat Mar 10, 2007 4:04 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 1 times

by f2001290 » Mon May 14, 2007 6:26 am

I think E is the right answer. I was stumped when I saw the OA.

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bww: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 55; Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2007 6:25 am; Location: MA; Thanked: 1 times

by bww » Mon May 14, 2007 6:33 am

there are several erroneous answers in the answer key. let's hope this is one of them!

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