xyz ≠ 0, what does this mean?

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Hey guys, sorry but I have a small stupid question.

look at the following question:

if xyz≠0, then what is the value of x^4:y^2?

my question is ONLY: WHAT DOES XYZ≠0 MEAN? what are they trying to tell me with that?

in an other example they ask this.


if x≠-(1:2), then 6x^2+11x-7:2x-1=

my question here again is also: WHAT DOES x≠=-(1:2) mean? what are they trying to tell me with that? that x can be everything except -1:2?

thanks in advance everybody..im making the gmat 16 november, please pray that I pass it.
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by kmittal82 » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:24 am
xyz is not equal to 0 means x * y * z is not equal to zero, or in other words, neither of x,y or z is 0

The : sign normally stands for ratio.

x:y = x/y

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by [email protected] » Mon Nov 01, 2010 7:44 am
kmittal82 wrote:xyz is not equal to 0 means x * y * z is not equal to zero, or in other words, neither of x,y or z is 0

The : sign normally stands for ratio.

x:y = x/y
thank you very much for your fast reply.

I understand it now. in the other example so it simply means that x is not -1/2. thank you very much once again, and I will know write quotient as 1/1 instead of 1:1