GMATPrep Q5

IMO E

ZT < -3

so z and t have to be of different signs

2) says t < -4

so z has to be positive..

think one second that t = -4( its highest value)

Z > -3/-4
Z>.75

but we have taken highest value of t ..so as increase -negatively..
-3/-t ratio decreases...

So we cannot conclude that z > 4
Max we can say that z > 3/4

Lets make it easier. Picking smart numbers works wonders for this problem and the computations dont take long.


zt < -3 Is z < 4

Stmt I

z<9

z= 8 t=-1000 zt < -3 z<4 NO

z=1 t= -1000 zt<-3 z<4 YES

INSUFF

Stmt II

t < -4 (Use same example)

z= 8 t=-1000 zt < -3 z<4 NO

z=1 t= -1000 zt<-3 z<4 YES


INSUFF

Together

Same example again no need to pick new numbers

ISNUFF

Choose E)

cramya wrote:Lets make it easier. Picking smart numbers works wonders for this problem and the computations dont take long.


zt < -3 Is z < 4

Stmt I

z<9

z= 8 t=-1000 zt < -3 z<4 NO

z=1 t= -1000 zt<-3 z<4 YES

INSUFF

Stmt II

t < -4 (Use same example)

z= 8 t=-1000 zt < -3 z<4 NO

z=1 t= -1000 zt<-3 z<4 YES


INSUFF

Together

Same example again no need to pick new numbers

ISNUFF

Choose E)

Cramya,
IMO Stmt 1 is very very straight forward and does not need any calc at all.
z < 9. so z can be 8.99,.. 8, 7.... minus infinity. So some are >4 and others are < 4 and 1 of them =4. So insufficient.
So I really dint have to substitute into zt and then figure out.

is my reasoning right ??

When I saw this stmt, I thought that I am seeing a very very simple stmt, and the test makers hope that the test takers, with all their preparation for tough questions, will make this stmt unnecessarily complicated and spend time trying to solve it, thereby killing time. And this is what test makers want!!!.

Do u folks also think that stmt 1 is in the above category??

thanks

Do u folks also think that stmt 1 is in the above category??

I agree. I illustrated it with numbers(as I could use it for all statements without having to pick new numbers) but if u feel comfortable attacking it conceptually then that works too.

Like u did we should do what works best for us rather than follow a certain procedure for atacking a problem. Whatever comes to the mind first. This way u get comfortable with the process and are confident in picking a choice.

I agree with u Cramya.
But, because I found stmt 1 to be too simple, I thought I might be absolutely correct or absolutely wrong. Sometimes the mind tricks us into believing something and often that happens when we jump into conclusion and start following an approach.

I wanted to eliminate the "absolute wrong"..

Good, that I my approach happened to be correct. i have more confidence in solving it this way.

thanks