Live GMAT classes with Target Test Prep start Nov 21 and Nov 22. First class free.

See classes
Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

Newsweek Readers’ Choice Awards 2026 winner: Target Test Prep, #1 Test Prep

Target Test Prep was voted #1 Best Test Prep in the 2026 Newsweek Readers’ Choice™ Awards.

★★★★★5.0563 reviews
GMATLiveTeachStarts Nov 22
Josh Braslow, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Josh Braslow, 20+ years in test prep

Nov 22 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemandStart anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

with

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemandStart anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

How to pick values for such problems

Expert replies
by gmatrant » Sun Oct 28, 2007 6:33 am
Can you give me suggestions as to how to deal with such problems
if d>0 and 0<1-(c/d)<1, which of the following must be true
I.c>0
II. c/d <1
III. c^2 +d^2>1

A)I only
B) II only
C) I and II only
D) II and III only
E) I ,II, and III

OA is C

I am really stumped when I encounter such problems( more so when such problems come in DS). How to I pick values intelligently and attack such problems? :cry:
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

by naren_nayak » Sun Oct 28, 2007 9:54 am
I don't know if this is the easiest method, but I try to focus just on being compliant with the original conditions with values that go against the conditon mentioned in the individual questions.
In this case, the conditions given are that d is positive &
0 < 1 - (c/d) < 1
i.e. 0 < (d-c)/d < 1

For the first one, they're asking if c must be > 0.
Going against this condition, c can be 0 or negative.
If c=0, then (d-c)/d = 0 and the condition is not satisfied.
Choosing a negative value of c, our goal is to prove that there is a value of c that is compliant with the original condition ((d-c)/d)).
If we choose d=5 and c=-1, then (d-c)/d = (5-(-1))/5 = 6/5 which is greater than 1. So any negative value of c will end up with the numerator greater than the denominator, giving you a number always greater than 1. Now you might find a value of c that is positive and is not compliant with the original condition (e.g. d=5 and c=10 => (5-10)/5, which is negative), but that has nothing to do with the question. If there is a value of c to satisfy the original conditon, it must be positive. So I is true.

For the second condition, they're asking if c/d < 1, i.e. if c must be < than d.
So if we choose values such that c=d and c>d, we can check if the condition is still valid.
If c=d, (d-c)/d becomes 0 so the condition is not valid
If c>d, since d is positive, the end result is negative and the condition is not valid.
So c must be < than d, and II is true as well.

For the third condition, they're asking if c^2 + d^2 > 1. This one is a little tricky.
We're looking for values of c & d such that this condition is not true, but the original conditon is. Positive & negative values of c & d that are integers will not work. If we choose d=0.5 and c=0.25, c^2 + d^2 < 1 and (d-c)/d = 0.25/0.5, which is between 0 and 1, so we've found values of c & d such that III is not true, but the original condition is, So this condition does not have to be true.

Short answer => the answer is C :)
Join the discussion

by samirpandeyit62 » Sun Oct 28, 2007 10:08 am
Can you give me suggestions as to how to deal with such problems
if d>0 and 0<1-(c/d)<1, which of the following must be true
I.c>0

1-(c/d) d > 0 +ve

so here if c is -ve then c/d will get added to 1 making it greater than 1 NOT Possible, also if c=0 then 1-c/d = 1 which again voilates the inequality.

hence c>0 must be true

II. c/d <1

if c/d = 1 or greater then 1-c/d = 0 or -ve which voilates the ineuqlity so this also needs to be true.

III. c^2 +d^2>1

c/d < 1 now this will be true even if value of c > d or c is -ve i.e voilation condition + this will be false if both c & d are decmimal between 0 & 1
Regards
Samir
Join the discussion