If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest

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AAPL: Moderator; Posts: 2685; Joined: Sun Oct 29, 2017 2:08 pmFollowed by: 2 members

by AAPL » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:21 am

If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

A) 1-h
B) 1+h
C) 1+h^2
D) 1-1/h
E) 1-1/(h^2)

The OA is D.

Experts, to solve this PS question, can I take a value for h? for example h = -0.5, and then I can test each answer option and get the result for each one and see which has the greatest value, right?

Is there a strategic approach to this question? Can any experts help? Thanks!

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:21 am

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Brent@GMATPrepNow: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 16207; Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members; Location: Vancouver, BC; Thanked: 5254 times; GMAT Score:770

If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:35 am

AAPL wrote:If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

A) 1-h
B) 1+h
C) 1+h^2
D) 1-1/h
E) 1-1/(h^2)

The OA is D.

Experts, to solve this PS question, can I take a value for h? for example h = -0.5, and then I can test each answer option and get the result for each one and see which has the greatest value, right?

Is there a strategic approach to this question? Can any experts help? Thanks!

Your suggested strategy is perfect.
Since there can be only 1 correct answer, then we can pick any value of h that meets the condition that -1 < h < 0
If h = -1/2, then the 5 answer choices evaluate as follows:

A) 1 - (-1/2) = 1.5
B) 1 + (-1/2) = 0.5
C) 1+ (-1/2)Â² = 1 + 0.25 = 1.25
D) 1 - 1/(-1/2) = 1 - (-2) = 3
E) 1 - 1/(-1/2)Â² = 1 - 1/(1/4) = 1 - 4 = -3

The greatest value is 3

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent

Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com

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Jeff@TargetTestPrep: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 1462; Joined: Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:34 amFollowed by: 22 members; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 39 times

by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Wed Jan 24, 2018 9:44 am

AAPL wrote:If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

A) 1-h
B) 1+h
C) 1+h^2
D) 1-1/h
E) 1-1/(h^2)

We see that h is a negative proper fraction. Let's say h = -1/2 and check the answer choices to find the greatest resulting value.

A. 1 - (-1/2) = 1.5

B. 1 + (-1/2) = 1/2

C. 1 + (-1/2)^2 = 1 + 1/4 = 1.25

D. 1 - 1/(-1/2) = 1 - (-2) = 3

E. 1 - 1/(-1/2)^2 = 1 - 1/(1/4)= 1 - 4 = -3

Answer: D

Jeffrey Miller
Head of GMAT Instruction
[email protected]

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