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If -1<x<0, which of the following must be true? 1. x^3

Expert replies
by alanforde800Maximus » Mon Sep 26, 2016 6:45 pm
If -1<x<0, which of the following must be true?
1. x^3 < x^2
2. x^5 < 1-x
3. x^4 < x^2

a) 1 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1 and 3 only
e) 1,2 and 3 only

Please assist with above problem.
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Source: — Problem Solving |

by [email protected] » Mon Sep 26, 2016 7:08 pm
Hi alanforde800Maximus,

This question is based on several Number Properties, so you can get to the solution knowing those NPs, TESTing VALUES or a combination of the two.

From the given range, we know that X is a NEGATIVE FRACTION between -1 and 0. We're asked which of the following MUST be true.

I. X^3 < X^2

(negative)^3 = negative
(negative)^2 = positive

(negative) is always less than a (positive)
Roman Numeral I is ALWAYS TRUE

II. X^5 < 1 - X

(negative)^5 = negative
1 - (negative) = postiive

(negative) is always less than a (positive)
Roman Numeral II is ALWAYS TRUE

III. X^4 < X^2

Both X^4 and X^2 will be positive in these circumstances, so we have to think about what happens when you raise a negative fraction to those two exponents.

(-1/2)^4 = +1/16
(-1/2)^2 = +1/4

1/16 < 1/4
This relationship will hold true for any value from the given range.
Roman Numeral III is ALWAYS TRUE

Final Answer: E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
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by Matt@VeritasPrep » Thu Sep 29, 2016 7:29 pm
I:

Divide both sides by x², which gives

x < 1

True!

(Alternatively, notice that the left side is negative and the right side is positive, so this must be true. We'll use this same trick below in the next one.)

II:

Left side will be negative, right side will be positive. Neg < Pos is always true, so

True!

III:

Divide both sides by x²:

x² < 1

Since -1 < x < 0, squaring x will always give a result between 0 and 1, so

True!

And we're left with E.
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by ceilidh.erickson » Sat Oct 01, 2016 7:40 pm
Matt & Rich have given you good explanations to this one. Here are some more similar problems for you to try, since the GMAT really likes questions with exponents and inequalities, and these can sometimes be conceptually tricky:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/is-a-0-data- ... tml#758157
https://www.beatthegmat.com/is-x-5-x-4-t ... tml#690059
https://www.beatthegmat.com/inequality-t ... tml#695923
https://www.beatthegmat.com/nice-one-is- ... tml#576809
Ceilidh Erickson
EdM in Mind, Brain, and Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
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