Hi
If a/b <1 this implies a<b>a
dividing both side by a
b/a >1
If a/b is less than 1, what has to be greater than 1?
This topic has expert replies
Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving |
-
preetha_85
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:41 am
- Location: INDIA
- Thanked: 2 times
-
CappyAA
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:07 am
- Thanked: 21 times
- Followed by:14 members
- GMAT Score:750
The question is stated wrong. Set a = 2 and b = 3
a/b = 2/3 <1> 1
b) b/a^2 = 3/4 < 1 - RULE OUT
c) a/2b = 2/6 < 1 - RULE OUT
d) sqrt(a/b) = sqrt(2/3) < 1 - RULE OUT
e) a/b^2 = 2/9 < 1 - RULE OUT
So it is valid in this case for A
But in negative numbers as a previous poster said, where a = 2 and b = -3, both a/b and b/a are negative. So A is the answer assuming both a and b are positive.
a/b = 2/3 <1> 1
b) b/a^2 = 3/4 < 1 - RULE OUT
c) a/2b = 2/6 < 1 - RULE OUT
d) sqrt(a/b) = sqrt(2/3) < 1 - RULE OUT
e) a/b^2 = 2/9 < 1 - RULE OUT
So it is valid in this case for A
But in negative numbers as a previous poster said, where a = 2 and b = -3, both a/b and b/a are negative. So A is the answer assuming both a and b are positive.
How can you divide by a, if you know nothing about it? Maybe a=0? You can't divide by zero.preetha_85 wrote:Hi
If a/b <1 this implies a<b>a
dividing both side by a
b/a >1
I agree something seems to be missing in the problem.
If the statement 'a/b<1' is true, we have three cases:
1) both a and b >0, and a<b
2) a=0, b = any number
3) a - negative, b - positive, and visa versa a - positive, b - negative.
Thus, we should check all tree cases to come up with the answer.

















