B?

1) Compares only minimum values so x and y can be anything - NOT SUFF

2) Compares the max of x with the minimum of y and because the minimum of y is greater than the maximum of x, y > x SUFF

moonlite wrote:If a < x < b and c < y < d, is x < y?
(1) a < c
(2) b < c

(A) Please explain. Thanks.

Your posted answer is incorrect; the correct answer is (B).

From (1), we have no way to compare x and y.

However, from (2) we can write one giant inequality:

a < x < b < c < y < d,

clearly showing that x < y.

On this problem, I tried to combine the inequality for statement 1:

lining it up this way

a < c
a < x
c < y

Is the rule that you can only line up going across not down? Just trying to get a surefire way to look at these and know when you can connect them and when you aren't supposed to. I connected them by adding to say 2a<2c<x<y. Clearly incorrect but not sure why.