answer should be E.
stem1: tells us that p<0>0: insuff
stem2: tells us that p<0>0: insuff
combined still insuff
EDIT:
gosh... my posts from late late last night don't make any sense at all lol.
the above should read:
stem1: p<0>0
stem2: p<0>0
combined still insuff
EDIT2:
OMG its not me... its the html tags taking out my 'q's and 'r's lol
add q>0 to what I wrote for stem1
and r>0 to what I wrote for stem2
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If p < q and p < r, is (p)(q)(r) < p?
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
I think answer is E
1: substitute PQR
-2, 1, -1.5 : false
-2, 1, 1.5 : true
so not suff
2: substitute PQR
-2, -1.5, 1 : false
-2, 1.5, 1 : true
so not suff
combining 1 and 2 and given constraints
means
p <0
q > 0
r > 0
substitue values pqr
-1, .5, 1 : false
-1, 2, 1 : true
not suff
1: substitute PQR
-2, 1, -1.5 : false
-2, 1, 1.5 : true
so not suff
2: substitute PQR
-2, -1.5, 1 : false
-2, 1.5, 1 : true
so not suff
combining 1 and 2 and given constraints
means
p <0
q > 0
r > 0
substitue values pqr
-1, .5, 1 : false
-1, 2, 1 : true
not suff
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Statement 1 :
pq < 0 --> p and q have DIFFERENT SIGNS
Since p<q, p must be NEGATIVE, q must be positive.
Statement 2:
pr < 0 --> p and r have DIFFERENT SIGNS
Since p<r, p must be NEGATIVE, q must be positive.
Since both statements indicate that p is negative, we can safely divide the question stem by p, making sure to flip the inequality when we divide:
pqr < p
pqr/p > p/p ?
qr > 1
Question stem, rephrased:
Given that p is negative, is qr > 1?
Statements combined:
Case 1: p=-1, q=1, and r=1
In this case, qr=1, so the answer to the question stem is NO.
Case 2: p=-1, q=1 and r=2
In this case, qr=2, so the answer to the question stem is YES.
Since the answer is NO in Case 1 but YES in Case 2, the two statements combined are INSUFFICIENT.
The correct answer is E.
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Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.
As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.
For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
