Modulus inequality --Veritas question

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by Jeff@TargetTestPrep » Mon Jan 29, 2018 10:22 am
Mo2men wrote:If |12x−5|>|7−6x|, which of the following CANNOT be the product of two possible values of x?

A. -12
B. -7/5
C. -2/9
D. 4/9
E. 17
Let's first solve for when (12x - 5) and (7 - 6x) are both positive.

12x - 5 > 7 - 6x

18x > 12

x > 12/18

x > 2/3

Now let's solve for when (12x - 5) is negative and (7 - 6x) is positive.

-(12x - 5) > 7 - 6x

-12x + 5 > 7 - 6x

-2 > 6x

-1/3 > x

So we have x < -1/3 or x > 2/3.

If x were -1/3 or 2/3, then the product would be -2/9. However, the inequalities specify that x can be neither -1/3 nor 2/3, so we know the product of two possible values of x cannot be -2/9.

Answer: C

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