C should be the answer.
Question stem indicates n and p are integers.
Stmt1: n+1 > 0. Says nothing about p. Insufficient. Left with B, C, or E.
Stmt2: np > 0. n and p could both be positive or negative. Insufficient. Left with C or E.
Combining both, from stmt1 we can deduce that n is positive as the sum of n and 1 is positive. (having n as a negative number < -1 will make the sum negative, if n = 0 or 1 then also the inequality would not hold true).
From stmt2 we know that product of n and p is positive. As n is positive (from stmt1) p has to be positive for the product to be positive.
Hence C.
BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course
Redeem
Featured Course
Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand
Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.
- 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
- 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
- 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
- 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
- 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
- TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
- 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
- OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
- Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
- MBA Admissions Consulting now available
- 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
- 200,000+ students served
- 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★
5.0
(559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start
then $127/mo
Inequality
Source: Beat The GMAT — Data Sufficiency |
Here's how I approached it ... and provide you with a view of my thought process.
Q-stem analysis:
Note: n and p are integers.
Is p>0 ? In other words is p positive.
(at this stage I am thinking that the question is going to test my knowledge of the positive/negative number properties)
Which of the 2 statements are easier to work with. Statement 1 is an easy. Lets start with that ... and draw out the AD/BCE answer grid.
(1) n+1 > 0 .... no information about p here. So we can cross out AD. Left with BCE.
Note: at this stage you may also want to quickly rearrange n+1>0 to n>-1
(2) np > 0
So based on our knowledge of positive and negatives ... we know that in order for the product of 2 integers to be positive, then the integers need to have the same sign. So either n and p are both negative, or they are both positive, in order for this inequality to be true.
So we cannot say whether p is positive or negative. Hence INSUFF. Cross out B. Left with choices C and E.
(1) and (2) together.
From (1) we know n>-1 ... so this means that n cannot be a negative integer. And this leads onto statement (2) If n cannot be a negative, then it has to be positive, which means that p has to be the same sign, and hence positive. SUFF. Choose C.
Hope this helps.
Q-stem analysis:
Note: n and p are integers.
Is p>0 ? In other words is p positive.
(at this stage I am thinking that the question is going to test my knowledge of the positive/negative number properties)
Which of the 2 statements are easier to work with. Statement 1 is an easy. Lets start with that ... and draw out the AD/BCE answer grid.
(1) n+1 > 0 .... no information about p here. So we can cross out AD. Left with BCE.
Note: at this stage you may also want to quickly rearrange n+1>0 to n>-1
(2) np > 0
So based on our knowledge of positive and negatives ... we know that in order for the product of 2 integers to be positive, then the integers need to have the same sign. So either n and p are both negative, or they are both positive, in order for this inequality to be true.
So we cannot say whether p is positive or negative. Hence INSUFF. Cross out B. Left with choices C and E.
(1) and (2) together.
From (1) we know n>-1 ... so this means that n cannot be a negative integer. And this leads onto statement (2) If n cannot be a negative, then it has to be positive, which means that p has to be the same sign, and hence positive. SUFF. Choose C.
Hope this helps.
