BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
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
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

How to approach ques such as this?

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1100
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 11:34 pmFollowed by: 24 members
Location: New Delhi, India
Thanked: 205 times

by GMATinsight » Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:44 am
anurag_7 wrote:If $ defines a certain operation, is p $ q less than 20?

(1) x $ y = 2x² - y for all values of x and y

(2) p = 4, q = 10
Question : is p $ q less than 20?

[We need to know the meaning op operation $ to answer the question]

Statement 1) x $ y = 2x² - y for all values of x and y

Therefore p $ q = 2p² - q

But since the values of p and q are unknown therefore INSUFFICIENT

Statement 2) p = 4, q = 10
But the meaning of operator $ is unknown therefore INSUFFICIENT

Combining the two statements
[ p $ q = 2p² - q ] and [ p = 4, q = 10 ]

p $ q = 2*4^2 - 10 = 32 - 10 = 22 Which is greater than 20, Answering the question as NO therefore,

SUFFICIENT

Answer: Option C
"GMATinsight"Bhoopendra Singh & Sushma Jha
Most Comprehensive and Affordable Video Course 2000+ CONCEPT Videos and Video Solutions
Whatsapp/Mobile: +91-9999687183 l [email protected]
Contact for One-on-One FREE ONLINE DEMO Class Call/e-mail
Most Efficient and affordable One-On-One Private tutoring fee - US$40-50 per hour
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 2630
Joined: Wed Sep 12, 2012 3:32 pmFollowed by: 119 members
Location: East Bay all the way
Thanked: 625 times
GMAT Score:780

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:04 am
S1 tells us the operation, but not the values of p and q; INSUFFICIENT.

S2 tells us the values of p and q, but not what the operation $ does; INSUFFICIENT.

Together, we know that p $ q = 2p² - q. Since p = 4 and q = 10, we have p $ q = 4 $ 10 = 2*4² - 10 = 22. So we can answer definitively that p $ q is NOT less than 20; SUFFICIENT.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2013 2:03 pm

by anurag_7 » Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:22 am
Problem solved. Thanks.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
Elite Legendary Member
Posts: 10392
Joined: Sun Jun 23, 2013 6:38 pmFollowed by: 511 members
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Thanked: 2867 times
GMAT Score:800

by [email protected] » Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:10 pm
Hi anurag_7,

This DS prompt is a "symbolism" question - a prompt in which a "made-up" symbol is defined, then you're asked to do a simple calculation with it.

The design of this question is interesting though...you DON'T actually have to calculate anything. Fact 1 defines the symbol and Fact 2 tells you what numbers to plug in and where. You COULD calculate the end result and then you would be able to answer the question. Whether the answer is YES or NO is irrelevant because there would be just one answer.

Final Answer: C

Many of the DS questions you'll face on Test Day are built around specific shortcuts and patterns. Spotting these patterns can save you some serious time and "mental strain".

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Contact Rich at [email protected]
Image
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1