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 →

Is x = 1/y?

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pmFollowed by: 1268 members
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
GMAT Score:770

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:39 am
jjjinapinch wrote:Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Official Guide question
Answer: D
Target question: Is x = 1/y?

Statement 1: xy = 1
This tells us that y does NOT equal 0
So, if we take xy = 1 and divide both sides by y, we get x = 1/y
PERFECT, this is exactly what we are looking for.
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 1/(xy) = 1
This tells us that x and y do NOT equal 0
So, we can take 1/(xy) and multiply both sides by x to get 1/y = x
Also PERFECT!
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
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] » Tue Apr 03, 2018 9:08 pm
Hi All,

We're asked if X = (1/Y). This is a YES/NO question. We can answer it by 'rewriting' the question and the given information so that the various equations appear in the same 'format.' To start, we can rewrite the question by multiplying both sides by Y --- this lead to "Does (X)(Y) = 1?"

1) (X)(Y) = 1

Fact 1 tells us exactly what we need to know. Since (X)(Y) = 1, the answer to the given question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT

2) (1)/(X)(Y) = 1

Fact 2 can be rewritten as 1 = (X)(Y)(1) --> 1 = (X)(Y). In that same way that Fact 1 tells us exactly what we need to know about (X)(Y), so does Fact 2 - and the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT

Final Answer: D

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
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2020 9:55 pm

Re: Is x = 1/y?

by AdityaBir » Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:50 am
Is x = 1/y ?
1) xy=1
x=1/y
statement 1) alone is sufficient.
2) 1/xy = 1
shifting x to right side we get 1/y=x.
statement 2) alone is sufficient.
Both statements independently are sufficient to determine whether x=1/y
Hence option D is correct.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8139
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times

Re: Is x = 1/y?

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Sat May 08, 2021 10:00 am
jjjinapinch wrote: ↑
Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:32 am
 Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Official Guide question
Answer: D
Solution:

Question Stem Analysis:

We need to determine whether x = 1/y.

Statement One Alone:

Dividing both sides by y (since y can’t be 0), we have x = 1/y. Statement one alone is sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

Multiplying both sides by xy (since xy can’t be 0), we have xy = 1. Since this is the same as statement one and statement one is sufficient, statement two is also sufficient.

Answer: D

Scott Woodbury-Stewart
Founder and CEO
[email protected]

Image

See why Target Test Prep is rated 5 out of 5 stars on BEAT the GMAT. Read our reviews

ImageImage
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1