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## Is x = 1/y?

tagged by: Brent@GMATPrepNow

This topic has 2 expert replies and 0 member replies
jjjinapinch Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Joined
24 Jul 2017
Posted:
83 messages

#### Is x = 1/y?

Mon Jul 24, 2017 9:32 am
Is x = 1/y?

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

Official Guide question

### GMAT/MBA Expert

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

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

Official Guide question
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

Cheers,
Brent

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Rich.C@EMPOWERgmat.com Elite Legendary Member
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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

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

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