When dealing with data sufficiency questions, it is best to start by asking ourselves: What do I need? In this case, we need to know x's relationship to 2. So if we had a single equation that yielded a single value for x, we would have sufficient data. x^3 = 8, for example, would be enough whereas x^2 = 9 would not be enough, as the second equation would yield two values. Alternatively, we could have a system of equations that would give us a single value for x or a range of values that do not intersect 2.
Statement 1 does not give me enough information. It simply defines x in terms of y, some number that I don't know.
Statement 2 tells me something about y, but not much. It is tempting to multiply both sides by y to come up with the idea that y>1. However, y could be negative, in which case the sign would flip.
Both statements together do not give me much information. If y were 5, then x would need to be greater than 10. If, on the other hand, y were -5, then x would need to be less than -10. Accordingly, the data are not sufficient to determine x's value.
(E)
Elias Latour
Verbal Specialist @ ApexGMAT
blog.apexgmat.com
+1 (646) 736-7622
