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 →

If a and b are two consecutive

Expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Legendary Member
Posts: 2898
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 2:49 pmFollowed by: 5 members
Thanked: 6 times
by Vincen » Mon Sep 25, 2017 7:20 pm
If a and b are two consecutive even integers such that a > b and 3a < 2b. then which of the following describes the range of possible values for b?

A) b > 0
B) b < 0
C) b < -6
D) b > 6
E) b < 4

The OA is C.

I need help. Experts can you explain this PS question to me? Thanks.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Problem Solving |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3008
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 6:19 amFollowed by: 34 members
Location: Grand Central / New York
Thanked: 470 times

by Jay@ManhattanReview » Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:36 pm
Vincen wrote:If a and b are two consecutive even integers such that a > b and 3a < 2b. then which of the following describes the range of possible values for b?

A) b > 0
B) b < 0
C) b < -6
D) b > 6
E) b < 4

The OA is C.

I need help. Experts can you explain this PS question to me? Thanks.
It is given that a and b are two consecutive even integers such that a > b and 3a < 2b.

3a < 2b => 1.5a < b

Given that a > b, if a were positive, 1.5a > b; however, it is given that 1.5a < b. It implies that a and b are negative even integers.

The correct answer must be either B or C.

To choose between B and C, let's choose a test value for b that lies between 0 and -6.

Say b = -4, thus a = -2 (consecutive even and a > b).

Test this in 1.5a < b.

At a = -2 and b = -4, 1.5a < b => 1.5*(-2) ? -4 => -3 > -4. This is incorrect possible value of b, thus b must not lie between 0 and -6. Thus, the correct answer is C.

Hope this helps!

Download free ebook: Manhattan Review GMAT Quantitative Question Bank Guide

-Jay
_________________
Manhattan Review GMAT Prep

Locations: New York | Hyderabad | Mexico City | Toronto | and many more...

Schedule your free consultation with an experienced GMAT Prep Advisor! Click here.
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 » Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:08 pm
We want a common term in each inequality in order to chain them together, so multiply the first inequality by 3.

With that, we've got 3a > 3b and 2b > 3a. That chains into 2b > 3a > 3b, or 2b > 3b.

2b > 3b isn't possible for any positive b, so b is negative. But if b = -2, then a = 0 and 2b > 3a doesn't hold. Likewise, if b = -6, then a = -4 and 2b > 3a doesn't hold, so b < -6.
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 » Tue Sep 26, 2017 5:10 pm
We could also set a in terms of b at the outset: a = b + 2, since a > b and they're consecutive evens.

With that, replace a with b + 2 in the second inequality:

2b > 3 * (b + 2)

2b > 3b + 6

-6 > b
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 8137
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2015 10:56 amFollowed by: 29 members
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Thanked: 43 times

by Scott@TargetTestPrep » Fri Dec 15, 2017 9:50 am
Vincen wrote:If a and b are two consecutive even integers such that a > b and 3a < 2b. then which of the following describes the range of possible values for b?

A) b > 0
B) b < 0
C) b < -6
D) b > 6
E) b < 4
Since a and b are consecutive even integers and a > b, we can say that a = b + 2.

We can substitute b + 2 for a in the inequality 3a < 2b and we have:

3(b+2) < 2b

3b + 6 < 2b

b < -6

Answer: C

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