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

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach 7 seats left
Chris Peckover
NEXT LIVE COHORT

Oct 13 to Jan 7, 2027

with Chris Peckover

Schedule
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Included
40 live hours + 6 months of GMAT OnDemand
  • Live instruction and real-time questions
  • Class recordings and assigned practice
View class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeach 5 seats left
Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll
Limited cohort · enrollment openTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

Sequence with algebra Yikes!

Expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by manik11 » Thu Nov 05, 2015 11:02 am
oquiella wrote:Please repost with right formatting if possible.

In the sequence a1,a2,...,an,...,a1=x and an=y-Za(n−1) for all n>1. Is a3>a2?

(1) z>y2+2
(2) x>y/(z+1)


Please breakdown the algebra.
I have done some correction in statement 2

So..here goes..
First simplify the question a bit. It asks whether a3>a2
a2 = Y - Za1 --> Y - ZX (a1 = X)
a3 = Y - Za2--> Y -Z(Y-Za1) --> Y-Z(Y-Zx) [Substitute a2 in a3]

Question rephrased:
Is : Y-Z(Y-Zx) > Y - ZX
--> -Z(Y-Zx) > -Zx (subtract Y from both sides)
--> Z(Y-Zx) < Zx (multiply by -1)

Final rephrased question : Is Z(Y-Zx) <Zx

1) z>y^2+2

You can see we can't really deduce anything about our rephrased question from this statement. INSUFFICIENT

2) x>y/(z+1)

Any way you dice it this statement doesn't really help us answer the question either. INSUFFICIENT

Combining 1 and 2

Statement 1: z>y^2+2 From this you know that Z is a number(Y) squared plus 2 so this means that Z must have to be a positive number

With this piece of info lets check out our rephrased question again

rephrased question : Is Z(Y-Zx) <Zx ?

Now since we know the sign of Z (+ ive) we can divide both sides of the inequality by Z
SO..now we've got Is Y-Zx < x ?

rearrange the like terms
Y < X (1+Z)
Divide both sides by (1+Z)....remember we know that Z is positive so Z+1 is positive too. We can divide by (Z+1) without flipping the inequality

Y/(1+Z) < X --->> This is exactly what statement 2 tells us. Awesome!

Final answer : C
Join the discussion

by Matt@VeritasPrep » Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:31 pm
oquiella wrote:Please repost with right formatting if possible.

In the sequence a1,a2,...,an,...,a1=x and an=y-zan−1 for all n>1. Is a3>a2?

(1) z>y2+2
(2) x>yz+1


Please breakdown the algebra.
I'm not sure what your formatting should be: is it

a� = x
aₑ = y - z*aₑ₋�

?

Not sure how to read S2 either.
Join the discussion