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 Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
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 Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget 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.

p>q, Is q negative?

Expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

by Keith@ThePrincetonReview » Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:39 pm
VJesus12 wrote:p>q, Is q negative?

(1) pq + q^2 is positive
(2) (p^2)(q) + (p)(q^2) is positive

The OA is E.

How can I determine that the correct answer is the option E? May someone help me?
This is a Yes/No question with variables in the question stem and in the statements, so you can Plug In values for p and q.

Statement (1) states that pq + q^2 > 0
Plug In p=2 and q=3, so that (2)(3) + (3)^2 > 0, and 6 + 9 > 0.
Since the inequality is true when q=3, q can be positive.
Try to prove the statement insufficient by showing that q can also be negative.
Plug In p=2 and q=-3, so that (2)(-3) + (-3)^2 > 0, and -6 + 9 > 0.
Since the inequality is true when q=-3, q can be negative.
Statement (1) is insufficient, so write down BCE.

Statement (2) states that (p^2)(q) + (p)(q^2) > 0
Factor p out of the expression on the left of the inequality sign, so that p(pq + q^2) > 0.
We know from Statement (1) that pq + q^2 > 0 can be true whether q is positive or negative.
Therefore, p(pq + q^2) > 0 can be true whether q is positive or negative.
Statement (2) is insufficient, so eliminate choice B.

The expression in Statement (2) is simply p times the expression in Statement (1), so the combination of the statements provides no additional information.
The correct answer is choice E.
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Sat Apr 14, 2018 2:56 am
VJesus12 wrote:p>q, Is q negative?

(1) pq + q^2 is positive
(2) (p^2)(q) + (p)(q^2) is positive
Statement 1:
Case 1: q=1
Substituting q=1 into pq + q² > 0, we get:
p(1) + 1² > 0
p > -1.
Since this case requires that p>-1, and the prompt requires that p>q, it's possible that p=2.
Thus, a valid combination for Statement 1 is p=2 and q=1, in which case the answer to the question stem is NO.

Case 2: q=-1
Substituting q=-1 into pq + q² > 0, we get:
p(-1) + (-1)² > 0
-p > -1.
p < 1.
Since this case requires that p<1, and the prompt requires that p>q, it's possible that p=1/2.
Thus, a valid combination for Statement 1 is p=1/2 and q=-1, in which case the answer to the question stem is YES.

Since the answer is NO in Case 1 but YES in Case 2, INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2:
Test whether Case 1 (p=2 and q=1) satisfies p²q + pq² > 0:
2²(1) + 2(1²) > 0
6 > 0.
This works.
Thus, a valid combination for Statement 2 is p=2 and q=1, in which case the answer to the question stem is NO..

Test whether Case 2 (p=1/2 and q=-1) satisfies p²q + pq² > 0:
(1/2)²(-1) + (1/2)(-1)² > 0
-1/4 + 1/2 > 0
1/4 > 0.
This works.
Thus, a valid combination for Statement 2 is p=1/2 and q=-1, in which case the answer to the question stem is YES.

Since the answer is NO in Case 1 but YES in Case 2, INSUFFICIENT.

Statements combined:
Cases 1 and 2 satisfy both statements.
Since the answer is NO in Case 1 but YES in Case 2, the two statements combined are INSUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is E.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion