Q) If p is a positive is p > 4 ?
1) p^4 = 256
2) (p^2 - 1)(p - 4) >0
I get Statement 1 is sufficient.But how's statement 2 sufficient ? Answer is D
Thanks
Inequality DS ; Little help
This topic has expert replies
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:25 am
- Thanked: 1 times
- Followed by:13 members
-
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:53 pm
- Location: Mumbai
- Thanked: 1 times
Statement 2 is not sufficient
as the inequality can be satisfied by the following ranges
p-> (-1,1)U(4,infinity)
for eg.
P=0 satisfies the inequality and also any value of p greater than 4
hence this statement is insufficient.
The OA should be A and not D
what is the source of the problem??
as the inequality can be satisfied by the following ranges
p-> (-1,1)U(4,infinity)
for eg.
P=0 satisfies the inequality and also any value of p greater than 4
hence this statement is insufficient.
The OA should be A and not D
what is the source of the problem??
Replying a query takes patience and time. The least a person can do is to thank the reply.
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:25 am
- Thanked: 1 times
- Followed by:13 members
Its from a mock test given to us at an institute...
I chose A ; the answer at the back is D.
Need an expert's advice to clarify this.
I chose A ; the answer at the back is D.
Need an expert's advice to clarify this.
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
Target question: Is p > 4 ?soni_pallavi wrote:Q) If p is a positive is p > 4 ?
1) p^4 = 256
2) (p^2 - 1)(p - 4) > 0
Statement 1: p^4 = 256
256 = (4)(4)(4)(4)
So, if p^4 = 256 (and p is positive), then we can be certain that p = 4
Once we know the value of p, we can answer the target question with certainty, which means statement 1 is SUFFICIENT
Statement 2: (p^2 - 1)(p - 4) > 0
Factor to get: (p-1)(p+1)(p-4) > 0
There are several values of p that meet this condition. Here are two:
Case a: p = 1/2 in which case p is not greater than 4
Case b: p = 5 in which case p is greater than 4
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Aside: jkaustubh noted that p=0 satisfies the given inequality, but the question tells us that p is positive. As such, p cannot equal 0
Answer = A
Cheers,
Brent
-
- Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2012 11:53 pm
- Location: Mumbai
- Thanked: 1 times
Thanks Brent for reminding me that 0 is not positive. I always make this mistake.
Thank you
Thank you
Replying a query takes patience and time. The least a person can do is to thank the reply.
-
- Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 3:25 am
- Thanked: 1 times
- Followed by:13 members
Hi Brent
I just noticed I forgot to mention that in the question,P is a positive integer...Hence the answer should infact be D
I just noticed I forgot to mention that in the question,P is a positive integer...Hence the answer should infact be D
GMAT/MBA Expert
- Brent@GMATPrepNow
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 16207
- Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
- Location: Vancouver, BC
- Thanked: 5254 times
- Followed by:1268 members
- GMAT Score:770
Agreed. If the question had read...soni_pallavi wrote:Hi Brent
I just noticed I forgot to mention that in the question,P is a positive integer...Hence the answer should infact be D
If p is a positive integer, is p > 4 ?
1) p^4 = 256
2) (p^2 - 1)(p - 4) > 0
...the answer would have been D
Cheers,
Brent