Is xy > 16?
(1) 1 < |x| < 4
(2) y > 16
What's the best way to determine which statement is sufficient? Can any experts help?
5-Day Free Trial
5-day free, full-access trial TTP
Available with Beat the GMAT members only code
MORE DETAILS
Is xy > 16?
This topic has expert replies
-
BTGmoderatorAT
- Moderator
- Posts: 426
- Joined: Tue Aug 22, 2017 8:48 pm
- Followed by:1 members
-
GMATGuruNY
- GMAT Instructor
- Posts: 15539
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm
- Location: New York, NY
- Thanked: 13060 times
- Followed by:1906 members
- GMAT Score:790
Both statements are satisfied by the following cases:ardz24 wrote:Is xy > 16?
(1) 1 < |x| < 4
(2) y > 16
Case 1: x=2 and y=20, with the result that xy > 16.
Case 2: x=-2 and y=20, with the result that xy < 16.
Since the answer is YES in Case 1 but NO 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
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
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 xy > 16?ardz24 wrote:Is xy > 16?
(1) 1 < |x| < 4
(2) y > 16
Statement 1: 1 < |x| < 4
Since there's no information about y, we cannot determine whether xy is greater than 16
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Statement 2: y > 16
Since there's no information about x, we cannot determine whether xy is greater than 16
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT
Statements 1 and 2 combined
There are several values of x and y that satisfy BOTH statements. Here are two:
Case a: x = 2 and y = 20, in which case xy = 40. In this case, the answer to the target question is YES, xy IS greater than 16
Case b: x = -2 and y = 20, in which case xy = -40. In this case, the answer to the target question is NO, xy is NOT greater than 16
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, the combined statements are NOT SUFFICIENT
Answer: E
Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
