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

Redeem

Inequalities: Is A^B > B^A?

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
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

by Brent@GMATPrepNow » Sun Oct 21, 2012 6:16 am
tabsang wrote:Is A^B > B^A?

(1) A^A > A^B
(2) B^A > B^B

IMO: E

Please let me know your thoughts.
Tough question.

Target question: Is A^B > B^A?

I'll jump straight to . . .

Statements 1 and 2 combined:
If A^A > A^B and B^A > B^B, then there are different pairs of numbers that satisfy these conditions. Here are two:
case a: A = -5 and B = -3, in which case A^B is greater than B^A
case b: A = 5 and B = 2, in which case A^B is not greater than B^A

Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, the correct answer is E

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image
Top
User avatar
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 64
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2011 5:27 am
Thanked: 5 times

by tabsang » Sun Oct 21, 2012 7:15 am
Thanks Brent.
Awesome as always :)

Cheers,
Taz
Brent@GMATPrepNow wrote:
tabsang wrote:Is A^B > B^A?

(1) A^A > A^B
(2) B^A > B^B

IMO: E

Please let me know your thoughts.
Tough question.

Target question: Is A^B > B^A?

I'll jump straight to . . .

Statements 1 and 2 combined:
If A^A > A^B and B^A > B^B, then there are different pairs of numbers that satisfy these conditions. Here are two:
case a: A = -5 and B = -3, in which case A^B is greater than B^A
case b: A = 5 and B = 2, in which case A^B is not greater than B^A

Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, the correct answer is E

Cheers,
Brent
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1