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

Redeem

DS question...with a twist

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Post Reply
Previous Topic Next Topic
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 575
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:58 am
Location: India
Thanked: 18 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:710

DS question...with a twist

by rahulg83 » Sat May 23, 2009 6:09 am
Is (x^7)(y^2)(z^3) > 0 ?

1. yz < 0
2. xz > 0

* Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (2) ALONE is not sufficient
* Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but Statement (1) ALONE is not sufficient
* BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient
* EACH statement ALONE is sufficient
* Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient
Top
Source: — Data Sufficiency |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:38 pm

Simple answer

by TryHarder » Sat May 23, 2009 6:18 am
Simplify the question stem first
x^7.y^2.z^3 > 0 is the same as (x^6.y^2.z^2).(x.z) > 0
we know that even powers of any number is always positive i.e. > 0
hence the stem can be rewritten as is xz>0
and without any further work B is the obvious answer
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 575
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:58 am
Location: India
Thanked: 18 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:710

by rahulg83 » Sat May 23, 2009 6:20 am
Its not the answer..
See the topic..with a twist :roll:
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 940
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:22 am
Thanked: 55 times
Followed by:1 members

by iamcste » Sat May 23, 2009 6:45 am
IMO C

From information statment 2 , Qtn can be rephrased as Is xz*y^2>0

(x and z both same sign hence both cannot be zero, dividing both sides by x^6*z^2)

From stem 1; y and z are of different sign....however term y^2 will yield positive and also y cant be 0

From stem 2, xz>0

Collectively,we know that xz*y^2>0
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 575
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2008 2:58 am
Location: India
Thanked: 18 times
Followed by:4 members
GMAT Score:710

by rahulg83 » Sat May 23, 2009 8:17 am
Yes..the OA is C
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Fri Feb 27, 2009 8:38 pm

Assumed too much!

by TryHarder » Sat May 23, 2009 10:37 am
I soon realized that I assumed the positivity of y that was left out. Another reminder not to read what is not stated!!
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 682
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:40 am
Thanked: 32 times
Followed by:1 members

Re: DS question...with a twist

by Vemuri » Sat May 23, 2009 6:54 pm
This is a nice question rahulg83. Thanks for posting.

To check whether (x^7)(y^2)(z^3) > 0, we need to consider the possibility that neither x or y or z equals zero.

Stmt1: This statement tells us that the signs of y & z are different (i.e. when y-ve, z+ve and when y+ve,z-ve). We do not know anything about x. x can be +ve,-ve or even 0. So, this statement is not sufficient.

Stmt2: This statement tells us that the signs of x & z are same (i.e. when y-ve, z-ve and when y+ve,z+ve). We do not know anything about y. y can be +ve,-ve or even 0. When y is +ve or -ve, the answer to the question is YES, but when y=0, the answer to the question is NO. So, this statement is not sufficient.

Together both the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Hence C
Top
Post new topic Post Reply
• Page 1 of 1