Hi sucheta.lahiri,
This is an example of a Quantitative Comparison question from the GRE, so it's out-of-place here on a GMAT website. You might be better served by seeking out GRE-specific websites to ask your questions.
That having been said, the concept involved is a rarer mathematical concept that has to do with how the products of numbers behave. For example, watch what happens as two numbers get closer and closer together:
(1)(9) = 9
(2)(8) = 16
(3)(7) = 21
(4)(6) = 24
(5)(5) = 25
If the two numbers increase/decrease by the same amount, then the product gets bigger (and it's biggest when the two numbers are equal). The same principal applies in this QC question (and to rectangles and squares in general).
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course
Redeem
Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand
Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.
- 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
- 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
- 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
- 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
- 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
- TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
- 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
- OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
- Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
- MBA Admissions Consulting now available
- 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
- 200,000+ students served
- 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★
5.0
(559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start
then $127/mo



















