Hi j_shreyans,

What is the source of this question? I ask because I think that there's a typo in the prompt. The "ranges" listed in the answer choices also don't account for all possibilities.....

We're told that M is a number to the LEFT of 0 on the number line. This means that M is NEGATIVE.

Next, we're told that M^4 is less than 181. So M COULD be a negative fraction, -1, -2, or -3, among other possibilities.

We're asked for the RECIPROCAL OF M^2....

IF M = -1, then M^2 = 1 and the reciprocal of M^2 = 1, so the correct answer would be Answer D.
If M = -3, then M^2 = 9 and the reciprocal of M^2 = 1/9, so the correct answer would be Answer D.
If M = -3.1, then M^2 = 9+ and the reciprocal of M^2 is < 1/9, so the correct answer would be Answer C.
If M = -.1, then M^2 = .01 and the reciprocal of M^2 = 100, so the correct answer would be Answer E.

Obviously, something is "off" in this prompt.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

HI gmatcracker0123,

Yes, your solution is fairly straight-forward. As you study, you'll come to find that most GMAT questions (Quant AND Verbal) can be solved in a variety of ways. The best Test Takers know how to approach prompts in more than one way, since that flexibility-of-thinking allows them to look for the built-in shortcuts that appear in many questions. Your approach stressed the "math" aspects of the question, while the other approaches stressed the tactical way to approach the question.

If you can make sure to learn second and third ways to approach questions, then you'll be far better equipped to handle the variety of prompts that you'll see on Test Day.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich