NEGATIVE

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

Legendary Member
Posts: 1084
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:33 pm
Thanked: 158 times
Followed by:21 members

by pemdas » Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:06 pm
st(1) x<0 and 1>x^2 ~~ x<0 and |x|<|1|, [x<0, x>1]
OR x>0 and |x|>|1|, [x>0, x>1] ==> x>1 Sufficient to answer No
st(2) |x|<|1| Not Sufficient

a
GmatKiss wrote:Is x negative?
1. X^3(1-x^2) < 0
2. x^2 - 1 < 0
Success doesn't come overnight!

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 3835
Joined: Fri Apr 02, 2010 10:00 pm
Location: Milpitas, CA
Thanked: 1854 times
Followed by:523 members
GMAT Score:770

by Anurag@Gurome » Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:40 pm
GmatKiss wrote:Is x negative?
1. X^3(1-x^2) < 0
2. x^2 - 1 < 0
Statement 1: x³(1 - x²) < 0
--> x³(1 - x)(1 + x) < 0
--> either -1 < x < 0 or x > 1

Not sufficient

Statement 1: (x² - 1) < 0
--> x² < 1
--> -1 < x < 1

Not sufficient

1 & Together: -1 < x < 0
Hence, x is negative.

Sufficient

The correct answer is C.
Anurag Mairal, Ph.D., MBA
GMAT Expert, Admissions and Career Guidance
Gurome, Inc.
1-800-566-4043 (USA)

Join Our Facebook Groups
GMAT with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/272466352793633/
Admissions with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/461459690536574/
Career Advising with Gurome
https://www.facebook.com/groups/360435787349781/

User avatar
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

by GMATGuruNY » Sun Oct 23, 2011 3:07 am
GmatKiss wrote:Is x negative?
1. X^3(1-x^2) < 0
2. x^2 - 1 < 0
Statement 1: x³(1-x²) < 0.
x³(1+x)(1-x) < 0.
The critical points are x=0, x=-1, x=1.
These are the only values where x³(1+x)(1-x) = 0.
When x is any other value, x³(1+x)(1-x) < 0 or x³(1+x)(1-x) > 0.
To determine the range of x, test one value to the left and right of each critical point.
x^3(1-x^2) < 0 can be rephrased as x³ < x^5.

Plug x < -1 into x³ < x^5:
Let x = -2.
(-2)³ < (-2)^5
-8 < -32.
Doesn't work.
x<-1 is NOT part of the range.

Plug -1<x< 0 into x³ < x^5:
Let x = -1/2.
(-1/2)³ < (-1/2)^5.
-1/8 < -1/32.
This works.
-1<x<0 is part of the range.

Plug 0<x<1 into x³ < x^5:
Let x = 1/2.
(1/2)³ < (1/2)^5
1/8 < 1/32.
Doesn't work.
0<x<1 is NOT part of the range.

Plug x > 1 into x³ < x^5:
Let x = 2
2³ < 2^5
8 < 32.
This works.
x>1 is part of the range.

Two ranges work in statement 1:
-1<x<0 and x>1.
Since x can be negative or positive, INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: x²-1<0.
(x+1)(x-1) < 0.
The critical points are x = -1 and x = 1.
These are the only values where x²-1 = 0.
When x is any other value, x²-1 < 0 or x²-1 > 0.
To determine the range of x, test one value to the left and right of each critical point.
x²-1<0 can be rephrased as x²<1.

Plug x < -1 into x²<1:
Let x = -2.
(-2)² < 1.
4 < 1.
Doesn't work.

Plug -1 < x < 1 into x²<1:
Let x = 0.
0² < 1.
This works.
-1<x<1 is part of the range.

Plug x > 1 into x²<1:
Let x = 2.
2² < 1.
4 < 1.
Doesn't work.

The only range that works is -1 < x < 1.
Since x can be negative, 0, or positive, INSUFFICIENT.

Statements 1 and 2 combined:
Ranges that satisfy statement 1: -1 < x < 0 or x>1.
The only range that satisfies statement 2: -1 < x < 1.
The only range that satisfies BOTH statements is -1<x<0.
Since x must be negative, SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is C.
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