Some tricky data sufficiecy problems

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Some tricky data sufficiecy problems

by \'manpreet singh » Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:43 am
Q.1 If 0 < ab < ac, is a negative?
(1) c < 0
(2) b > c

Q.2 For any integers x and y, min(x, y) and max(x, y) denote
the minimum and the maximum of x and y, respectively.
For example, min(5, 2) = 2 and max(5, 2) = 5. For the
integer w, what is the value of min(10, w) ?
(1) w = max(20, z) for some integer z.
(2) w = max(10, w)


Try these and please share your reasoning for problem 2 as i couldn't quite grasp the question here.
keep working hard guys!!! :o :)

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by Anurag@Gurome » Mon Jun 18, 2012 12:55 am
'manpreet singh wrote:Q.1 If 0 < ab < ac, is a negative?
(1) c < 0
(2) b > c
As 0 < ab < ac, both ab and ac are positive and none of a, b, and c are equal to zero. Hence, a, b, and c are of same sign.

Statement 1: As c is negative, a is also negative --> Sufficient

Statement 2: b > c
But from question stem ab < ac.
Hence, a must be negative.

Sufficient

The correct answer is D.
Last edited by Anurag@Gurome on Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
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by Anurag@Gurome » Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:07 am
'manpreet singh wrote:Q.2 For any integers x and y, min(x, y) and max(x, y) denote the minimum and the maximum of x and y, respectively. For example, min(5, 2) = 2 and max(5, 2) = 5. For the integer w, what is the value of min(10, w) ?
(1) w = max(20, z) for some integer z.
(2) w = max(10, w)
If w > 10, min(10, w) = 10
If w < 10, min(10, w) = w

Statement 1: w = max(20, z)
This means w is maximum of 20 and z. Hence, w is more than or equal to 20.
Therefore, w > 10 --> min(10, w) = 10

Sufficient

Statement 1: w = max(10, w)
This means w is maximum of 10 and w. Hence, w > 10.
Therefore, min(10, w) = 10

Sufficient

The correct answer is D.
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by karthik1239 » Mon Jun 18, 2012 8:13 am
Hello Anurag,
Statement 2: a may be either positive or negative --> Not sufficient
In Q1.
Statement 2 states that b>c and in the question it is given that ab<ac.
That implies that a<0.i.e.,a is negative.
So my answer will be D.
Correct me if I am wrong.

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by Anurag@Gurome » Mon Jun 18, 2012 9:01 am
Thanks for pointing it out.
Editing my reply.
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by \'manpreet singh » Tue Jun 19, 2012 10:41 am
thanks anurag and karthik for your replies.
Got a clear understanding now. :) :)