Please help me with this co-ordinate problem.

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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 » Tue Jun 25, 2013 7:19 am
VIGNESHWARR wrote:If ab<>0 and points (-a,b) and (-b,a) are in the same quadrant of the xy plane,is point (-x,y) in this same quadrant?
1.xy>0
2.ax>0
Only two cases satisfy the constraint that (-a,b) and (-b,a) are in the same quadrant.

Case 1: Both a and b are positive
Let a=2, b=3.
Then (-a,b) = (-2,3) and (-b,a) = (-3,2).
Both points are in quadrant II.

Case 2: Both a and b are negative
Let a=-2, b=-3.
Then (-a,b) = (2,-3) and (-b,a) = (3,-2).
Both points are in quadrant IV.

Thus, for (-a,b) and (-b,a) to be in the same quadrant, a and b must have the same sign.
Implication:
For (-x,y) to be in the same quadrant as (-a,b) and (-b,a), x and y must have the SAME SIGN as a and b.

Question rephrased: Do x and y have the same sign as a and b?

Statement 1: xy > 0.
Here, x and y have the same sign.
No way to determine whether this sign is the same as that of a and b.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: ax>0.
Here, a and x have the same sign.
No information about y.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statements 1 and 2 combined:
Since x and y have the same sign, and a and x have the same sign, x, y, and a -- and thus b -- all have the same sign.
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