stuck on possible values of xy

are u sure wordings are correct as minimum value for xy as per the norms given is -25 and max is 275
which are not in the option

what is the source

Yes the wording is correct. I am having the same problem with the question you are. I do not get how the max is 300. It should be 275 (12 x 11). The source is the Princetom Review CAT. Below is the explanation they provide:

Yes. Calculate the upper and lower limits for the value of xy, –50 and 300, respectively. xy is less than, but can’t be equal to, 300 because though x can equal 25, y is always less than 12. The same logic applies for the lower limit; xy must be greater than –50. The correct answer is E.

woops I mean 25 x 11 = 275.

The answer is right, since there are no equality conditions in answer. If your answer was c or d there would be an argument.
Take an example
If x = -25 and y= -1.5
xy= -37.5
which is well within the -50 range but your answer would not be supported

I think this a question where we have find where the range finds best.

Let me show How i eliminated answer choices

Let x = -2 and Y =11 then xy = -22 Then a and b are eliminated.

To get XY value equal to -50 we need to have -2 * 25 which is not possible, Though x can 25 but y an not be -2. then c and d are eliminated.

So ans is E

Hope this will be usefully

LMK27 wrote:If x and y are integers, and –2 < x < 25 and –2 < y <12, what is the range of possible values for xy?


a) 4 < xy < 300

b) –2 < xy < 300

c) –50 < xy < 300

d) –50 < xy < 300

e) –50 < xy < 300

e


[spoiler][/spoiler]

the min value of XY will be -25 when X=25 and Y = -1 and which is greater than -50.

the max will be 275 when X = 25 and Y = 11 and which is less than 300.

The only option showing this range is E.

LMK27 wrote:If x and y are integers, and –2 < x < 25 and –2 < y <12, what is the range of possible values for xy?


a) 4 < xy < 300

b) –2 < xy < 300

c) –50 < xy < 300

d) –50 < xy < 300

e) –50 < xy < 300

Since x and y are integers, the max value is indeed 25*11 = 275. Further, the min value is -1*25 = -25.

So, either the question is improperly constructed of there's a typo or two in the post. As written, C and D are just as valid as E.

The only way E is the correct answer is if x and y don't have to be integers.

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:

LMK27 wrote:If x and y are integers, and –2 < x < 25 and –2 < y <12, what is the range of possible values for xy?


a) 4 < xy < 300

b) –2 < xy < 300

c) –50 < xy < 300

d) –50 < xy < 300

e) –50 < xy < 300

Since x and y are integers, the max value is indeed 25*11 = 275. Further, the min value is -1*25 = -25.

So, either the question is improperly constructed of there's a typo or two in the post. As written, C and D are just as valid as E.

The only way E is the correct answer is if x and y don't have to be integers.

Stuart,

But C and D say that one of the possible values of XY can be -50, which I think is incorrect. Hence, IMO C and D do not show the range correctly.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

harshavardhanc wrote:
Stuart,

But C and D say that one of the possible values of XY can be -50, which I think is incorrect. Hence, IMO C and D do not show the range correctly.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

But E says that one of the possible values of XY is -49, which is also wrong; so, by the same reasoning, you should eliminate E.

So, either the question is:

"which of the following ranges includes all of the possible values of xy", in which case C, D and E are all correct; or

"which of the following is equivalent to all possible values of xy", in which case there's no correct answer.

The question definitely has to be written wrong. When I was taking the test I thought it was me who was not understanding the question properly, so I am glad to see that it was the question that was wrong and not my logic.

Thanks everyone for your insight!

Stuart Kovinsky wrote:

harshavardhanc wrote:
Stuart,

But C and D say that one of the possible values of XY can be -50, which I think is incorrect. Hence, IMO C and D do not show the range correctly.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

But E says that one of the possible values of XY is -49, which is also wrong; so, by the same reasoning, you should eliminate E.

So, either the question is:

"which of the following ranges includes all of the possible values of xy", in which case C, D and E are all correct; or

"which of the following is equivalent to all possible values of xy", in which case there's no correct answer.

Stuart,

Please help me understand this one.

E never says that XY can have a value of -49. It just says that the value of XY lies between -50 and 300 (both excluded), as there are only less than (<) signs in the option.

However, C and D explicitly say that XY lies between -50 and 300 and one of the possible value is -50, as there is less than or equal to sign in the option (<).

Am I wrong in my interpretation? Please help!

the answer E as x is from -1 to 24 and y is -1 to 11 so -24 is the lowest xy and 264 is highest so -50<xy<-300 is the correct answer

harshavardhanc wrote: Stuart,

Please help me understand this one.

E never says that XY can have a value of -49. It just says that the value of XY lies between -50 and 300 (both excluded), as there are only less than (<) signs in the option.

However, C and D explicitly say that XY lies between -50 and 300 and one of the possible value is -50, as there is less than or equal to sign in the option (<).

Am I wrong in my interpretation? Please help!

OK.. let's change the wording of C to better explain my point.

If C had said:

-51 < xy < 301

then would it have been as equally correct as E?

Given that we know xy is an integer, my restatement of C has the exact same meaning as the original C; just because something has "greater than or equal to" doesn't imply more than "greater than" in terms of what the number actually is.

For example, if x=5, it's equally correct to say:

-10 < x < 100

and

-10 <= x <= 100

Remember, "<=" means "less than OR equal to" - it doesn't mean that it MUST be equal to that number.