If x < y and y < 10, what is the greatest possible integer value of x + y?

This topic has expert replies
Moderator
Posts: 7187
Joined: Thu Sep 07, 2017 4:43 pm
Followed by:23 members

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

If x < y and y < 10, what is the greatest possible integer value of x + y?

A. 16
B. 17
C. 18
D. 19
E. 20


OA D

Source: Veritas Prep

Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 415
Joined: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:52 am
Thanked: 27 times
Easy to make the assumption that since the question is seeking an integer value that the individual values must also be integers, but that is not stated as a limitation.

So the goal is to maximize both X and Y to maximize their sum.

Clearly each can be >9 and every amount below 10 that Y is must be added to 9 to create X and to create an integer result, as follows:

a=10-Y and Y=10-a
X=9+a

So X+Y = 10-a+9+a = 19,D