OG12-Qn 69

[kishokbabu]

<---|-|-|-|-------->
----q r s t
Of the four numbers represented on the number line
above, is r closest to zero?

(1) q = -s
(2) -t < q

ccan anyone explain this problem?

[pemdas]

you need to assign signs to the left and right for each of the numbers (q,r,s,t) placed on the number line. Numbers to the left have -ve sign and numbers to the right have +ve sign
st(1) implies q is a number to the left from s but has opposite sign. It means if q is +ve then s *cannot be* to the right of q with the opposite sign. Hence q is -ve and s is +ve. Number r is between q and s. Seemingly, r is between q and s and its location in any position to the left from 0 or to the right from 0 means in any case there is *symmetry* between q and s (q=-s) and |q| cannot be greater or less than |s|, hence r is closer to 0. Sufficient
st(2) the same logic applied here tells us that t is +ve and q is -ve
[spoiler]i guess GMAT creators should have changed places st(1) and st(2) to obscure this problem more[/spoiler]. This statement also implies that |t|>|q| (if you can use mode/distance note and apply this here). As we are still not clear if q is closer to 0; we have no idea about r. Not Sufficient

a

<---|-|-|-|-------->
----q r s t
Of the four numbers represented on the number line
above, is r closest to zero?

(1) q = -s
(2) -t < q

ccan anyone explain this problem?