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by killer1387 » Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:26 pm
nafiul9090 wrote:is X>3?

i (x-3)(x-2)(x-1)>0
ii x>1

how do i rephrase the S1??
statement 1)
check out the sign variations in the different zone i.e. around 1, around 2 and around 3
here the required solution is

1<x<2 and x>3

Insufficient

statement 2)
x>1
Insufficient

1) and 2)
still in different zones

Insufficient

Hence E

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by aneesh.kg » Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:14 pm
Nafiul,
It's important you know and understand the critical points method for questions such as:
(x - a)(x - b)(x - c)...(x -k) > 0 or < 0

Let me teach you the method here.

for the function f(x) = (x - a)(x - b)(x - c)...(x - k), Critical Points are those points at which f(x) = 0. So a, b, c.. k are the critical points of f(x).

Example 1:
Solve
(x + 1).(x - 2) < 0
Step 1. Find out the critical points
The critical points are -1 and 2 in this case.
Step 2. Plot them on a number line in a proper order.

Image

Step 3: Consider the region above the number line to be positive and below it to be negative. Start drawing a curve starting from the right most - top side as shown below

Image

And then complete the curve in an alternate up-down fashion as shown below

Image


Mark '+' in the region above the number line and '-' in the region below the number line as shown below.

Image

In the '+' region f(x) > 0 and in the '-' region f(x) < 0.

Since the question wants us to solve for f(x) < 0, the values of x for which the curve goes below the number line will be chosen.

The shaded region shown below is our answer.

Image

Answer: -1 < x < 2

Example 2: Lets take the question posted by you.
(x - 3)(x - 2)(x - 1) > 0

Step 1: The critical points are 1, 2 and 3.
Step 2: Mark them on a Number Line.
Step 3: Plot the curve starting from top-right side in an alternate fashion.
Step 4: Mark alternate '+' and '-' and choose the appropriate region
In this case the region in which f(x) > 0 is favourable to us is shown below

Image

Answer: 1 < x < 2 , x > 3
Aneesh Bangia
GMAT Math Coach
[email protected]

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