solution

[smagish]

Is x < y?
(1) The ratio of x to y is 7/9
(2) xy>0

(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
(C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

[rijul007]

Is x < y?
(1) The ratio of x to y is 7/9
(2) xy>0

(A) Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
(B) Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
(C) BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
(D) EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
(E) Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.

Statement 1
The ratio of x to y is 7/9

x = 7k
y = 9k

If k is negative, lets say k = -1,
x > y

If k is positive, lets say k =1,
x < y

Hence, the statement is insufficient.

Statement 2
xy>0

This means x and y have the same sign, that is, positive or negative
Nothing else is mentioned, so Insufficient


Combining the two statements
x = 7k
y = 9k
x and y have the same sign, that is, positive or negative

Still insufficient

Option E

[Anurag@Gurome]

Is x < y?
(1) The ratio of x to y is 7/9
(2) xy>0

Consider the following cases,

• x = 7, y = 9 ---> x < y
  x = -7, y = 9, x > y

Both of the above cases satisfy both the statements but the answer is YES in the first case and NO in the second case.

Hence, both statements together are also not sufficient.

The correct asnwer is E.

[Brent@GMATPrepNow]

Is x < y?
(1) The ratio of x to y is 7/9
(2) xy>0

Consider the following cases,

• x = 7, y = 9 ---> x < y
  x = -7, y = 9, x > y

Both of the above cases satisfy both the statements but the answer is YES in the first case and NO in the second case.

Hence, both statements together are also not sufficient.

The correct asnwer is E.

Anurag's solution is great (as always), except I'm pretty sure, he meant to make y = -9 in the second case.

Cheers,
Brent