If x is a negative integer, which of the following expressions has the LEAST value?

[BTGmoderatorLU]

Source: GMAT Prep

If x is a negative integer, which of the following expressions has the LEAST value?

A. x^2 - 0.50
B. x^2 - 0.51
C. x^3 - 0.502
D. x^3 - 0.511
E. x^4 - 0.512

The OA is D

[Jay@ManhattanReview]

Source: GMAT Prep

If x is a negative integer, which of the following expressions has the LEAST value?

A. x^2 - 0.50
B. x^2 - 0.51
C. x^3 - 0.502
D. x^3 - 0.511
E. x^4 - 0.512

The OA is D

Given that x is a negative integer, the values of x with even exponents will have positive values, while the values of x with odd exponents will have negative values.

Since negative values are smaller than the positive values, we must look for the negative value whose absolute value is largest.

Since Option A, B and E have x with even exponents, we can leave them.

The correct answer would be between Option C and D.

Note that in these options, x^3 is common, so we can leave x^3; the decider would be –0.502 and –0.511. Since –0.502 > –0.511, the correct answer is Option D.

The correct answer: D

Hope this helps!

-Jay
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[Scott@TargetTestPrep]

Source: GMAT Prep

If x is a negative integer, which of the following expressions has the LEAST value?

A. x^2 - 0.50
B. x^2 - 0.51
C. x^3 - 0.502
D. x^3 - 0.511
E. x^4 - 0.512

The OA is D

Since x^3 is negative and both x^2 and x^4 are positive, we can narrow down the answer choices to C and D. Since 0.511 is the largest decimal being subtracted from x^3, then x^3 - 0.511, will produce the least value.

Answer: D