If y does not equal 0, what is the value of x/y?

This topic has expert replies
Source: — Data Sufficiency |

GMAT/MBA Expert

User avatar
GMAT Instructor
Posts: 16207
Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 6:26 pm
Location: Vancouver, BC
Thanked: 5254 times
Followed by:1268 members
GMAT Score:770

Timer

00:00

Your Answer

A

B

C

D

E

Global Stats

BTGModeratorVI wrote:
Mon May 25, 2020 7:30 am
If y ≠ 0, what is the value of x/y?

(1) x = 2y
(2) x = y + 2

Answer: A
Source: GMAT prep
Target question: What is the value of x/y?

Statement 1: x = 2y
Divide both sides by y to get: x/y = 2
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: x = y + 2
You might automatically recognize that there is no way to use this information to determine the value of x/y.

If you don't recognize this, consider these two cases that satisfy statement 2:
Case a: x = 3 and y = 1. In this case, the answer to the target question is x/y = 3/1 = 3
Case b: x = 4 and y = 2. In this case, the answer to the target question is x/y = 4/2 = 2
Since we cannot answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is NOT SUFFICIENT

Answer: A

Cheers,
Brent
Brent Hanneson - Creator of GMATPrepNow.com
Image