Is |X| <1 ?

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Source: — Data Sufficiency |

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by GMATGuruNY » Sun Sep 09, 2012 2:36 pm
Striver wrote:Is |X| <1 ?

1) |X+1| = 2|X-1|

2) |X-3| is not equal to 0.
Statement 1: |x+1| = 2|x-1|
Case 1:
x+1 = 2x-2
3 = x

Case 2:
x+1 = -(2x-2)
3x = 1
x = 1/3.

Confirm that both solutions are valid:
|3+1| = 2|3-1|
4=4.

|1/3 + 1| = 2|1/3 - 1|
4/3 = 4/3.

Since x=3 and x=1/3 are both valid solutions, we cannot determine whether |x|<1.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statement 2: |x-3| is not equal to 0
It's possible that x=0 or that x=10.
INSUFFICIENT.

Statements 1 and 2 combined:
Since x=3 does not satisfy statement 2, x=1/3.
Thus, |x|<1.
SUFFICIENT.

The correct answer is C.
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