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# If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true?

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If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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06 Dec 2009, 11:29
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If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true?

A. x>-1
B. x<-2
C. x=2
D. x<3
E. x>3
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by Bunuel on 27 Oct 2012, 00:34, edited 1 time in total.
Renamed the topic and edited the question.
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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06 Dec 2009, 12:02
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tania wrote:
For the following question, it is indicated that option D is correct.

I am not able to understand why ? can anyone explain to me in detail about this one

if b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true?

A.X>-1
B.x<-2
C.X=2
D.X<3
E.X>3

Regards,
Tania

$$2x-b=0$$ --> $$b=2x$$

$$b<1$$ --> $$2x<$$1 --> $$x<\frac{1}{2}$$

As $$x<\frac{1}{2}$$, x must also be less then 3.

Answer: D.
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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06 Dec 2009, 12:13
tania wrote:
For the following question, it is indicated that option D is correct.

I am not able to understand why ? can anyone explain to me in detail about this one

if b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true?

A.X>-1
B.x<-2
C.X=2
D.X<3
E.X>3

Regards,
Tania

The two statements we have been given are :

1) b < 1

2) 2x - b = 0

Now notice that all the answer choices ask us something relating to the value of 'x'. This is our cue for rearranging the given information so that we can cross check its validity with the answer choices.

Let us write the equation as : x = b/2

Since we know that 'b < 1', we can safely conclude that x must be less that 1/2 or 'x < 0.5'

Now let us compare the answer choices to see which one of them must be true with the information we have at hand.

(A) x > -1 --> We know that x < 0.5 but there is no restriction on its lower limit. Thus it can hold values that are less than -1. Hence this statement is not necessarily true.

(B) x < -2 --> Again since x can hold any values less than 0.5 (such as 0, -0.5 etc.) this statement is not always true.

(C) x = 2 --> Since we know that x < 0.5, this statement can never be true.

(D) x < 3 --> If x < 0.5, then x MUST be less than 3. Therefore this statement MUST be true.

(E) x > 3 --> Since we know that x < 0.5, this statement can never be true.

Answer : D

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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2012, 22:12
Hello All,

X < 1/2 is correct, two answer choices seems to be correct
B.x<-2
D.X<3
It is not given than X is a postive or negative, integer or fraction.
In my opinion, if we consider D it can have possible answer as X = 2 or X = 1, but X has to be less than 1/2.
If we consider X < -2 for all values of X, X < 1/2 holds true.
Hence my answer was B.

Please feel free to correct me.

REgards,
Pritish
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2012, 22:57
pritish2301 wrote:
Hello All,

X < 1/2 is correct, two answer choices seems to be correct
B.x<-2
D.X<3
It is not given than X is a postive or negative, integer or fraction.
In my opinion, if we consider D it can have possible answer as X = 2 or X = 1, but X has to be less than 1/2.
If we consider X < -2 for all values of X, X < 1/2 holds true.
Hence my answer was B.

Please feel free to correct me.

REgards,
Pritish

Hi Pritish,

Question says : if b< 1 and 2x-b = 0 , which of the following must be true?or in simple words ,
"if x<1/2 , which of the following must be true?"

Option B doesnt hold good for any value of x where,
$$-2 <=x <1/2$$

Consider for example, if x =0,
x<1/2 is true but x <-2 is not true
Hence B can not be the answer.

On the other hand, for option D as others have pointed out correctly. Since x <1/2 and 1/2 <3
this implies that x <3 . This would be true for any value of x that satisfies x<1/2.

hope it helps.
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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26 Oct 2012, 23:22
Vips0000 wrote:
pritish2301 wrote:
Hello All,

X < 1/2 is correct, two answer choices seems to be correct
B.x<-2
D.X<3
It is not given than X is a postive or negative, integer or fraction.
In my opinion, if we consider D it can have possible answer as X = 2 or X = 1, but X has to be less than 1/2.
If we consider X < -2 for all values of X, X < 1/2 holds true.
Hence my answer was B.

Please feel free to correct me.

REgards,
Pritish

Hi Pritish,

Question says : if b< 1 and 2x-b = 0 , which of the following must be true?or in simple words ,
"if x<1/2 , which of the following must be true?"

Option B doesnt hold good for any value of x where,
$$-2 <=x <1/2$$

Consider for example, if x =0,
x<1/2 is true but x <-2 is not true
Hence B can not be the answer.

On the other hand, for option D as others have pointed out correctly. Since x <1/2 and 1/2 <3
this implies that x <3 . This would be true for any value of x that satisfies x<1/2.

hope it helps.

As you mentioned
"Consider for example, if x =0,
x<1/2 is true but x <-2 is not true
Hence B can not be the answer."

If we chose option B X can never be equal to 0, but if X<3 there is a possibility that X can be 0. Right?
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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27 Oct 2012, 21:39
pritish2301 wrote:
Vips0000 wrote:
pritish2301 wrote:
Hello All,

X < 1/2 is correct, two answer choices seems to be correct
B.x<-2
D.X<3
It is not given than X is a postive or negative, integer or fraction.
In my opinion, if we consider D it can have possible answer as X = 2 or X = 1, but X has to be less than 1/2.
If we consider X < -2 for all values of X, X < 1/2 holds true.
Hence my answer was B.

Please feel free to correct me.

REgards,
Pritish

Hi Pritish,

Question says : if b< 1 and 2x-b = 0 , which of the following must be true?or in simple words ,
"if x<1/2 , which of the following must be true?"

Option B doesnt hold good for any value of x where,
$$-2 <=x <1/2$$

Consider for example, if x =0,
x<1/2 is true but x <-2 is not true
Hence B can not be the answer.

On the other hand, for option D as others have pointed out correctly. Since x <1/2 and 1/2 <3
this implies that x <3 . This would be true for any value of x that satisfies x<1/2.

hope it helps.

As you mentioned
"Consider for example, if x =0,
x<1/2 is true but x <-2 is not true
Hence B can not be the answer."

If we chose option B X can never be equal to 0, but if X<3 there is a possibility that X can be 0. Right?

Hi Pritish,
You are getting confused here -
the reasoning follows through question stem first -
question says if x<1/2 then which of the following must be true -
This means x<1/2 is taken for granted. that is our scope. period.

now within this scope we need to find the answer. You dont choose option first and then try to fit in question, but u read option first, define the limit and then consider and choose options.
Hope it is clear. Now click kudos
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Re: Prob from Kaplan Diagnostic test [#permalink]

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29 Oct 2012, 03:28
Expert's post
pritish2301 wrote:
Hello All,

X < 1/2 is correct, two answer choices seems to be correct
B.x<-2
D.X<3
It is not given than X is a postive or negative, integer or fraction.
In my opinion, if we consider D it can have possible answer as X = 2 or X = 1, but X has to be less than 1/2.
If we consider X < -2 for all values of X, X < 1/2 holds true.
Hence my answer was B.

Please feel free to correct me.

REgards,
Pritish

Notice that we are asked "which of the following MUST be true?" not COULD be true.

Now, we know that x<1/2, thus x<3 is always true.

Is x<-2 always true? No, if x=0, then x<-2, won't be true, therefore this option is not always true.

For more on Must/Could be true questions check: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=193 (more than 100 questions).

Hope it helps.
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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08 Apr 2015, 20:58
So I was getting confused here especially in comparison to this problem

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only

Here the answer is A, because of the two possible options II and III, III cannot be right because we can think of -2 and find it to satisfy the original condition and -2 doesn't fall in this range. Although II is true, there are other numbers that satisfy the condition as well.

When I looked at this problem, I am like the correct answer should be x <= 1/2. But those choices were there. The answer was totally unexpected X<3, cause I though how about x = 1, 2 or some other value between 1/2 and 3. These values don't satisfy the condition, then how is it true.
This is what I have come up with, especially dealing with inequality problems, try to find a number (outside the range given in the answer choice) and see if it satisfies the question stem. If there is none, then you have the right answer. So for eg. looking at x<3, there is no value of x>=3 that would satisfy the Question stem and hence incorrect.

This is quite tricky to wrap your head around. Very tricky! hopefully this will help me in the future.
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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08 Apr 2015, 22:13
nphatak wrote:
So I was getting confused here especially in comparison to this problem

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only

Here the answer is A, because of the two possible options II and III, III cannot be right because we can think of -2 and find it to satisfy the original condition and -2 doesn't fall in this range. Although II is true, there are other numbers that satisfy the condition as well.

When I looked at this problem, I am like the correct answer should be x <= 1/2. But those choices were there. The answer was totally unexpected X<3, cause I though how about x = 1, 2 or some other value between 1/2 and 3. These values don't satisfy the condition, then how is it true.
This is what I have come up with, especially dealing with inequality problems, try to find a number (outside the range given in the answer choice) and see if it satisfies the question stem. If there is none, then you have the right answer. So for eg. looking at x<3, there is no value of x>=3 that would satisfy the Question stem and hence incorrect.

This is quite tricky to wrap your head around. Very tricky! hopefully this will help me in the future.

Hey nphatak...Greetings!!!

I'm a little confused about the example you gave and specially the answer choices. Is this question a standard GMAT question. I don't think the GMAT tries to trick you this way or is it possible
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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09 Apr 2015, 02:58
Ashishmathew01081987 wrote:
nphatak wrote:
So I was getting confused here especially in comparison to this problem

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only

Here the answer is A, because of the two possible options II and III, III cannot be right because we can think of -2 and find it to satisfy the original condition and -2 doesn't fall in this range. Although II is true, there are other numbers that satisfy the condition as well.

When I looked at this problem, I am like the correct answer should be x <= 1/2. But those choices were there. The answer was totally unexpected X<3, cause I though how about x = 1, 2 or some other value between 1/2 and 3. These values don't satisfy the condition, then how is it true.
This is what I have come up with, especially dealing with inequality problems, try to find a number (outside the range given in the answer choice) and see if it satisfies the question stem. If there is none, then you have the right answer. So for eg. looking at x<3, there is no value of x>=3 that would satisfy the Question stem and hence incorrect.

This is quite tricky to wrap your head around. Very tricky! hopefully this will help me in the future.

Hey nphatak...Greetings!!!

I'm a little confused about the example you gave and specially the answer choices. Is this question a standard GMAT question. I don't think the GMAT tries to trick you this way or is it possible

it's not a tricky question , trust me .
whenever you face such inequalities , first thing to do is to draw their roots on number line .

$$a^5-a <=0$$
$$a(a^4-1) <=0$$

root are -1, 0 , 1 now as shown in attached image you can find the regions where this inequality holds .
and clearly say that answer is A .
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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09 Apr 2015, 16:49
Well you see its not finding the roots that is the problem. I can find the conditions under which the inequality will hold. Its the answer choices that I said were confusing. The answer choice a=0 is true, the inequality will be 0. And when you are asked what must be true, you are like..yeah at a = 0 this is true. But the question is not if its true at one value, the question is which answer choice covers all the possible values. Not one! I am probably not able to explain what the confusion is.

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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09 Apr 2015, 21:46
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nphatak wrote:
Well you see its not finding the roots that is the problem. I can find the conditions under which the inequality will hold. Its the answer choices that I said were confusing. The answer choice a=0 is true, the inequality will be 0. And when you are asked what must be true, you are like..yeah at a = 0 this is true. But the question is not if its true at one value, the question is which answer choice covers all the possible values. Not one! I am probably not able to explain what the confusion is.

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only

So when you solve the inequality, you get a <= -1 OR 0 <= a <= 1.
a is either less than -1 or it is between 0 and 1.

Let's see what each statement says.

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
This says that a must be between -1 and 0. True or False? False

II. a=0
This says that a must be 0. True or False? False. a is either less than -1 or it is between 0 and 1.

III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1
This says that a must lie between 0 and 1. True or False? False. a is either less than -1 OR it is between 0 and 1.

Now, think if there were another statement
IV. a < 2
This says a must be less than 2. True or False? True. a is either less than -1 OR it is between 0 and 1. In any case, it will always be less than 2.

By the way, it is not a trick. It is based on logic and can easily be tested on GMAT.
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Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2015, 07:40
VeritasPrepKarishma wrote:
nphatak wrote:
Well you see its not finding the roots that is the problem. I can find the conditions under which the inequality will hold. Its the answer choices that I said were confusing. The answer choice a=0 is true, the inequality will be 0. And when you are asked what must be true, you are like..yeah at a = 0 this is true. But the question is not if its true at one value, the question is which answer choice covers all the possible values. Not one! I am probably not able to explain what the confusion is.

If a^5 ≤ a, which of the following must be true?

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
II. a=0
III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1

A. None of the above
B. I only
C. II only
D. III only
E. I and III only

So when you solve the inequality, you get a <= -1 OR 0 <= a <= 1.
a is either less than -1 or it is between 0 and 1.

Let's see what each statement says.

I. –1 ≤ a ≤ 0
This says that a must be between -1 and 0. True or False? False

II. a=0
This says that a must be 0. True or False? False. a is either less than -1 or it is between 0 and 1.

III. 0 ≤ a ≤ 1
This says that a must lie between 0 and 1. True or False? False. a is either less than -1 OR it is between 0 and 1.

Now, think if there were another statement
IV. a < 2
This says a must be less than 2. True or False? True. a is either less than -1 OR it is between 0 and 1. In any case, it will always be less than 2.

By the way, it is not a trick. It is based on logic and can easily be tested on GMAT.

Thanks a lot Karishma!
So the correct answer choice should cover all the possible values of a, right? The way I was interpreting this question was, which of this must be true = any subset of all the possible values has to be true and I marked that answer. Its just a failure in my understanding these kind of questions.
Re: If b< 1 and 2x-b = 0, which of the following must be true?   [#permalink] 10 Apr 2015, 07:40
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