If both x and y are nonzero numbers, what is the value of y/x?

Statement 1) Value of Y is not specified, we cannot determine - Not Sufficient.
Statement 2) y = +- (x) so y/x can be + or -. Not sufficient
Combining the two statements, x can be +6 or -6, so we cannot determine y/x - Option E)

1) only gives us y/6, so clearly insufficient

2) gives us no values at all, so insufficient

1 + 2, only tell us that y is either -6 or 6, but since we have 2 possible values, this is insufficient.

answer is E

Hi All,

One of the standard Algebraic concepts that you'll see more than once on Test Day is the concept of "squared values." To test your "thoroughness" on this subject, the Test will throw the concept at you in a few different formats. Keep in mind that the rules are the always the same, but you have to pay attention to what you're looking at to get the points.

Here, we're told that X and Y are NON-0 NUMBERS. We're asked for the value of Y/X.

Fact 1: X = 6

This tells us NOTHING about Y. Since Y can be anything except 0, there are an infinite number of different possible values for Y/X.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: Y^2 = X^2

Here, we can TEST VALUES to prove a point....

IF.....X = 1, then we have...
Y^2 = 1

Since we have a squared value, there are 2 solutions: Y = 1 and Y = -1

IF....
X = 1
Y = 1
The answer to the question is 1/1 = 1

IF....
X = 1
Y = -1
The answer to the question is -1/1 = -1
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we know....
X = 6
Y^2 = X^2

Notice the issue in Fact 2....it's the same issue here....

We know that X = 6, so Y^2 = 36. But since we have a squared value, there are 2 solutions: Y = 6 and Y = -6.

IF....
X = 6
Y = 6
The answer to the question is 6/6 = 1

IF....
X = 6
Y = -6
The answer to the question is -6/6 = -1
Combined, INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

I know its wrong, but when we are asked what the value of y/x is, why can't we plug in the information given in statement 2?

y/x = ?

y^2 = x^2 - Plug x^2 into the equation:

x^2 / x = x.

It does not answer the question of an exact value, but would it theoretically possible to use this approach?

Official Guide:
In data sufficiency problems that ask for the value of a quantity, the data given in the statements are sufficient only when it is possible to determine exactly one numerical value for the quantity.

Hi noTh1ng,



Fact 2 tells us that Y^2 = X^2. This does NOT tell us the value of Y. Since both terms are 'squared', we don't know if Y = X or Y = -X.

Since the question asks for the value of Y/X, substituting in (while permissible) does NOT answer the given question (what is the VALUE of Y/X).

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Attached is a visual that should help.

Here is my approach => In combining both the cases => Y/X can be 1 or -1 => E is the answer

Stupid question: So this answer proves that despite x and y being different variables, they can still be the same number. Does this hold for all GMAT questions? (I don't recall reading this anywhere).

My take of the question was that since x^2=y^2, then one must be positive and one must be negative given that they are different variables and therefore the answer is -1.

I.e. for e.g.

x^2=y^2 = 36
x= 6 and y =-6; x/y= 6/-6= -1 OR
x= -6 and y= 6; x/y = -6/6= -1... So we know the value

Hi Graeme520,

When dealing with DS questions, you have to consider what you're told and what you're not told.

Here, we're told that X and Y are non-zero numbers. That's not particularly 'restrictive' information - it means that X and Y could be ANY number EXCEPT 0 (including integers, fractions, repeating decimals, the SAME number, etc.).

IF... a prompt gives you explicit information that X and Y cannot be the same (re: "X is not equal to Y", "X and Y are DISTINCT numbers", X > Y, etc.), then you know that the two variables must be different numbers. Here though, we're given no such information to restrict our work, so we have to consider the possibility that the two values might be the same value.

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

Combining both we can get two answers.
If X is 6 and Y is 6 then +1
If X is 6 and Y is -6 then -1

Hence E is the answer.

the question stem states that x and y are non zero number so doesn't the question of either of the variables having a negative sign go away?

x and y are nonzero numbers means that neither of them is 0 (hence the name nonzero) but x and y can be positive or negative numbers.

Appreciate the help

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