If p and q are positive, is p/q less than 1?

Question

(1) p is less than 4
(2) q is less than 4

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

If p and q are positive, is p/q less than 1?

Is p/q < 1. Since q is positive then we can multiply the inequality by it: is p < q?

(1) p is less than 4. Not sufficient. 
(2) q is less than 4. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) We just know that both p and q are less than 4, we cannot say whether p is less than q. Not sufficient.

Answer: E.

nikhilbansal08 · Answer

(1) p is less than 4: P <4 but nothing is mentioned about Q
(2) q is less than 4: Q is less than 4 and again we don't know about P

Question at hand is P/q <1
we can rewrite it as P<Q

Now combining both the statements :

P<4 and Q<4

Still nothing concrete can be said about the values of p and Q.

Answer : E

Konstantin1983 · Answer

Statement 1. p=3, q=4 then yes. But if p=3 and q=0.5 then No, insufficient
Statement 2. p=4, q=3 then No. p=1, q=3 then Yes. Insufficent. 
Taking both statements together we see that both Yes and No are possible. Answer E

MHIKER · Answer

(1) No information is given for q; Insufficient

(2) No information is given for p; Insufficient

Using Both:

p=3, \ q=3; \frac{p}{q}=1

p=2, \ q=3; \frac{p}{q}<1

Insufficient.

The answer is E

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

Solution:
 
We need to determine whether p/q is less than 1 given that both p and q are positive. If it is, then p < q. In other words, we need to determine whether p < q.

Statement One Alone:

This does not tell us anything about q; statement one alone is not sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

This does not tell us anything about p; statement two alone is not sufficient.

Statements One and Two Together:

Both statements together are still not sufficient. For example, if p = 2 and q = 3, then p/q < 1. However, if p = 3 and q = 2, then p/q is not less than 1.

Answer: E

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

(1) p is less than 4

There is no information of q (Insufficient)

(2) q is less than 4

There is no information on p(Insufficient)

Combining, we have a test of plug in values

If p=q=3 the answer to question stem is no

If p=2 and q=3 the answer to question stem is yes.  (Insufficient)

(option e)

Devmitra Sen
GMAT SME

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If p and q are positive, is p/q less than 1?

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If p and q are positive, is p/q less than 1?

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