In the xy-plane, is the slope of line L greater than the

Answer is E, not C as everyone stated above.

Note that: a steeper incline indicates a higher absolute value of the slope.

Obviously each statement alone is not sufficient. When taken together, we can have 2 cases:You can see that the slope of K (blue) is greater than that of L (red): 2>-1;

In this case the slope of K (blue) is less than that of L (red): -8<-1/2. Here, both lines have negative slopes. Line K is steeper than line L, which indicates that the absolute value of its slope is greater than that of line L, since slopes are negative, then slope of K is "more negative" (so less) than slope of L.

Answer: E.

Check Coordinate Geometry chapter of Math Book for more on this topic: math-coordinate-geometry-87652.html

Similar questions to practice:
if-the-slopes-of-the-line-l1-and-l2-are-of-the-same-sign-is-126759.html
slopes-of-m-and-n-124025.html
line-n-and-p-lie-in-the-xy-plane-is-the-slope-of-the-line-30553.html
lines-n-and-p-lie-in-the-xy-plane-is-the-slope-of-line-n-97007.html

Hope it helps.
_________________

I believe drawing this out will make the scenario's clearer.
However, 3 scenarios here - slope of L > | = | < m considered.
a. meaning L can be = M or > | < M too.
not sufficient.

b. no clue about the lines and slopes here.
insufficient.

a+b
means, Line L has negative slope hence it enters 2nd quad
Line M has positive slope hence it enters 2nd quad from 3rd quad(possibly).

thus true.
Sufficient.
C it is.

In the xy-plane, is the slope of line L greater than the slope of line K?
(1) L passes through (5, 0) and K passes through (-5, 0).
(2) L and K intersect with each other in the 2nd quadrant.


From statement 1 alone we dont have any information regarding the slopes of the two lines .
statement 2 alone we cannot predict anything about the slope.
Now combine both the statements.
L passes from 1 st quadrant to the 2 nd quadrant.Implies slope is negative.

K is already in the second quadrant( -5,0) .For it to interect with the line L it has to have a positive slope or even if its negative ,its magnitude is higher than that of line L.

Hence 2 statements together are requried . Sorry you need to imagine the figure ,I would have helped better with a diagram !!
_________________

I got C as well but its super easy after drawing a figure

Wow Excellent question and nice trap

Bunnel

I think when we follow graphs we might miss some of the cases, i think it is better to solve by algebra? am i correct?

You should choose approach which suits you best. For me personally, it wasn't too hard to find two examples satisfying both statements and giving different answers to the question
_________________

Hi bunuel...
I must say excellent solution but one thing that i did not understand is how did u form equation for the two different lines when we do not have any point of intersection .......
Can u pls elaborate on that point.

Archit

We know that the lines intersect in 2nd quadrant, so the lines drawn are just examples.
_________________

Check algebraic approach for similar problems:
in-the-xy-plane-if-line-k-has-negative-slope-and-passes-135197.html
line-m-and-n-pass-through-point-1-2-is-the-slope-of-m-90629.html
lines-n-and-p-lie-in-the-xy-plane-is-the-slope-of-line-n-127999.html

Hope it helps.
_________________

Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
_________________