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ishanbhat455
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Double negation in assumptions CR 08 Nov 2013, 23:35
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Hi,

How do we negate an answer choice containing double negatives in assumptions CR question? Do we have to simply convert both the negatives into positives?

For example, consider these two options:

1. One of the products of firm X could never stay profitable unless it was offered with a discount.

2. There is no way a product can stay profitable if that product is not sold without a discount.

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Double negation in assumptions CR 09 Nov 2013, 00:17
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My negation of the statements would be something in the lines of:

1) One of the products of firm X might stay profitable even if it was not offered with a discount.

2) There may be a way for a product to stay profitable even if that product is not sold with a discount.
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Double negation in assumptions CR 09 Nov 2013, 00:28
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MacFauz
My negation of the statements would be something in the lines of:

1) One of the products of firm X might stay profitable even if it was not offered with a discount.

2) There may be a way for a product to stay profitable even if that product is not sold without a discount.
Show more

Perfect Job Mac !! :)
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Double negation in assumptions CR 10 Nov 2013, 11:08
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ishanbhat455
Hi,

How do we negate an answer choice containing double negatives in assumptions CR question? Do we have to simply convert both the negatives into positives?

For example, consider these two options:

1. One of the products of firm X could never stay profitable unless it was offered with a discount.

2. There is no way a product can stay profitable if that product is not sold without a discount.
Show more
Dear ishanbhat455,
I see MacFauz already gave a good answer, but since you sent me a p.m., I will say a bit as well.

Here's another way to think about it. In each case, the original statement contains a double-negative, and two negatives make a positive, so there must be a way to capture the same meaning without any negatives.

Original #1: One of the products of firm X could never stay profitable unless it was offered with a discount.
Equivalent of #1: One of the products of firm X needs to be offered with a discount in order to stay profitable.
Now that we have a version that's all positive, it's easy to negate it:
Negation of #1: This product of firm X doesn't need to be offered with a discount in order to stay profitable.
or
Negation of #1: This product of firm X can be offered without a discount and still stay profitable.

For #2, I changed it from "a product" (very general) to "this product" --- the first seemed far too general for anything on the GMAT CR.
Original #2: There is no way this product can stay profitable if that product is not sold without a discount.
Equivalent of #2: Selling this product at a discount is absolutely essential for keeping it profitable. .
Negation of #2: Selling this product at a discount is not necessary for keeping it profitable. .
or
Negation of #2: This product can be offered without a discount and still stay profitable. .

You have to be flexible in making the negation. It's not just a matter of adding or subtracting the right combination of words. You always have to think about the meaning, and fine re-phrasings that preserve the correct meaning.

Does all this make sense?
Mike :-)
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Double negation in assumptions CR 10 Nov 2013, 21:16
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MacFauz
My negation of the statements would be something in the lines of:

1) One of the products of firm X might stay profitable even if it was not offered with a discount.

2) There may be a way for a product to stay profitable even if that product is not sold with a discount.
Show more

Thanks Mac. Makes sense.

I guess it really helps to simplify the sentence and then negate. So, the second one can be simplified to sound like- "There is no way a product can stay profitable if that product is sold with a discount." Then negating it seems to be a bit easier.
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Double negation in assumptions CR 10 Nov 2013, 21:19
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ishanbhat455
Hi,

How do we negate an answer choice containing double negatives in assumptions CR question? Do we have to simply convert both the negatives into positives?

For example, consider these two options:

1. One of the products of firm X could never stay profitable unless it was offered with a discount.

2. There is no way a product can stay profitable if that product is not sold without a discount.
Dear ishanbhat455,
I see MacFauz already gave a good answer, but since you sent me a p.m., I will say a bit as well.

Here's another way to think about it. In each case, the original statement contains a double-negative, and two negatives make a positive, so there must be a way to capture the same meaning without any negatives.

Original #1: One of the products of firm X could never stay profitable unless it was offered with a discount.
Equivalent of #1: One of the products of firm X needs to be offered with a discount in order to stay profitable.
Now that we have a version that's all positive, it's easy to negate it:
Negation of #1: This product of firm X doesn't need to be offered with a discount in order to stay profitable.
or
Negation of #1: This product of firm X can be offered without a discount and still stay profitable.

For #2, I changed it from "a product" (very general) to "this product" --- the first seemed far too general for anything on the GMAT CR.
Original #2: There is no way this product can stay profitable if that product is not sold without a discount.
Equivalent of #2: Selling this product at a discount is absolutely essential for keeping it profitable. .
Negation of #2: Selling this product at a discount is not necessary for keeping it profitable. .
or
Negation of #2: This product can be offered without a discount and still stay profitable. .

You have to be flexible in making the negation. It's not just a matter of adding or subtracting the right combination of words. You always have to think about the meaning, and fine re-phrasings that preserve the correct meaning.

Does all this make sense?
Mike :-)
Show more

Thanks Mike. Nice explanation. I seem to agree with the strategy of first simplifying a complex sentence (e.g- loaded with multiple negatives) and then negating it.
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Double negation in assumptions CR 17 Nov 2013, 12:50
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Yup.. Sorry about that.. I 'copy-pasted' the original sentence and didn't edit that out properly.. Have made the change now.. :)


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Double negation in assumptions CR 10 Sep 2020, 23:41
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