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# Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x

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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
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Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2016, 04:02
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Difficulty:

25% (medium)

Question Stats:

74% (01:08) correct 26% (01:03) wrong based on 163 sessions

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Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x?

A. 3
B. -1
C. -1/2
D. -1/3
E. -3

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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2016, 04:21
Bunuel wrote:
Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x?

A. 3
B. -1
C. -1/2
D. -1/3
E. -3

A. 3 if x=3 ==> 1/x=1/3 > -3 True
B. -1 if x=-1 ==> 1/x=-1 > -3 True
C. -1/2 if x=-1/2 ==> 1/x= -2 > -3 True
D. -1/3 if x=-1/3 ==> 1/x= -3 cannot be true since 1/x < -3
E. -3 if x=-3 ==> 1/x= -1/3 > -3 True

Hence D
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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2016, 11:01
Bunuel wrote:
Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x?

A. 3
B. -1
C. -1/2
D. -1/3
E. -3

let's take them individually
1/3 > -3 yes - A is out
1/-1 = -1 > -3 - yes - B is out
1/(-1/2) = -2 > -3 - yes - C is out.
1/(-1/3) = -3 is not > -3. D is the possible answer
1/-3 = -1/3 > -3 - yes, E is out.

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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2016, 11:41
Substituting the numbers obviously seems to be the easiest method and quickly shows the answer as D.

But can someone explain the error when we try algebraically.

1/x>-3 => x<-1/3 which shows answers A and D. Then should we substitute?
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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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29 Nov 2016, 16:01
1
Bunuel wrote:
Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x?

A. 3
B. -1
C. -1/2
D. -1/3
E. -3

We are given that (1/x) > -3 and need to determine which answer choice cannot be the value of x. Let’s plug in each answer choice.

A) 3

1/3 > -3

B) -1

1/(-1) > -3

-1 > -3

C) -1/2

1/(-1/2) > -3

-2 > -3

D) -1/3

1/(-1/3) > -3

-3 > -3

Answer choice D is NOT true. Thus, x cannot be -1/3.

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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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27 Dec 2016, 19:16
1
$$\frac{1}{x} > -3$$
1 > - 3x
$$x < \frac{-1}{3}$$
D
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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x  [#permalink]

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08 Oct 2018, 07:55
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Re: Given that (1/x) > -3, which of the following cannot be the value of x   [#permalink] 08 Oct 2018, 07:55
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