If -1

Question

If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

a) 1-h
b) 1+h
c) 1+h^2
d) 1-1/h
e) 1-1/(h^2)

If put the largest possible value of h 0.9, then it should be B

pls tell me exactly why each choice is wrong??? Thank you

By the way, adminstrator, may be this problem has been discussed before but I can't search it due to the key words are forbiden mostly

BrentGMATPrepNow · Accepted Answer

Since there can be only 1 correct answer, then we can pick any value of h that meets the condition that -1 < h < 0
If  h = -1/2,  then the 5 answer choices evaluate as follows:

A) 1 - ( -1/2 ) = 1.5
B) 1 + ( -1/2 ) = 0.5 
C) 1+ ( -1/2 )² = 1 + 0.25 = 1.25
D) 1 - 1/( -1/2 ) = 1 - (-2) =  3  
E) 1 - 1/( -1/2 )² = 1 - 1/(1/4) = 1 - 4 = -3

The greatest value is  3

Answer: D

Cheers,
Brent

sdas · Answer

Hi, if h>-1 then why wd h be .9?it wl be -0.9 isnt it?

vishal4584 · Answer

U can plug in any value between -1 < h < 0 and not the largest value.

Eg let h be (-1/2).

a) 1-h = 1 - (-1/2) = 3/2
b) 1+h = 1+-1/2) = 1/2
c) 1+h^2 = 1 + (1/2)^2 = 1+(1/4) =5/4
d) 1-1/h =1-1/(-1/2) = 1+2 =3
e) 1-1/(h^2) = 1-1/(-1/2)^2 = 1-4 =-3

So the option is D.

Fistail · Answer

"h" is a -ve fraction, adding "h" to any number, n, will result a value that is less than "n" and vice versa. 
If n is +ve and divided by h will result a value that is smaller than -1 and vice versa. 
And so on...

a) (1-h) is more than 1. Keep it..
b) (1+h) is less than 1. Remove it.
c) (1+h^2) is more than 1 but minimally. It cannot be more than that value of (1-h) in a. Remove it.
d) (1-1/h) is more than 2. Keep it and remove a. 
e) 1-1/(h^2) is always -ve. Remove it.

That is D..

Spidy001 · Answer

easiest way of solving this would be to substitute a value.

lets say h= - 1/2

a) 3/2
b) 1/2
c) 5/4
d) 3
e) - 3

the value you chose is wrong . h cannot be 0.9 as -1<h<0. if you chose -0.9 answer will still be D.

Answer is D.

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

We see that h is a negative proper fraction. Let’s say h = -1/2 and check the answer choices to find the greatest resulting value.

A. 1 - (-1/2) = 1.5

B. 1 + (-1/2) = 1/2

C. 1 + (-1/2)^2 = 1 + 1/4 = 1.25

D. 1 - 1/(-1/2) = 1 - (-2) = 3

E. 1 - 1/(-1/2)^2 = 1 - 1/(1/4)= 1 - 4 = -3

Answer: D

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If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

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If -1 < h < 0, which of the following has the greatest value?

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