Last visit was: 27 Apr 2024, 22:12 It is currently 27 Apr 2024, 22:12

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
SORT BY:
Date
Tags:
Show Tags
Hide Tags
avatar
Director
Director
Joined: 29 Nov 2012
Posts: 580
Own Kudos [?]: 6048 [1]
Given Kudos: 543
Send PM
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 92959
Own Kudos [?]: 619516 [4]
Given Kudos: 81611
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 05 Jul 2013
Posts: 3
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [1]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
GMAT Club Legend
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 19 Dec 2014
Status:GMAT Assassin/Co-Founder
Affiliations: EMPOWERgmat
Posts: 21846
Own Kudos [?]: 11669 [2]
Given Kudos: 450
Location: United States (CA)
GMAT 1: 800 Q51 V49
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: If a^5b^3c^6 < 0, is abc < 0? [#permalink]
2
Kudos
Expert Reply
Hi All,

This question is packed full of Number Properties, which you can use to answer the question.

We're told that (A^5)(B^3)(C^6) < 0. This tells us a few things:

1) NONE of the variables can equal 0 (since the product is LESS than 0)
2) C could be positive or negative.
3) Between A and B, one is positive while the other is negative.

The question asks if (A)(B)(C) is < 0. This is a YES/NO question.

Since we know that A and B will give us one positive and one negative, (A)(B) MUST be negative. Thus, the question 'hinges' on C....
IF....C = postive, then the product of (A)(B)(C) is negative and the answer to the question is YES.
IF....C = negative, then the product of (A)(B)(C) is positive and the answer to the question is NO.

Fact 1: B < 0

This tells us that A MUST be positive, but it tells us nothing about C.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

Fact 2: C > 0

This provides the essential piece of information that we need. We now know that the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT.

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
Retired Moderator
Joined: 05 Jul 2006
Posts: 849
Own Kudos [?]: 1562 [0]
Given Kudos: 49
Send PM
Re: If a^5b^3c^6 < 0, is abc < 0? [#permalink]
fozzzy wrote:
If \(a^5b^3c^6 < 0\), is abc < 0?

(1) b < 0
(2) c > 0

Any alternative solutions?


from stem
a and b has different signs and thus if c is +ve is the deciding factor whether abc<0

from 1

irrelevant

from 2

c is +Ve thus abc<0 ... suff

b
GMAT Club Bot
Re: If a^5b^3c^6 < 0, is abc < 0? [#permalink]
Moderator:
Math Expert
92959 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne