GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 20 Sep 2018, 13:33

### 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

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

# If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Intern
Joined: 27 Sep 2009
Posts: 40
If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

07 Jun 2010, 16:17
1
2
00:00

Difficulty:

15% (low)

Question Stats:

82% (00:47) correct 18% (01:19) wrong based on 97 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than b ?

(1) a + 1 and b - 1 are consecutive negative integers.
(2) a is an odd integer.
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49271
If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

08 Jun 2010, 07:00
1
shekar123 wrote:
If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than b ?

(1) a + 1 and b - 1 are consecutive negative integers.
(2) a is an odd integer.

$$a$$ and $$b$$ are consecutive integers means that either:
$$b=a+1$$ (for example $$a=-5$$ and $$b=-4$$), in this case $$a<b$$;
OR:
$$a=b+1$$ (for example $$a=-5$$ and $$b=-6$$), in this case $$a>b$$.

So the we should determine which case we have.

(1) $$a+1$$ and $$b-1$$are consecutive negative integers --> again either $$a+1=b-1+1$$ --> $$a+1=b$$ (first case so $$a<b$$) or $$b-1=a+1+1$$ --> $$b=a+3$$, which is not possible as $$a$$ and $$b$$ are consecutive integers (difference between two consecutive integers cannot equal to 3). Sufficient.

(2) $$a$$ is an odd integer. Clearly insufficient.

_________________
Intern
Joined: 27 Sep 2009
Posts: 40
Re: Consecutive integers- 600 level question  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

08 Jun 2010, 21:23
Could you please tell me as to how did u get this

$$b-1=a+1+1$$ --> $$b=a+3$$

Thanks

Bunuel wrote:
shekar123 wrote:
If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than b ?

(1) a + 1 and b - 1 are consecutive negative integers.
(2) a is an odd integer.

$$a$$ and $$b$$ are consecutive integers means that either:
$$b=a+1$$ (for example $$a=-5$$ and $$b=-4$$), in this case $$a<b$$;
OR:
$$a=b+1$$ (for example $$a=-5$$ and $$b=-6$$), in this case $$a>b$$.

So the we should determine which case we have.

(1) $$a+1$$ and $$b-1$$are consecutive negative integers --> again either $$a+1=b-1+1$$ --> $$a+1=b$$ (first case so $$a<b$$) or $$b-1=a+1+1$$ --> $$b=a+3$$, which is not possible as $$a$$ and $$b$$ are consecutive integers (difference between two consecutive integers can not equal to 3). Sufficient.

(2) $$a$$ is an odd integer. Clearly insufficient.

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 49271
Re: Consecutive integers- 600 level question  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

09 Jun 2010, 04:51
shekar123 wrote:
Could you please tell me as to how did u get this

$$b-1=a+1+1$$ --> $$b=a+3$$

Thanks

Simple math:
$$b-1$$ and $$a+1$$ are consecutive integers --> $$(b-1)=(a+1)+1$$ --> $$b-1=a+2$$ --> add 1 to both sides --> $$b-1+1=a+2+1$$ --> $$b=a+3$$.
_________________
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Posts: 8105
Re: If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

22 Aug 2018, 14:22
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.
_________________
Re: If a and b are consecutive negative integers, is a less than &nbs [#permalink] 22 Aug 2018, 14:22
Display posts from previous: Sort by

# Events & Promotions

 Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne Kindly note that the GMAT® test is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council®, and this site has neither been reviewed nor endorsed by GMAC®.