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Bunuel
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Bunuel
If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which of the following cannot be the value of a – b?

A. –5
B. –3
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8

value of a 5,4,3,2,1 and that of b ; -2,-1,0,1,2,3...
A. –5 ; 5-10
B. –3 ; 5-8
C. 2 ; 5-3
D. 7 ; 5- (-2)
E. 8 ; 5- ( -3) which is not part of b correct choice
option E
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Let's use number line to solve these kind of questions:

XXXXXXXXXXX.________. <=values of a (1,5)
----(-2)--------1-----------5
XXXX._______________________________________......<= values of b (-2, inf)

a-b is the distance between a and b
Let's find the min/max to find the range.

min. difference = 1-(-2)
max. positive difference = 5-(-2) =7
max. negative difference can be infinity = 2-10^5 or even bigger than this (as b>=-2)

So, the expression has range [3,7] union [-infinity, 0]
So, Answer is E

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We can find the MIN and MAX Range of (a - b)

We are given that the Variables a and b MUST be Integers:

Therefore:

2 </= a </= 5

-(2) </= b </= +Infinite


1st) MAXIMIZE Expression (a - b) ---- In order to do this, we want the MAX a we can get and the MIN b we can get

MAX a = +5
MIN b = -(2)

Maximum Bound of (a - b) = +5 - -(2) = +5 + 2 = +7

Therefore, the Value of (a - b) can NOT go beyond +7


-E- 8 ---- can NOT be a Value of (a - b)
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Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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