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# If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must

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Intern
Joined: 26 Jun 2012
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Location: Germany
GMAT 1: 570 Q31 V39
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If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must [#permalink]

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20 Jul 2013, 10:12
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35% (medium)

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58% (00:54) correct 42% (00:55) wrong based on 312 sessions

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If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must be negative?

A. $$(-a)^{-2b}$$
B. $$(-a)^{-3b}$$
C. $$-(a^{-2b})$$
D. $$-(a^{-3b})$$
E. None of these
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

Last edited by kingflo on 20 Jul 2013, 10:37, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must [#permalink]

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20 Jul 2013, 10:34
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If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must be negative?

A. $$(-a)^{-2b}=\frac{1}{(-a)^{2b}}=positive$$.

B. $$(-a)^{-3b}$$ --> may be positive (consider a=1 and b=2) as well as negative (consider a=1 and b=1).

C. $$-(a^{-2b})=-\frac{1}{a^{2b}}=-\frac{1}{positive}=negative$$

D. $$-(a^{-3b})$$ --> may be positive (consider a=-1 and b=1) as well as negative (consider a=1 and b=1).

E. None of these

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Re: If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must [#permalink]

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25 Aug 2014, 11:07
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Re: If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must [#permalink]

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20 Mar 2016, 10:32
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

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Re: If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must [#permalink]

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04 Apr 2017, 00:01
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).

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Re: If a and b are nonzero integers, which of the following must   [#permalink] 04 Apr 2017, 00:01
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