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If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the fo
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18 Dec 2015, 07:54
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NoHalfMeasures wrote:
If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the following must be true?
I. (a+c) / (b+d) < c/ d
II. (a+c) / (b+d) < a/b
III. (a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d
a) none b) I only c) II only d) I and II e) I and III
Pls press kudos if you like the question and would like me to discuss more such questions
Your method is correct as well as all the 4 numbers are positive.
This question can be tackled easily by the method below:
You are given a/b < c/d ---> as all the numbers are positive you can cross multiply to get , a/c < b/d ---> (a/c) + 1 < (b/d) + 1 ---> (a+c)/c < (b+d)/d ---> (a+c) / (b+d) < c/ d which is statement I and is hence true.
Now, again consider a/b < c/d ---> d/b < c/a ---> (d/b) + 1 < (c/a) + 1 ---> (d+b)/b < (c+a)/a ---> a/b < (c+a)/(b+d) but this is not what statement II mentions, making statement II false.
Finally, for (a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d , you can clearly prove this wrong by taking a,b,c,d as 1,2,3,4. So this is also not true.
For a MUST BE TRUE question, you need to get a yes ALWAYS.
Thus, only statement I is true , making B the correct answer.
If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the fo
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18 Dec 2015, 08:04
Thanks for your reply.
But can you also comment on the following- St3) We can't prove equality from inequality. Hence st3 can't be 'must be true'. Is my logic correct specifically for st3?
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Re: If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the fo
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18 Dec 2015, 08:16
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NoHalfMeasures wrote:
Thanks for your reply.
But can you also comment on the following- St3) We can't prove equality from inequality. Hence can't be 'must be true'. Is my logic correct specifically for st3?
No this is a very broad statement that you are mentioning. Take a simpler example: If I say x<3 and then ask whether x =2 is true ? You will say "yes" but here you used the inequality to arrive at your answer for an equality.
I have shown 1 way of using particular values to see that III is NOT must be true.
The other way is to assume that (a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d is indeed true.
Then you end up getting \(b^2*c+a*d^2=0\) ---> \(-(a/c)= b^2/d^2\) but this can not possible as a and c are given to be of the same sign (both are positive) and as such this will make -(a/c) a negative quantity.
Additionally, you also know that \(b^2/d^2\) can never be <0 . Thus you have this contradiction, making this statement not a must be true.
Re: If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the fo
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23 Mar 2017, 10:10
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Bunuel I am very confused why 3rd statement is not correct. Here is my take on it -
(a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d
Taking LCM - so, (a+c)/(b+d)= (ad+cb)/(bd)
cross multiplying - abd + bcd =abd +bcd, which is true. So the answer should be E. Can you please let me know why this approach is wrong. Thanks for all your help !
If a, b, c, and d are positive numbers and a/b < c/d , which of the fo
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06 Nov 2017, 08:17
vtomar20 wrote:
bumpbot wrote:
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!
I am very confused why 3rd statement is not correct. Here is my take on it -
(a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d
Taking LCM - so, (a+c)/(b+d)= (ad+cb)/(bd)
cross multiplying - abd + bcd =abd +bcd, which is true. So the answer should be E. Can you please let me know why this approach is wrong. Thanks for all your help !
Hi vtomar20
I see a problem in your algebra.
Even i did the same mistake and eventually found what i was doing wrong.
When you simplify the expression:
(a+c) / (b+d) = a/b + c/d
you will get
abd + bcd =abd +bcd + ad^2 + cb^2
and this however is not true, since in the above expression we have an extra ad^2 + cb^2 on the right side which will make the right side bigger (and we know this because all the a, b, c, and d, are positive numbers ).
close
60% (01:26) correct 
