Last visit was: 14 Jan 2025, 03:33 It is currently 14 Jan 2025, 03:33
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
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,692
Own Kudos:
18,472
 [21]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert reply
Posts: 3,692
Kudos: 18,472
 [21]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
18
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
LeoN88
User avatar
BSchool Moderator
Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Last visit: 08 Dec 2024
Posts: 685
Own Kudos:
533
 [5]
Given Kudos: 227
Location: India
Concentration: Nonprofit, Sustainability
Schools: ISB '23
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V30
WE:Operations (Non-Profit and Government)
Products:
Schools: ISB '23
GMAT 1: 630 Q47 V30
Posts: 685
Kudos: 533
 [5]
4
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
avatar
chaitanya2402
Joined: 17 Feb 2019
Last visit: 01 Nov 2020
Posts: 6
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 6
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
SantoshSukumaran
Joined: 13 Jul 2018
Last visit: 27 Jul 2021
Posts: 22
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 20
Location: India
Schools: EDHEC
GPA: 2.49
Schools: EDHEC
Posts: 22
Kudos: 6
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi why not 7 & 6
Sum of the squares is 49 + 36 = 85 which is less than 86
Product is 42

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 14 Jan 2025
Posts: 1,449
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,001
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,449
Kudos: 1,731
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert
If product of integers a and b is negative and sum of their squares is greater than 0 but less than 86, then what is the maximum value of ab?

    A. -42
    B. -36
    C. -18
    D. -9
    E. -1

If a = -9 and b = 1 ----- a^2 + b^2 = 81+1 = 82

ab = -9*1 = -9

If a = -9 and b = 2 ------ a^2 + b^2 = 81+4 = 85

ab = -9*2 = -18

If a = -7 and b = 6 ------ a^2 + b^2 = 49 + 36 = 85

ab = -7*6 = -42

Finding it difficult to understand what the question is exactly asking?

If it is asking in terms of absolute value then correct answer will be -42.

In general terms, possible maximum value should be -9.

Let us wait for the OA.
User avatar
medic19
Joined: 17 Sep 2018
Last visit: 13 May 2020
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 76
Posts: 36
Kudos: 25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A IMO - Work Backwards and sign matter little here when testing everything since we square each a and b - Start from max numbers for -36 = 6*-6; 36+36=72; Try max numbers for 42 = 7*-6; 49+36 = 85, just about fits
User avatar
AkshdeepS
Joined: 13 Apr 2013
Last visit: 14 Jan 2025
Posts: 1,449
Own Kudos:
1,731
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,001
Status:It's near - I can see.
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Operations
GPA: 3.01
WE:Engineering (Real Estate)
Products:
Posts: 1,449
Kudos: 1,731
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
LeoN88
chaitanya2402
a x b < 0 i.e either a or b is -ve.

0<a^2 + b^2<86

The square neartest to 86 is 81 (9^2).

If one of the variable is 9 then other one must be smallest and 1.

Possible combinations are 9,-1 or -9,1 eitherway their product is -9.

IMO D.
If product of integers a and b is negative and sum of their squares is greater than 0 but less than 86, then what is the maximum value of ab?

Hey what if I consider two integers 1 & -1.
0<1^2 + (-1)^2<86
ab= -1

-1 is greater than -9, hence maximum value.

Yes, possible. I thought along the same line, but still wary of the language as it confuses me.
User avatar
Manat
Joined: 11 Jun 2018
Last visit: 22 Feb 2020
Posts: 122
Own Kudos:
64
 [1]
Given Kudos: 79
GMAT 1: 500 Q39 V21
GMAT 1: 500 Q39 V21
Posts: 122
Kudos: 64
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert
If product of integers a and b is negative and sum of their squares is greater than 0 but less than 86, then what is the maximum value of ab?

    A. -42
    B. -36
    C. -18
    D. -9
    E. -1


We need to find the maximum value of AB and not A & B individually or the maximum sum of their squares,

-1 can be written as 1 X -1,

(1)^2 + (-1)^2 =0

Satisfies both the conditions and is the maximum value.
avatar
sanyamjain2408
Joined: 15 Apr 2019
Last visit: 02 Nov 2021
Posts: 6
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 88
Concentration: Operations, Finance
Posts: 6
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
LeoN88
chaitanya2402
a x b < 0 i.e either a or b is -ve.

0<a^2 + b^2<86

The square neartest to 86 is 81 (9^2).

If one of the variable is 9 then other one must be smallest and 1.

Possible combinations are 9,-1 or -9,1 eitherway their product is -9.

IMO D.
If product of integers a and b is negative and sum of their squares is greater than 0 but less than 86, then what is the maximum value of ab?

Hey what if I consider two integers 1 & -1.
0<1^2 + (-1)^2<86
ab= -1

-1 is greater than -9, hence maximum value.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 13 Jan 2025
Posts: 8,119
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
Posts: 8,119
Kudos: 4,540
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
given
a*b=-ve ; so either of a or b is -ve integer and
0<a^2+b^2<86

use answer options to solve
    A. -42 ; -2*21 ; not possible to big value of a^2+b^2
    B. -36 ; can be -2*18,-4*9,-6*6 ; again a^2+b^2 is to big
    C. -18; can be -2*9; -3*6 or 1*-18,; a^2+b^2 large value >86
    D. -9 ; can be -1*9; -3*3 ; yes seems a good contender
    E. -1; -1*1 ; yes best of the lot ; lowest value and a^2+b^2 = 2 sufficient


IMO E ; -1

EgmatQuantExpert
If product of integers a and b is negative and sum of their squares is greater than 0 but less than 86, then what is the maximum value of ab?

    A. -42
    B. -36
    C. -18
    D. -9
    E. -1

User avatar
SPatel1992
Joined: 23 Jul 2015
Last visit: 14 Aug 2020
Posts: 66
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 297
Posts: 66
Kudos: 33
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chaitanya2402
a x b < 0 i.e either a or b is -ve.

0<a^2 + b^2<86

The square neartest to 86 is 81 (9^2).

If one of the variable is 9 then other one must be smallest and 1.

Possible combinations are 9,-1 or -9,1 eitherway their product is -9.

IMO D.


Hi! Really nice approach. That's what I started out with, but then I thought if we included fractions:
e.g.
a= 1/4 and b= -4
Then ab= -1 and 0<a^2 +b^2< 86
(1/16) +16 would still be less than 86
avatar
shhivaa
Joined: 16 Feb 2019
Last visit: 28 May 2019
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 4
Kudos: 2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It is C, -18, Product of -9 and 2, Hit and trail.
User avatar
medic19
Joined: 17 Sep 2018
Last visit: 13 May 2020
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 76
Posts: 36
Kudos: 25
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Please can you clarify the difference between Value and Number? Does the question not ask for the 'value' (rather than 'number') and the sign should therefore be ignored?
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,692
Own Kudos:
18,472
 [1]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert reply
Posts: 3,692
Kudos: 18,472
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Solution


Given:
In this question, we are given
    • The product of integers a and b is negative
    • The sum of the squares of a and b is greater than 0 but less than 86

To find:
We need to determine
    • The maximum value of ab

Approach and Working:
As the product of ab is negative, one of a and b must be negative and both of them are non-zero.
    • Hence, to maximise the value of ab, we must consider the minimum possible value for the positive integer (i.e. +1) and the maximum possible value of the negative integer (i.e. -1).
    • Therefore, the maximum possible value of ab = (1) x (-1) = -1

Hence, the correct answer is option E.

Answer: E

User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
GMAT Club Legend
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 13 Jan 2025
Posts: 8,119
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
Posts: 8,119
Kudos: 4,540
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert
please see highlighted part , typo error..

EgmatQuantExpert

Solution


Given:
In this question, we are given
    • The product of integers a and b is negative
    • The sum of the squares of a and b is greater than 0 but less than 86

To find:
We need to determine
    • The maximum value of ab

Approach and Working:
As the product of ab is negative, one of a and b must be negative and both of them are non-zero.
    • Hence, to maximise the value of ab, we must consider the minimum possible value for the positive integer (i.e. +1) and the maximum possible value of the negative integer (i.e. -1).
    • Therefore, the maximum possible value of ab = (1) x (-1) = -1
Hence, the correct answer is option E.

Answer: B

User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,692
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert reply
Posts: 3,692
Kudos: 18,472
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
EgmatQuantExpert
please see highlighted part , typo error..

Rectified...Thanks :)
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 36,015
Own Kudos:
Posts: 36,015
Kudos: 941
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
98720 posts
PS Forum Moderator
280 posts