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# If |x|>3, which of the following must be true?

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Re: If |x| > 3 , which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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13 May 2013, 01:17
Archit143 wrote:
I too have the same doubt...can anyone address the query

Archit

The question asks is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$?

III tells us that $$x>3$$ or $$x<-1$$. So is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? YES

$$x>3$$ from question => $$x>3$$from III: Correct
$$x<-3$$ from question => $$x<-1$$ from III: Correct as well. We are asked if x<-3 and III tells us that x<-1 so for sure it will be <-3 also.

Hope it's clear now!
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Re: If |x| > 3 , which of the following must be true? [#permalink]

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13 May 2013, 08:44
danzig wrote:
If $$|x| > 3$$ , which of the following must be true?

I. $$x > 3$$

II. $$x^2 > 9$$

III. $$|x - 1| > 2$$

A. I only
B. II only
C. I and II only
D. II and III only
E. I, II, and III

I don't understand well III. $$|x - 1| > 2$$ is equivalent to $$x > 3$$ or $$x < -1$$. The last inequality ($$x < -1$$ ) includes integers -2 and -3, integers that are not included in one of the original inequalities ( $$x < -3$$ ). How could III be true?

If some numbers confuse you, don't fixate on them. Go ahead and take some other easier examples.
Let's keep the wording of the question same but make it simple.

If n < 6, which of the following must be true?

I.

II.

III. n < 8

Can we say that III must be true? Yes!
If n is less than 6 then obviously it is less than 8 too.
If n is less than 6, it will take values such as -20, 2, 5 etc. All of these values will be less than 8 too.

Values 6 and 7 are immaterial because n cannot take these values. You are given that n is less than 6 so you only need to worry about values that n CAN take. Those should satisfy n < 8.

Similarly, your question says that x > 3 or x < -3

Then we can say that x > 3 or x < -1. All values that will be less than -3 will be less than -1 too.

Check out my post on a similar tricky question : http://www.veritasprep.com/blog/2012/07 ... -and-sets/
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Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for $199 Veritas Prep Reviews Intern Joined: 15 Mar 2013 Posts: 5 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 0 [0], given: 2 Re: If |x| > 3 , which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 13 Aug 2013, 12:40 What if x = -2 that is < -1 but > than -3 so IIImust be out?no Zarrolou wrote: Archit143 wrote: I too have the same doubt...can anyone address the query Archit The question asks is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? III tells us that $$x>3$$ or $$x<-1$$. So is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? YES $$x>3$$ from question => $$x>3$$from III: Correct $$x<-3$$ from question => $$x<-1$$ from III: Correct as well. We are asked if x<-3 and III tells us that x<-1 so for sure it will be <-3 also. Hope it's clear now! Posted from GMAT ToolKit Senior Manager Joined: 10 Jul 2013 Posts: 335 Followers: 3 Kudos [?]: 323 [0], given: 102 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 13 Aug 2013, 13:27 corvinis wrote: If |x| > 3, which of the following must be true? I. x > 3 II. X^2 > 9 III. |x-1|>2 A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III I can't understand how the official answer can be right. For me is B. Please respond and I'll provide official explanation! Thanks |x| > 3 means x>3 or x<-3 so I is false because x<-3 is true. II. x^2 > 9 satisfies both equations (use x=-4 or x=5 ) III. is also true for x=-4 and x=5. so D _________________ Asif vai..... Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 37144 Followers: 7274 Kudos [?]: 96810 [0], given: 10786 Re: If |x| > 3 , which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 13 Aug 2013, 23:56 Expert's post 1 This post was BOOKMARKED rusth1 wrote: If |x| > 3, which of the following must be true? I. x > 3 II. X^2 > 9 III. |x-1|>2 A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III What if x = -2 that is < -1 but > than -3 so IIImust be out?no Zarrolou wrote: Archit143 wrote: I too have the same doubt...can anyone address the query Archit The question asks is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? III tells us that $$x>3$$ or $$x<-1$$. So is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? YES $$x>3$$ from question => $$x>3$$from III: Correct $$x<-3$$ from question => $$x<-1$$ from III: Correct as well. We are asked if x<-3 and III tells us that x<-1 so for sure it will be <-3 also. Hope it's clear now! Posted from GMAT ToolKit x cannot be -2 because we are told that |x|>3, and |-2|=2<3. Hope it helps. _________________ GMAT Club Legend Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 13994 Followers: 592 Kudos [?]: 168 [0], given: 0 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 28 Oct 2014, 09:53 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. _________________ Intern Joined: 17 May 2012 Posts: 49 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 126 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 23 Nov 2014, 22:46 Hi All, After going through the explanations I could understand why option B was not correct. But I am sure under timed conditions, I might make a similar mistake. Does anyone have a way to solve such problems, so that a mistake can be avoided and an important case like the 3rd option be considered while evaluating answer choices? Thanks, AK Director Joined: 25 Apr 2012 Posts: 728 Location: India GPA: 3.21 WE: Business Development (Other) Followers: 43 Kudos [?]: 708 [0], given: 723 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 23 Nov 2014, 23:29 aj0809 wrote: Hi All, After going through the explanations I could understand why option B was not correct. But I am sure under timed conditions, I might make a similar mistake. Does anyone have a way to solve such problems, so that a mistake can be avoided and an important case like the 3rd option be considered while evaluating answer choices? Thanks, AK Hi AK, Why will you leave an option out...that's a big no...in this question St 2 is true so you can remove answer options which don't have st 2 as one of the option and see if it reduces your work load... You may want to refresh some basics on how to go about solving such questions.. This is why we need to practice and see where we are going wrong...For instance this is an important pointer for you to never to overlook an option.. Check out below link: math-absolute-value-modulus-86462.html _________________ “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Intern Joined: 17 May 2012 Posts: 49 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 9 [0], given: 126 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 23 Nov 2014, 23:43 Thanks WondedTiger, Maybe I didn't present my question correctly. I didn't leave the 3rd option but came to the conclusion that it was wrong and chose my answer as B. I just want to prevent that in timed conditions for difficult questions like these, which have subtle differences that makes an answer choice right. Director Joined: 25 Apr 2012 Posts: 728 Location: India GPA: 3.21 WE: Business Development (Other) Followers: 43 Kudos [?]: 708 [0], given: 723 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 23 Nov 2014, 23:53 aj0809 wrote: Thanks WondedTiger, Maybe I didn't present my question correctly. I didn't leave the 3rd option but came to the conclusion that it was wrong and chose my answer as B. I just want to prevent that in timed conditions for difficult questions like these, which have subtle differences that makes an answer choice right. hmm.. Did you solve the 3rd option correctly or you made it a mistake. Identify the step where you made the mistake.. Consider making an error log..That will certainly help... _________________ “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” Intern Joined: 18 May 2014 Posts: 36 GMAT 1: 680 Q49 V35 Followers: 5 Kudos [?]: 33 [0], given: 184 If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 22 May 2015, 06:26 III. |x-1|>2 This implies that the distance of x from 1 must be greater than 2. So x is either greater than 3 or less than -1. Now, recall all the values that x can take. For each value, can be say that x is either greater than 3 or less than -1? Yes. 3.00001 - x is greater than 3 3.5 : x is greater than 3 4.2 : x is greater than 3 5.7 : x is greater than 3 67 : x is greater than 3 1000 : x is greater than 3 -3.45 : x is less than -1 -4 : x is less than -1 -8 : x is less than -1 -100 : x is less than -1 For every value that x can take, x will be either greater than 3 or less than -1. Note that we are not saying that every value less than -1 must be valid for x. We are saying that every value that is valid for x (found by using |x| > 3) will be either greater than 3 or less than -1.Hence |x-1|>2 must be true for every value that x can take. VeritasPrepKarishma Thank you for this! I was doing 'must be true' questions wrong! Current Student Joined: 29 May 2013 Posts: 124 Location: India Concentration: Technology, Marketing WE: Information Technology (Consulting) Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 13 [0], given: 42 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 20 Jun 2015, 01:27 i dont get it...if x=-2, then |x|=2, which does not satisfy the equation, how is it true? Math Expert Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 37144 Followers: 7274 Kudos [?]: 96810 [0], given: 10786 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 20 Jun 2015, 01:33 jayanthjanardhan wrote: i dont get it...if x=-2, then |x|=2, which does not satisfy the equation, how is it true? Please read the whole thread. x cannot be -2 because we are told that |x|>3, and |-2|=2<3. _________________ Intern Joined: 03 Jul 2015 Posts: 40 Followers: 0 Kudos [?]: 12 [0], given: 27 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 03 Sep 2015, 01:51 SOURH7WK wrote: fameatop wrote: Option3-|x-1|>2, which means (x-1)>2 ---> x>3 (if x-1>0) - True it also means (x-1)<-2---->x<-1 (if x-1<0) X<-1 satisfies x<-3. Thus true Both 2 & 3 is true Thus Answer D Hope it helps Now if I take x=-2 will it satisfy the condition? if in case of iii. i square both of the inequality, then what will be my fault? GMAT Club Legend Joined: 09 Sep 2013 Posts: 13994 Followers: 592 Kudos [?]: 168 [0], given: 0 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 11 Sep 2016, 08:33 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. _________________ Manager Joined: 22 Feb 2016 Posts: 112 Location: India Concentration: Economics, Healthcare GMAT 1: 690 Q42 V47 GMAT 2: 710 Q47 V39 GPA: 3.57 Followers: 1 Kudos [?]: 7 [0], given: 208 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 13 Nov 2016, 20:24 Zarrolou wrote: Archit143 wrote: I too have the same doubt...can anyone address the query Archit The question asks is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? III tells us that $$x>3$$ or $$x<-1$$. So is $$x>3$$ or $$x<-3$$? YES $$x>3$$ from question => $$x>3$$from III: Correct $$x<-3$$ from question => $$x<-1$$ from III: Correct as well. We are asked if x<-3 and III tells us that x<-1 so for sure it will be <-3 also. Hope it's clear now! Still not clear. It is saying MUST be true. Veritas Prep GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Posts: 7191 Location: Pune, India Followers: 2174 Kudos [?]: 14058 [0], given: 222 Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true? [#permalink] ### Show Tags 24 Nov 2016, 22:53 VeritasPrepKarishma wrote: corvinis wrote: If |x| > 3, which of the following must be true? I. x > 3 II. X^2 > 9 III. |x-1|>2 A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only E. I, II, and III I can't understand how the official answer can be right. For me is B. Please respond and I'll provide official explanation! Thanks Responding to a pm: |x| > 3 implies that x is a point whose distance from 0 is more than 3. So x could be greater than 3 or less than -3. Before you move further, think about the values x can take: 3.00001, 3.5, 4.2, 5.7, 67, 1000, -3.45, -4, -8, -100 etc. The only values it cannot take are -3 <= x <= 3 Which of the following must be true? I. x > 3 For every value that x can take, must x be greater than 3? No. e.g. if x takes -3.45, -4 etc, it will not be greater than 3 so this is not true. II. X^2 > 9 This is the same as |x| > 3 so it must be true III. |x-1|>2 This implies that the distance of x from 1 must be greater than 2. So x is either greater than 3 or less than -1. Now, recall all the values that x can take. For each value, can be say that x is either greater than 3 or less than -1? Yes. 3.00001 - x is greater than 3 3.5 : x is greater than 3 4.2 : x is greater than 3 5.7 : x is greater than 3 67 : x is greater than 3 1000 : x is greater than 3 -3.45 : x is less than -1 -4 : x is less than -1 -8 : x is less than -1 -100 : x is less than -1 For every value that x can take, x will be either greater than 3 or less than -1. Note that we are not saying that every value less than -1 must be valid for x. We are saying that every value that is valid for x (found by using |x| > 3) will be either greater than 3 or less than -1. Hence |x-1|>2 must be true for every value that x can take. Responding to a pm: Quote: I couldn't understand the solution for option B. Since |x|>3 we can say that |x|-1>2 ( subtracting 2 from both sides). But how are we saying that |x|-1 is equal to |x-1|. They are not the same: |x - 1| > 2 and |x|-1 > 2 |x - 1| > 2 means x > 3 or x < -1 |x| - 1 > 2 |x| > 3 means x > 3 or x < -3 But not what is given and what is asked. We are GIVEN that |x| > 3 So we KNOW that x is either greater than 3 or it is less than -3. So valid values for x are 3.4, 4, 101, 2398675, -3.6, -5, -78 etc Now the question is: "Is |x - 1| > 2?" "Is x always either greater than 3 or less than -1?" All positive values of x are given to be greater than 3. All negative values of x are given to be less than -3. So obviously they are less than -1 too. Hence, |x - 1| > 2 is true. Helps? _________________ Karishma Veritas Prep | GMAT Instructor My Blog Get started with Veritas Prep GMAT On Demand for$199

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Re: If |x|>3, which of the following must be true?   [#permalink] 24 Nov 2016, 22:53

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