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# If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?

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Senior Manager
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Joined: 15 Sep 2010
Posts: 271
If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 11 Apr 2014, 02:45
2
00:00

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

64% (01:45) correct 36% (01:43) wrong based on 98 sessions

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If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

(1) x/y < 1/2
(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$ and $$\sqrt{y^2}=y$$

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

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I'm the Dumbest of All !!

Originally posted by shrive555 on 27 Oct 2010, 17:38.
Last edited by Bunuel on 11 Apr 2014, 02:45, edited 1 time in total.
Edited the question
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Re: integers x & y  [#permalink]

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27 Oct 2010, 17:52
2
1
shrive555 wrote:
If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

1 - x/y <1/2

2- sqr X^2 = X and sqr Y^2 = Y

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

Question: is $$x>y$$?

(1) $$\frac{x}{y}<\frac{1}{2}$$ --> if both $$x$$ and $$y$$ are positive (for example 1 and 3 respectively) then $$x<y$$ and the answer to the question is NO but if $$x$$ and $$y$$ are both negative (for example -1 and -3 respectively) then $$x>y$$ and the answer to the question is YES. Not sufficient.

(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$ and $$\sqrt{y^2}=y$$ --> both $$x$$ and $$y$$ are positive (as square root function can not give negative result and we know that neither of unknown is zero), but we don't know whether $$x>y$$. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From (2) both $$x$$ and $$y$$ are positive so from (1) $$x<y$$ and the answer to the question is NO. Sufficient.

As for your solution: red part is not correct. You can not multiply inequality by y as you don't know the sign of it.

Never multiply or reduce inequality by an unknown (a variable) unless you are sure of its sign since you do not know whether you must flip the sign of the inequality.

Hope it helps.
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Re: integers x & y  [#permalink]

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27 Oct 2010, 18:37
....Great Point to remember !!! +2
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I'm the Dumbest of All !!

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Re: integers x & y  [#permalink]

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27 Oct 2010, 23:52
Really good one Bunuel... thanks
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Re-taking GMAT. Hope the charm works this time..

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Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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07 Feb 2014, 07:17
x and y are non-zero integers. Is x > y?
1. x/y < 1/2 -> x = 1 , y = 8, NO. x = -1, y = -8, YES.
2. |x| = x and |y| = y; x and y are both positive. but x > y and x < y possible. Remember Sqrt(x^2) = |x| and NOT x.

Combining, x and y are positive and x < y/2 => x < y.

C
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Posts: 609
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 02:43
shrive555 wrote:
If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

(1) x/y < 1/2
(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

Please note some how statement 2 has been edited , part of statement 2 is missing, $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$, should be there.
The question as given now , gives answer as E.

Hope concerned persons will look into this.
Thank you.
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- Stne

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Joined: 08 Apr 2014
Posts: 12
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 04:57
stne wrote:
shrive555 wrote:
If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

(1) x/y < 1/2
(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

Please note some how statement 2 has been edited , part of statement 2 is missing, $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$, should be there.
The question as given now , gives answer as E.

Hope concerned persons will look into this.
Thank you.

Hi Stne,

We do not really need $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$ because if $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$ is true, x is positive
and as x/y < 1/2 => 2x < y
Hence as y is greater than 2x, it has to be positive.

*press Kudos if you like the post!
Director
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 609
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 07:05
ricsingh wrote:
stne wrote:
shrive555 wrote:
If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

(1) x/y < 1/2
(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

Please note some how statement 2 has been edited , part of statement 2 is missing, $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$, should be there.
The question as given now , gives answer as E.

Hope concerned persons will look into this.
Thank you.

Hi Stne,

We do not really need $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$ because if $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$ is true, x is positive
and as x/y < 1/2 => 2x < y
Hence as y is greater than 2x, it has to be positive.

*press Kudos if you like the post!

You cannot cross multiply in inequality without knowing the signs of x and y , you can cross multiply only when you know that the signs are positive
if the question does not have $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$ then y need not necessarily be positive

consider x=1 and y = 3 this satisfies both the statement and the answer is no
consider x= 1 and y = -3 this satisfies both the statements and the answer is yes
as you can see, Y has to be positive for the answer to be c .
Hence question should be corrected, as in the present format, answer is E

Hope it helps , let me know if there is anything still unclear.
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- Stne

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Posts: 12
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 07:44
stne wrote:
ricsingh wrote:
shrive555 wrote:
If x and y are integers and xy ≠ 0, is x - y > 0 ?

(1) x/y < 1/2
(2) $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$

Why I alone isn't sufficient , since x/y <1/2 => x<y/2 .. As X is even less than half of Y so X can't be greater than Y

Please note some how statement 2 has been edited , part of statement 2 is missing, $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$, should be there.
The question as given now , gives answer as E.

Hope concerned persons will look into this.
Thank you.

Hi Stne,

We do not really need $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$ because if $$\sqrt{x^2}=x$$ is true, x is positive
and as x/y < 1/2 => 2x < y
Hence as y is greater than 2x, it has to be positive.

*press Kudos if you like the post!

You cannot cross multiply in inequality without knowing the signs of x and y , you can cross multiply only when you know that the signs are positive
if the question does not have $$sqrt (y^2) = y$$ then y need not necessarily be positive

consider x=1 and y = 3 this satisfies both the statement and the answer is no
consider x= 1 and y = -3 this satisfies both the statements and the answer is yes
as you can see, Y has to be positive for the answer to be c .
Hence question should be corrected, as in the present format, answer is E

Hope it helps , let me know if there is anything still unclear.[/quote]

But, incase y is negative:
x- y will always be greater than 0, given x is positive and x & y are non-zero integers.

For example 1- (-3) > 0

*press Kudos if you like the post!
Director
Joined: 27 May 2012
Posts: 609
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 10:59
Hi Ricsingh,

x= 1 and y = 3 what is x-y ? its -2 so is x- y >0 answer No.
x=1 and y = -3 what is x- y ? its 4 so is x-y >0 answer yes

So what is the confusion? we have two different answers if $$sqrt(y^2)= y$$ is not given.
So it is very important to mention that Y is positive.

Hope this will help, if any thing is still unclear .let me know
_________________

- Stne

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Joined: 10 Apr 2014
Posts: 33
Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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10 Apr 2014, 13:04
stne wrote:
Hi Ricsingh,

x= 1 and y = 3 what is x-y ? its -2 so is x- y >0 answer No.
x=1 and y = -3 what is x- y ? its 4 so is x-y >0 answer yes

So what is the confusion? we have two different answers if $$sqrt(y^2)= y$$ is not given.
So it is very important to mention that Y is positive.

Hope this will help, if any thing is still unclear .let me know

Hello - I agree that we need to know Y is positive or not for this question and I think someone has corrected it as well.

Just a thought, if we know Y is positive we do not really need to know what X is to answer the question.

because when x is negative x-y > 0 , not true
when x is positive, x-y >0 , not true if x is less than y and first statement confirms that.

Letme know your thoughts on this.
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Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ?  [#permalink]

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15 Oct 2017, 11:01
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Re: If x and y are integers and xy 0, is x - y > 0 ? &nbs [#permalink] 15 Oct 2017, 11:01
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