If x and y are positive numbers, is (x + 1)/(y + 1) > x/y

(1) x <1 -- Insufficient
(2) x< y
let's understand:

Effects of addition
if the ratio is less than 1: After adding some positive number to the numerator and denominator, the resulting ration increases
eg 2/3
adding 10 to numerator and denominator
2+10 / 3+10 =12/13 > 2/3

if the ratio is greater than 1: After adding some positive number to the numerator and denominator, the resulting ration decreases eg. 7/5
7+20 /5 +20 = 27/25 <75

Hence B is correct

please correct me if I am wrong

We are given that x and y are positive numbers and need to determine whether (x + 1)/(y + 1) > x/y. Simplifying the question, we have:

Is y(x + 1) > x(y + 1)? (Note that we multiplied each side by y(y + 1), which is allowed because y > 0.)

Is yx + y > xy + x?

Is y > x?

Statement One Alone:

x > 1

Since we do not know anything about y, statement one alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

x < y

We see that statement two has answered the question; y is greater than x.

Answer: B

x+1/y+1>x/y
cross multiply
xy +y > xy + x
subtract xy from both sides
y > x or x<y?

Ans B.

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Might as well share that I picked C due to not Reading that x and y - positive. This would not allow crossmultiplication.

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Answer: Option B

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Your mistake shows that you memorized the "rule" without exploring the reasoning behind it. That approach to studying will significantly limit your score potential, SkDv12. Attaching two images from my book.

x and y are positive numbers
\(x,y>0 ;\\
(x+1)y>(y+1)x ;\\
y>x\)

(1) x > 1
X can be a proper fraction or improper fraction and y can be proper or improper fraction
NS
(2) x < y
Rephrased expression
Suff

Option B

Here, x and y are positive numbers (i.e., \(x>0\) and \(y>0\))
If this is the case then \(\frac{x}{y}\) must be positive. If \(\frac{x}{y}\) is positive, then \(\frac{x + 1}{y + 1}\) must be positive too..
So, the question is:
\(\frac{x + 1}{y + 1} > \frac{x}{y}\)?
I can answer this question if I know value of x and y (whatever the value it is!).

In statement 2:
Here is given that \(x < y\).
I don't care what about the specific value of x and y here. I know from this statement that y is greater than x. If the statement even says that x is greater than y, i still don't care because statement NEVER lies!. Without any calculation in statement 2, I can surely say that it gives a definite YES or a definite NO, but NOT the simultaneous YES and NO. So, sufficient.


In statement 1:
There is no value of y. So, insufficient.
Is my understanding wrong Bunuel, IanStewart?
Thanks__

It might be a silly question, but before ruling Statement 1 out, can't we use the fee values of Y (as the question stem says Y is a positive number) ?
Use few positive values of Y and plug in the question to see if we get all Yes or all No?

cross multiply the given expression,
y(x+1)>x(y+1)
xy+y>xy+x
y>x ???

a. x>1. no info on Y. Not sufficient (Cancel AD)
b. y>x. Sufficient.
Answer B

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I get that we can simplify this to Y>X by multiplying.

But shouldn't the sign of inequality also be reversed according to the multiplication rule of inequality. Why it doesn't change ??

To what rule are you referring, SkDv12 ?

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avigutman This is my mistake. As soon as I revised, I knew my error.

"Multiplying or dividing an inequality by a negative number reverses the order of the inequality". It is only if multiplication and division is done by a -ve number. At the time, I was remembering it as with any number.

I think a simpler approach here is - Only in case of proper fractions (N<D) when same number is added to both N and D, the fraction gets closer to one (greater). So basically without any cross multiplication you know that you need to check if x<y. Direct answer is B.