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# If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

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If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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18 Dec 2012, 08:31
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If x is an integer, is x|x| < $$2^x$$ ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x = -10

Edit: Formating
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 59674
Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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18 Dec 2012, 08:35
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If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x= -10

If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

Notice that the RHS (right hand side) of the expression is always positive ($$2^x>0$$), but the LHS is positive when $$x>0$$ ($$x>0$$ --> $$x*|x|=x^2$$), negative when $$x<0$$ ($$x<0$$ --> $$x*|x|=-x^2$$) and equals to zero when $$x={0}$$.

(1) x < 0. According to the above $$x*|x|<0<2^x$$. Sufficient.

(2) x = -10. The same here $$x*|x|=-100<0<\frac{1}{2^{10}}$$. Sufficient.

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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 27 Jul 2015, 06:44
2
1
reza52520 wrote:
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x = -10

Question : Is x|x|<2^x ?

Statement 1: x < 0

For x to be Negative LHS i.e. x|x| will always be NEGATIVE
and 2^x will be positive for any value of x
i.e. x|x|<2^x will always be true
SUFFICIENT

Statement 1: x = -10
For x =-10 LHS i.e. x|x| will always be NEGATIVE (-100)
and 2^x will be positive for given x (1/2^10)
i.e. x|x|<2^x will always be true
SUFFICIENT

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Last edited by GMATinsight on 27 Jul 2015, 06:44, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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24 Apr 2016, 15:22
1
This question can be solved as follows.

stmt1) it says that x /x/ < 2^x. and also we are told that x< 0. So if x is zero and the abs of x is always positive then we know that x/x/ will be negative. In addition to that, we know that 2^negative number will be positive because it will be in the form of 1/2^x, it will be less than 1 but it will be greater than a negative number. So stmt1 is SUFF.

stmt2) this is a repetition of stmt1 because the left side is negative and the right side is positive. SUFF.

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If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 12 Nov 2019, 18:12
1
Top Contributor
1
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x = -10

Target question: Is x|x|< 2^x ?

Given: x is an integer

Statement 1: x < 0
In other words, x is NEGATIVE
So, x|x| = (NEGATIVE)(|NEGATIVE|) = (NEGATIVE)(POSITIVE) = NEGATIVE

IMPORTANT: 2^x will be POSITIVE for all values of x.

Since x|x| must be NEGATIVE, and since 2^x must be POSITIVE, we can be certain that x|x|< 2^x
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: x = -10
So, x|x| = (-10)(|-10|) = (-10)(10) = -100 = a NEGATIVE
On the other hand, 2^x = 2^(-10) = 1/(2^10) = some POSITIVE number
Since x|x| is NEGATIVE, and since 2^x must be POSITIVE, we can be certain that x|x|< 2^x
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

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Originally posted by GMATPrepNow on 23 Aug 2017, 13:52.
Last edited by GMATPrepNow on 12 Nov 2019, 18:12, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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22 Oct 2017, 16:14
Hi,

For statement 1 I tested values i.e. x = -1 or x = -2.This is more so a question regarding reciprocals and inequalities. If x = -2, then -2 (|-2|) = 2^-2. Then, this is equal to -2 (2) = 1/2^2. In the second step where I converted 2^-2 to 1/2^2 -- would I have to also flip the other side to become 1 / -2 (2) or is that wrong?

Thanks,

infinitemac
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Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 59674
Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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24 Oct 2017, 00:31
infinitemac wrote:
Hi,

For statement 1 I tested values i.e. x = -1 or x = -2.This is more so a question regarding reciprocals and inequalities. If x = -2, then -2 (|-2|) = 2^-2. Then, this is equal to -2 (2) = 1/2^2. In the second step where I converted 2^-2 to 1/2^2 -- would I have to also flip the other side to become 1 / -2 (2) or is that wrong?

Thanks,

infinitemac

No. The right hand side is $$2^{(-2)}$$, which is the same as $$\frac{1}{2^2}$$ but the left hand side (-2*|-2|) stays the same.

Negative powers:
$$a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}$$
Important: you cannot rise 0 to a negative power because you get division by 0, which is NOT allowed. For example, $$0^{-1} = \frac{1}{0}=undefined$$.

8. Exponents and Roots of Numbers

Check below for more:
ALL YOU NEED FOR QUANT ! ! !

Hope it helps.
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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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28 Oct 2017, 13:31
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x = -10

Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution.

Since we have 1 variables and 0 equation, D could be the answer most likely.

Condition 1)
Since x < 0 and |x|≥0, x|x|≤0.
2^x > 0
Thus x|x| < 2^x.
This is sufficient.

Condition 2)
Since x = -10, x|x| = (-10)*10 = -100 < 0
And 2^(-10) = 1/(2^10) > 0
Thus x|x| < 2^x
This is also sufficient.

For cases where we need 1 more equation, such as original conditions with “1 variable”, or “2 variables and 1 equation”, or “3 variables and 2 equations”, we have 1 equation each in both con 1) and con 2). Therefore, there is 59 % chance that D is the answer, while A or B has 38% chance and C or E has 3% chance. D is most likely to be the answer using con 1) and con 2) separately according to DS definition. Obviously, there may be cases where the answer is A, B, C or E.
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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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05 Dec 2017, 08:16
2
Bunuel wrote:
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x= -10

If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

Notice that the RHS (right hand side) of the expression is always positive ($$2^x>0$$), but the LHS is positive when $$x>0$$ ($$x>0$$ --> $$x*|x|=x^2$$), negative when $$x<0$$ ($$x<0$$ --> $$x*|x|=-x^2$$) and equals to zero when $$x={0}$$.

(1) x < 0. According to the above $$x*|x|<0<2^x$$. Sufficient.

(2) x = -10. The same here $$x*|x|=-100<0<\frac{1}{2^{10}}$$. Sufficient.

what is wrong in my approach :

x |x| < 2^x
x *sqrt(x^2) < 2^x
square on both sides,
x^2 * x^2 < 2^2x
x^4 < 2^2x

given 1 stmt, x as -ve, always x^4 > 2^2x, whereas I know i am making some mistake.
are we not allowed to take square on both sides?
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 59674
Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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05 Dec 2017, 08:24
Avinash_R1 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x= -10

If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?

Notice that the RHS (right hand side) of the expression is always positive ($$2^x>0$$), but the LHS is positive when $$x>0$$ ($$x>0$$ --> $$x*|x|=x^2$$), negative when $$x<0$$ ($$x<0$$ --> $$x*|x|=-x^2$$) and equals to zero when $$x={0}$$.

(1) x < 0. According to the above $$x*|x|<0<2^x$$. Sufficient.

(2) x = -10. The same here $$x*|x|=-100<0<\frac{1}{2^{10}}$$. Sufficient.

what is wrong in my approach :

x |x| < 2^x
x *sqrt(x^2) < 2^x
square on both sides,
x^2 * x^2 < 2^2x
x^4 < 2^2x

given 1 stmt, x as -ve, always x^4 > 2^2x, whereas I know i am making some mistake.
are we not allowed to take square on both sides?

We can raise both parts of an inequality to an even power if we know that both parts of an inequality are non-negative (the same for taking an even root of both sides of an inequality). Here x|x| is negative if x is negative, so we cannot square.

RAISING INEQUALITIES TO EVEN/ODD POWER

1. We can raise both parts of an inequality to an even power if we know that both parts of an inequality are non-negative (the same for taking an even root of both sides of an inequality).
For example:
$$2<4$$ --> we can square both sides and write: $$2^2<4^2$$;
$$0\leq{x}<{y}$$ --> we can square both sides and write: $$x^2<y^2$$;

But if either of side is negative then raising to even power doesn't always work.
For example: $$1>-2$$ if we square we'll get $$1>4$$ which is not right. So if given that $$x>y$$ then we cannot square both sides and write $$x^2>y^2$$ if we are not certain that both $$x$$ and $$y$$ are non-negative.

2. We can always raise both parts of an inequality to an odd power (the same for taking an odd root of both sides of an inequality).
For example:
$$-2<-1$$ --> we can raise both sides to third power and write: $$-2^3=-8<-1=-1^3$$ or $$-5<1$$ --> $$-5^3=-125<1=1^3$$;
$$x<y$$ --> we can raise both sides to third power and write: $$x^3<y^3$$.

Adding, subtracting, squaring etc.: Manipulating Inequalities.

9. Inequalities

For more check Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

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Re: If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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13 Dec 2017, 21:48
Hi All,

We're told that X is an integer. We're asked if X|X| < 2^X. This is a YES/NO question. We can answer it with a bit of Number Property knowledge.

1) X < 0

With Fact 1, we know that X is NEGATIVE. By definition, that means...
X|X| = (Neg)|Neg| = Negative
2^(Negative) = Positive
Thus, X|X| will ALWAYS be less than 2^X and the answer to the question is ALWAYS YES.
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT

2) X = -10

With the value of X, we can absolutely answer the question (we would just need to plug in that value:
Is (-10)|-10| < 2^(-10)?
The answer to the question IS yes, but we don't have to actually do that work. There would be just one answer to the question, so it doesn't really matter what that one answer is.
Fact 2 is SUFFICIENT

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If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?  [#permalink]

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13 Sep 2019, 23:14
If x is an integer, is x|x| < $$2^x$$ ?

(1) x < 0
(2) x = -10

Edit: Formating

Given: x is an integer

Asked: Is x|x| < $$2^x$$ ?

(1) x < 0
|x| = -x
-x^2 < 2^x
-x^2 < 0
2^x >0
-x^2 < 2^x
$$x|x| < 2^x$$
SUFFICIENT

(2) x = -10
|x| = 10
x|x| = -10 * 10 = -100
$$2^x = 2^{-10} = \frac{1}{1024}$$
$$-100 < \frac{1}{1024}$$
$$x|x| < 2^x$$
SUFFICIENT

IMO D
If x is an integer, is x|x|<2^x ?   [#permalink] 13 Sep 2019, 23:14
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