GMAT Question of the Day - Daily to your Mailbox; hard ones only

 It is currently 18 Apr 2019, 21:37

### 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

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

# If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?

Author Message
TAGS:

### Hide Tags

Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Posts: 54371
If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

09 Nov 2015, 00:11
00:00

Difficulty:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

92% (00:25) correct 8% (00:33) wrong based on 106 sessions

### HideShow timer Statistics

If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?

I. x^2
II. (-1) x
III. 1/x

(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

_________________
Verbal Forum Moderator
Status: Greatness begins beyond your comfort zone
Joined: 08 Dec 2013
Posts: 2247
Location: India
Concentration: General Management, Strategy
Schools: Kelley '20, ISB '19
GPA: 3.2
WE: Information Technology (Consulting)
Re: If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

09 Nov 2015, 01:48
x=-ve

I. x^2
will be positive
II. (-1) x
=-ve*-ve= +ve
will be positive
III. 1/x
=1/-ve =-ve
will be negative

_________________
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. - Henry Ford
The Moment You Think About Giving Up, Think Of The Reason Why You Held On So Long
+1 Kudos if you find this post helpful
Director
Joined: 04 Dec 2015
Posts: 750
Location: India
Concentration: Technology, Strategy
Schools: ISB '19, IIMA , IIMB, XLRI
WE: Information Technology (Consulting)
Re: If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?  [#permalink]

### Show Tags

04 Jul 2017, 16:00
Bunuel wrote:
If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?

I. x^2
II. (-1) x
III. 1/x

(A) I only
(B) I and II only
(C) I and III only
(D) II and III only
(E) I, II, and III

$$x$$ is negative.

I. $$x^2$$

Any negative number raised to even power will give positive value.

Eg; $$(-1)^2 = 1$$ ------------- (Must be Positive)

II. $$(-1) x$$

$$(Negative) * (Negative) = Positive$$ --------------- (Must be Positive)

III. $$\frac{1}{x}$$

$$\frac{Positive}{Negative} = Negative$$

Only I and II will be Positive.

Re: If x is negative, which of the following must be positive ?   [#permalink] 04 Jul 2017, 16:00
Display posts from previous: Sort by