Hi All,
This DS question is built around some interesting Number Properties and patterns. If you can spot those patterns, then solving this problem should take considerably less time. This also looks like a question that can be beaten by TESTing VALUES.
We're told that X CANNOT = 0. We're asked if |X| < 1. This is a YES/NO question.
Fact 1: X/|X| < X
Before TESTing VALUES, I want to note a pattern in this inequality:
X/|X| will either equal 1 (if X is positive) OR -1 (if X is negative). This will save us some time when it comes to TESTing VALUES, since there are many values of X that will NOT fit this information.
If X = 2, then the answer to the question is NO.
X cannot be 1, any positive fraction, 0, or any negative integer…..
So what's left to TEST….?
If X = -1/2, then the answer to the question is YES.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT
Fact 2: |X| > X
This tells us that X CANNOT be positive or 0.
If X = -1, then the answer to the question is NO.
If X = -1/2, then the answer to the question is YES.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT
Combined, we have deal with the "overlapping restrictions" that we noted in the two Facts:
X cannot be….anything positive, 0, or any negative integer.
X can ONLY BE negative fractions between 0 and -1.
ALL of those answers (e.g. -1/2, -.4, etc.) lead to a YES answer.
Combined SUFFICIENT.
Final Answer:
GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich