In GMAT options are always in ascending or descending order. So the right answer would either be A or E in this case
gmatlbs
(A) x − z
(E) z − x
Absolute value of both the options are same.
(But the sign of x , y and z is not mentioned....Is it really going to make any difference to this question !!! )
Option A.
It is not known whether x, y and z are positive or negative, but it doesn't matter. We know that x is larger than z, so x-z will be positive and z-x will be negative. We don't need to know the values or the signs.
To double check, pick some values (keeping in mind that x > y > z):
x=10, y=4, z=1
Now the answer choices become:
(A) x − z = 9
(B) x − y = 6
(C) y − x = -6
(D) z − y = -3
(E) z − x = -9
Option (A) is the greatest. A for Ali, obviously. :wink:
If you want to be super double extra sure, because you're not convinced that the sign of the numbers doesn't matter, then pick some wild numbers and see if it makes a difference.
x=10, y=0, z=-a bazillion
Now the answer choices become:
(A) x − z = a bazillion + 10
(B) x − y = 10
(C) y − x = -10
(D) z − y = -a bazillion
(E) z − x = -a bazillion - 10
Still (A)