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As it isn't entirely clear how to start, we'll use simple numbers to find contradictory examples. This is an Alternative approach.
(1) Say that x = 1. Then y =1 or y = -1. In both cases x/|y| = 1/1 = 1. Let's try to contradict this. Say that x is negative, that is x = -1. In this case y could still be 1 or -1 and x/|y| = -1. As we have two different answers, this is not enough. Insufficient.
(2) Say that x = 1. Then y = 1 and x/|y| = 1. Say that x = -1. Then y = 1 and x/|y| = -1/1 = -1. Also insufficient.
Combined. Both of our examples (x = 1, y =1 and x = -1, y = 1) work in both statements and give different answers. Insufficient.
Re: If xy ≠ 0, what is the value of x/|y| ?
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21 May 2018, 00:35
viveknegi wrote:
Why not A ?
Posted from my mobile device
Posted from my mobile device
Hi,
Because (1) isn't enough... Try using x = 1 and y = 1. Then |x|=|y|=1 as required by (1) and x/|y| = 1/1 = 1. Next use x = -1 and y = 1. Then |x|=|y|=1 as required by (1) but x/|y| = -1/1 = -1.
We have two different pairs of (x,y) that fulfill the criteria of (1) but give different values for x/|y|. Insufficient.
_________________
If xy ≠ 0, what is the value of x/|y| ?
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21 May 2018, 00:48
The question asks to check whether x is +ve or -ve given that x & y are not 0.
1) |x|=|y|. So, the absolute value of x is equal to that of y. That means if x=-1, y can be -1/1, x=1, y can again be -1/1; Similarly if x=-2, y can be 2,-2., x=2, y can again be -2/2. Gives no idea about the definite sign of x. Not Sufficient.
2) y=|x|. So, if x=-1, y=1; if x=1, y =1. Again checking for the sign of x, both +ve and -ve are possible. Not Sufficient.
Combining 1 & 2, again x can have both +ve and -ve values. Insufficient. Hence, E.
Re: If xy ≠ 0, what is the value of x/|y| ?
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28 Dec 2018, 23:33
From the question stem, we know that x and y can take any values except 0. Additionally, the sign that the expression \(x/|y|\) takes will depend on x since |y| is always positive. With these observations in mind, lets move to statements.
Statement 1: We can deduce that the expression \(x/|y|\) will always be 1 or -1. Sign depends on value of x, like we have observed earlier. Hence, insufficient
Statement 2: Again, using this statement, the expression \(x/|y|\) gives us two values 1 and -1 because numeric values of x and y cancel each other and sign depends on x. Hence, insufficient
Combining statements 1 & 2: We can still not come up with a unique value for the expression \(x/|y|\). The only thing we get is that y is intrinsically a positive number.
Hence, answer is E _________________
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gmatclubot
Re: If xy ≠ 0, what is the value of x/|y| ? &nbs
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28 Dec 2018, 23:33
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70% (01:07) correct 
