Last visit was: 18 May 2026, 06:21 It is currently 18 May 2026, 06:21
Close
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
Your Progress

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
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 110,596
Own Kudos:
815,517
 [6]
Given Kudos: 106,294
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 110,596
Kudos: 815,517
 [6]
Kudos
Add Kudos
6
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
gmatophobia
User avatar
Quant Chat Moderator
Joined: 22 Dec 2016
Last visit: 10 May 2026
Posts: 3,173
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1,860
Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Leadership
Posts: 3,173
Kudos: 11,572
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Harshani
Joined: 16 Oct 2016
Last visit: 24 Jan 2024
Posts: 32
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 90
Location: Saudi Arabia
GMAT 1: 460 Q30 V23
GMAT 2: 500 Q39 V20
GMAT 2: 500 Q39 V20
Posts: 32
Kudos: 39
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
PTPRO
Joined: 23 Nov 2025
Last visit: 02 Dec 2025
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 9
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
For this question, is it not easy to use any value which satisfies y <-3, like -4, and substitute in the 3 equations to check which condition is true?
Or this approach can lead to some error?
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 110,596
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 106,294
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 110,596
Kudos: 815,517
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
PTPRO
If y is an integer such that y < -3, which of the following expressions must be correct?

I. \(y – y^2 + 12 < 0\)
II. \(y^2 – y – 12 > 0\)
III. \(2y^2 – 3y – 27 > 0\)


A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II
E. I, II, and III

For this question, is it not easy to use any value which satisfies y <-3, like -4, and substitute in the 3 equations to check which condition is true?
Or this approach can lead to some error?

Testing just one value like y = -4 only shows the statement works for that single value. It does not prove that it works for all integers less than -3. A “must be correct” condition must hold for every allowed value, and one test cannot guarantee that.

The risk is simple: y = -4 might satisfy the expression, but another valid value like y = -5 or y = -10 might fail it. That is why relying on a single substitution can lead to a wrong conclusion.

For example, y^2 + 6 y + 5 < 0 is true when -5 < y < -1. It works for y = -4, but if you try y = -5 it fails. This shows why one test point cannot confirm a “must” condition.
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 6,005
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 6,005
Kudos: 5,878
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
[quote="Bunuel"]If y is an integer such that y < -3, which of the following expressions must be correct?

y+3 <0

I. \(y – y^2 + 12 < 0\)
y(y-2) > 12
y < -3
y-2 < -5
y(y-2) > (-3)(-5) =15 > 12
Must be true

II. \(y^2 – y – 12 > 0\)
y(y-1) > 12
y<-3
y-1<-4
y(y-1) > (-3)(-4)=12
Must be true

III. \(2y^2 – 3y – 27 > 0\)
y(y-1.5) > 13.5
y<-3
y-1.5<-4.5
y(y-1.5) > (-3)(-4.5) =13.5
Must be true

A. I only
B. II only
C. III only
D. I and II
E. I, II, and III

IMO E
Moderators:
Math Expert
110596 posts
Tuck School Moderator
852 posts