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vitorpteixeira
If z^2 – 4z > 5, which of the following is always true?
(A) z > 5
(B) z < 5
(C)z > -1
(D)z < 1
(E) none of above


lets solve the equation..
\(z^2-4z>5........z^2-4z-5>0.....(z-5)(z+1)>0\)

so two options ..
1) BOTH z-5 and z+1 are positive..
when z>5 both are positive
2) both are negative
z-5 and z+1..
z<-1, both are negative

so z<-1 and or z>5
two ranges possible
Insufficient..

E
General Discussion
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Hi, answer must be E.

As z^2 - 4z > 5
=> z^2 - 4z - 5 > 0
(z - 5)(z + 1) > 0

when -1 < z < 5, (z-5)(z+1) < 0 always
when z = -1 or 5, (z-5)(z+1) = 0
when z < -1 or z > 5, then (z-5)(z+1) > 0 always

since none of the options match z < -1 or z > 5, answer must be E
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vitorpteixeira
If z^2 – 4z > 5, which of the following is always true?

(A) z > 5
(B) z < 5
(C) z > -1
(D) z < 1
(E) none of above

We’ll treat it as an equation first:

z^2 – 4z = 5

z^2 – 4z – 5 = 0

(z - 5)(z + 1) = 0

z = 5 or z = -1

The two solutions above divide the number line into three intervals:

1) z < -1

2) -1 < z < 5

3) z > 5

For each of these intervals, if one number from the interval satisfies the inequality, then the whole interval will satisfy the inequality.

1) z < -1

Let’s pick z = -2:

(-2)^2 - 4(-2) > 5?

4 + 8 > 5? (Yes)

2) -1 < z < 5

Let’s pick z = 0:

0^2 - 4(0) > 5?

0 - 0 > 5? (No)

3) z > 5

Let’s pick z = 6:

6^2 - 4(6) > 5?

36 - 24 > 5? (Yes)

We see that the solution to the inequality is z < -1 or z > 5. Note that the question is asking for a statement that is ALWAYS true; for any of the given answer choices, we can always find a value of z that does not satisfy the given inequality. Thus, none of the provided answer choices are always true.

Answer: E

I think the answer should be A. It looks same as the Question which asks "must be true". There is in value of z>5 which would not satisfy the given question condition.
Please let me know where i am wrong.
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vitorpteixeira
If z^2 – 4z > 5, which of the following is always true?

(A) z > 5
(B) z < 5
(C) z > -1
(D) z < 1
(E) none of above

We’ll treat it as an equation first:

z^2 – 4z = 5

z^2 – 4z – 5 = 0

(z - 5)(z + 1) = 0

z = 5 or z = -1

The two solutions above divide the number line into three intervals:

1) z < -1

2) -1 < z < 5

3) z > 5

For each of these intervals, if one number from the interval satisfies the inequality, then the whole interval will satisfy the inequality.

1) z < -1

Let’s pick z = -2:

(-2)^2 - 4(-2) > 5?

4 + 8 > 5? (Yes)

2) -1 < z < 5

Let’s pick z = 0:

0^2 - 4(0) > 5?

0 - 0 > 5? (No)

3) z > 5

Let’s pick z = 6:

6^2 - 4(6) > 5?

36 - 24 > 5? (Yes)

We see that the solution to the inequality is z < -1 or z > 5. Note that the question is asking for a statement that is ALWAYS true; for any of the given answer choices, we can always find a value of z that does not satisfy the given inequality. Thus, none of the provided answer choices are always true.

Answer: E

I think the answer should be A. It looks same as the Question which asks "must be true". There is in value of z>5 which would not satisfy the given question condition.
Please let me know where i am wrong.
Hi, the answer is actually E. The question asks which MUST BE TRUE.

if you solve the equation, it looks like (z+1)(z-5)>0.
This signifies that either (a) z<-1 or (b) z>5
Therefore it z>5 is NOT A MUST because z can be less than -1. Does this make sense? let me know if you need further explanation.
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Hello Chetan,

If this question was a "Could be true" question, would A be the only right answer? For example, in D, z can definitely be less than 1, i.e. -1.000001 onwards. Same could be said for the other answer choices. Just wondering about this!
chetan2u



Yes, the answer would be A if the Q asked CAN be true..
But Question is ALWAYS true.
So the equation is true when x<-1..
This means z can be -2, so z need not ALWAYS be >5

Hope it helps
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If z^2 – 4z > 5, which of the following is always true?

z^2 - 4z > 5

z^2 - 4z - 5 > 0

(z - 5)(z + 1) > 0

So z < -1 or z > 5.

Now check the options:

(A) z > 5

This is not always true because z could be less than -1. For example, consider z = -100.

(B) z < 5

This is not always true because z could be greater than 5. For example, consider z = 100.

(C) z > -1

This is not always true because z could be less than -1. For example, consider z = -100.

(D) z < 1

This is not always true because z could be greater than 5. For example, consider z = 100.

Answer: E.

shubh8
If this question was a "Could be true" question, would A be the only right answer? For example, in D, z can definitely be less than 1, i.e. -1.000001 onwards. Same could be said for the other answer choices. Just wondering about this!

No. If it were a “could be true” question, A would not be the only right answer.

From the inequality, z < -1 or z > 5.

So:

(A) z > 5. This could be true. For example, consider z = 100 > 5.
(B) z < 5. This could be true. For example, consider z = -100 < 5.
(C) z > -1. This could be true. For example, consider z = 100 > -1.
(D) z < 1. This could be true. For example, consider z = -100 < 1.

So A, B, C, and D could all be true. The original wording “always true” is what makes E correct.
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Exactly what I was thinking, thank you Bunuel!
Bunuel
If z^2 – 4z > 5, which of the following is always true?

z^2 - 4z > 5

z^2 - 4z - 5 > 0

(z - 5)(z + 1) > 0

So z < -1 or z > 5.

Now check the options:

(A) z > 5

This is not always true because z could be less than -1. For example, consider z = -100.

(B) z < 5

This is not always true because z could be greater than 5. For example, consider z = 100.

(C) z > -1

This is not always true because z could be less than -1. For example, consider z = -100.

(D) z < 1

This is not always true because z could be greater than 5. For example, consider z = 100.

Answer: E.



No. If it were a “could be true” question, A would not be the only right answer.

From the inequality, z < -1 or z > 5.

So:

(A) z > 5. This could be true. For example, consider z = 100 > 5.
(B) z < 5. This could be true. For example, consider z = -100 < 5.
(C) z > -1. This could be true. For example, consider z = 100 > -1.
(D) z < 1. This could be true. For example, consider z = -100 < 1.

So A, B, C, and D could all be true. The original wording “always true” is what makes E correct.
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