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# Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection

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Intern
Joined: 08 Nov 2009
Posts: 37
Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 07:38
3
3)
I) (x+y)^2=9a x^2+y^2=9a-2xy NS
II) (x-y)^2=a x^2+y^2=a+2xy NS
Together 2(x^2+y^2)=10a x^2+y^2=5a
If either x or y are larger than 0, the stem would be true, but if they’re both zero the stem is false, hence E

4)
I don’t get the two clues; they seem to be mutually exclusive

5)
I) 3|x^2-4|=y-2 either y=3x^2-10 or y=14-3x^2 NS
II) |3-y|=11 either y=-8 or y=14 NS
Together -8=3x^2-10 so 3x^2=2 ok 14=3x^2-10 so 3x^2=28 ok, hence E

6)
I) x+1>0 so x={0, 1, 2, …} NS
II) xy>0 so x and y have the same sign and none of them is zero NS
Together, x={1, 2, 3, ..} and y has the same sign, hence C

7) |x+2|=|y+2| either x+2=y+2 or x+2=-y-2 (the other two combinations can be transformed into these by multiplying by -1)
Reordering: x-y=0 or x+y=-4
I)xy<0, hence x and y have different signs and none of them is zero. The only possibility is x+y=-4 S
II) x>2, y<2 hence x#y. The only possibility is x+y=-4 S, therefore D

8)a*b#0, hence a and b are both non-zero
I) |a*b|=a*b a and b have the same sign and the stem is always true S
II) |a|/|b|=|a/b| this is true regardless of the values of a and b, and nothing can be said about the stem NS, therefore A

9)
I) –n=|-n| n<=0 NS
II) n^2=16 n=+/-4 NS
Together n=-4 therefore C

10)n#0
I) n^2>16, so |n|>4 S
II) 1/|n|>n true for n<-1 NS, therefore A

11) Plugging in numbers I get B, but there’s no rime or reason to my solution

12)
I) –s<=r<=s obviously NS. Since s>=-s, s is either positive or zero
II)|r|>=s obviously NS
Together: I) tells us that s>=0; II) tells us that r>=s or r<=-s. The only case in which I and II are simultaneously satisfied is r=s, therefore C

13) x=(0:2) with 0 and 2 excluded
I) (x-1)^2<=1, hence x=[0:2] with 0 and 2 included, hence NS
II) x^2-1>0 x<-1 or x>1. For x=1.5 the stem is true, for x=3 it is false, hence NS
Together, for x=1.5 the stem is true, for x=2 it is false, hence E
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 03:15
2
gmat620 wrote:
Bunuel, thanks for the questions. Please provide the OA's too. It would be great if you can provide them soon. I am having my GMAT this week, so kinda tensed and impatient. Also, I am yet to give my MGMAT CAT's, so tell me whether should I solve the questions on the forum because if the questions are from the MGMAT CAT's or Gmat Prep then it may overestimate my result. I would appreciate your response. Thanks once again.

These questions are from various sources. Couple of questions might be from MGMAT CAT or Gmat Prep, but not more than that.

I'll provide OA in a day or two, after discussions. Tell me if you want the answers for the specific questions earlier than that and I'll mail you.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 17 Nov 2009, 10:54
2
Bunuel wrote:
5. What is the value of y?
(1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
(2) |3 - y| = 11

Statement 1:

Two equations, two unknowns... INSUFFICIENT

Statement 2:

|3 - y| = 11
(3-y)=11 or (3-y)=-11
y=-8, 14

INSUFFICIENT

Statements 1 and 2:

y must be 14 because 3|x^2 -4| can never be a negative value (no matter what you plug in for x, you will get a positve value because of the absolute value signs).

SUFFICIENT

Originally posted by h2polo on 17 Nov 2009, 10:34.
Last edited by h2polo on 17 Nov 2009, 10:54, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 13:41
2
Quote:
1. If 6*x*y = x^2*y + 9*y, what is the value of xy?
(1) y – x = 3
(2) x^3< 0

$$6*x*y = x^2*y + 9*y$$
$$6*x = x^2 + 9 = 0$$
$$x^2 - 6*x + 9 = 0$$
$$(x-3)^2 = 0$$
$$x = 3$$

St. (1) : y - x = 3
y = 6
Sufficient.

St. (2) : x^3 < 0
Invalid statement. Does not give us value of y.
Insufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 13:47
2
1
Quote:
2. If y is an integer and y = |x| + x, is y = 0?
(1) x < 0
(2) y < 1

Question Stem gives us :

(a) If x > 0 ; y = 2x
(b) If x < 0 ; y = 0

St. (1) : x < 0
Sufficient.

St. (2) : y < 1
Since y is an integer and y cannot be less than 0 (question stem part b) therefore y must be 0.
Sufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 14:43
2
3
Quote:
7. |x+2|=|y+2| what is the value of x+y?
(1) xy<0
(2) x>2 y<2

Question stem :
Note: Since the equations is symmetrical, there will only be two distinct cases. However, for the sake of explanation, I have illustrated all 4.
(a) When both x and y are greater than - 2 ; x + 2 = y + 2 ; x = y
(b) When both x and y are less than - 2 ; - x - 2 = - y - 2 ; x = y
(c) When x is less than -2 and y is greater than -2 ; - x - 2 = y + 2 ; x + y = - 4
(d) When x is greater than -2 and y is less than -2 ; x + 2 = - y - 2 ; x + y = - 4

St. (1) : xy < 0
This implies that one is negative and the other is positive. Therefore, in order for xy to be less than 0, x cannot be equal to y. Thus in order to satisfy the question stem, it can only be cases (c) and (d).
Thus Sufficient.

St. (2) : x > 2 ; y < 2
Again, this implies that x and y cannot be equal. Thus, in order to satisfy the question stem it can only be cases (c) and (d).
Thus Sufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 15:04
2
1
Quote:
10. If n is not equal to 0, is |n| < 4 ?
(1) n^2 > 16
(2) 1/|n| > n

Question Stem : n # 0 ; -4 > n > 4 (excluding 0)

St. (1) : n^2 > 16
(n - 4)*(n +4) = 0 Therefore boundary conditions are 4 and - 4. Thus we can write it as : n < -4 and n > 4.
Sufficient.

St. (2) : 1/|n| > n
This condition will be valid for all n < 1 excluding 0.
Thus it will be impossible to tell whether |n| < 4.
Hence Insufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2009, 21:02
2
Awesome, not only have u put the question, but solution to all the problems.
I am learning a lot. Thanks to Bunuel.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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01 Dec 2009, 12:57
2
kaptain wrote:
Bunuel, I tried to solve this in another way.

1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
if (x^2 -4) is positive, we can rewrite above as 3(x^2 -4) = y - 2
=> 3x^2-y = 10 -> Eqn. 1
if (x^2 -4) is negative, we can rewrite above as 3(4-x^2) = y - 2
=> -3x^2-y = -14 -> Eqn. 2
Adding equation 1 and 2, we get -2y = -4 or y = 2. So (A) as the answer is tempting.

I know this is not correct and carries the assumption that y is an integer which is not the case here.

If y indeed were an integer in the question, do you think the above approach had any problems ? I am a little confused because every inequality problem appears to have a different method for solving it!

Thanks

This approach is not correct not because we are not told that y is an integer, but because you can not add inequalities like you did.

3(x^2 -4) = y - 2 OR 3(4-x^2) = y - 2, in fact these equation are derived from one and from them only one is right. It's not that we have 3(x^2 -4) = y - 2 AND 3(4-x^2) = y - 2 and we are asked to solve fro unknowns. If it were then your solution would be right.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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28 Aug 2015, 13:29
2
SauravPathak27 wrote:
Bunuel wrote:
12. Is r=s?
(1) -s<=r<=s
(2) |r|>=s

This one is tough.

(1) -s<=r<=s, we can conclude two things from this statement:
A. s is either positive or zero, as -s<=s;
B. r is in the range (-s,s) inclusive, meaning that r can be -s as well as s.
But we don't know whether r=s or not. Not sufficient.

(2) |r|>=s, clearly insufficient.

(1)+(2) -s<=r<=s, s is not negative, |r|>=s --> r>=s or r<=-s. This doesn't imply that r=s, from this r can be -s as well.
Consider: s=5, r=5 --> -5<=5<=5 |5|>=5
s=5, r=-5 --> -5<=-5<=5 |-5|>=5
Both statements are true with these values. Hence insufficient.

Can we eliminate B on the basis that it is just a reworded form of Statement A.

My understanding is |x| <1 means -1<x<1. Similarly, -s>=r>=s, which is not possible.

Hi SauravPathak27

I'm no expert, but hope I might be able to help.

your understanding that |x| <1 means -1<x<1 is correct.

(1) is telling us that $$r$$ falls between $$-s$$ and $$s$$ INCLUSIVE of $$-s$$ and $$s$$...... INSUFFICIENT
(2) is telling us that $$r$$ falls outside $$-s$$ and $$s$$ INCLUSIVE of $$-s$$ and $$s$$........ INSUFFICIENT
(1) & (2) together tells us that $$r$$ must be equal to either $$-s$$ or $$s$$ but cannot determine which one........ INSUFFICIENT

Hopefully my freehand below makes it a little clearer.

If it helps.... Throw me a Kudos
Attachments

IMG_20150829_22738.jpg [ 43.72 KiB | Viewed 1403 times ]

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 10:07
1
Marco83 wrote:
4)
I don’t get the two clues; they seem to be mutually exclusive

Yes there was a typo in 4. Edited. Great job Marco83. Even though not every answer is correct, you definitely know how to deal with this kind of problems.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 17 Nov 2009, 10:57
1
ichha148 wrote:
12. Is r=s?

(1) -s<=r<=s

(2) |r|>=s

E – for this - both can be true or false when 0< r < 1
For example , take r as 0.8
S = 0.86 i.e. -0.86 < = 0.8 < = 0.86
|0.8|>= 0.86 i.e. 1 >= 0.86
Combining , any values can be taken , on values > =1 , both r and s
will be same

Taking the modulus does not mean rounding up to the nearest integer; it means removing the negative sign if present. |0.8|<0.86

ichha148 wrote:
3. Is x^2 + y^2 > 4a?

(1) (x + y)^2 = 9a

(2) (x – y)^2 = a

Combined both and the equation will give x^2 + y^2 = 5a

Nowhere it is said that x and y are non-zero. If x and y are zero, 5a=0, therefore a=0, and the stem is false (x^2+y^2=0)

Originally posted by Marco83 on 17 Nov 2009, 10:54.
Last edited by Marco83 on 17 Nov 2009, 10:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 13:54
1
3
Quote:
3. Is x^2 + y^2 > 4a?
(1) (x + y)^2 = 9a
(2) (x – y)^2 = a

St. (1) : (x + y)^2 = 9a
x^2 + y^2 + 2xy = 9a
Insufficient.

St. (2) : (x - y)^2 = a
x^2 + y^2 - 2xy = a
Insufficient.

St. (1) and (2) together : x^2 + y^2 = 5a
When either x or y is not 0, question stem holds true.
When x and y are both 0, question stem is false.

Hence insufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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17 Nov 2009, 14:16
1
1
Quote:
6. If x and y are integer, is y > 0?
(1) x +1 > 0
(2) xy > 0

St. (1) : x + 1 > 0
Insufficient.

St. (2) : xy > 0
Both x and y can either be positive or negative. Neither x nor y can be 0.
Insufficient.

St. (1) and (2) together :
Since x is an integer and cannot hold the value 0, it has to be greater than 1 in order to satisfy St. (1).
Since we know that x will be positive, y will also have to be a positive integer in order to satisfy St. (2).
Hence Sufficient.

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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Updated on: 18 Nov 2009, 01:07
1
2
Quote:
9. Is n<0?
(1) -n=|-n|
(2) n^2=16

Question Stem : Is n negative?

St. (1) : -n = |-n|
Let -n = A ; therefore the statement becomes : A = |A|.
This can only be valid when A is positive (or equal to 0). This in turn means that n must be negative (or equal to 0).
-n=|-n| also for n=0, hence not sufficient.

St. (2) : n^2 = 16
n = ±4.
Thus Insufficient.

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Originally posted by sriharimurthy on 17 Nov 2009, 14:54.
Last edited by sriharimurthy on 18 Nov 2009, 01:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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18 Nov 2009, 10:12
1
1
2
Bunuel wrote:
5. What is the value of y?
(1) 3|x^2 -4| = y - 2
(2) |3 - y| = 11

(1) As we are asked to find the value of y, from this statement we can conclude only that y>=2, as LHS is absolute value which is never negative, hence RHS als can not be negative. Not sufficient.

(2) |3 - y| = 11:

y<3 --> 3-y=11 --> y=-8
y>=3 --> -3+y=11 --> y=14

Two values for y. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) y>=2, hence y=14. Sufficient.

just to chime in here your thanks for all this..it's really useful
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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21 May 2010, 03:06
1
1
ManishS wrote:
I am a little confused on this one . Can the answer be E??

From A:
2x-2y=1
=> x-y= 0.5 INSF

From B
x/y > 1
=> x > y INSF

From A & B
x-y =0.5 and x > y

If x = -0.5 and y = -1 then
x > y
and x - y = (-0.5) - (-1) = -0.5 + 1 = 0.5
Hence both x and y can be negative

If x= 1 and y = 0.5 then
x > y
and x- y = 1 -0.5 = 0.5
Hence both x and y can be positive

Ans = E ??

Problem with your solution is that the red part is not correct.

$$\frac{x}{y}>1$$ does not mean that $$x>y$$. If both x and y are positive, then $$x>y$$, BUT if both are negative, then $$x<y$$.

From (2) $$\frac{x}{y}>1$$, we can only deduce that x and y have the same sigh (either both positive or both negative).

When we consider two statement together:

From (1): $$2x-2y=1$$ --> $$x=y+\frac{1}{2}$$

From (2): $$\frac{x}{y}>1$$ --> $$\frac{x}{y}-1>0$$ --> $$\frac{x-y}{y}>0$$ --> substitute $$x$$ from (1) --> $$\frac{y+\frac{1}{2}-y}{y}>0$$--> $$\frac{1}{2y}>0$$ (we can drop 2 as it won't affect anything here and write as I wrote $$\frac{1}{y}>0$$, but basically it's the same) --> $$\frac{1}{2y}>0$$ means $$y$$ is positive, and from (2) we know that if y is positive x must also be positive.

OR: as $$y$$ is positive and as from (1) $$x=y+\frac{1}{2}$$, $$x=positive+\frac{1}{2}=positive$$, hence $$x$$ is positive too.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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20 Jan 2012, 14:30
1
1
I accumulated bunnuel's answers together with absolute and inequality questions
Attachment:

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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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23 Feb 2012, 12:00
1
shankar245 wrote:
Quote:
4. Are x and y both positive?
(1) 2x-2y=1
(2) x/y>1

(1) 2x-2y=1. Well this one is clearly insufficient. You can do it with number plugging OR consider the following: x and y both positive means that point (x,y) is in the I quadrant. 2x-2y=1 --> y=x-1/2, we know it's an equation of a line and basically question asks whether this line (all (x,y) points of this line) is only in I quadrant. It's just not possible. Not sufficient.

(2) x/y>1 --> x and y have the same sign. But we don't know whether they are both positive or both negative. Not sufficient.

In the first statement from 2x-2y=1 --> we can sat x-y=1/2

So it cud be 8.5-8 or 0.25 - (-0.25)
HOw can we say both x and y are positive?

similarily statement 2

x/y>1
=>x>y

how can we be sure x and y have the same sign
we can have 8>7
or
8>-8

Bunel can you pls xplain..or am i missing sumtin fundamental?

For (1) we are not saying that x and y are positive, we saying that if they were both positive then it would mean that the line y=x-1/2 is only in I quadrant, which is not possible. So from (1) we cannot say that x and y are both positive.

Or consider following numbers: x=2, y=1.5 and x=-2, y=-2.5.

For (2). First of all you can not multiply x/y>1 by y and write x>y, since you don't know the sign of y: if it's positive then x>y but if it's negative then when multiplying by negative number you should flip the sing of the inequality and write x<y. Never multiply or divide inequality by a variable (or by an expression with variable) unless you are sure of its sign since you do not know whether you must flip the sign of the inequality.

Next, since x/y>1 then x/y>0, which means that x and y are either both positive or both negative, hence they have the same sign.

Hope it's clear.
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Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection  [#permalink]

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25 Aug 2012, 07:26
1
Bunuel wrote:
SOLUTIONS:

1. If 6*x*y = x^2*y + 9*y, what is the value of xy?
(1) y – x = 3
(2) x^3< 0

First let's simplify given expression $$6*x*y = x^2*y + 9*y$$:

$$y*(x^2-6x+9)=0$$ --> $$y*(x-3)^2=0$$. Note here that we CAN NOT reduce this expression by $$y$$, as some of you did. Remember we are asked to determine the value of $$xy$$, and when reducing by $$y$$ you are assuming that $$y$$ doesn't equal to $$0$$. We don't know that.

Next: we can conclude that either $$x=3$$ or/and $$y=0$$. Which means that $$xy$$ equals to 0, when y=0 and x any value (including 3), OR $$xy=3*y$$ when y is not equal to zero, and x=3.

(1) $$y-x=3$$. If y is not 0, x must be 3 and y-x to be 3, y must be 6. In this case $$xy=18$$. But if y=0 then x=-3 and $$xy=0$$. Two possible scenarios. Not sufficient.

OR:

$$y-x=3$$ --> $$x=y-3$$ --> $$y*(x-3)^2=y*(y-3-3)^2=y(y-6)^2=0$$ --> either $$y=0$$ or $$y=6$$ --> if $$y=0$$, then $$x=-3$$ and $$xy=0$$ $$or$$ if $$y=6$$, then $$x=3$$ and $$xy=18$$. Two different answers. Not sufficient.

(2) $$x^3<0$$. x is negative, hence x is not equals to 3, hence y must be 0. So, xy=0. Sufficient.

The answer to this one is C right? B alone is not sufficient.
Re: Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection   [#permalink] 25 Aug 2012, 07:26

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