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# Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1

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Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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21 Mar 2016, 04:31
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Question Stats:

53% (02:08) correct 47% (02:08) wrong based on 183 sessions

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Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1) x>0
2) x<1

* A solution will be posted in two days.

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"Only $79 for 1 month Online Course" "Free Resources-30 day online access & Diagnostic Test" "Unlimited Access to over 120 free video lessons - try it yourself" Math Expert Joined: 02 Aug 2009 Posts: 7949 Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1 [#permalink] ### Show Tags 21 Mar 2016, 06:35 1 1 MathRevolution wrote: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1 * A solution will be posted in two days. INFO from Q stem $$1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<\frac{1}{(1-x)}$$.. $$1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4-\frac{1}{(1-x)}<0$$.. $$\frac{{(1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4)(1-x)-1}}{(1-x)}<0$$.. $$\frac{{1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4-x-x^2-x^3-x^4-x^5)-1}}{(1-x)}<0$$.. $$\frac{-x^5}{(1-x)}<0$$.. $$\frac{x^5}{(x-1)}<0$$.. so two conditions 1) if x>0, x<1 2) if x<0, x>1 ...... Not possible lets check the statements 1) x>0 if x<1.. ans is YES if x>1.. ans is NO Insuff 2) x<1 if 0<x<1.. ans is YES if x<0.. ans is NO Insuff combined.. Suff as per point 1, ans is always YES C _________________ Math Revolution GMAT Instructor Joined: 16 Aug 2015 Posts: 7999 GMAT 1: 760 Q51 V42 GPA: 3.82 Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1 [#permalink] ### Show Tags 22 Mar 2016, 17:59 Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution. Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1 The question is (1-x^5)/(1-x)<1/(1-x)? and –x^5/(1-x)<0?, x^5/(x-1)<0? is derived when delete 1/(1-x) from the both equations of 1/(1-x)-x^5/(1-x)<1/(1-x)?. When you multiply (x-1)^2 to the both equations, x^5(x-1)<0? is derived. Divide it with x^4 and it becomes x(x-1)<0?. That is, 0<x<1? is derived, which makes C the answer. _________________ MathRevolution: Finish GMAT Quant Section with 10 minutes to spare The one-and-only World’s First Variable Approach for DS and IVY Approach for PS with ease, speed and accuracy. "Only$79 for 1 month Online Course"
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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26 Mar 2016, 21:18
Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

Although the series on L.H.S. is small otherwise we culd hav used G.P. for the sum ..
1(x^5-1)/(x-1) <1/(1-x)
x^5/(x-1)<0

----(+ve)----0-------(-ve)----------1--------(+ve)-----
So if x lies between 0 and 1 then we have YES for the above equation else NO.

1) x>0. Insufficient.
2) x<1. Insufficient.

Combining Sufficient. C is the answer.
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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25 Apr 2016, 01:16
MathRevolution wrote:
Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1) x>0
2) x<1

* A solution will be posted in two days.

I took x=1,2 and x=1/2,0

C
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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05 Sep 2017, 06:24
Ans is C
is
$$1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4$$ < $$\frac{1}{(1-x)}$$

Multiply and divide by 1-x on both numerator and denominator on L.H.S.

equation becomes
is
$$\frac{(1-x^5)}{(1-x)}$$ < $$\frac{1}{(1-x)}$$
or
$$\frac{x^5}{(1-x)}$$ > 0

Taking 3 points -1, 0 and 1 on number line
value above 1 i.e. x>1 will not hold this equation
x<1 but >0 will hold this equation
x<0 but > -1 will again not hold equation
x< -1 will again satisfy equation

so soln is x< -1 and x should be from (0,1) open brackets i.e. 0 and 1 not included.

1) x>0 is insufficient as it includes x>1 also which is not part of solution. A,D eliminated
2) x<0 is insufficient as it includes -1<x<0 which is not part of solution B eliminated

combine both
0<x<1
is our solution and Ans is C
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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18 Sep 2017, 00:14
I have a query - If I take (C)
--> it means x = 0.5, 0.3, 0.2
With x = 0.5
1+ x + x sq + x^3 + x^4 < 1/1-x
1+ 0.5+ 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.0625 = 1/1-0.5
1.93< 2 SUFF
if x= 0.3
1+0.3+0.09 + 0.027 + 0.0081 = < 1/1 - 0.3
1.42 no less than 0.7
if x = 0.2
1+0.2+0.04 + 0.008 + 0.0016 <1/ 1-0.2
1.24 not less than 0.8
So I chose E.
Can anyone explain the issue in my reasoning here?
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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18 Sep 2017, 00:26
1
I have a query - If I take (C)
--> it means x = 0.5, 0.3, 0.2
With x = 0.5
1+ x + x sq + x^3 + x^4 < 1/1-x
1+ 0.5+ 0.25 + 0.125 + 0.0625 = 1/1-0.5
1.93< 2 SUFF
if x= 0.3
1+0.3+0.09 + 0.027 + 0.0081 = < 1/1 - 0.3
1.42 no less than 0.7
if x = 0.2
1+0.2+0.04 + 0.008 + 0.0016 <1/ 1-0.2
1.24 not less than 0.8
So I chose E.
Can anyone explain the issue in my reasoning here?

It's $$\frac{1}{1 - 0.3}$$ NOT $$\frac{1}{1}- 0.3$$.

$$(1 + 0.3 +0.3^2 + 0.3^3 + 0.3^4 = 1.4251)< (\approx 1.428=\frac{1}{1 - 0.3})$$

$$(1 + 0.2 +0.2^2 + 0.2^3 + 0.2^4 = 1.2496)< (1.25=\frac{1}{1 - 0.3})$$
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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18 Sep 2017, 00:41
hi, sorry I wasn not clear on my post earlier.
So after x = 0.2
I got 1.42 < 1/0.7 --> 1.42 < 10/7 which is approx 1.4
Thus
1.42 < 1.44 (TRUE)

1.24 < 1/0.8
1.24 < 5/4
1.24 < 1.25 (TRUE)

if x = 0.6
then 2.3 < 2.5 (TRUE)

Thank you, the above cleared it up for me.
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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03 Dec 2017, 16:05
MathRevolution wrote:
Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution.

Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1) x>0
2) x<1

The question is (1-x^5)/(1-x)<1/(1-x)? and –x^5/(1-x)<0?, x^5/(x-1)<0? is derived when delete 1/(1-x) from the both equations of 1/(1-x)-x^5/(1-x)<1/(1-x)?. When you multiply (x-1)^2 to the both equations, x^5(x-1)<0? is derived. Divide it with x^4 and it becomes x(x-1)<0?. That is, 0<x<1? is derived, which makes C the answer.

Thanks for such clear and precise explanation. But can this question be done by taking numbers and plugging in?
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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04 Dec 2017, 11:22
Buttercup3 wrote:
MathRevolution wrote:
Forget conventional ways of solving math questions. In DS, Variable approach is the easiest and quickest way to find the answer without actually solving the problem. Remember equal number of variables and independent equations ensures a solution.

Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1) x>0
2) x<1

The question is (1-x^5)/(1-x)<1/(1-x)? and –x^5/(1-x)<0?, x^5/(x-1)<0? is derived when delete 1/(1-x) from the both equations of 1/(1-x)-x^5/(1-x)<1/(1-x)?. When you multiply (x-1)^2 to the both equations, x^5(x-1)<0? is derived. Divide it with x^4 and it becomes x(x-1)<0?. That is, 0<x<1? is derived, which makes C the answer.

Thanks for such clear and precise explanation. But can this question be done by taking numbers and plugging in?

Here algebra is slightly better but yes, it can be done by plugging in numbers. Let me try:

(1) x > 0

Now RHS of the question stem is 1/(1-x). Since its 1-x in the denominator, and this statement says x > 0, we should immediately look for two cases: one where 0<x<1 and one where x>1 (x cannot be 1 as for that RHS would be undefined).

So lets take a value of x between 0 and 1, say 0.5. RHS becomes 1/(1-0.5) = 2 LHS becomes 1+0.5+0.25+0.125+0.0625=1.9375. LHS is less than RHS
If we try any other value in the same range say 0.2 or 0.9, still RHS would be greater.

Now lets take another case where x > 1, in this case clearly we can see that 1-x would be negative, so RHS would be negative while LHS positive. So LHS would become greater.

So not sufficient.

(2) x < 1

We have got to take cases where 0<x<1, where -1<x<0, and where x<-1

If 0<x<1, RHS would be greater as discussed in first statement.

If -1<x<0, lets say x=-0.5. RHS = 1/(1+0.5) = 0.666.. and LHS = 1-0.5+0.25-0.125+0.0625 = 0.6875. LHS is greater

We dont even need to look at third case because we can see that this statement is not sufficient.

Combining the two statements: 0<x<1. In that case RHS would be greater as discussed. Sufficient.
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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29 Jan 2019, 04:20
1
I would be endlessly grateful, if any expert could help me see a mistake in my method. For me the answer is A.

Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1. x>0

Additionally, x cannot be 0 because in case we plug in 0 we get 1<1; Therefore, we can devide both sides of the inequality by x.

1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)
x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2+x^3+x^4<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x+x^2+x^3<1/(1-x)
x+x^2+x^3<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2+x^3<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x+x^2<1/(1-x)
x+x^2<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x<1/(1-x)
x<1/(1-x)-1
x<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1<1/(1-x)
0<x/(1-x)

th values x can accept here 0<x/(1-x) are within 0<x<1 A. sufficient
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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05 Sep 2019, 02:13
ShukhratJon wrote:
I would be endlessly grateful, if any expert could help me see a mistake in my method. For me the answer is A.

Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)?

1. x>0

Additionally, x cannot be 0 because in case we plug in 0 we get 1<1; Therefore, we can devide both sides of the inequality by x.

1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)
x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2+x^3+x^4<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x+x^2+x^3<1/(1-x)
x+x^2+x^3<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2+x^3<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x+x^2<1/(1-x)
x+x^2<1/(1-x)-1
x+x^2<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1+x<1/(1-x)
x<1/(1-x)-1
x<x/(1-x) (devide both sides by x)
1<1/(1-x)
0<x/(1-x)

th values x can accept here 0<x/(1-x) are within 0<x<1 A. sufficient

We can only divide on both sides of an equation if we know the sign of the variable. So, we can't just divide by x on both sides.

Hope this helps.
Cheers
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1  [#permalink]

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23 Sep 2019, 22:31
anud33p wrote:

We can only divide on both sides of an equation if we know the sign of the variable. So, we can't just divide by x on both sides.

Hope this helps.
Cheers

Hi anud33p,

Actually we can while analyzing St1, as I did in my previous post. St 1 says that x>0, so we are sure that x doesn’t affect the inequality. I’m dividing both sides by x, considering St 1, so that’s fine. I keep dividing both sides until I get much much simple inequality x/(x-1)<0.

What I failed to do in my rather old post is to infer the correct conclusion. Since x/(x-1)<0 and x*(x-1)<0 have the same set of solutions, the answer is 0<x<1. We can see that for the original inequality to hold true x needs to be both greater than 0 and less than 1. We get that constraint only when we combine both statements, so the correct answer is C.

To my mind that’s a much easier way to come to the correct answer. We just need to keep dividing both sides by x until we get a simple inequality to manipulate.
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Re: Is 1+x+x^2+x^3+x^4<1/(1-x)? 1) x>0 2) x<1   [#permalink] 23 Sep 2019, 22:31
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