Last visit was: 18 May 2026, 05:24 It is currently 18 May 2026, 05:24
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: 110,578
Own Kudos:
815,510
 [1]
Given Kudos: 106,294
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 110,578
Kudos: 815,510
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
arnimavarshney10
Joined: 07 Jul 2019
Last visit: 23 Aug 2024
Posts: 26
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 24
Products:
Posts: 26
Kudos: 26
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 18 May 2026
Posts: 11,239
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 337
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,239
Kudos: 45,201
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Gauravji21
Joined: 27 Aug 2020
Last visit: 25 Jan 2024
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 21
Posts: 82
Kudos: 46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
St 1: ab > 0
If both are negative. Let a=-2, b= -3, ab = 6, 1/ab = 1/6..
Answer to the question is : No

If a= 1/2, b = 1/3, ab = 1/6
1/ab = 6
Answer to the question is: Yes
St 1 is insufficient aa we are not getting unique answer.

St 2: b<0
Let a = 4, b= -2
ab = -8, 1/ab = -1/8 which is greater than -8.. answer to question is Yes.

Let a= -4, b=-2
ab = 8, 1/ab = 1/8 which is less than ab=8
Answer to the question is No

Hence St2 is insufficient.

Combining both statements,
ab>0 and b<0
=> both a and b are negative.

Let a= -2, b=-3
ab= 6, 1/ab = 1/6
Answer to question is No


Let a=-1/2 b =-1/3
ab= 1/6, 1/ab = 6
Answer to the question is Yes

We are not getting a unique answer. Hence, together also the statements are insufficient.

Hence, E is the answer.

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Gauravji21
Joined: 27 Aug 2020
Last visit: 25 Jan 2024
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 21
Posts: 82
Kudos: 46
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
chetan2u
Bunuel
Is \(ab < \frac{1}{ab}\)?

(1) \(ab > 0\)
(2) \(b < 0\)

In such questions, take all quantities on one side

\(ab < \frac{1}{ab}\)
\(ab - \frac{1}{ab}<0\)
\( \frac{(ab)^2-1}{ab}<0\)
Two cases
a) ab>0, then \((ab)^2-1<0\) or -1<ab<1.
b) ab<0, then \((ab)^2-1>0\) or ab<-1 or ab>1. Thus, range is ab<-1.

(1) \(ab > 0\)
We cannot say whether ab>1.
Insufficient

(2) \(b < 0\)
Nothing much
Insufficient


Combined
Nothing new
Insufficient


E

How you have arrived at Range as .. ab < -1 ?
If we combine the range of ab based on both the conditions, ab is ranging from - infinity to + infinity.

Posted from my mobile device
Moderators:
Math Expert
110578 posts
498 posts
263 posts