Re: Is the value of x less than 0? (1) The product of x and y is negative
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17 Oct 2019, 20:51
We are to determine if x is less than 0.
Statement 1: xy<0
Clearly insufficient. This is because x can be either positive or negative depending on whether y is positive or negative. When y is positive, x is negative, and when y is negative, x is positive. The answer is, therefore, yes and no.
Statement 2: The difference between x and it's reciprocal is positive.
Statement 2 is not sufficient. This is because x can be 51, implying its reciprocal is 15. 51-15=36, leading to answer No to the question posed. X can also be -15, and its reciprocal is -51. -15--51=36 satisfying the given condition and this now leads to the answer Yes to the question posed.
1+2
Still insufficient. Both statements do not restrict the value of x to less than 0, equal to 0, or greater than 0. When y is negative, x=51 satisfies statement 1 and statement 2, and leads to the answer No to the question asked.
On the other hand, when y>0 x can equal -15, which satisfies both statements and leads to the answer Yes.
The right answer in my view is E.