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You can solve the equation algebraically as well.

1) x^3+x^2+x+2=0

on solving you get the following values of x :- -2/-3,-2.In all cases x<0. Therefore x must be <0. Statement is Sufficient.

2) on Solving statement number 2, we get 2 values of x, x<2 OR x<-1. Two different solns. i.e X can be +ve and X can be -ve. Therefore,statement is not sufficient.

Ans: A
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idontknowwhy94
Is x<0?

1) \(x^{3} + x^{2}\) + x + 2 = 0
2) \(x^{2}\)-x-2 < 0


Keep the Kudos coming in and let the questions come out

Responding to a pm:
Quote:

For statement 1 it is clear that x >= 0 but when I tested -ve values I didn't find any which can satisfy the equation. Though I knew that x < 0, I continuously tried to find some -ve value that satisfied the equation. But it was a waste of time to find the value. How can I crack these type of traps on GMAT or it is my lack of understanding of concepts.

In stmnt 1, note that the point is that x cannot be positive or 0. So it has to be negative (since it has to be real).
If x is positive, all terms are positive and their sum cannot be 0.
If x is 0, you get 2 = 0 which is not valid.
So x has to be negative. No need to look for the actual value. It will not be an integer.

\(x^{3} + x^{2}+ x + 2 = 0\)
If you plug in x = -1, you get 1 = 0
If you plug in x = -2, you get -4 = 0
So somewhere in between -1 to -2, x will take a value such that you will get 0 = 0
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idontknowwhy94
Is x<0?

1) \(x^{3} + x^{2}\) + x + 2 = 0
2) \(x^{2}\)-x-2 < 0


Keep the Kudos coming in and let the questions come out

1) \(x^{3} + x^{2}\) + x + 2 = 0
=> x^2(x+1) + (x + 1) + 1 =0
=> (x+1)(x^2+1) + 1 = 0
=> (x+1)(x^2+1) = -1

RHS= -1 < 0 => LHS <0. As x^2+1 > 0, then x +1 <0 => x < -1 => x <0 (suff)

2)2) \(x^{2}\)-x-2 < 0
=> -1 < x < 2
=> Insuff
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mohit_w
You can solve the equation algebraically as well.

1) x^3+x^2+x+2=0

on solving you get the following values of x :- -2/-3,-2.In all cases x<0. Therefore x must be <0. Statement is Sufficient.

2) on Solving statement number 2, we get 2 values of x, x<2 OR x<-1. Two different solns. i.e X can be +ve and X can be -ve. Therefore,statement is not sufficient.

Ans: A


Can you provide the solution for x^3+x^2+x+2=0
Thanks in advance!
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mohit_w
You can solve the equation algebraically as well.

1) x^3+x^2+x+2=0

on solving you get the following values of x :- -2/-3,-2.In all cases x<0. Therefore x must be <0. Statement is Sufficient.

2) on Solving statement number 2, we get 2 values of x, x<2 OR x<-1. Two different solns. i.e X can be +ve and X can be -ve. Therefore,statement is not sufficient.

Ans: A


Can you provide the solution for x^3+x^2+x+2=0
Thanks in advance!

This equation is not conducive to being solved easily.
You cannot get the first root by easy hit n trial here.

You only need to observe here that all terms are positive. So the root must be negative as explained in my comment above: https://gmatclub.com/forum/is-x-0-1-x-3 ... l#p1747591
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idontknowwhy94
Is x < 0?


(1) x^3 + x^2 + x + 2 = 0

(2) x^2 - x - 2 < 0

#1
x^3 + x^2 + x + 2 = 0
x has to be in between -1 to -2 so sufficient
#2
solving expression we get x=-1 and x=2
insufficient
IMO A
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idontknowwhy94
Is x < 0?


(1) x^3 + x^2 + x + 2 = 0

(2) x^2 - x - 2 < 0


A different way that turns this question into a very simple question.
Let us use the number properties to get to our answer.

1) \(x^3+x^2+x+2=0\)
Now \(x^2+2>0\), so \(x^3+x<0........x(x^2+1)<0\)
But \(x^2+1>0\), so x<0
Sufficient

2) x^2-x-2<0
\(x^2-2x+x-2<0......(x+1)(x-2)<0\)
Two cases
1) If x+1<0 or x<-1, then x-2>0 or x>2.....NO values exist
2) If x+1>0 or x>-1, then x-2<0 or x<2....Possible values -1<x<2
Insuff

A
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