Last visit was: 23 Apr 2026, 10:45 It is currently 23 Apr 2026, 10:45
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
Sub 505 (Easy)|   Algebra|                     
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,782
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,782
Kudos: 810,824
 [23]
7
Kudos
Add Kudos
16
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Most Helpful Reply
User avatar
avigutman
Joined: 17 Jul 2019
Last visit: 30 Sep 2025
Posts: 1,285
Own Kudos:
1,907
 [2]
Given Kudos: 66
Location: Canada
GMAT 1: 780 Q51 V45
GMAT 2: 780 Q50 V47
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V45
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 3: 770 Q50 V45
Posts: 1,285
Kudos: 1,907
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
General Discussion
User avatar
Kurtosis
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 13 Apr 2015
Last visit: 10 Nov 2021
Posts: 1,384
Own Kudos:
5,236
 [2]
Given Kudos: 1,228
Location: India
Products:
Posts: 1,384
Kudos: 5,236
 [2]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
reto
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 29 Apr 2015
Last visit: 24 Aug 2018
Posts: 716
Own Kudos:
4,304
 [4]
Given Kudos: 302
Location: Switzerland
Concentration: Economics, Finance
Schools: LBS MIF '19
WE:Asset Management (Finance: Investment Banking)
Schools: LBS MIF '19
Posts: 716
Kudos: 4,304
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Kudos for a correct solution.

1) Rewrite to get x = 1/y --> sufficient
2) Multiply by x to get x = 1/y --> sufficient

Answer D
User avatar
TheKingInTheNorth
Joined: 13 Mar 2013
Last visit: 03 May 2019
Posts: 132
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 25
Location: United States
Concentration: Leadership, Technology
GPA: 3.5
WE:Engineering (Telecommunications)
Posts: 132
Kudos: 326
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

From st 1
(1) xy = 1
there fore
x = 1/y

sufficient

From st 2
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

1/y = x ( simply rearranging the statement )

sufficient
hence D ans
User avatar
adil123
Joined: 10 Jan 2017
Last visit: 15 May 2019
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 67
Status:Don't watch the clock,Do what it does, Keep Going.
Posts: 17
Kudos: 13
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
1 rewrite to get x=1/y sufficient
2 rewrite or multiply by x on both the sides you get x=1/y sufficient
D
User avatar
BrentGMATPrepNow
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 12 Sep 2015
Last visit: 31 Oct 2025
Posts: 6,733
Own Kudos:
36,451
 [1]
Given Kudos: 799
Location: Canada
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 6,733
Kudos: 36,451
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Kudos for a correct solution.

Target question: Is x = 1/y?

Statement 1: xy = 1
This tells us that y does NOT equal 0 (and x does NOT equal 0 too)
So, if we take xy = 1 and divide both sides by y, we get x = 1/y
PERFECT, this is exactly what we are looking for.
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 1/(xy) = 1
This tells us that x and y do NOT equal 0
So, we can take 1/(xy) and multiply both sides by x to get 1/y = x
Also PERFECT!
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer:
Cheers,
Brent
User avatar
shahidomer77
Joined: 27 Dec 2018
Last visit: 17 Jun 2021
Posts: 36
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 10
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, International Business
GPA: 3.48
WE:General Management (Manufacturing)
Posts: 36
Kudos: 15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Cross multiply the question and it becomes xy = 1
Now check the options
So both separately prove xy=1
Hence D

Kudos please
avatar
sajon
Joined: 17 Jan 2017
Last visit: 09 Dec 2020
Posts: 17
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 954
GMAT 1: 540 Q42 V23
GPA: 3.85
Products:
GMAT 1: 540 Q42 V23
Posts: 17
Kudos: 48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is there any problem for multiplying or dividing any variables without knowing the sign?? I found it in the inequality problem and now get confused. Please suggest me when to consider this principle?
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 5,986
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 163
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,986
Kudos: 5,858
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Kudos for a correct solution.

Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
x = 1/y
SUFFICIENT

(2) 1/(xy) = 1
x = 1/y
SUFFICIENT

IMO D
User avatar
DavidTutorexamPAL
User avatar
examPAL Representative
Joined: 07 Dec 2017
Last visit: 09 Sep 2020
Posts: 1,002
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 26
Posts: 1,002
Kudos: 2,042
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sajon
Is there any problem for multiplying or dividing any variables without knowing the sign?? I found it in the inequality problem and now get confused. Please suggest me when to consider this principle?

no - you just have to make sure you multiply both sides by the same thing.
There is a problem in inequalities - not in equations.
avatar
lucieparis
avatar
Current Student
Joined: 14 Oct 2014
Last visit: 17 Jun 2021
Posts: 4
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 5
Location: France
Posts: 4
Kudos: 5
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
BrentGMATPrepNow
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

Kudos for a correct solution.

Target question: Is x = 1/y?

Statement 1: xy = 1
This tells us that y does NOT equal 0 (and x does NOT equal 0 too)
So, if we take xy = 1 and divide both sides by y, we get x = 1/y
PERFECT, this is exactly what we are looking for.
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 1 is SUFFICIENT

Statement 2: 1/(xy) = 1
This tells us that x and y do NOT equal 0
So, we can take 1/(xy) and multiply both sides by x to get 1/y = x
Also PERFECT!
Since we can answer the target question with certainty, statement 2 is SUFFICIENT

Answer:
Cheers,
Brent

Thank you Brent! Why does it matter than neither x nor y equal 0?
avatar
sushil8891
Joined: 31 Oct 2020
Last visit: 04 Apr 2021
Posts: 4
Given Kudos: 1
Posts: 4
Kudos: 0
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y ?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

As per me, OA should be E as both statement are tautological (simply restating what is asked)

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,782
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,853
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,782
Kudos: 810,824
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
sushil8891
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y ?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1

As per me, OA should be E as both statement are tautological (simply restating what is asked)

Posted from my mobile device

Yes, the statements are basically saying the same thing, but since each statement gives an YES answer to the question the answer is D, not E.
User avatar
GMATinsight
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 08 Jul 2010
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 6,976
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 128
Status:GMAT/GRE Tutor l Admission Consultant l On-Demand Course creator
Location: India
GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
WE:Education (Education)
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24
GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41
Posts: 6,976
Kudos: 16,908
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y ?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1
Answer: Option D

Video solution by GMATinsight

User avatar
ScottTargetTestPrep
User avatar
Target Test Prep Representative
Joined: 14 Oct 2015
Last visit: 23 Apr 2026
Posts: 22,282
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 302
Status:Founder & CEO
Affiliations: Target Test Prep
Location: United States (CA)
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 22,282
Kudos: 26,531
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x = 1/y ?

(1) xy = 1
(2) 1/(xy) = 1
Solution:

Question Stem Analysis:

We need to determine whether x = 1/y.

Statement One Alone:

Dividing both sides by y (since y can’t be 0), we have x = 1/y. Statement one alone is sufficient.

Statement Two Alone:

Multiplying both sides by xy (since xy can’t be 0), we have xy = 1. Since this is the same as statement one and statement one is sufficient, statement two is also sufficient.

Answer: D
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,965
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,965
Kudos: 1,117
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109782 posts
498 posts
212 posts