Last visit was: 20 Nov 2025, 03:35 It is currently 20 Nov 2025, 03:35
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Events
Rewards
Chat
My Profile
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.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 105,408
Own Kudos:
778,465
 [7]
Given Kudos: 99,987
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 105,408
Kudos: 778,465
 [7]
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 03:57
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

55% (hard)

Question Stats:

48% (01:08) correct 52% (01:03) wrong based on 169 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
E
User avatar
niks18
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 25 Feb 2013
Last visit: 30 Jun 2021
Posts: 866
Own Kudos:
1,763
 [3]
Given Kudos: 54
Location: India
GPA: 3.82
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 866
Kudos: 1,763
 [3]
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| Updated on: 29 Sep 2017, 21:18
Originally posted by niks18 on 29 Sep 2017, 04:26.
Last edited by niks18 on 29 Sep 2017, 21:18, edited 1 time in total.
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|
Show more

The question essentially asks is \(x>0\) i.e. positive

Statement 1: implies \(x=-y\) or \(x=y\). but we don't know what is the sign of \(y\). Hence insufficient

Statement 2: this implies that either \(x\) is positive or \(0\) when \(y=0\). Hence \(x^3\) will either be positive or equal to \(0\). Insufficient.

Combining 1 & 2, again we have either \(x>0\) or \(x=0\). Hence Insufficient

Option E
avatar
AlisherChaman
avatar
Joined: 27 Sep 2017
Last visit: 27 Feb 2019
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
2
 [2]
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 11
Kudos: 2
 [2]
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 05:48
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
niks18
Bunuel
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|

The question essentially asks is \(x>0\) i.e. positive

Statement 1: implies \(x=-y\) or \(x=y\). but we don't know what is the sign of \(y\). Hence insufficient

Statement 2: mod is always positive. hence \(x\) must be positive for \(x=|y|\) to hold true. Hence sufficient

Option B
Show more
I think it is wrong. because x can also be 0 in statement 2, which makes the statement insufficient.

Sent from my SM-J120H using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
AlisherChaman
avatar
Joined: 27 Sep 2017
Last visit: 27 Feb 2019
Posts: 11
Own Kudos:
2
Given Kudos: 4
Posts: 11
Kudos: 2
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 05:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AlisherChaman
niks18
Bunuel
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|

The question essentially asks is \(x>0\) i.e. positive

Statement 1: implies \(x=-y\) or \(x=y\). but we don't know what is the sign of \(y\). Hence insufficient

Statement 2: mod is always positive. hence \(x\) must be positive for \(x=|y|\) to hold true. Hence sufficient

Option B
I think it is wrong. because x can also be 0 in statement 2, which makes the statement insufficient.

Sent from my SM-J120H using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
Show more
Thus my answer is E

Sent from my SM-J120H using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
avatar
GMATisLovE
avatar
Joined: 06 Aug 2017
Last visit: 15 Aug 2020
Posts: 60
Own Kudos:
47
Given Kudos: 36
GMAT 1: 570 Q50 V18
GMAT 2: 610 Q49 V24
GMAT 3: 640 Q48 V29
GMAT 3: 640 Q48 V29
Posts: 60
Kudos: 47
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 13:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AlisherChaman
niks18
Bunuel
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|

The question essentially asks is \(x>0\) i.e. positive

Statement 1: implies \(x=-y\) or \(x=y\). but we don't know what is the sign of \(y\). Hence insufficient

Statement 2: mod is always positive. hence \(x\) must be positive for \(x=|y|\) to hold true. Hence sufficient

Option B
I think it is wrong. because x can also be 0 in statement 2, which makes the statement insufficient.

Sent from my SM-J120H using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
Show more

Good observation Alisher.

I almost missed that and got dragged by the use of mod.
User avatar
niks18
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 25 Feb 2013
Last visit: 30 Jun 2021
Posts: 866
Own Kudos:
1,763
Given Kudos: 54
Location: India
GPA: 3.82
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 866
Kudos: 1,763
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 21:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AlisherChaman
niks18
Bunuel
Is x^3 > 0?

(1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0
(2) x = |y|

The question essentially asks is \(x>0\) i.e. positive

Statement 1: implies \(x=-y\) or \(x=y\). but we don't know what is the sign of \(y\). Hence insufficient

Statement 2: mod is always positive. hence \(x\) must be positive for \(x=|y|\) to hold true. Hence sufficient

Option B
I think it is wrong. because x can also be 0 in statement 2, which makes the statement insufficient.

Sent from my SM-J120H using GMAT Club Forum mobile app
Show more

Hi AlisherChaman

Yes agreed absolute value can be zero as x=|y| has a "V" shaped graph and at coordinate (0,0), both (x,y) will be 0. Thanks for pointing it out, I'll make the necessary changes :-)
avatar
Suvarcha
avatar
Joined: 05 May 2017
Last visit: 27 Mar 2018
Posts: 1
Given Kudos: 183
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 29 Sep 2017, 23:21
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
It would be E, if you consider the possibility of zero.
User avatar
nitiny
User avatar
Joined: 11 Oct 2016
Last visit: 24 Jul 2022
Posts: 58
Own Kudos:
84
Given Kudos: 72
Location: India
GMAT 1: 610 Q47 V28
GMAT 1: 610 Q47 V28
Posts: 58
Kudos: 84
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 01 Oct 2017, 03:27
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
IMO E
1> X = -y OR x = y , we dont know what is y INSUFFICIENT
2> x=|y| , which implies x could be 0 or greater than 0 , but no definite answer

Combine both , no definite answer
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,597
Own Kudos:
1,079
Posts: 38,597
Kudos: 1,079
Is x^3 > 0? (1) (x + y)(x – y) = 0 (2) x = |y| 18 Jun 2019, 18:00
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105408 posts
kingbucky
496 posts