Is x+y < 1

(1) x < 8/9
(2) y < 1/8
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Dear Bunuel,
Although i understand the solution after reading it,can you please help me in understanding the line of thinking.I never thought of multiplying the bases by a common factor.What concept's understanding would prompt me to ?

Thank you

Is x+y < 1?
a) x < 8/9
b) y < 1/8

The answer to this question is E. By adding the inequalities, we find that x + y < 8/9 + 1/8 = 73/72, but it remains possible that x+y is somewhere between 1 and 73/72. It may be easier to see this using decimals, rather than fractions. Recall that 8/9 = 0.8888...., and that 1/8 = 0.125. Using both statements, we might have that x = 0.88, and that y = 0.121, so x+y can be equal to 1.01, and therefore can be greater than 1.
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Again, failed to think 73/72 may be taken as 1 or more than 1 as well !!

Hi All,

When dealing with fractions in GMAT Quant questions, it's sometimes helpful to convert from fraction-to-decimal (doing so might make the requisite math faster or easier).

We're asked if (X+Y) is less than 1. This is a YES/NO question.

1) X < 8/9

This FACT tells us that X is LESS than .88888...., but we don't know anything about Y.
Fact 1 is INSUFFICIENT

2) Y < 1/8

This FACT tells us that Y is LESS than .125, but we don't know anything about X.
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Combined, we know that (X+Y) must be LESS than .8888.... + .125 = 1.01388888....

IF... the sum = 1, then the answer to the question is NO.
IF... the sum = 0, then the answer to the question is YES.

Combined, INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer:

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich
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