Is x < y ?

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

(1) \(x^2 < y^2 \iff |x| < |y|\)

We have \(3^2 < 5^2 \implies 3 < 5\)
However \(3^2 < (-5)^2 \implies 3 > - 5\).

Hence, insufficient.

(2) \(-x-y < 0 \implies x+y > 0\)

If x=5, y=2 then \(x+y>0\) and \(x>y\)
If x=-2, y=5 then \(x+y>0\) and \(x<y\).

Hence, insufficient.

Combine (1) and (2):
\((2) \implies x+y > 0\)
\((1) \implies (x-y)(x+y) < 0 \implies x-y < 0 \implies x<y\). Sufficient

The answer is C
_________________

Statement One Alone:

x^2 - y^2 < 0

We see that x^2 > y^2; however we still do not have sufficient information to determine whether x > y.

For instance, if x = -2 and y = 1, then x is less than y. However, if x = 2 and y = 1, then x is greater than y. Statement one alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statement Two Alone:

-x - y < 0

We can multiply the inequality in statement two by -1, remembering to reverse the inequality sign, and obtain:

x + y > 0, or equivalently, 0 < x + y. However, we still cannot determine whether x > y.

For instance if x = 2 and y = 1, then x is greater than y; however if x = 1 and y = 2, then x is less than y. Statement two alone is not sufficient to answer the question.

Statements One and Two Together:

Notice that x^2 - y^2 in statement one is a difference of two squares: x^2 - y^2 = (x + y)(x - y). So x^2 - y^2 < 0 means (x + y)(x - y) < 0. From statement two, we know that x + y > 0. That means x - y < 0, since x + y is positive. Therefore, x - y must be negative in order for their product (x + y)(x - y) to be negative.

Since x - y < 0, we have that x < y.

Answer: C
_________________

x^2 - y^2 < 0;

x^2 < y^2;

|x| < |y|.

This means that y is further from 0 than x is. Which is not enough to get whether x < y. Basically we can have the following cases:

----y----x----0--------------
----y---------0----x---------
---------x----0---------y----
--------------0----x----y----
_________________

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.
_________________