Last visit was: 17 Apr 2025, 23:01 It is currently 17 Apr 2025, 23:01
Home
GMAT
Messages
Tests
Schools
Reviews
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
Sub 505 Level|   Inequalities|                        
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 17 Apr 2025
Posts: 100,738
Own Kudos:
717,289
 [7]
Given Kudos: 93,089
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: 100,738
Kudos: 717,289
 [7]
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 15 Jan 2014, 02:54
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:

5% (low)

Question Stats:

93% (00:28) correct 7% (00:39) wrong based on 1030 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Is x < y?

(1) z < y
(2) z < x
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
E
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 17 Apr 2025
Posts: 100,738
Own Kudos:
717,289
 [1]
Given Kudos: 93,089
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: 100,738
Kudos: 717,289
 [1]
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 15 Jan 2014, 02:54
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
SOLUTION

Is x < y?

(1) z < y
(2) z < x

Even when we combine the statements we just have that x and y are greater than some number z, we clearly cannot say whether x<y.

Answer: E.
avatar
beatthegmat05
avatar
Joined: 13 Feb 2013
Last visit: 21 Sep 2021
Posts: 19
Own Kudos:
35
 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Location: United States
Concentration: Finance, General Management
Schools: Harvard '24
GMAT Date: 07-28-2014
GPA: 3.75
WE:Consulting (Computer Software)
Schools: Harvard '24
Posts: 19
Kudos: 35
 [1]
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 15 Jan 2014, 09:46
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
As per my understanding best way will be to eliminate choices.
Since both (1) and (2) does not talk about the relation between x and y so we can eliminate option a,b,d.
We are left with option c and option e .

Now we take following two cases satisfying both given condition z<x and z<y -
x=2, y=3, z=1 -> x<y

x= 10, y=5, z =1 -> x>y

we can see that we can not guarantee the statement x>y by using both condition so answer is (E)-Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question
avatar
reetskaur
avatar
Joined: 01 Apr 2012
Last visit: 12 Oct 2015
Posts: 8
Own Kudos:
22
 [2]
Given Kudos: 260
Status:FTW
Location: India
Concentration: International Business, Leadership
Schools: INSEAD Jan '16 HBS '17 Wharton '16 Insead July'17
GMAT Date: 09-27-2014
GPA: 3.5
WE:Consulting (Finance: Venture Capital)
Schools: INSEAD Jan '16 HBS '17 Wharton '16 Insead July'17
Posts: 8
Kudos: 22
 [2]
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 15 Jan 2014, 10:26
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
i) No information about 'x'
ii) No information about 'y'
Combining (i) and (ii), we know that z is less than, both x and why, but we do not know which one of the two (x or y) is greater than the other.
Hence (E)
User avatar
arunspanda
User avatar
Joined: 04 Oct 2013
Last visit: 31 Oct 2021
Posts: 127
Own Kudos:
314
 [1]
Given Kudos: 55
Location: India
GMAT Date: 05-23-2015
GPA: 3.45
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 127
Kudos: 314
 [1]
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 16 Jan 2014, 03:15
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is x < y?

(1) z < y
(2) z < x

Statement 1

Given that z < y, the relationship between z and x can not be determined, hence it is not possible to evaluate the inequality x < y .........Not Sufficient.

Statement 2

Given that z < x, the relationship between z and y can not be determined, hence it is not possible to evaluate the inequality x < y .........Not Sufficient.

Combining statements (1) and (2), we have z less than both y and x and this statement is not sufficient to evaluate x < y.
As an example, the sets (x=3, y=4, z=2) and (x=4, y=3, z=2) satisfy the given inequalities, whereas x and y relation is not unique.

Answer: (E)
User avatar
adkikani
User avatar
IIM School Moderator
Joined: 04 Sep 2016
Last visit: 24 Dec 2023
Posts: 1,239
Own Kudos:
1,305
Given Kudos: 1,207
Location: India
WE:Engineering (Other)
Posts: 1,239
Kudos: 1,305
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 04 Apr 2018, 21:55
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel niks18 amanvermagmat

Quote:
Is x < y?

(1) z < y
(2) z < x

Combining both statements, can we subtract (2) from (1)?

0 < y-x

Adding x to both sides:
x<y.
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 17 Apr 2025
Posts: 100,738
Own Kudos:
717,289
Given Kudos: 93,089
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: 100,738
Kudos: 717,289
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 04 Apr 2018, 21:59
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
adkikani
Bunuel niks18 amanvermagmat

Quote:
Is x < y?

(1) z < y
(2) z < x

Combining both statements, can we subtract (2) from (1)?

0 < y-x

Adding x to both sides:
x<y.

No.

You can only apply subtraction when their signs are in the opposite directions:

If \(a>b\) and \(c<d\) (signs in opposite direction: \(>\) and \(<\)) --> \(a-c>b-d\) (take the sign of the inequality you subtract from).
Example: \(3<4\) and \(5>1\) --> \(3-5<4-1\).

You can only add inequalities when their signs are in the same direction:

If \(a>b\) and \(c>d\) (signs in same direction: \(>\) and \(>\)) --> \(a+c>b+d\).
Example: \(3<4\) and \(2<5\) --> \(3+2<4+5\).

For more check Manipulating Inequalities.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 36,906
Own Kudos:
971
Posts: 36,906
Kudos: 971
Is x < y? (1) z < y (2) z < x 10 Feb 2024, 02:40
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.
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
100738 posts