Is |x - y| > |x| - |y|? (1) y < x (2) xy < 0

Following this same approach, shouldn't the following part become (-x-y)?


in 2 B you have modified the \(x-y\) to -(x-y) because x is negative and y is positive. So in the same way the 1C should take (-x-y) as per the sign of x.
What am I missing?

I am a little bit concerned here.
If the question states x and y, can we make an assumption that x ≠ y?
For example here, without this assumption, i can let x = y and (2) is NS?

Can anyone tell me the flaw in my logic

|x - y| > |x| - |y|
Squaring both sides
x^2 +y^2-2xy> x^2 +y^2-2|x||y|
simplifying, xy<|x||y|,

It will only be possible when product of xy is -ve. or xy<0, Hence B.

Dear GMATGuruNY

In this question stem, can I square both sides? or is it wrong?

Thanks

Is |x - y| > |x| - |y|?

(1) y < x
(2) xy < 0

10. Absolute Value

• Theory
  Math: Absolute value (Modulus)
  Absolute Value: Tips and hints
  Properties of Absolute Values on the GMAT
  Absolute modulus : A better understanding
  GMAT Question Patterns: Abolute Value
  The Reason Behind Absolute Value Questions on the GMAT
  
  • Questions
    Inequality and absolute value questions from my collection
    The E-GMAT Question Series on ABSOLUTE VALUE
    DS Questions
    PS Questions

For more check Ultimate GMAT Quantitative Megathread

Hope it helps.

Basically the question asks whether the distance between the two points x and y on the line is greater than the difference between the individual distances of x and y from 0.

\(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\)?

(1) \(y<x\), 3 possible cases for \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\):

A. ---------------\(0\)---\(y\)---\(x\)---, \(0<y<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x-y\) --> \(0>0\). Which is wrong;
B. ---------\(y\)---\(0\)---------\(x\)---, \(y<0<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x+y\) --> \(y<0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<0<x\);
C. ---\(y\)---\(x\)---\(0\)--------------, \(y<x<0\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>-x+y\) --> \(x>y\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<0<x\).

Two different answers. Not sufficient.

(2) \(xy<0\), means \(x\) and \(y\) have different signs, hence 2 cases for \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\):

A. ----\(y\)-----\(0\)-------\(x\)---, \(y<0<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x+y\) --> \(y<0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<0<x\);
B. ----\(x\)-----\(0\)-------\(y\)---, \(x<0<y\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(-x+y>-x-y\) --> \(y>0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(x<0<y\).

In both cases inequality holds true. Sufficient.

Answer: B.

Is |x-y|>|x|-|y| ?

(1) y < x
(2) xy < 0

Algebraic approach is given in my first post. Below is another approach:

\(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\)?

(1) \(y<x\)

Try two positive number \(x=3>y=1\) --> is \(|3-1|>|3|-|1|\)? --> is \(2>2\)? Answer NO.

Try ANY other case but both positive: \(x=-5>y=-7\) --> is \(|-5-(-7)|>|-5|-|-7|\)? --> is \(2>-2\)? Answer YES.

Two different answers. Not sufficient.

(2) \(xy<0\), means \(x\) and \(y\) have different signs.

Now we can spot here that when \(x\) and \(y\) have different signs \(x-y\) always "contribute" to each other so that its absolute value will increase: \(x=3\), \(y=-1\) --> \(|x-y|=|3+1|=|4|=4\) or \(x=-3\), \(y=1\) --> \(|x-y|=|-3-1|=|4|=4\).

But \(|x|-|y|\) is difference (thus not "contributing") of two positive values (as neither equals to zero). \(x=3\), \(y=-1\) --> \(|x|-|y|=|3|-|-1|=2\) or \(x=-3\), \(y=1\) --> \(|x|-|y|=|-3|-|1|=2\).

So \(xy<0\) means \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) is always true.

Sufficient.

Answer: B.

Hope it helps.

Is \(|x - y| > |x| - |y|\)?

(1) \(y < x\)
(2) \(xy < 0\)

Basically the question asks whether the distance between the two points x and y on the line is greater than the difference between the individual distances of x and y from 0.

\(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\)?

(1) \(y<x\), 3 possible cases for \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\):

A. ---------------\(0\)---\(y\)---\(x\)---, \(0<y<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x-y\) --> \(0>0\). Which is wrong;
B. ---------\(y\)---\(0\)---------\(x\)---, \(y<0<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x+y\) --> \(y<0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<0<x\);
C. ---\(y\)---\(x\)---\(0\)--------------, \(y<x<0\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>-x+y\) --> \(x>y\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<x<0\).

Two different answers. Not sufficient.

(2) \(xy<0\), means \(x\) and \(y\) have different signs, hence 2 cases for \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\):

A. ----\(y\)-----\(0\)-------\(x\)---, \(y<0<x\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>x+y\) --> \(y<0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<0<x\);
B. ----\(x\)-----\(0\)-------\(y\)---, \(x<0<y\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(-x+y>-x-y\) --> \(y>0\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(x<0<y\).

In both cases inequality holds true. Sufficient.

Answer: B.

Hi Bunuel,

Tried hard to understand the following related to the red part above but at the end no success. Would you please clear my doubt?

In 1 B & C, you have changed the sign of x and y in RHS, and not modified the LHS(red part) according to the sign of x and y.---- Understood the explanation of st. 1
But in 2 B, You have modified also the LHS part according to the sign of x and y. (red part) ------- Why have you not followed the process that you have followed in st 1 ?

What did this difference in procedure depend on?
Thank You in advance.

When \(x \le 0\) then \(|x|=-x\), or more generally when \(\text{some expression} \le 0\) then \(|\text{some expression}| = -(\text{some expression})\). For example: \(|-5|=5=-(-5)\);

When \(x \ge 0\) then \(|x|=x\), or more generally when \(\text{some expression} \ge 0\) then \(|\text{some expression}| = \text{some expression}\). For example: \(|5|=5\)


(2) \(xy<0\), means \(x\) and \(y\) have different signs, hence 2 cases for \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\):

B. ----\(x\)-----\(0\)-------\(y\)---.

This means that \(x<0<y\). So, \(x - y < 0\), \(x<0\) and \(y>0\). According to the properties above if \(x - y < 0\), then \(|x-y|=-(x-y)\), if \(x<0\), then \(|x|=-x\) and if \(y>0\), then \(|y|=y\).

Hope it's clear.

1C. ---\(y\)---\(x\)---\(0\)--------------, \(y<x<0\) --> in this case \(|x-y|>|x|-|y|\) becomes: \(x-y>-x+y\) --> \(x>y\). Which is right, as we consider the range \(y<x<0\).