Last visit was: 19 Nov 2025, 10:32 It is currently 19 Nov 2025, 10:32
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
User avatar
lovely
User avatar
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Last visit: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Posts: 12
Kudos: 0
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 08:28
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
N
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

(N/A)

Question Stats:

0% (00:00) correct 0% (00:00) wrong based on 0 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few issues with it, so I thought I would post it here...you all may have addressed it prior, if so I would appreciate a link or a re-do:

If ab<ac, which is greater, b or c?

1. a<0
2. c<0

I didn't agree with the answer they give...thanks for the input in advance...



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Data Sufficiency (DS) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
crackgmat3
User avatar
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Last visit: 18 Apr 2005
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
22
Location: US
Posts: 88
Kudos: 22
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 08:37
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
A

As per the questions ab<ac means depending on the sign of a this inequality will change

if a is + ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes
b<c

if a is - ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes

b>c

1) says a is negative - sufficient
2) insufficient. we don't know the value of b.
User avatar
Alex_NL
User avatar
Joined: 02 Apr 2004
Last visit: 23 Feb 2005
Posts: 100
Own Kudos:
39
Location: Utrecht
Posts: 100
Kudos: 39
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 08:48
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
I used some quick numbers and I have A as answer too.

Regards,

Alex
User avatar
lovely
User avatar
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Last visit: 26 Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Posts: 12
Kudos: 0
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 08:49
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Quote:
If ab<ac, which is greater, b or c?

1. a<0
2. c<0

As per the questions ab<ac means depending on the sign of a this inequality will change

if a is + ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes
b<c

if a is - ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes

b>c

1) says a is negative - sufficient
2) insufficient. we don't know the value of b.
Show more


i agree with your analysis...BUT, how do you explain plugging in some numbers that do not work into #1? For instance: 1) a<0, so let a= -5...then you have -5b<-5c, if you'll notice, the opening statement asks if b<c. I can plug numbers into -5b<-5c so that b<c AND b>c. For instance, b could be 1 and c could be 10 (b<c) OR b could be -10 and c could be -20 (b>c)....so I would say if there are numbers that could make #1 both true and false, then it has to be insufficient, doesn't it?
User avatar
crackgmat3
User avatar
Joined: 27 Aug 2004
Last visit: 18 Apr 2005
Posts: 88
Own Kudos:
22
Location: US
Posts: 88
Kudos: 22
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 08:57
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The question asks whether b is greater or c. When you pick numbers for b and c, you are making an assumption. That is not the way to approach DS problems.
User avatar
intr3pid
User avatar
Joined: 05 Sep 2004
Last visit: 20 Sep 2004
Posts: 40
Own Kudos:
11
Posts: 40
Kudos: 11
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 06 Sep 2004, 11:15
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
lovely
Quote:
If ab<ac, which is greater, b or c?

1. a<0
2. c<0

As per the questions ab<ac means depending on the sign of a this inequality will change

if a is + ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes
b<c

if a is - ive then, divide the inequality with a on both sides, it becomes

b>c

1) says a is negative - sufficient
2) insufficient. we don't know the value of b.

i agree with your analysis...BUT, how do you explain plugging in some numbers that do not work into #1? For instance: 1) a<0, so let a= -5...then you have -5b<-5c, if you'll notice, the opening statement asks if b<c. I can plug numbers into -5b<-5c so that b<c AND b>c. For instance, b could be 1 and c could be 10 (b<c) OR b could be -10 and c could be -20 (b>c)....so I would say if there are numbers that could make #1 both true and false, then it has to be insufficient, doesn't it?
Show more


When you choose b = 1 and c = 10 in your scenario above, your original relation ab<ac for a = -5 ceases to be true. Therefore, these values of b and c are invalid for the original condition to hold with a negative a.
newuserabc
Joined: 31 Dec 1969
Last visit: -
Kudos: 0
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 07 Sep 2004, 03:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hi

Came across these puzzling DS answers - would be great if sumone cud explain.

1.what is the value of x ?

a. x^2 = 4x
b. x is an even number

answer: E (explanation states that from a alone, x could be 0 or 4, both even no.s)

according to me the ans should be C since 0 cannot be an even no. and therefore using a & b x would be 4


2. What is the value of x, a prime no. ?

a. x < 15
b. (x-2) is a multiple of 5

answer: E(explanation states that 2 no.s 2,7 satisfy teh criteria since 2-2 = 0 is also a multipel of 5)

according to me the ans should be C since using both the statements x can take only 7 as the value.


could anyone out here help me ?
thx in advance
User avatar
jimishg
User avatar
Joined: 28 Jul 2004
Last visit: 11 Nov 2004
Posts: 35
Own Kudos:
5
Posts: 35
Kudos: 5
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 07 Sep 2004, 03:44
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
newuserabc..... 0 is an even number
User avatar
abennett
User avatar
Joined: 10 Aug 2004
Last visit: 27 Jan 2005
Posts: 18
Own Kudos:
1
Posts: 18
Kudos: 1
just took a practice test in a Kaplan book and had a few 07 Sep 2004, 12:50
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
12-2=10. It is not prime hence B doesn't work.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Data Sufficiency (DS) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
Moderators:
Bunuel
Math Expert
105390 posts
GMATBusters
GMAT Tutor
1924 posts