Math Revolution and GMAT Club Contest! There is a sequence An when n

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QUESTION #5:

There is a sequence $A_n$ when n is a positive integer such that $A_1=a$, $A_2=b$, and $A_{n+2}=A_{n+1}*A_n$. Is $A_6<0$?

(1) a < 0
(2) ab < 0

Check conditions below:

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Official Answer

B

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mvictor · Answer

I will go with B, and this is my reasoning:

There is a sequence An when n is a positive integer such that A1=a, A2=b, and An+2=An+1∗An. Is A6<0?

ok, this means that when n=1, we have A3 = A2 * A1
or A3 = A1 * A2
A4 = A3*A2
A5 = A4*A3
A6 = A5 *A4

We need to find whether A6<0.

(1) a < 0
well, clearly insufficient, since A1 = negative
but A2 can be negative or positive:
first case: A2 = negative
A3 = positive
A4 = negative
A5 = negative
A6 = positive

second case = A2 = positive
A3 = negative
A4 = negative
A5 = positive
A6 = negative

since there are 2 outcomes, A is insufficient.

(2) ab < 0
this means that one is positive and the other one is negative.
that means that A3 = negative, we thus have 2 cases: A1 negative + A2 positive and A1 positive + A2 negative

1 case:
A2 = negative
A3 = negative as above mentioned
A4 = positive
A5 = negative
A6 = negative

2nd case:
A2 = positive
A3 = negative as above mentioned
A4 = negative
A5 = positive
A6 = negative

since both ways get us A6 negative, B is the answer.

kingjamesrules · Answer

The answer to this question is B.

The problem statement - Is A6<0. Based on the question, An = a, b, ab, ab^2, a^2b^3, a^3b^5, ... so A6 = a^3 * b^5. So in order to find if A6 is < 0, we have to find the sign of both a and b, because the power of both a and b is odd and can either be -ve or +ve.

1) a<0 - here if b is >0, then A6 is -ve and if b<0, A6 is +ve (Not Sufficient)

2) ab<0 - here there are two possibility a<0 & b>0 - in this case, A6 is -ve. and a>0 & b<0 - in this case also A6 is -ve. Hence A6 is <0 when ab <0. (Sufficient).

HKD1710 · Answer

Following information is given: 
1. An is a sequence and n is a positive integer. 
2. A1 = a and A2 = b (for n = 1 and 2 values of the sequence are given)
3. An+2 = An+1∗An (this formula or say pattern is given to find the subsequent values)

This pattern tells us that any two consecutive values of the sequence when multiplied give the third consecutive value of the sequence. Hence, Subsequent values of this sequence would be:

when n = 3, A3 = A2 * A1 = ba 
when n = 4, A4 = A3 * A2 = ba*b = b2a 
when n = 5, A5 = A4 * A3 = b2a*ba = b3a2 
when n = 6, A6 = A5 * A4 = b3a2*b2a = b5a3

we are asked if A6 < 0 i.e is A6 negative? i.e. is b5a3 negative? 
as we see powers of both b and a are odd, b5a3 will be negative if a and b have opposite signs.

statement-1: a < 0 
as b can be positive or negative, b5a3 can be positive or negative. 
As we dont have the definite answer with statement-1, its INSUFFICIENT.

statement-2: ab < 0 
this tells us that a and b have opposite signs. b5a3 will be negative. 
We have definite answer with statement-2. its SUFFICIENT.
 
Option  (B)  is correct answer.

Kurtosis · Answer

A1 = a; A2 = b;
A3 = A2 * A1 = a*b
A4 = A3 * A2 = ab * b = a * b^2
A5 = A4 * A3 = (a * b^2) * (ab) = (a^2 * b^3)
A6 = A5 * A4 = (a^2 * b^3) * (a * b^2) = (a^3 * b^5) = (ab)^3 * b^2

St1: a < 0 --> Not sufficient as 'b' is not known

St2: ab < 0
If ab < 0 then a and b is not equal to 0.
A6 depends upon the sign of (ab) since b^2 is always positive.
So ab < 0 --> A6 is negative
Statement 2 is sufficient.

Answer: B

GMATnavigator · Answer

I will go with B as my choice of answer.

A1= a, A2=b and An+2= An+1 + An. Question asks us is A6 < 0? this can be re framed as Is a^3 X b^5 < 0?

Case 1: a < 0 this implies a is negative. So a^3 is also negative. This depends on sign of b. If b is positive we will get A6 < 0 but if b is negative then b^5 is also negative so whole term A6 will be positive and that means that A6 may be positive or negative depending on the value of b................... Insufficient

Case 2: ab < 0 this implies either a or b is negative. if a is negative, b will be positive so this would imply A6 < 0 and also if b is negative then a will be positive. So in both case the sign will be preserved and will definitely give us sufficient conditions or answer of question A6 < 0...................... Sufficient

Answer is B

HieuNguyenVN · Answer

From the formula: A_6 = A_5 * A_4 = (A_4)^2 * A_3 = (A_3)^3 * (A_2)^2 = (A_2)^5 * (A_1)^3 = b^5*a^3 = (ab)^3 * b^2 1. a < 0 is insufficient because A_6 > 0 when b < 0 & A_6 < 0 when b > 0. 2. ab < 0 is sufficient to conclude that A_6<0 because (ab)^3<0 and b^2>0 (b cannot equal 0 since ab<0) Hence B.

tarunk31 · Answer

There is a sequence An when n is a positive integer such that A1=a, A2=b, and An+2=An+1∗An. Is A6<0?

(1) a < 0
(2) ab < 0

On explanding,

A6 = A1^3 * A2*5 = a^3 *b*5

We are asked if a^3 *b*5 < 0
1) a < 0. Insufficent as we have to know whether b is positive or negative.
2) ab< 0. Sufficient since if ab < 0 then multiplication of add powers of a and odd powers of b will also be less than 0.

Ans. B

b9n920 · Answer

QUESTION #5:

There is a sequence An when n is a positive integer such that A1=a, A2=b, and An+2=An+1∗An. Is A6<0?

(1) a < 0
(2) ab < 0

Soln: $A1 = a, A2 = b,$ and since $An+2=An+1∗An,$ we can deduce $A3 = A2*A1 = ab.$
Similarly $A4 = A3*A2 = ab^2, A5 = a^2b^3, and A6 = a^3b^5.$
So, the problem translates to: whether $a^3b^5 < 0$ ??

1. $a < 0,$ so, $a^3 < 0.$ But we do not know b. If b = 1, YES. If b = -1, NO. INSUFFICIENT.

2. $ab < 0.$ So, $a & b$ are of opposite sign. If $a<0$ and $b>0,$ then $a^3<0$ and $b^5>0,$ and so $A6 < 0.$ YES.
If $a>0$ and $b<0,$ then $a^3>0$ and $b^5<0,$ and so $A6 < 0.$ YES. Both YES. SUFFICIENT.

Answer: B.

Psiva00734 · Answer

A1=a,A2=b

An+2=An+1*An

suppose n=1, then A3=A2*A1=ab

A4=A3*A2=ab*b=ab^2

A5=A4*A3=ab^2*ab=a^2b^3

A6=A5*A4=a^2b^3*ab^2=a^3b^5<0.

from above both a and b have odd powers .

Statement 1 if a<0, we cant conclude we don't know value of b

Statement 2
ab<0 means
I a>0 and b<0 or
a<0 and b>0. both value satisfy above A6<0.
so option B is correct

jamesav · Answer

given,
 A_1  =  a 
 A_2  =  b

from the formula,  A_{n+2}  =  A_{n+1} * A,
we get the remaining terms. 
 A_3  =  A_2 *  A_1  = a*b = ab
 A_4  =  A_3 *  A_2  = ab * b = a b^2 
 A_5  =  A_4 *  A_3  = a b^2 * ab =  a^2  b^3 
 A_6  =  A_5 *  A_4  =  a^2  b^3 * a b^2  =  a^3  b^5

Now, we need to know if  a^3  b^5  is negative or not 
since, the powers of a and b are odd, we have 3 cases. The product can be
1. positive ( if both a & b are of same sign.)
2. negative ( if one of them is negative and other positive)
3. zero. (if any one or both of them are zero)

Stmt 1:  a  <0 
It doesn't give any information about b. 
--  b  can be positive --- in that case, the product will be negative.
--  b  can be negative--- in that case, the product will be positive.
--  b  can be zero --- in that case, the product will be zero. 
Hence we cant conclude using the statement 1 alone.

stmt 2:  ab  <0
This is possible only if one of them is negative and the other is positive. Also, it is to be noted that none of them is zero.
Hence we can conclude that the product  a^3  b^5  will be negative.

Answer: B

arthearoth · Answer

We have a series where every term from the third term onwards is determined by multiplying the previous two terms. If either or both of the previous two terms are 0 then that term (and every following term) will be 0. If the previous two terms are both the same sign then the term we are calculating will be +ve, if the two previous terms are different in sign then the term we are calculating will be -ve.

Since we're looking to determine whether A6<0 based on information about whether a<0 or the product ab<0 let's quickly jot out all of the possible sequences:

ab....A6
++++++
 +--+-- 
 --+--+
 -+--+-  
000000
 ?00000 
0?0000

Condition 1) tells us that a is -ve, which means that the highlighted sequences are possible. Since in the highlighted sequences term A6 can be +ve, -ve or 0, 1) on it's own is not sufficient, we can rule out answers A and D.

Condition 2) tells us that the product ab<0. This means that neither a nor b is 0, and that a and b are of different signs. Therefore the bold sequences are possible. Both of the bold sequences have a -ve A6, therefore 2) is sufficient to answer the question "is A6<0", and the correct answer is B.

mango aadmi · Answer

A1=a, A2=b, and An+2=An+1∗An.

A6 = A(4+2) = A(4+1).A4

A3= A(1+2) =A2.A1 = ab

A4= A(2+2) = A3.A2 = ab^2

A5= A(3+2) = A4.A3 = a^2b^3

A6= A(4+2) = A5.A4 = a^3b^5 = (ab)^3 b^2..

1) a<0, b+? NS
2) ab<0 .. A6 <0 S

B

NagrajB · Answer

A1 = a
A2 = b
A3= ab
A4 = ab^2
A5 = a^2b^3
A6 = a^3b^4
Regardless of whether b is positive or negative b^4 will be positive'
A6 will be negative if a is negative
A definitely provides the answer. Sufficient So B, C and E choices are eliminated
ab<0 means one of either a or b are negative
If a is negative then A6 is negative
If b is negative then A6 is positive
This eliminates B
We are left with A

pluto82 · Answer

A_3 = A_2*A_1 = b*a  
 A_4 = A_3*A_2 = (b*a)*b 
 A_5 = A_4*A_3 = ((b*a)*b)*(b*a) 
 A_6 = A_5*A_4 = ((b*a)*b)*(b*a)*(b*a)*b = (b*a)^3*b^2

Statement (1): a < 0
Since we don't have any info on b statement (1) is insufficient

Statement (2): ab < 0
 A_6 = (b*a)^3*b^2  is < 0 
Sufficient

Answer (B)

nipunjain14 · Answer

A1= a
A2 = b
A3= ab
A4= ab^2
A5=a^2b^3
A6 = a^3b^5

from statement 1: a<0
we do not know about b is b <0 then a6<0
if b>0 the a6 is not less than 0

in sufficient

statement 2:
ab<0

A6= a^3 B^5
this can be written as 
a^2B^4 * ab
a^2B^4 will always be positive
since ab< 0 A6 < 0

Sufficient 
Ans: B

rajatmahan · Answer

A3 = A1*A2 , A4 = A3*A2 => A4 = A1*A2^2 , A5 = A4*A3 => A5 = A1^2 * A2^3 ||ly A6 = A1^3 * A2^5
We have to check if (a^3 * b^5) < 0
1) a<0 but we have no info about b, thus insufficient

2) ab<0 which means either a<0 or b<0 thus A6<0 thus (a^3 * b^5) < 0 . Therefore sufficient

Answer is B

AmoyV · Answer

A6=A5*A4
=A4*A3*A3*A2
=A3*A2*A2*A1*A2*A1*A2
=A2*A1*A2*A2*A1*A2*A1*A2
=b*a*b*b*a*b*a*b
= b^5*a^3

Since both the powers are odd, we only need to find out whether the a*b with odd powers is positive or negative.

1. a<0
Nothing for b
Not Sufficient

2. ab<0
ab with odd powers is given here.
Sufficient

Answer: B

FightToSurvive · Answer

There is a sequence An when n is a positive integer such that A1=a, A2=b, and An+2=An+1∗An. Is A6<0?

(1) a < 0
(2) ab < 0

A6 = a^3 b^5

(1) Not sufficient as dont know anything about the sign of b
(2) if ab<0 ; then either of the two is negative. That is, both has opposite sign and that is what we need since we have odd powers of a and b in A6. Hence sufficient.

B.

donkadsw · Answer

OA: B

Solution:
A1 = a
A2 = b
A3 = a * b
A4 = a * b^2
A5 = a^2 * b^3
A6 = a^3 * b ^ 5

For A6 to be < 0, either a < 0 (and b > 0) or vice versa

(1) a < 0 No info about b, so insufficient.
(2) ab < 0 this is exactly the condition we need as stated above, hence sufficient.

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