Puneethrao
Is x < y?
(1) x^2 - y^2 < 0
(2) -x - y < 0
Statement One Alone:\(\Rightarrow\) x^2 - y^2 < 0
We can conclude from this statement that the absolute value of y is greater than the absolute value of x, however, this is not sufficient to determine whether x < y. For instance, if x = 1 and y = 2, then x < y and the answer to the question is yes. On the other hand, if x = 1 and y = -2, then x > y and the answer to the question is no. Since we have more than one possible answer to the question, statement one alone is not sufficient.
Eliminate answer choices A and D.
Statement Two Alone:\(\Rightarrow\) -x - y < 0
We can rewrite the inequality as x + y > 0. This is not sufficient to determine whether x < y. If x = 1 and y = 2, then x < y and the answer to the question is yes. If x = 2 and y = 1, then x > y and the answer to the question is no. Since we have more than one possible answer to the question, statement two alone is not sufficient.
Eliminate answer choice B.
Statements One and Two Together:Since the expression in the first inequality is a difference of two squares, we can rewrite it as follows:
\(\Rightarrow\) x^2 - y^2 < 0
\(\Rightarrow\) (x - y)(x + y) < 0
The second inequality tells us that x + y > 0, so we can divide each side of the above inequality by x + y without changing the direction of the inequality:
\(\Rightarrow\) (x - y)(x + y)/(x + y) < 0/(x + y)
\(\Rightarrow\) x - y < 0
\(\Rightarrow\) x < y
This answers the question. Statements one and two together are sufficient.
Answer: C