If p and q are integers, such that p

Question

If p and q are integers, such that p < 0 < q, and s is a nonnegative integer, which of the following must be true?

A. p^2 < q^2
B. p + q = 0
C. sp < sq
D. sp ≠ sq
E. p/q < s

KarishmaB · Accepted Answer

Given: p is negative, q is positive, s in non negative (which means, very importantly, s can be 0 or it can be a positive integer)

a)p2 < q2
Not necessary. Absolute value of p may be greater.

B)p + q = 0
Again, not necessary.

c)sp < sq
s can be 0. If it is, then sp = sq i.e. sp will not be less than sq. So not necessary

d)sp ≠ sq
s can be 0. If it is, sp = sq so not necessary

e)p/q < s
Must be true since leftover. Anyway, p/q must be negative and s is 0 or positive so s has to be greater.

Takeaway: When they say 's is non negative,' say to yourself, 'OH! this means s CAN be 0'

hdwnkr · Answer

s is non negative

which means, s>=0. This is they key statement here.

Option E

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

While this is an older question, it's still based around some essential Number Property rules that still appear on the GMAT. This question can be solved by TESTing VALUES.

We're told that P < 0 < Q and that S is a NON-NEGATIVE INTEGER. We're asked which of the following MUST be true.

Let's TEST:
P = -2
Q = 1
S = 0

Answer A: P^2 < Q^2.... 4 < 1 NOT TRUE
Answer B: P+Q=0... -2+1 = -1 NOT TRUE
Answer C: SP < SQ... 0 < 0 NOT TRUE
Answer D: SP ≠ SQ... 0 = 0 NOT TRUE

There's only one answer left...

Answer E: P/Q < S... -2/1 < 0 This IS TRUE

Final Answer:  E

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made,
Rich

opuchanda · Answer

Thank you for adding me as a member.

Posted from my mobile device

chinuvasudeva · Answer

The best approach for this question and all similar questions is to go with broader set of conditions rather than plugging in values. Here p is negative and q is positive, for all values p/q is negative and will be less than any non negative number. 
Thus option E.
Thanks

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

Approach #1  
If p < 0 < q, then p is  NEGATIVE  and q is  POSITIVE

So, p/q =  NEGATIVE / POSITIVE , which means p/q is  NEGATIVE

If s is a non-negative integer, then we can be certain that p/q < s

Answer: E

Approach #2  
The question asks, "Which of the following  must  be true?"
So, if we can find a counterexample that shows an answer choice can be false, then we can eliminate that answer choice.

A. p² < q²
If p = -2 and q = 1, we get: (-2)² < 1²
Simplify to get: 4 < 1, which is not true. 
Eliminate A

B. p + q = 0
If p = -2 and q = 1, we get: (-2) + 1 = 0, which is not true. 
Eliminate B

C. sp < sq
p = -2, q = 1, and s = 0, we get: (0)(-2) < (0)(1)
Simplify to get: 0 < 0, which is not true. 
Eliminate C

D. sp ≠ sq
p = -2, q = 1, and s = 0, we get: (0)(-2) ≠ (0)(1)
Simplify to get: 0 ≠ 0, which is not true. 
Eliminate D

By the process of elimination, the correct answer must be E

Cheers, 
Brent

ScottTargetTestPrep · Answer

We know that p is negative and q is positive, so p/q is always negative. Since s is a nonnegative integer, then p/q is always less than s.

Answer: E

nkr037 · Answer

Given

P and Q are integers.
So they can be 0, +ve or -ve.
P<0
Q>0
S is a non-negative integer. So S>=0
This deduction is very important to this question.

Options:

A. p^2 < q^2

While p is negative and square of a negative number is always positive, this means p^2 and q^2 could be any number of possible numbers, hence P^2 cannot always be less than Q^2
Incorrect

B. p + q = 0

Again, could be any number. P could be -5 and Q could be 2. p+q not equal to 0; whereas when P is -3 and Q is +3, their sum is 0.
Incorrect

C. sp < sq

s could be 0, any number divided by 0 is always 0. Hence both sides are 0. 0 is not less than 0. Hence, incorrect

D. sp ≠ sq

as mentioned above, 0 on either sides is possible. Hence, sp ≠ sq being "must be true" is incorrect

E. p/q < s

Since this is the only option remaining, you could save time and choose E but here goes:

negative/positive is always negative.
S is either 0 or more than 0
Hence, p/q < s always holds true!
E is the right answer

bumpbot · Answer

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If p and q are integers, such that p < 0 < q, and s is a

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