Last visit was: 10 Jun 2026, 10:23 It is currently 10 Jun 2026, 10:23
Home
Messages
MBA Fair
Tests
Schools
Events
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
Back to Forum
Create Topic
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 10 Jun 2026
Posts: 111,175
Own Kudos:
819,925
 [5]
Given Kudos: 106,743
Products:
GMAT Club Tests Forum Quiz
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 111,175
Kudos: 819,925
 [5]
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 16 May 2016, 02:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
00:00
Start Timer
Pause Timer
Resume Timer
Show Answer
Hide
Show
History
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!

Difficulty:

35% (medium)

Question Stats:

65% (01:22) correct 36% (01:22) wrong based on 200 sessions

History

Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet

Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the following could be a value for x?

A. 5/3
B. 3/5
C. -2/5
D. -5/2
E. none

Show Spoiler
Attachment:
p006-3.gif
p006-3.gif [ 476 Bytes | Viewed 13001 times ]
ShowHide Answer
Official Answer
C
avatar
ronny123
avatar
Joined: 12 Jun 2015
Last visit: 16 Oct 2017
Posts: 69
Own Kudos:
80
 [1]
Given Kudos: 104
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 69
Kudos: 80
 [1]
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 16 May 2016, 04:08
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Considering the image above,
x^3 < x^2

This can only happen if x is negative

Cancel out Options A and B

Also, x < x^3

This means x lies between -1 and 0

Option C satisfies the conditions
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 10 Jun 2026
Posts: 11,242
Own Kudos:
45,373
 [2]
Given Kudos: 338
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,242
Kudos: 45,373
 [2]
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 16 May 2016, 04:25
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
ronny123
Considering the image above,
x^3 < x^2

This can only happen if x is negative

Cancel out Options A and B

Also, x < x^3

This means x lies between -1 and 0

Option C satisfies the conditions
Show more

highlighted portion is not correct...
\(x^3<x^2\) can be possible-
1) when x is negative as shown by you
2) Also when x is between 0 and 1..
example 1/2..
\(x^3 = \frac{1}{8}\)and \(x^2 = \frac{1}{4}\)..
so it means x<1 except when x=0..
avatar
ronny123
avatar
Joined: 12 Jun 2015
Last visit: 16 Oct 2017
Posts: 69
Own Kudos:
80
Given Kudos: 104
Products:
My Reviews
Posts: 69
Kudos: 80
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 16 May 2016, 04:34
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Very true.

I had taken both the conditions into account before I cancelled the options A and B

Also , when x < x^3

x can either lie between -1 and 0
Or
x can be any integer above 1
User avatar
chetan2u
User avatar
GMAT Expert
Joined: 02 Aug 2009
Last visit: 10 Jun 2026
Posts: 11,242
Own Kudos:
45,373
Given Kudos: 338
Status:Math and DI Expert
Location: India
Concentration: Human Resources, General Management
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Products:
My Reviews
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT Focus 1: 735 Q90 V89 DI81
Posts: 11,242
Kudos: 45,373
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 16 May 2016, 04:35
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel

Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the following could be a value for x?

A. 5/3
B. 3/5
C. -2/5
D. -5/2
E. none

Show Spoiler
Attachment:
p006-3.gif
Show more

lets see the values x can take..



1) \(x^3<x^2.................x^3-x^2<0...............x^2(x-1)<0...................\)
this means \(x<1\) as \(x^2\) cannot be negative...

2) \(x<x^3............. x^3-x>0...........x(x^2-1)>0.........\)...
so both x and x^2-1 will be of the same sign..

a) if x is +ive, \(x^2-1>0...............x^2>1............ x>1... OR ...x<-1.......\) BUT x is +ive so x>1..
But we have seen above x<1.. so this is not possible

b) if x is -ive, \(x^2-1<0...............x^2<1............ x<1... OR ...x>-1.......\) BUT x is -ive so x lies between -1 and 0.....

From above 2 points, x lies between -1 and 0..... so x is -3/5
C
User avatar
amanvermagmat
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 22 Aug 2013
Last visit: 28 Mar 2025
Posts: 1,142
Own Kudos:
3,007
Given Kudos: 480
Location: India
Posts: 1,142
Kudos: 3,007
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 21 Jun 2017, 20:56
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
We are looking for a number where x < x^3 < x^2 .

This particular question can be easily solved through options.

A) 5/3.. this number is >1, so its square would be lesser than its cube. Eliminated.

B) 3/5.. this number lies between 0 and 1. So with increasing powers, value will keep on decreasing. So its cube will be lesser than the number itself . Eliminated.

C) -2/5 or -0.4. Its cube = -0.064, which is closer to zero hence greater than the number itself. Its square is positive and hence will be greater than both number and its cube. This is the one.

D) -5/2 or -2.5. This number is less than 1, its cube will be lesser than the number, not greater. Eliminated.

Hence C answer
User avatar
spetznaz
User avatar
Joined: 08 Jun 2015
Last visit: 10 Jun 2026
Posts: 254
Own Kudos:
96
Given Kudos: 150
Location: India
Schools: Tepper '21 (D) IIMC PGPEX"20 (A) ISB '20 (A) HEC Jan19 Intake IIMA PGPX"20 (A) IIMB EPGP"20 (D) IMD '21 (D)
GMAT 1: 640 Q48 V29
GMAT 2: 700 Q48 V38
GPA: 3.33
Products:
My Reviews
Schools: Tepper '21 (D) IIMC PGPEX"20 (A) ISB '20 (A) HEC Jan19 Intake IIMA PGPX"20 (A) IIMB EPGP"20 (D) IMD '21 (D)
GMAT 2: 700 Q48 V38
Posts: 254
Kudos: 96
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 14 Apr 2018, 09:38
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
+1 for option C. It is clear that this combination is possible only for negative numbers. Try out with negative options available. Only option C fits the bill.
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 39,192
Own Kudos:
1,129
Posts: 39,192
Kudos: 1,129
Considering the positions on the number line above, which of the follo 15 Jan 2020, 04:31
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Automated notice from GMAT Club BumpBot:

A member just gave Kudos to this thread, showing it’s still useful. I’ve bumped it to the top so more people can benefit. Feel free to add your own questions or solutions.

This post was generated automatically.
Moderator:
Bunuel
Math Expert
111175 posts