If x is an integer and y = –2x – 8, what is the least value of x for

Question

If x is an integer and y = –2x – 8, what is the least value of x for which y is less than 9?

(A) –9 
(B) –8 
(C) –7 
(D) –6 
(E) –5

Source:   Nova GMAT  
Difficulty Level:   600

BrentGMATPrepNow · Answer

In other words, find the smallest INTEGER value of x such that -2x - 8 < 9
Take: -2x - 8 < 9
Add 8 to both sides to get: -2x < 17
Divide both sides by -2 to get: x > -8.5    
The smallest INTEGER that's greater than -8.5 is -8

Answer:  B

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Abhishek009 · Answer

Go through the options , here the options are arranged in descending order...

(A) y = –2x – 8

Or, y = 18 - 8

Or, y = 10

(B) y = –2x – 8

Or, y = 16 - 8

Or, y = 8 ( Maximum value < 9 )

(C) y = –2x – 8

Or, y = 14 - 8

Or, y = 6

(D) y = –2x – 8

Or, y = 12 - 8

Or, y = 4

(E) y = –2x – 8

Or, y = 10 - 8

Or, y = 2

Thus, answer will be (B)

shashankism · Answer

y = -2x-8 < 9 
-> 2x+8 > -9
-> 2x > -17
-> x> -8.5
Since x is an integer. x =-8

generis · Answer

Bunuel , or GMATPrepNow , or any expert , I have a question about how to think about the end result. I solved as GMATPrepNow did: -2x - 8 < 9 -2x < 17 x > -17/2, or x > -8.5 I couldn't decide, simply from that result and the number line, whether the integer equaling "least value for x" was -9 or -8. So I plugged x = -9 into original equation. Incorrect. It yields y = 10, but y cannot be greater than 9. x = -8 yields y = 8, which satisfies y < 9. I rarely have a hard time knowing whether to "round" up or round down. Here it seemed tricky because x = -9 and x = -8 both satisfy the condition that x > - 8.5. " east value of x" wasn't self-evident. Worse, -9 is smaller than -8, and we're looking for "least" integer. I'm frustrated. This issue seems relatively simple. Because answer choice (A) is -9, I suspect that trap tempts others. GMATPrepNow refers to "the smallest that's greater than -8.5 . . ." How do we know, intuitively or otherwise, to choose the value for x that's greater than -8.5? I'm missing something really obvious, I think. Sorry. :-(

(Then again, "Don't ask, don't know.")

Bunuel · Answer

After you get x > -8.5, think this way. You need the smallest x, which is greater than -8.5. -9 is not greater than -8.5 but -8 is.

JeffTargetTestPrep · Answer

We need to determine the least value of x such that y < 9. Since y = -2x - 8, we have: -2x - 8 < 9 -2x < 17 x > -17/2 x > -8.5 Since x must be an integer, its least value is when x = -8. Answer: B

ydmuley · Answer

x is an integer and y = –2x – 8 Since we need to find least value of x where y < 9 -2x - 8 < 9 -2x < 17 -x < 8.5 x > -8.5 (Sign Change) Since, x is an integer and value of x > -8.5 and we have to find the least value of x the answer will be 8 Hence, Answer is B

KanishkM · Answer

x is an I, can be +ive or -ive

y = -2x-8

A 18 -8 = 10 < 9 No

B 16 - 8 < 9 Yes

C 14 -8 = 6 < 9 Yes

D 12 - 8 = 4 < 9 Yes

E 10 - 8 = 2 < 9 Yes

Least is B

Archit3110 · Answer

simply do plug in and check for values
we observe that at B its true 
IMO B

bumpbot · Answer

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If x is an integer and y = –2x – 8, what is the least value of x for

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If x is an integer and y = –2x – 8, what is the least value of x for

Prep Toolkit

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