Is x - y r - s ? (1) x r and y

Question

Is x - y > r - s ?

(1) x > r and y < s
(2) y = 2, s = 3, r = 5, and x = 6

PS21276

Bunuel · Accepted Answer

Is x - y > r - s ?

(1) x > r and y < s. You can subtract inequalities if their signs are in the opposite directions (> <): x-y>r-s. Sufficient.

(2) y=2, s=3, r=5, and x=6. We have the exact values of each unknown, thus we can answer whether x-y>r-s. Sufficient.

Answer: D.

ADDING/SUBTRACTING INEQUALITIES:

You can only add inequalities when their signs are in the same direction:

If \(a>b\) and \(c>d\) (signs in same direction: \(>\) and \(>\)) --> \(a+c>b+d\).
Example: \(3<4\) and \(2<5\) --> \(3+2<4+5\).

You can only apply subtraction when their signs are in the opposite directions:

If \(a>b\) and \(c<d\) (signs in opposite direction: \(>\) and \(<\)) --> \(a-c>b-d\) (take the sign of the inequality you subtract from).
Example: \(3<4\) and \(5>1\) --> \(3-5<4-1\).

RAISING INEQUALITIES TO EVEN/ODD POWER:

A. We can raise both parts of an inequality to an even power if we know that both parts of an inequality are non-negative (the same for taking an even root of both sides of an inequality).
For example:
\(2<4\) --> we can square both sides and write: \(2^2<4^2\);
\(0\leq{x}<{y}\) --> we can square both sides and write: \(x^2<y^2\);

But if either of side is negative then raising to even power doesn't always work.
For example: \(1>-2\) if we square we'll get \(1>4\) which is not right. So if given that \(x>y\) then we can not square both sides and write \(x^2>y^2\) if we are not certain that both \(x\) and \(y\) are non-negative.

B. We can always raise both parts of an inequality to an odd power (the same for taking an odd root of both sides of an inequality).
For example:
\(-2<-1\) --> we can raise both sides to third power and write: \(-2^3=-8<-1=-1^3\) or \(-5<1\) --> \(-5^3=-125<1=1^3\);
\(x<y\) --> we can raise both sides to third power and write: \(x^3<y^3\).

For multiplication check here: help-with-add-subtract-mult-divid-multiple-inequalities-155290.html#p1242652

THEORY ON INEQUALITIES:

x2-4x-94661.html#p731476
inequalities-trick-91482.html
data-suff-inequalities-109078.html
range-for-variable-x-in-a-given-inequality-109468.html
everything-is-less-than-zero-108884.html
graphic-approach-to-problems-with-inequalities-68037.html
inequations-inequalities-part-154664.html
inequations-inequalities-part-154738.html

QUESTIONS:

All DS Inequalities Problems to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=184
All PS Inequalities Problems to practice: search.php?search_id=tag&tag_id=189

700+ Inequalities problems: inequality-and-absolute-value-questions-from-my-collection-86939.html

Hope it helps.

fozzzy · Answer

I didn't add the inequalities I manipulated the original question

Given x-y > r-s

We can than write this as x-r > y-s

FS 1 says X-r > 0 ( positive) and y-s<0 ( negative)

eeshajain · Answer

I'm unclear on how to select the sign when substracting the inequalities. Can someone explain?

Bunuel · Answer

Isn't that explained  here ? Let me know if anything is unclear in that post.

bumpbot · Answer

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.

Is x - y > r - s ? (1) x > r and y < s (2) y = 2, s = 3, r = 5, and

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards

GMAT Data Sufficiency (DS) Questions