Last visit was: 25 Apr 2026, 19:30 It is currently 25 Apr 2026, 19:30
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.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
Gnpth
Joined: 29 Aug 2012
Last visit: 03 Mar 2023
Posts: 1,039
Own Kudos:
6,775
 [1]
Given Kudos: 330
Status:Chasing my MBB Dream!
Location: United States (DC)
WE:General Management (Aerospace and Defense)
Products:
Posts: 1,039
Kudos: 6,775
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
smyarga
User avatar
Tutor
Joined: 20 Apr 2012
Last visit: 06 Aug 2020
Posts: 82
Own Kudos:
822
 [2]
Given Kudos: 39
Location: Ukraine
GMAT 1: 690 Q51 V31
GMAT 2: 730 Q51 V38
WE:Education (Education)
Expert
Expert reply
GMAT 2: 730 Q51 V38
Posts: 82
Kudos: 822
 [2]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
meghaswaroop
Joined: 12 Feb 2013
Last visit: 09 Jan 2019
Posts: 7
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 61
Location: India
Concentration: Finance, Marketing
Posts: 7
Kudos: 10
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
sunaimshadmani
Joined: 05 Jun 2014
Last visit: 12 Apr 2019
Posts: 55
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 51
GMAT 1: 630 Q42 V35
GMAT 1: 630 Q42 V35
Posts: 55
Kudos: 89
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Bunuel can you explain it more clearly plz
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Gnpth
Is \(Y<Z\)?

1) \(Y+Z=1\)

2) \(Y^2 < Z^2\)


Ans: C

Statement1 : Y & Z can take any values , so Definitely it cannot give the answer

Statement 2 : If Y = 5 & Z = 10 Then Y < Z
But if Y= 0.5 & Z = 0.2 Then y >Z

1+2 :
\(Y^2 < Z^2\)

\(Y^2 - Z^2 < 0\)

\((Y-Z)(Y+Z)<0\)

From statement 1 : Y+Z =1

Putting the value \(Y-Z< 0\)

\(Y < Z\)

For any positive value of y+z this will be true.

Answer C
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,830
Own Kudos:
811,286
 [4]
Given Kudos: 105,886
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,830
Kudos: 811,286
 [4]
2
Kudos
Add Kudos
2
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1. The sum of two numbers is 1. Obviously from this info we cannot say which one is bigger. Not sufficient.

(2) y^2 < z^2 --> take the square root from both sides (we can safely do that since we know that both sides are non-negative): |y| < |z| --> z is farther from 0 than y is. Not sufficient.

(1)+(2) From (2): (y - z)(y + z) < 0. This implies that y - z and y + z have opposite signs. Since we know from (1) that y + z is positive, then y - z must be negative: y - z < 0 --> y < z. Sufficient.

Answer: C.

Hope it's clear.
User avatar
mvictor
User avatar
Board of Directors
Joined: 17 Jul 2014
Last visit: 14 Jul 2021
Posts: 2,118
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 236
Location: United States (IL)
Concentration: Finance, Economics
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
GPA: 3.92
WE:General Management (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 650 Q49 V30
Posts: 2,118
Kudos: 1,277
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Gnpth
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1

(2) y^2 < z^2

1. y=-3, z=4 => y+z=1 or y=4, z=-3 =y+z=1. so 1 alone is insufficient.
2. y^2 < z^2
y=2, z=-3 -> y>z
or
y=-2, z=3 -> y<z
2 alone not sufficient.

1+2
2 can rewrite:
y^2 - z^2 < 0
(y+z)(y-z)<0
we know y+z=1
so y-z<0
y<z

sufficient.

C
User avatar
AbdurRakib
Joined: 11 May 2014
Last visit: 03 Mar 2026
Posts: 464
Own Kudos:
43,759
 [1]
Given Kudos: 220
Status:I don't stop when I'm Tired,I stop when I'm done
Location: Bangladesh
Concentration: Finance, Leadership
GPA: 2.81
WE:Business Development (Real Estate)
Posts: 464
Kudos: 43,759
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1

(2) \(y^2\) < \(z^2\)
User avatar
Bunuel
User avatar
Math Expert
Joined: 02 Sep 2009
Last visit: 25 Apr 2026
Posts: 109,830
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 105,886
Products:
Expert
Expert reply
Active GMAT Club Expert! Tag them with @ followed by their username for a faster response.
Posts: 109,830
Kudos: 811,286
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1

(2) \(y^2\) < \(z^2\)

Merging topics. Please refer to the discussion above.
User avatar
unverifiedvoracity
Joined: 12 Jan 2016
Last visit: 14 Aug 2017
Posts: 56
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 71
Location: United States
Concentration: Operations, General Management
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
GPA: 3.5
WE:Supply Chain Management (Consumer Electronics)
GMAT 1: 690 Q49 V35
Posts: 56
Kudos: 80
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1

(2) \(y^2\) < \(z^2\)


1) y + z = 1: Scenario 1 - y= 0.3, z = 0.7, y + z = 1 and y < z; Scenario 2 - when y = 4, z = -3, y > z. Hence, not sufficient.

2) \(y^2\) < \(z^2\), From this statement, we can only that absolute value of y is greater than absolute value of z. y =-4 and z = 5, and \(y^2\) = 16 and \(z^2\) = 25, \(y^2\) < \(z^2\), but z > y. Not sufficient.

Consider both statements together.
when both y and z are positive, y< z as \(y^2\) < \(z^2\).
when only 1 of y and z are positive, y + z = 1 -> y = 1 -z . If y is negative, z has to be positive, so y < z
when only 1 of y and z are positive, y + z = 1 -> y = 1 -z , if y is positive, z has to negative. If y = 4, z = -3. If y = 5, z = -4. If y=6, z=-5. As you can see |y| > |z|, but from statement 2, \(y^2\) < \(z^2\) or |y| < |z|. So, we can never have a scenario where y is positive and z is negative.
Note that y and z both cannot be negative as y + z = 1.
User avatar
Divyadisha
User avatar
Current Student
Joined: 18 Oct 2014
Last visit: 01 Jun 2018
Posts: 660
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 69
Location: United States
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
GPA: 3.98
GMAT 1: 660 Q49 V31
Posts: 660
Kudos: 1,958
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
AbdurRakib
Is y < z ?

(1) y + z = 1

(2) \(y^2\) < \(z^2\)


(1) y + z = 1

If y = 5
z=-4

then y>z

if y = 0
Z= 1
z>y

Not sufficient

\(y^2\) < \(z^2\)

if y = 4 z = 5 then yes
if y= -4 z= -5 then no
if y= -4 z=5 then yes
if y= 4 z= -5 then no
if y=0 z= 1 then yes

Combining both statements

y+z= 1 and \(y^2\) < \(z^2\)
only if y= -4 z=5 or if y=0 z= 1 is possible

hence z>y

C is the answer
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,986
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,986
Kudos: 1,118
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.
Moderators:
Math Expert
109830 posts
498 posts
212 posts