In the xy-plane, both line K and L intersect with axis-X. Is K’s inter

Question

In the xy-plane, both line K and L intersect with axis-X. Is K’s intercept with axis-X greater than that of line L?

1). K’s intercept with axis-Y is greater than that of L.
2). K and L have the same slope.

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ENGRTOMBA2018 · Answer

Interesting question. Let the equations of the lines be k=mx+b l = ny+c Per the question, -b/m > -c/n ----> b/m < c/n ---> b/m - c/n < 0? Statement 1, b>c but no information about m or n. Thus not sufficient to answer b/m - c/n < 0? Statement 2, m =n . Not sufficient (remember that m,n can be <0 or > 0, we still dont know which!!) Combining, b>c and m =n Consider these cases, let m =n=1 Then : b/1-c/1 > 0 as b>c but if m=n=-1 then b/-1 - (-c/1) = -b+c < 0 (with b = 3, c = 2) . Thus we get 2 different answers from the combination of statements and thus E is the correct answer.

pacifist85 · Answer

So, could we say that in order to answer this question we would need to know x,y and m (so the points and the slope), for both equations? Or at least the relationship between them, eg that they are parallel or vertical, or be able to draw such a conclusion?

GMATinsight · Answer

I am not too clear about your question but the way I understand it I would answer it "Not necessarily."

The lines with Opposite slopes can answer the question based on comparison of their Y-Intercept

pacifist85 · Answer

I think this is what I mean.. So, the lines with opposite slopes would be perpendicular. So, we would have a relationship between them, which would give us the slope. BTW, I read this on purple math (https://www.purplemath.com/modules/slope2.htm) a while ago. Makes sense? "The slope of the perpendicular line is the "negative reciprocal" of the slope of the original line — and two lines with slopes that are negative reciprocals of each other are perpendicular to each other. In numbers, if the one line's slope is m = 4/5, then the perpendicular line's slope will be m = –5/4. If the one line's slope is m = –2, then the perpendicular line's slope will be m = 1/2".

GMATinsight · Answer

Ofcourse it makes sense. That the basic property of Slopes of two perpendicular lines

Property-1: Slopes of the parallel line will always be equal i.e.  m_1 = m_2

Property-2: Product of Slopes of two Perpendicular lines will always be equal to -1 i.e.  m_1*m_2 = -1

ENGRTOMBA2018 · Answer

GMATinsight , I think you meant "negative reciprocal of each other". Product of slopes of 2 mutually perpendicular lines can not be "equal".

GMATinsight · Answer

I was representing the relation in a way  m_1*m_2 = -1  so missed the last letters in red "Product of the slopes of two perpendicular lines will be equal  to -1 "

ashokjha1986 · Answer

This question is asking for X intercept. I understand that its asking for absolute value. Please suggest

Bunuel · Answer

No. x-intercept can be negative, 0 or positive.

arunavamunshi1988 · Answer

I did not understand this explanation. Firstly, The equation of a straight line should contain both x and y parameters. But the equations assumed here are different. One equation has x and other one has y.

Secondly, I did not understand this inference that we need to find that whether the below relation is true or not -

b/m - c/n < 0?

As per my opinion, the ans should be C because if two lines are having same slope then they are parallel. So, because Y intercept for the line K is > Y intercept of line L, so X intercept of line K should be > X intercept of line L. Clear and simple. Please let me know if I am missing anything.

AryaSwagat · Answer

Same Doubt, As per common understanding Intercept is regarded as a length,

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In the xy-plane, both line K and L intersect with axis-X. Is K’s inter

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In the xy-plane, both line K and L intersect with axis-X. Is K’s inter

Prep Toolkit

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