Is x/3

Question

Is  \frac{x}{3} < x  ?

(1)  x < 0 
(2) x does not equal -1

KrishnakumarKA1 · Answer

St 1: for x<0, x/3>x. ANSWER St 2: INSUFFICIENT..will show different nature of equation for x<0,x=0 and x>0 option A

EMPOWERgmatRichC · Answer

Hi All,

We're asked if X/3 is less than X. This is a YES/NO question and we can solve it with a mix of Number Property Rules and by TESTing VALUES.

1) X < 0

Fact 1 tells us that X is NEGATIVE. When dividing a negative number by 3, the result is ALWAYS CLOSER to 0 than X is. For example: 
IF... 
X = -3, then (-3)/3 = -1 and -1 is closer to zero than -3 is... so the answer to the question is NO. 
This pattern exists with ANY negative number, so the answer to the question is ALWAYS NO. 
Fact 1 is SUFFICIENT

2) X does NOT equal -1

IF... 
X = -3, then (-3)/3 = -1 and -1 is closer to 0 than -3 is... so the answer to the question is NO. 
X = 3, then 3/3 = 1... so the answer to the question is YES. 
Fact 2 is INSUFFICIENT

Final Answer:  A

GMAT assassins aren't born, they're made, 
Rich

amanvermagmat · Answer

Is x/3 < x.
Or Is x < 3x which can also be written as 3x-x>0 or 2x >0 or x > 0. So basically the question is asking whether x>0 or not.

(1) x<0. We get our answer as NO. Sufficient.

(2) x is not equal to -1. But we dont know whether x is positive or negative. Insufficient.

Hence A answer

mm78582 · Answer

Any reason why -1/3 is not considered as a possible value for x ? It does not mention that x is an integer.

Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum

amanvermagmat · Answer

Hi Yes, x is not an integer and thus it can take any value. But the question is specifically asking "Is x/3 < x" As I have tried to explain in my post on this, x/3 will be < x if x >0. Thus for all values of x > 0 (whether they be fractions or integers) we can answer as YES for the question asked. And for all values of x < 0, x/3 will not be < x but x/3 will be greater than x (whether these values be fractions or integers). For all such values we can answer as NO for the question asked. In first statement, we are given that x < 0. So that means x/3 will not be less than x. our answer becomes NO (to the question asked) and thus the statement 1 is sufficient to answer the question.

Bunuel · Answer

VERITAS PREP OFFICIAL SOLUTION:

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

(1) There are three possibilities for what can happen when you divide a number by three. If the number is positive, it will reduce in value (example: 9 --> when 9 is divided by 3 it reduces to 3). If the number is 0, it will not change (0/3 = 0). And if the number is negative, it will become "less negative" so to speak. (example: -6 --> -6/3 is -2, which is greater than -6). Because statement 1 guarantees that x is negative, we know that x/3 will be greater than x. Note that this also holds for fractions: -1/2, when divided by 3, becomes -1/6. And since -1/6 is closer to 0 than -1/2, -1/6 is greater.

(2) This only rules out one number, leaving infinite possibilities for the value of x. x could be 2 or -2, giving us answers of NO and YES, respectively. This statement is thus, insufficient. Accordingly the correct answer is A.

Is x/3 < x?

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