Answers Smallest to Largest or Vice Versa

Question

Are problem solving answers always listed largest to smallest or smallest to largest numerical values?

I read in a guide that they are, but found some practice problems with fractions that do not follow this rule. For example, the question below does not follow this rule.

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Which of the following fractions is at least twice greater than 11/50?
A) 2/5
B) 11/34
C) 43/99
D) 8/21
E) 9/20

Thanks!

MahmoudFawzy · Answer

Please revise this link for explanation:
 https://gmatclub.com/forum/which-of-the-following-fractions-is-at-least-twice-greater-t-150416.html#p1208276

ljs94 · Answer

Thanks, but I’m not looking for an explanation of the problem. This is just an example of a problem with answers not organized by size.

Posted from my mobile device

LeoN88 · Answer

Yes it's true that they  generally  arrange them in the  ascending order .

However in case they don't you can challenge them. It's a mere observation and you may get PS/DS questions where this norm is not followed.

IanStewart · Answer

In general, whenever you could compare the five answer choices without doing any calculation or estimation, they are always (or perhaps almost always) listed either in increasing or decreasing order. So if your answer choices were 100, 50, 25, 0.5 and -12, say, they'd either be written in that order or in the reverse of that order.

But in situations where you'd need to do some calculation to compare choices, they will not necessarily be written in any particular order. So if some answers contain square roots, exponents, or fractions, say, then you should not assume the answer choices are in increasing or decreasing order. If you look at Q174 or Q223 in OG2018 PS, for example, you'll see that the answer choices are neither increasing nor decreasing.

Because that's the case, the test can ask a question like "Which of the following is largest", followed by five answer choices (each perhaps a fraction with an exponent). If the answers were always in increasing or decreasing order, then A or E would always be the correct answer to such a question. But since that's not required, B, C and D can also be correct.

bumpbot · Answer

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Answers Smallest to Largest or Vice Versa

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