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asdert
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OG dumb question 14 Oct 2007, 11:31
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Hi guys. I ran into this one from an easy bin, but it just doesn't make sense to me. Please help!

y = 248 - 398x

Which of the following values of x gives the greatest value of y?

A 200
B 100
C 0.5
D 0
E -1

I answered D (0) because 248 - 0 = 248, hence, the biggest number. Their answer is E (-1), but as far as I know (398)(-1)=-398, hence a smaller number for y.

Is there something I'm missing? Maybe an operations rule or something?

Thanks a lot!



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KillerSquirrel
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OG dumb question 14 Oct 2007, 11:35
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You are missing that -1*-1 = 1

hence ---> y = 248 - 398*-1 = 248+398

the answer is (E)

:)
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asdert
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OG dumb question 14 Oct 2007, 12:21
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I knew (-)(-) = +, but I guess I forgot that it affected the operation symbol. I thought:

y = 248 - {(498)(-1)}, then: y = 248 - (-498)... DUH!

I'm starting from the beginning because I need to familiarize with all these concepts again... I guess this is the proof!

Thanks for your quick response Squirrel!
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KillerSquirrel
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OG dumb question 14 Oct 2007, 12:26
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asdert
I knew (-)(-) = +, but I guess I forgot that it affected the operation symbol. I thought:

y = 248 - {(498)(-1)}, then: y = 248 - (-498)... DUH!

I'm starting from the beginning because I need to familiarize with all these concepts again... I guess this is the proof!

Thanks for your quick response Squirrel!
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Don't feel so bad, most of us here (well except maybe Fig or Hobbit) had to start from scratch.

Good luck.

:)
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GMATBLACKBELT
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OG dumb question 15 Oct 2007, 01:08
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asdert
Hi guys. I ran into this one from an easy bin, but it just doesn't make sense to me. Please help!

y = 248 - 398x

Which of the following values of x gives the greatest value of y?

A 200
B 100
C 0.5
D 0
E -1

I answered D (0) because 248 - 0 = 248, hence, the biggest number. Their answer is E (-1), but as far as I know (398)(-1)=-398, hence a smaller number for y.

Is there something I'm missing? Maybe an operations rule or something?

Thanks a lot!
Show more


E. negative x negative = positive.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Quantitative Questions Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!