Is XY X/Y? 1. Y is a positive fraction 2. XY 1

Question

Is XY > X/Y?

1. Y is a positive fraction
2. XY > 1

alrussell · Answer

I think E?

1. means Y could be 1 and X could be 1 also - in which case we end up with 1 x 1 > 1/1 - false

2.. on it's own doesn't tell anything about x/y

Even together, we could have, say, X=10 and Y=1. In which case XY is 10 and X/Y is also 10. Thus XY could still be equal to X/Y and thus the answer is not clear.

priyankurml · Answer

IMO B.

Is XY>X/Y?
A) Y>1
Say X=-10 and Y=5
so from A -50>-2 ...FALSE

B) XY>1 so, X and Y both can be +ve or -ve (even we can take fractions)
Say X=-10 and Y=-5
So 50>2
OR
Say X=10 and Y=5
So 50>2

So  B  alone is sufficient to answer.

alrussell · Answer

I've just started looking at GMAT math for the first time in about 10 years, but I'm confused - how can we have a positive fraction if X is -10 and Y is 5? Wouldn't that give us -2/1 effectively?

priyankurml · Answer

I m sorry; I didn't get your question. If x=-10 and Y=5 then you will definitely get -2 and nothing has to be oblivious for it.

Amardeep Sharma · Answer

Answer C

Before solving the question, its important to understand that x and y can be positive or negative and integers or fractions, as its not clearly stated in the question.

Lets consider 1) if Y is a positive fraction then XY can be either > or < x/y, depending upon the value of X... for e.g. say Y = 2/5 and X = 5

Then XY <X> X/Y.... ignore 1

2) in this case either both x and y are positive or both of them are negative now is X and Y are integers then XY>X/Y, but if one of them is fraction the situation will reverse... so 2 is also not possible.

Combining both we will have the situation when x/y > XY for X being integer or fraction.

GK_Gmat · Answer

I'm getting E. 

Stat 1:
Let x = 1 & y = 1/2
xy = 1/2; x/y = 2
Is xy > x/y? No.

Let x = -1 & y = 1/2
xy = -1/2; x/y = -2
Is xy > x/y? Yes

Insuff.

Stat 2:
Let x = 3 & y = 1/2
xy = 3/2; x/y = 6
Is xy > x/y? No.

Let x = 1/2 & y = 5/2
xy = 5/4; x/y = 1/5
Is 5/4 > 1/5? Yes.
Insuff.

Together: If y is +ve then x has to be +ve. Same analysis as that of Stat 2 above. Insuff.

Is XY > X/Y? 1. Y is a positive fraction 2. XY > 1

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