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aliensoybean
 
 

MGMAT : Inequality question is incorrect !!

by aliensoybean Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:17 am

Source: MGMAT CAT 5 number 12.

If x is not equal to 0, is |x| less than 1?

(1) x/|x| < x

(2) |x| > x

OA is C, my answer is E.

It looks like this one has gotten quite a few attention, but I still don't know how it is resolved.

Here is how I understand it.

Rephrasing the question, is -1<x<1 (not including 0)

1. Two scenarios result depending on whether X is positive or negative
a. if X is positive then...
X/X<X
1<X

b. if x is negative then...
-X/X<-X
-1<-X
1>X

okay, from this statement, if you were to graph on a number link would be 1<X , X<1
INSUFFICIENT

2. This tells me that X is a negative, could be a negative number or negative fraction. INSUFFICIENT


3. Together, since statement 2 tells me that X is negative, then, the following scenario is accurate:
-X/X<-X
-1<-X
1>X

Okay, X is less than 1, but is it -1<x<1 ? There is no way of telling. Hence it is E. Not C.

Please help if you think my reasoning in incorrect
shaji
 
 

Re: MGMAT : Inequality question is incorrect !!

by shaji Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:36 am

aliensoybean Wrote:Source: MGMAT CAT 5 number 12.

If x is not equal to 0, is |x| less than 1?

(1) x/|x| < x

(2) |x| > x

OA is C, my answer is E.

It looks like this one has gotten quite a few attention, but I still don't know how it is resolved.

Here is how I understand it.

Rephrasing the question, is -1<x<1 (not including 0)

1. Two scenarios result depending on whether X is positive or negative
a. if X is positive then...
X/X<X
1<X

b. if x is negative then...
-X/X<-X
-1<-X
1>X

okay, from this statement, if you were to graph on a number link would be 1<X , X<1
INSUFFICIENT

2. This tells me that X is a negative, could be a negative number or negative fraction. INSUFFICIENT


3. Together, since statement 2 tells me that X is negative, then, the following scenario is accurate:
-X/X<-X
-1<-X
1>X

Okay, X is less than 1, but is it -1<x<1 ? There is no way of telling. Hence it is E. Not C.

Please help if you think my reasoning in incorrect


See response in MGMAT CAT
StaceyKoprince
ManhattanGMAT Staff
 
Posts: 9355
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 9:05 am
Location: Montreal
 

by StaceyKoprince Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:43 pm

See this thread: http://www.manhattangmat.com/forums/abs ... t2085.html

There's an error in your math. :)
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director, Content & Curriculum
ManhattanPrep