GRE Prep Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Sep 28Live Online Class with Top GRE Expert Mike Butville
08:00 PM EDT
-10:00 PM EDT
Top scores are possible when you enroll in a powerful GRE course, taught live online + 6 months access to TTP GRE OnDemand video courses included! Class starts Mon/Wed Sept. 28, 2026 - Dec. 9, 2026, 8:00pm-10:00pm EST
Negative vs positive exponents
[#permalink]
09 Oct 2018, 01:31
09 Oct 2018, 01:31
00:00
Question Stats:
99% (00:25) correct
0% (00:00) wrong based on 17 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
I have a question about this quantitative comparison. According to the book it's C. I think if x = -1 of instance, the answer is no longer 0. So if x is a positive even number of positive odd number, then the answer is 0, but not so with a negative integer. For instance, if x = -1, then the answer is -9.9. So it can't be C.
Am I correct?
A) Quantity A is greater.
B) Quantity B is greater.
C) The two quantities are equal.
D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Am I correct?
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
\(\frac{1}{(-1)^x} - (-1)^x\) |
\(0\) |
A) Quantity A is greater.
B) Quantity B is greater.
C) The two quantities are equal.
D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Re: Negative vs positive exponents
[#permalink]
09 Oct 2018, 01:53
09 Oct 2018, 01:53
1
Expert Reply
Monco wrote:
I have a question about this quantitative comparison. According to the book it's C. I think if x = -1 of instance, the answer is no longer 0. So if x is a positive even number of positive odd number, then the answer is 0, but not so with a negative integer. For instance, if x = -1, then the answer is -9.9. So it can't be C.
Am I correct?
Am I correct?
What is \(\frac{1}{(-1)^x}-(-1)^x=(-1)^x(\frac{1}{(-1)^{2x}}-1).....(-1)^x*(\frac{1}{1^x}-1)=(-1)^x*(1-1)=0\)
So irrespective of x answer is ALWAYS 0
Let me take your example..
\(x^{-y}=\frac{1}{x^y}\)..
So \(\frac{1}{(-1)^{-1}}-(-1)^{-1}=1"(-1)^1-\frac{1}{(-1)^1}\)=-1-(-1)=-1+1=0
Hope it helps
Re: Negative vs positive exponents
[#permalink]
09 Oct 2018, 01:58
09 Oct 2018, 01:58
1
Thank you! I really need to review exponents. I totally mixed them up.
