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.
a > 0 and b < 0.
[#permalink]
Updated on: 10 Jul 2019, 12:22
Updated on: 10 Jul 2019, 12:22
00:00
Question Stats:
86% (00:14) correct
13% (00:36) wrong based on 15 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
\(a > 0\) and \(b < 0\).
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
\(\frac{1}{a^2}\) |
\(\frac{1}{b^2}\) |
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Given Kudos: 136
Re: a > 0 and b < 0.
[#permalink]
12 Jul 2019, 06:44
12 Jul 2019, 06:44
arpitjain wrote:
\(a > 0\) and \(b < 0\).
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
\(\frac{1}{a^2}\) |
\(\frac{1}{b^2}\) |
A)The quantity in Column A is greater.
B)The quantity in Column B is greater.
C)The two quantities are equal.
D)The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
KEY CONCEPT: If we SQUARE positive or negative numbers, the outcome will always be POSITIVE.
For example, 5² = 25 and (-5)² = 25
So, let's test some possible values of a and b
Case i: a = 1 and b = -1
We get:
QUANTITY A: \(\frac{1}{a^2}=\frac{1}{1^2}=\frac{1}{1}=1\)
QUANTITY B: \(\frac{1}{b^2}=\frac{1}{(-1)^2}=\frac{1}{1}=1\)
In this case, the two quantities are equal
Case ii: a = 1 and b = -2
We get:
QUANTITY A: \(\frac{1}{a^2}=\frac{1}{1^2}=\frac{1}{1}=1\)
QUANTITY B: \(\frac{1}{b^2}=\frac{1}{(-2)^2}=\frac{1}{4}\)
In this case, Quantity A is greater
Answer: D
Cheers,
Brent
gmatclubot
Re: a > 0 and b < 0. [#permalink]
12 Jul 2019, 06:44
Moderators:
