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.
If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which
[#permalink]
19 Mar 2021, 06:53
19 Mar 2021, 06:53
Expert Reply
3
Bookmarks
00:00
Question Stats:
76% (01:39) correct
23% (01:25) wrong based on 30 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which of the following cannot be the value of a – b?
A. –5
B. –3
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITION
GRE - Math Book
A. –5
B. –3
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITION
GRE - Math Book
Re: If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which
[#permalink]
19 Mar 2021, 07:28
19 Mar 2021, 07:28
1
5 ≥ a > 1 & b ≥ – 2
Take
a = 2 & b = 7 a-b = -5
a = 2 & b = 5 a-b = -3
a = 2 & b = 0 a-b = 2
a = 5 & b = -2 a-b = 7 This is the highest value for a-b.
We can't get 8 with the given range.
Answer E
Take
a = 2 & b = 7 a-b = -5
a = 2 & b = 5 a-b = -3
a = 2 & b = 0 a-b = 2
a = 5 & b = -2 a-b = 7 This is the highest value for a-b.
We can't get 8 with the given range.
Answer E
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Given Kudos: 136
Re: If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which
[#permalink]
19 Mar 2021, 08:49
19 Mar 2021, 08:49
2
1
Bookmarks
Carcass wrote:
If a and b are integers such that 5 ≥ a > 1 and b ≥ – 2, x then which of the following cannot be the value of a – b?
A. –5
B. –3
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITION
GRE - Math Book
A. –5
B. –3
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8
Kudos for the right answer and explanation
Question part of the project GRE Quantitative Reasoning Daily Challenge - (2021) EDITION
GRE - Math Book
Here's an approach that uses a nice rule that essentially says: "if two inequalities are arranged so that the inequality symbols are facing the same direction, we can ADD them to create a new inequality.
We have: 5 ≥ a > 1, which we'll rewrite as 1 < a ≤ 5
Now, for the time being, let's focus on the fact that a ≤ 5
We're also told that b ≥ – 2
To get the inequality facing the same way as the above inequality (in red), let's take b ≥ – 2 and multiply both sides by -1
When we do this, we get: -b ≤ 2
Great, we now have:
a ≤ 5
-b ≤ 2
Since the inequality symbols are facing the same direction, we can ADD the inequalities to create a new inequality.
When we do so, we get: a - b ≤ 7
This means that a - b CANNOT equal 8
So, the correct answer is E
