Last visit was: 22 Dec 2024, 13:09 It is currently 22 Dec 2024, 13:09

Close

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

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GRE score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.

Close

Request Expert Reply

Confirm Cancel
Verbal Expert
Joined: 18 Apr 2015
Posts: 30467
Own Kudos [?]: 36818 [6]
Given Kudos: 26100
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 15 May 2021
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 1
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 03 Jun 2021
Posts: 1
Own Kudos [?]: 0 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
avatar
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Feb 2021
Posts: 3
Own Kudos [?]: 1 [0]
Given Kudos: 12
Send PM
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
i think B is the correct option
Retired Moderator
Joined: 02 Dec 2020
Posts: 1831
Own Kudos [?]: 2149 [2]
Given Kudos: 140
GRE 1: Q168 V157

GRE 2: Q167 V161
Send PM
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
2
Take \(a = -1\) & \(c = 2\) \(b = -3\) \(d = -4\)

keerthana15 wrote:
i think B is the correct option
Retired Moderator
Joined: 10 Apr 2015
Posts: 6218
Own Kudos [?]: 12234 [1]
Given Kudos: 136
Send PM
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
1
keerthana15 wrote:
i think B is the correct option


Don't forget that this is one of those questions where you can select more than one correct answer (however, in this case, the correct answer is just E)
Manager
Manager
Joined: 19 Feb 2021
Posts: 183
Own Kudos [?]: 179 [3]
Given Kudos: 425
GRE 1: Q170 V170
Send PM
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
3
For the question of this type:
just eliminate the variables with the even powers: a,c because they will not contribute to the answer because they are always going to be positive when the power is applied.
So the remaining b, d variables decide the sign. If they have the positive sign then it is >0 or <0 otherwise.
Be sure they both can be negative also.
SO bd has to be positive for the whole to be positive.
Intern
Intern
Joined: 08 Aug 2022
Posts: 49
Own Kudos [?]: 38 [0]
Given Kudos: 98
Send PM
If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
a^8 = always positive, and a itself can be either positive or negative, regardless of other variables' signs
c^6 = always positive, and c itself can be either positive or negative, regardless of other variables' sings
b^7 and d^5 will be positive if the variable within them is positive and negative if the variable is negative. And since we know the total value given is positive, we also know that b and d are either both positive or both negative.

From above:
sign a = +/-
sign c = +/-
sign b = sign d = +/-

So we know any product containing a or c is a tossup and could have either sign, which means that A, B, C, D, and F could all be either positive or negative.

Only E contains b and d, which have to be the same sign. Positive times positive = positive. Negative times negative = positive. So only E must be positive.
User avatar
GRE Prep Club Legend
GRE Prep Club Legend
Joined: 07 Jan 2021
Posts: 5089
Own Kudos [?]: 76 [0]
Given Kudos: 0
Send PM
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
Hello from the GRE Prep Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GRE Prep Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Prep Club for GRE Bot
Re: If a^8b^7c^6 [#permalink]
Moderators:
GRE Instructor
88 posts
GRE Forum Moderator
37 posts
Moderator
1115 posts
GRE Instructor
234 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne