Carcass wrote:
\(ab < 0\)
\(bc > 0\)
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
\(ac\) |
\(0\) |
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.
Here's a
different approach-------------ASIDE--------------
KEY PROPERTY:
If \(a = b\)
and \(c = d\)
Then \(\frac{a}{c} = \frac{b}{d}\)
NOTE: This works as long as b and d do not equal zero
-------------------------------
GIVEN: \(ab < 0\) and \(bc > 0\)
In other words,
ab = some
NEGATIVE number
bc = some
POSITIVE number
Applying the Key Property, we can write: \(\frac{ab}{bc}=\) (some
NEGATIVE number)/(
POSITIVE number)
The b's cancel out, AND we know that the right side must be a
NEGATIVE number
That is, \(\frac{a}{c}=\) a
NEGATIVE number
This means one value (a or c) is positive, and the other value is negative.
As such, we can be certain that the product
ac is negative, which means Quantity B is greater.
Answer: B
Cheers,
Brent