Is x a negative number ?

[omer205]

Is x a negative number?

(1) x2 is a positive number.

(2) x · |y| is not a positive number.


I believe that answer should be C. Both Statements together are sufficient.

Reason:

1. tells that x is not zero. It is either positive or negative.
2. tells that x is negative or zero (not positive).

Combing 1 and 2, I conclude that x is a negative number hence C. But CAT claims that answer is E. Can anyone explain why ?

[omer205]

OK. Got it. if y=0, x can be positive.

This question was really tough though...

[esledge]

Yeah, that's a bit of a "gotcha." Most of us think about pos/neg questions as binary, but there is that third possibility - zero. One wording clue in this one: "not a positive number." If we weren't to consider zero, it would have been worded less awkwardly as "a negative number."

[yousuf_azim]

ANS: E, I think.

[JohnHarris]

Is x a negative number?

(1) x2 is a positive number.

(2) x · |y| is not a positive number.

...

O.K., (1) says x is not zero but what is y? Is it zero? If so what does (2) imply? Is y equal to 10? If so, what does (2) imply. Is there any limitations on y which says it can't be zero? Any limitations which says it can't be 10? Are there any limitations on y at all?

[yousuf_azim]

Dears,

|y| means what??

Let me clear the concept.

BR

[jnelson0612]

Dears,

|y| means what??

Let me clear the concept.

BR

Yousuf, that is the absolute value of y, which means that it indicates the positive distance from y to zero on the number line. Thus, that number can never be negative and it's smallest possible value is zero. :-)