If x and y are positive, is x < y?

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Last Updated on May 6, 2023

GMAT OFFICIAL GUIDE DS

Solution:

We are asked is x/y > 1?

Since x and y are positive we can multiply both sides of our inequality by y to obtain:

Is x > y?

Statement One Alone:

xy > 1

Knowing that the product of xy is greater than 1 does not allow us to determine whether x is greater than y. For example, if x = 2 and y = 1, then x > y, but if x = 1 and y = 2, then x < y. Statement one alone is not sufficient to answer the question. We can eliminate answer choices A and D.

Statement Two Alone:

x – y > 0

We can add y to both sides of the inequality to obtain:

x > y

Statement two is sufficient to answer the question.

Answer: B

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