GMAT Question of the Day – Data Sufficiency – Number Properties

Is \( \lvert x \rvert > x^2 \)?

1) \( \lvert x \rvert < x^3 \) 2) \( x > 0 \)

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Correct Answer: A.

GMAT Question of the Day Solution

Be patient with GMAT Data Sufficiency. Take your time to understand the given information. Most GMAT tutoring students need to slow down and spend more time to understand the given information before moving on to the statements. If you can, play with the information so that you might understand what sorts of situations arise given different types of numbers, especially when dealing with a number properties type of question. In this question of the day you might try to find a situation which proves a Yes and a situation which proves a No before going to the statements. Positive numbers greater than one will always create a No answer (test 2, 3, 4, or 100). Fractions (positive or negative) will create a Yes as fractions raised to positive integers always get smaller (this is something to memorize).

Statement (1) This statement tells us that the number is not a fraction and not negative. It also tells us that the number must be greater than one. Therefore this statement yields a no and is sufficient.

Statement (2) This statement doesn’t help us because x could be a fraction (a Yes) or an integer greater than one (a No). Because we have a yes and a no the statement is insufficient.