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# x is a positive, odd integer.

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x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  09 Aug 2017, 15:43
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32% (00:37) correct 67% (00:19) wrong based on 123 sessions

x is a positive, odd integer.

 Quantity A Quantity B $$(-3)^x$$ $$-2^{2x}$$

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.
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA

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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  21 Aug 2017, 06:31
pls explain the answer
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  21 Aug 2017, 10:53
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-3 raised to odd integers always is negative. $$-3 ^1 =-3$$; $$-3^3 = -27$$ and so on....

$$-2^{2x}$$ becomes $$-4^x$$ and -4 raised to odd integer power is always negative: $$-4^1 = -4$$ ; $$-4^3 = -64$$

As you can see A is always greater than B.

Hope now is clear.

Regards
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 00:37
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Shouldn't the answer be B?

Since x is odd and positive,
Quantity A will always be negative

Quantity B: $$(-2)^2)^x = 4^x$$
Hence quantity B will always be positive
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 02:03
Expert's post
Please refer to my explanation above.

B is -64 for instance and A is -27

On the number line (negative side) -64 is farthest from zero than -27.

Quantity B is NOT $$4^x$$ but - $$4^x$$

Therefore, A is the answer. A is always > B

Hope this helps
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 03:07
Plz Clarify -

"2^{2x} becomes -4^x and -4 raised to odd integer power is always negative: -4^1 = -4 ; -4^3 = -64"

Now if I consider this way will it be wrong-

x=1

In B;

-2^{2x} = -2^{2.1} [since x=1]

=-2^{2} [2.1 = 2] = +4
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 04:11
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Expert's post
Sorry but in this scenario, the rules for powers teach us that what you said leads to the wrong solution.

You must before multiple -2*2 = -4 the rise $$-4^x$$.

Hope this helps

regards
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 06:54
(-2)^x is not the same as -2^x.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  12 Sep 2017, 11:49
Expert's post
Official Explanation

In Quantity A, a negative integer is raised to a positive odd power. Odd powers retain the sign of the underlying quantity. Thus, (−3)x = −3x. Meanwhile, in Quantity B, the exponent may be broken up as follows, so as to match that in Quantity A: - $$2^2x$$ = ($$2^2$$)^x = $$4x$$. Note that the minus sign is applied after the multiplication, for both quantities. Both columns are negative;

A) $$-3^x$$

B) $$-4^x$$

However, for positive x, $$3^x < 4^x$$, so that

- $$3^x$$ > - $$4^x$$. Therefore Quantity A is larger.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  14 Feb 2018, 00:40
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Watch this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLuLpmjOFYw
bparth94 wrote:
Shouldn't the answer be B?

Since x is odd and positive,
Quantity A will always be negative

Quantity B: $$(-2)^2)^x = 4^x$$
Hence quantity B will always be positive
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  28 Mar 2018, 15:06
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Answer: B
x is odd, thus (-3)^x is negative.
-2^2x, because 2x is even, -2 to power of an even value is positive.
So B is bigger than A
*also we can thick ofB as: (-2^2x) = ((-2)^2)^x = 4^x which is positive.

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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  16 May 2018, 03:39
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People fell in the trap of not comprehending Quantity A: - 2^2x = − (2^2)^x = − 4x.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  31 May 2018, 22:41
Carcass wrote:

x is a positive, odd integer.

 Quantity A Quantity B $$(-3)^x$$ $$-2^{2x}$$

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.

If the answer to this is B, this question was not properly written. According to PEMDAS, powers get precedence and 2x will always be even (rule of even x odd = even). Hence, any negative number raised to an even positive power will always be positive.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  31 May 2018, 22:43
Emike56 wrote:
Carcass wrote:

x is a positive, odd integer.

 Quantity A Quantity B $$(-3)^x$$ $$-2^{2x}$$

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.

If the answer to this is B, this question was not properly written. According to PEMDAS, powers get precedence and 2x will always be even (rule of even x odd = even). Hence, any negative number raised to an even positive power will always be positive.

Also, what I can see you people who say A is greater do is square -2 before applying the odd value of x which is never correct mathematically. Treat 2x like they are in a bracket before applying to -2 to get your answer.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  02 Jun 2018, 02:28
Expert's post
you are absolutely right.

However, $$-2^{2x} = -(2^2)^x = -4^x$$

Hope this helps
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  03 Jun 2018, 02:45
Even after reading all these discussion, I do not understand this.

If x=1, A = -3 and B= +4. How is the answer A then? I think the answer should be D
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  04 Jun 2018, 14:28
Expert's post
If x = 1, the A= -3 and B = - 4

Hope this helps
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  05 Jun 2018, 17:29
Answer: B
A: x is odd, thus -3 in power of something odd is negative.
B: x is odd, but it is not important because power of -2 is 2x which is always even. So B is a positive value.

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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  23 Jun 2018, 09:27
I think the question is really misleading but do such questions appear on the test? I do not understand why are we taking -2^2x as -4^x. It can also be thought of as (-2)^2x. In this case, B will be greater.
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer. [#permalink]  23 Jun 2018, 10:40
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kruttikaaggarwal wrote:
I think the question is really misleading but do such questions appear on the test? I do not understand why are we taking -2^2x as -4^x. It can also be thought of as (-2)^2x. In this case, B will be greater.

There is a catch in this problem

If we look at statement 1 we have
$$(-3)^x$$

now any odd value of x it will be negative with multiples of 3.

Now for statement 2;

we have

-$$2^{2x}$$

Now the negative sign will always be present since we are not squaring the sign as it is not under bracket as in statement 1.

Therefore any odd values of x in equation 2 will always be less than the value in equation 1
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Re: x is a positive, odd integer.   [#permalink] 23 Jun 2018, 10:40
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