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# x is different from zero

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x is different from zero [#permalink]  18 Mar 2018, 11:10
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Question Stats:

74% (00:20) correct 25% (00:18) wrong based on 31 sessions
$$x \neq zero$$

 Quantity A Quantity B $$\frac{x}{|x|}$$ 1

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 different from zero [#permalink]  19 Mar 2018, 16:21
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If x < 0: x is negative and |x| is positive so x/|x| equals -1.
If x > 0: x is positive and |x| is also positive so x/|x| equals +1.
There is no information about x that is positive or negative, So the answer is D.

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Re: x is different from zero [#permalink]  26 Mar 2018, 04:28
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Clearly, answer is D. Here's how:

Given that x is not 0. that means, either x is positive or negative.

As we know |x| is always positive, so we can multiply both quantities by |x|. By doing so, the quantity which is greater will remain greater. So,

After multiplying |x| on both quantities, we'll get

Quantity A: x
Quantity B: |x|

As we know Quantity B is always positive, whether x positive or not. But Quantity A will be positive if x positive, and it will negative if x negative.

Thus, if x positive, both quantities are equal, but if x negative, Quantity B will become greater.

Therefore, information is not sufficient to answer the question. i.e Choice D is correct.
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Re: x is different from zero   [#permalink] 26 Mar 2018, 04:28
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