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The Power of Absolutes

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relansachin
 Post subject: The Power of Absolutes
 Post Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:20 am 
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Students


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If a and b are integers and a is not equal to b, is ab > 0?

(1) a^b > 0

(2) a^b is a non-zero integer


I got the answer E, is it correct ?
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gokul_nair1984
 Post subject: Re: The Power of Absolutes
 Post Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:39 am 
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Posts: 170
Yes the answer has to be E. Let me know if you need the explanation.
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relansachin
 Post subject: Re: The Power of Absolutes
 Post Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 7:53 am 
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Students


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gokul_nair1984 wrote:
Yes the answer has to be E. Let me know if you need the explanation.



Thanks gokul it would be great if you can post the explanation as well !!
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gokul_nair1984
 Post subject: Re: The Power of Absolutes
 Post Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2010 1:33 pm 
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Students


Posts: 170
Here you go:

If a and b are integers and a is not equal to b, is ab > 0?

(1) a^b > 0

(2) a^b is a non-zero integer

For Statement 1, substitute
Let a=2 and b=3...So 2^3=8, which is greater than 0. ab=6. Thus ab>0.
Let a=-2 and b=2..So (-2)^2=4, which is greater than 0. ab=-4.
Thus ab<0.
Hence A is insufficient.

You can substitute the same values for a and b to disprove B as well.

Combining both Statements, again use the same numbers
(infact, you don't need to do this) and you'll find C to be insufficient.

So E is the answer
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tim
 Post subject: Re: The Power of Absolutes
 Post Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 1:04 am 
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ManhattanGMAT Staff


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Location: Southwest Airlines, seat 21C
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