UPSC Prelims 2023·CSAT·Quantitative Aptitude·Algebra

Question: Is p greater than q? Statement- 1: p x q is greater than zero. Statement- 2: p² is greater than q². Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Question and the Statements?

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  1. AThe Question can be answered by using one of the Statements alone, but cannot be answered using the other Statement alone.
  2. BThe Question can be answered by using either Statement alone.
  3. CThe Question can be answered by using both the Statements together, but cannot be answered using either Statement alone.
  4. DThe Question cannot be answered even by using both the Statements together.Correct

Explanation

The question asks whether p is greater than q (p > q). We need to determine if the given statements, individually or together, can definitively answer this. Analyze Statement 1: p x q is greater than zero (p * q > 0). This statement implies that p and q must have the same sign. Case 1: p and q are both positive. Example: p=3, q=2. Here p > q. Example: p=2, q=3. Here p q. Example: p=-3, q=-2. Here p q in some cases, p q²). This statement implies that the absolute value of p is greater than the absolute value of q (|p| > |q|). Case 1: p and q are both positive. If |p| > |q|, then p > q. (e.g., p=3, q=2. Here p > q). Case 2: p is positive, q is negative. If |p| > |q|, then p > q. (e.g., p=3, q=-2. Here p > q). Case 3: p is negative, q is positive. If |p| > |q|, then p |q|, then p 2 is true, but -3 is not greater than -2). Since we get different answers (p > q in some cases, p |q|. Let's combine these conditions: Scenario A: p and q are both positive. If p > 0 and q > 0, and |p| > |q|, then it must be that p > q. Example: p=3, q=2. (p*q=6 > 0, p^2=9 > q^2=4). In this case, p > q. Scenario B: p and q are both negative. If p |q|, then it must be that p 0, p^2=9 > q^2=4). In this case, p q, and another scenario (p=-3, q=-2) where p < q, even using both statements together, we cannot definitively answer whether p is greater than q. Therefore, the question cannot be answered even by using both statements together. The final answer is D
Quantitative Aptitude: Question: Is p greater than q? Statement- 1: p x q is greater than zero. Statement- 2: p² is greater than q². Which one

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