Challenge Problem Showdown – November 19, 2012


challenge problem
Here is this week’s problem:

If n is a prime number greater than 2, is 1/x > 1?

(1) xn < x < x(1/n)

(2) x(n“1) > x(2n“2)

GMAT Challenge Problem



  1. April 21, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Though Id disagree on some of the finer particulars, I believe you probably did an superior job explaining it. Positive beats having to research it on my own. Muchos Gracias on your post.

  2. Rohan January 15, 2013 at 1:51 pm

    Were can we get the answer to this problem, I want to understand what happens if x => -ve

  3. brand December 22, 2012 at 2:56 am


  4. Jason November 29, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    As we know that x is a prime number greater than 2, 1/x is definitely less than 1. So no matter what choice 1 and 2 are saying, we’ve got the answer. It’s d. Rather tricky!

  5. Akshara November 22, 2012 at 12:52 am

    Answer is: D

    Since n > 2, n can only be odd. Also for 1/x to be greater than 1, x should be a proper fraction.

    From statement 1 we know that x is a proper fraction since x^n < x1
    eg: If x = 1/2 and n = 3 ; x^n = 1/8; x^1/n = 1/1.41

    From statement 2 we know that x is a proper fraction again, therefore 1/x>1
    eg: x=1/2 and n = 3 ; x^(n-1) = 1/4 and x^(2n-2) = 1/16

  6. rohan November 21, 2012 at 12:48 pm

    ans: both 1 and 2 can answer the problem