Is x+y<1 : GMAT Prep

[Khalid]

Is x+y <1

1) x <8/9
2) x < 1/8

OA E

This is what I did:

X < 8/9
+ X < 1/8
_________
= X < 73/72

Since statement both the fractions then are supposed to be less than 8/9 and 1/8 respectively, I assumed that what I calculated were the outliers. So I picked C.

Since GMAT is never wrong - I am sure I am. Can anyone please explain where I went wrong?

Thanks, Khalid

[lilpetunia]

this problem makes no sense. Regardless how much info you have about x, the answer is E if you have no info about y.

[Khalid]

this problem makes no sense. Regardless how much info you have about x, the answer is E if you have no info about y.

Sorry, typo on my part:

1) X < 8/9
2) Y < 1/8

Thanks

[Live Stronger]

Is x+y <1

1) x <8/9
2) Y < 1/8

OA E

This is what I did:

X < 8/9
+ Y < 1/8
_________
= X+Y < 73/72

Since statement both the fractions then are supposed to be less than 8/9 and 1/8 respectively, I assumed that what I calculated were the outliers. So I picked C.

Since GMAT is never wrong - I am sure I am. Can anyone please explain where I went wrong?

Thanks, Khalid

I fixed the typo.

You did the right thing.
But when x+y<73/72, it could mean that x+y = 72/72 = 1 or x+y = 36/72 = 0.5
So. it can't be said for sure that x+y < 1, and that why the answer is E

[JonathanSchneider]

Good catch, and good explanation above. Answer is E.