Solutions
Get detailed explanations to advanced GMAT questions.
Question
If a, b, c are three numbers on the number line shown above, is c between a and b.
I. b < 0
II. a – b > c
Option A:
Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked.
Option B:
Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient to answer the question asked.
Option C:
BOTH statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are sufficient to answer the question asked, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked.
Option D:
EACH statement ALONE is sufficient to answer the question asked.
Option E:
Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient to answer the question asked, and additional data specific to the problem are needed.
Difficulty Level
HardSolution
Option E is the correct answer.
Option Analysis
Probably the best way to solve this problem is to pick some smart numbers. Notice that from the diagram we have that a<b
Statement I is insufficient: b<0. Clearly insufficient since we know nothing about c.
Statement II is insufficient: a-b>c. If a=−10 and b=−1, then −10−(−1)=−9>c. Now, is c=−9.5, then the answer is YES but if c=−100, then the answer is NO. Not sufficient.
Together I and II, Example from (2) is still valid, so even when we consider the two statements together we cannot answer the question. Not sufficient.