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# Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative

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Manager
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Posts: 192
Location: Germany
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: IE '15 (M)
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WE: Consulting (Telecommunications)
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Kudos [?]: 26 [0], given: 7

Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative [#permalink]

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26 Feb 2012, 03:07
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Question Stats:

83% (01:24) correct 17% (00:23) wrong based on 6 sessions

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Is A^B positive?

(1) B^A is positive
(2) B is negative

Hi, i could not find this question with the search function:

(1)
B = negative, then A even and positive
B = positive, then A even or odd and positive or negative
-->not sufficient

(2)
B = negative and if A positive, then A^B positive. But if A negative, then A^B negative
--> not sufficient

(1)+(2)
B = negative
A = must be even and positive
--> If A positive, then A^B is positive

Do i think wrong here? Cause the explanation states: Statements (1) and (2) combined are insufficient. Consider $$B = -2$$ , $$A = 2$$ (the answer is "yes") and $$B = -1$$ , $$A = -2$$ (the answer is "no").
[Reveal] Spoiler: OA
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Status: Enjoying the GMAT journey....
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Kudos [?]: 438 [1] , given: 264

Re: Hardest questions - Powers - Q10 [#permalink]

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26 Feb 2012, 03:50
1
KUDOS
MSoS wrote:
(1)
B = negative, then A even and positive
B = positive, then A even or odd and positive or negative
-->not sufficient

(1) B^A is positive
so when B = negative, then A could be even and positive or even and negative
what follows after or is that u have missed
consider an example
B = -1 , A = 2 or -2, so when A= 2 then B^A = 1 ( positive) and
when A = -2, B^A = 1( positive)
B=positive...u have done it correctly

(2) B is negative
when 1 and 2 combined
A^B is positive when A = 2 and B = -1
however A^B is negative when A = -2 and B = -1
hope this expl helps.
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Manager
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Posts: 192
Location: Germany
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Schools: IE '15 (M)
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Kudos [?]: 26 [0], given: 7

Re: Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative [#permalink]

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26 Feb 2012, 04:38
Cheers - my assumption was that negative B can only be positive with an even and positive power (A). However, that helped!
Math Expert
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Kudos [?]: 68706 [0], given: 9817

Re: Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative [#permalink]

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26 Feb 2012, 05:34
Expert's post
MSoS wrote:
Is A^B positive?

(1) B^A is positive
(2) B is negative

Hi, i could not find this question with the search function:

(1)
B = negative, then A even and positive
B = positive, then A even or odd and positive or negative
-->not sufficient

(2)
B = negative and if A positive, then A^B positive. But if A negative, then A^B negative
--> not sufficient

(1)+(2)
B = negative
A = must be even and positive
--> If A positive, then A^B is positive

Do i think wrong here? Cause the explanation states: Statements (1) and (2) combined are insufficient. Consider $$B = -2$$ , $$A = 2$$ (the answer is "yes") and $$B = -1$$ , $$A = -2$$ (the answer is "no").

Not a good question. First of all on the GMAT possibility of 0^0 wold be ruled out (for example by saying that AB doesn't equal to zero), also most likely A and B would be limited to integers only.

Anyway, the answer is E only: in you post there is perfectly OK example, which satisfies both statements and gives both an YES and NO answer to the question.

For more on exponents check this: math-number-theory-88376.html

Also check:
PS exponents and roots questions with solutions: tough-and-tricky-exponents-and-roots-questions-125956.html
DS exponents and roots questions with solutions: tough-and-tricky-exponents-and-roots-questions-125967.html

Hope it helps.
_________________
Manager
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
Posts: 192
Location: Germany
Concentration: Strategy, General Management
Schools: IE '15 (M)
GMAT 1: Q V
GPA: 3
WE: Consulting (Telecommunications)
Followers: 2

Kudos [?]: 26 [0], given: 7

Re: Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative [#permalink]

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26 Feb 2012, 07:07
Thanks, helped a lot. If the question is not a good one, you might consider to change the wording (or given information) in the gmatclub test (Hardest question, powers, question 10).

Anyway, thanks for the given information...
Re: Is A^B positive? (1) B^A is positive (2) B is negative   [#permalink] 26 Feb 2012, 07:07
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