Not clear resolution
Can you please help me understand the resolution to below question:
If A < Y < Z < B, is |Y-A|< |Y-B|?
- |Z-A| < |Z-B|
- |Y-A| < |Z-B|
It is from gmatonthego but resolution is not clear to me. OA is D.
I solved it on a number line.
a b c
—-A——–Y——–Z——–B—
Question- a< b+c?
sol- 1) a+b< c
a< c-b
a< c-b < c < c+b (suff)
2) a < c
hence a < c+b (suff)
D is the answer.
Remember : Modulus(Absolute value) is nothing but distance between two points.
Best way to solve this question is drawing the number line,
Shashank has given the best explanation.
I will just use different words to add little more clarity on that.
Rephrasing the question:
We are given 4 distinct points on the number line, A, Y, Z, B, from left to right (increasing order).
Question is: is the distance between A and Y smaller than the distance between Y and B?
Statement I is sufficient:
A—Y–Z——B would visualize a typical situation, distance between A and Z less than the distance between Z and B.
Since Y is between A and Z, the answer to the question “is the distance between A and Y smaller than the distance between Y and B” is definitely YES.
So, sufficient.
Statement II is sufficient:
A—Y-Z—-B this would be like, distance between A and Y, less than the distance between Z and B.
Now Z is between Y and B, so again, the distance between A and Y is smaller than the distance between Y and B.
Sufficient.
So the answer is D.
Hope this helps.