Q) If X and Y are consecutive negative integers, is X greater than Y?
1. X - 1 and Y + 1 are consecutive negative integers.
2. X is an odd integer.
A.Statement (1) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (2) alone is not sufficient.
B.Statement (2) ALONE is sufficient, but statement (1) alone is not sufficient.
C.BOTH statements TOGETHER are sufficient, but NEITHER statement ALONE is sufficient.
D.EACH statement ALONE is sufficient.
E.Statements (1) and (2) TOGETHER are NOT sufficient.
Answer
Choice A: Statement 1 tells us that X - 1 and Y + 1 are consecutive negative integers. As with positive numbers, subtracting from a negative number will make that number smaller and adding to it will make it larger. Therefore X must be greater than Y and Statement 1 alone is sufficient to answer the question.
Statement 2 tells us that X is an odd integer. This tells us nothing about the relative value of Y. Therefore, Statement 2 alone is insufficient to answer the question.