If x<0, y>0, and |x^3| > |y^2|, which of the following must be true?
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Let’s go through each answer choice: (A) can never be true, since no negative is greater than a positive. (B) doesn’t have to be true – consider what would happen if x = -2 and y = 1. (C) can never be true, as x^3 must be negative, and y^2 must be positive. (D) can never be true, since if x < 0, -x is the same thing as |x|, and |x| > y. (E) can be manipulated by multiplying both sides by -1, which gives us –x > y. Remember that x < 0, so –x = |x|, and y is positive, so |y| = y. Thus –x^3 > y^2 is the same statement as |x^3| > |y^2|, and (B) must be true.
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AQuA-RAT items are crowdsourced algebra problems, not ACT questions. They carry five answer choices in the pre-2025 ACT Mathematics style and no ACT reporting category. Useful for drilling Preparing for Higher Math content; not a substitute for a real form.