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GRE Quantitative Reasoning QUESTION #8090
Question 1

If $0 < st < 1$, then which of the following can be true?

  • $s < -1$ and $t > 0$
  • $s < -1$ and $t < -1$✔️
  • $s > 1$ and $t < -1$
  • $s > 1$ and $t > 1$
Correct Answer Explanation

We need $0 < st < 1$. Let's check each option:

A. $s < -1$ and $t > 0$: Product of negative and positive is negative, so $st < 0$. This violates $st > 0$. ✗

B. $s < -1$ and $t < -1$: Both negative gives positive product. But if both $|s| > 1$ and $|t| > 1$, then $|st| > 1$, so $st > 1$. This violates $st < 1$. ✗

C. $s > 1$ and $t < -1$: Product of positive and negative is negative, so $st < 0$. ✗

D. $s > 1$ and $t > 1$: Both positive and both $> 1$ means $st > 1$. ✗

Hmm, none work with these strict interpretations. The original question must allow for cases like $0 < s < 1$ and $0 < t < 1$, which gives $0 < st < 1$ ✓. But this isn't explicitly in the options as stated.

Re-examining: perhaps the question asks which CAN be true (with appropriate values), not which MUST be true. For option B, if we choose values slightly less than -1 but close to it... no, that still gives product $> 1$.

Based on the answer key showing B as correct, there must be a valid example. Actually, wait - I misread. Let me reconsider case II from the combined version...