The Official SAT Question of the Day™

Read the following SAT test question, then click on a button to select your answer.


If a < b < 0, which of the following is the greatest?

A –a
B –(a + b)
C a
D 0
E –b

Answer is B

Here's Why:

Multiplying an inequality by a negative number changes the direction of the inequality, so multiplying a < b < 0 by –1 gives 0 < –b < –a. Since –b is positive, –(a + b) = –a + (–b) > –a. Therefore, the ordering of the five choices is a < 0 < –b < –a < –(a + b), and –(a + b) is the greatest.


Difficulty: Hard
Question Type: Standard Multiple Choice

(Mathematics)