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Difficulty: MediumValue vs. Yes/No Data Sufficiency Decision Logic

In GMAT Data Sufficiency 'Value' decision logic, if a question asks for the numerical value of a target expression f(x)f(x), a statement that yields more than one possible value for the variable xx is automatically insufficient.

Answer: Answer

Answer

The statement is False.
The assertion is false because sufficiency in 'Value' Data Sufficiency questions is determined by whether the overall target expression resolves to one specific numerical value, not whether each constituent variable is uniquely determined.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the fundamental requirement for sufficiency in a GMAT Data Sufficiency 'Value' question.
A statement is sufficient if and only if it leads to a single, unique numerical value for the requested target expression.
The focus of a Value question is the target expression as a whole, not the isolated variables contained within it.
2
Test whether multiple possible values for a variable xx can still yield a unique value for target expression f(x)f(x).
Consider f(x)=x2f(x) = x^2 with x=2x = 2 or x=−2x = -2. In both cases, f(x)=4f(x) = 4.
Because all permissible values of xx map to the exact same output for f(x)f(x), the target value is uniquely determined.
3
Evaluate the claim made in the statement.
The claim asserts that having multiple values for xx makes a statement 'automatically insufficient', which is disproven by counterexample.
Since a statement can yield multiple values for xx and still be sufficient for f(x)f(x), the assertion is false.

Key Concept

Value Data Sufficiency Decision Logic & Target Expression Sufficiency
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Topics

Value vs. Yes/No Data Sufficiency Decision Logic

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