Hard ACT Question

Test Preparation
1

<p>It struck me that as a math-oriented person, I came across a problem impossible to solve for me.</p>

<p>If the inequality |a| < |b| is true, then which of the following must be true?
a! = b</p>

<p>Now, I do not recall the other choices, but “a!=b” is the answer. I just need an explanation of how this is so. I have never learned factorial or w/e it’s called (the exclamation point). And even with the knowledge by looking up, I cannot see how “a!=b” MUST be true if the inequality above is true…</p>

<p>Using a=4 and b=5 would make the inequality “|a| < |b|.” Now if I try to substitute those values into a!=b, it still wouldn’t work out because…</p>

<p>4<em>3</em>2*1 =/= 5</p>

<p>Por favor… Help.</p>

<p>Hopefully, someone will prove this “a!=b” is not true, as I assume. If I’m wrong, please explain to me! Thanks</p>

2

<p>the problem is wrong. or u remembered the answer choices wrong. </p>

<p>as a math oriented person u should know the factorial btw =P</p>

3

<p>That is definitely not true. It only takes one example to disprove something, so how about yours’? </p>

<p>|a|<|b| and a! = b
a = 4
b= 5</p>

<p>4! = 4x3x2x1 = 24
a! = 24 = b = 5 ? No. Wrong. Were did you find that, I wonder ? Happy studying</p>

4

<p>I think ! means “not” instead of factorial. If that’s factorial, that doesn’t make any sense. I have no idea why the question would use !, but I would take that ! as “not.” I realize that 'cause I took computer science, but ! means “not” in computer science language.</p>

5

<p>Are you sure that the question didn’t ask “which of the following is NOT true?” If not, then there must be a typo with that question</p>

6

<p>I copy and pasted from *******, but only got the “correct” answer choice saved.</p>

<p>I am a bit relieved to see that we are in an agreement.</p>

7

<p>yea i agree with micherry, i think it has to mean not in this context because factorial doessnt make sense or you misremembered</p>