If 0 < x < 1, then it is true that
2018
If 0 < x < 1, then it is true that
- A.
x100 > x101
- B.
x100 > 1
- C.
x100 < x101
- D.
x101 > 1
Attempted by 3 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept: For a base b with 0 < b < 1, its positive integer powers form a strictly decreasing sequence as the exponent increases -- raising b to a higher power always gives a smaller value, because each extra multiplication by b (a proper fraction) shrinks the magnitude further. In general, for positive integers m < n with 0 < b < 1, bm > bn.
The base here is x, with 0 < x < 1 given in the question.
The exponents being compared are 100 and 101, and 100 < 101.
Since x101 = x100 × x, write the higher power as the lower power multiplied once more by x.
Because 0 < x < 1, multiplying x100 by x (a positive fraction less than 1) produces a strictly smaller positive number.
Therefore x101 < x100, i.e. x100 > x101.
Cross-check: take a concrete value, x = 0.5. Then x101 = x100 × 0.5, exactly half of x100. Half of a positive number is always smaller than the number itself, so 0.5100 > 0.5101, confirming the general result. (The other options fail too: since 0 < x < 1, every positive power of x -- including x100 and x101 -- stays below 1, so neither can exceed 1.)
Result: the true statement among those given is x100 > x101.