Question

What is the least value of x possible if -1 < x ≤ 1 and x is a real number?

• A. (a) -1
• B. (b) 1
• C. (c) -0.99
• D. (d) None of these

Answer 1

The correct option is D (d) None of these

Have a look at the number line representing the interval given.

Note that the interval is open at -1. i.e., x cannot take the value equal to -1.

Since you know some basics of number theory you also know its not possible to determine the real number just after a number. A real number next to a real number will be an infinitely close number which can't be fully determined without error. Similarly in our case the least number in the interval is the number next to -1 since -1 is excluded from the interval. So the answer is none of these. In case they had asked for the largest number in the interval it would have been +1 since the interval is closed there.