Data Sufficiency question on CAT #4 reg number lines

[kovajurn]

(this is a 600-700 level problem)

Is the number x positive?

(1) On the number line, 0 is closer to x - 1 than to x.
(2) On the number line, 0 is closer to x than to x + 1.

The answer is A.

My question is, if 0<x<0.5, then x-1 is not closer to 0 on the number line so I thought (1) was insufficient. Am I to assume that x must be an integer because the question mentions a number line?

Thank you for your help.

[tim]

no. this is one of the most common traps on the GMAT - assuming a number has to be an integer (or positive, or a perfect square, or whatever) without any evidence. also, it looks like you were using the question to test the statement. you should avoid this as well. take the statement as true and see if you can get an answer to the question, not the other way around..