2005 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 4

Problem

For real numbers $a$ and $b$, define $a \diamond b = \sqrt{a^2 + b^2}$. What is the value of

$(5 \diamond 12) \diamond ((-12) \diamond (-5))$?

$\textbf{(A) } 0 \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac{17}{2} \qquad \textbf{(C) } 13 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 13\sqrt{2} \qquad \textbf{(E) } 26$

Solution

\begin{align*} (5 \diamond 12) \diamond ((-12) \diamond (-5))&=(\sqrt{5^2+12^2}) \diamond (\sqrt{(-12)^2+(-5)^2})\\ &=(\sqrt{169})\diamond(\sqrt{169})\\ &=13\diamond13\\  &=\sqrt{13^2+13^2}\\  &=\sqrt{338}\\  &=\boxed{\mathrm{(D)\,13\sqrt{2}}}\\ \end{align*} Note that the negative signs did not matter and any number squared times two is that number times the square root of 2.

See Also

2005 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 3
Followed by
Problem 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png