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Difference between revisions of "2009 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 16"

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From <math>|a-b|=2</math> we get that <math>|b|=2</math>, hence <math>b\in\{-2,2\}</math>.
 
From <math>|a-b|=2</math> we get that <math>|b|=2</math>, hence <math>b\in\{-2,2\}</math>.
  
−
If we multiply all four numbers by <math>-1</math>, we will not change any of the differences. Hence we can [[WLOG]] assume that <math>b=2</math>.
+
If we multiply all four numbers by <math>-1</math>, we will not change any of the differences. (This is due to the fact that we are calculating |d| at the end ~Williamgolly) Hence we can [[WLOG]] assume that <math>b=2</math>.
  
 
From <math>|b-c|=3</math> we get that <math>c\in\{-1,5\}</math>.
 
From <math>|b-c|=3</math> we get that <math>c\in\{-1,5\}</math>.

Revision as of 22:01, 21 January 2020

Problem

Let $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$ be real numbers with $|a-b|=2$, $|b-c|=3$, and $|c-d|=4$. What is the sum of all possible values of $|a-d|$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 9 \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 12 \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 15 \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 18 \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 24$

Solution 1

From $|a-b|=2$ we get that $a=b\pm 2$

Similarly, $b=c\pm3$ and $c=d\pm4$.

Substitution gives $a=d\pm 4\pm 3\pm 2$. This gives $|a-d|=|\pm 4\pm 3\pm 2|$. There are $2^3=8$ possibilities for the value of $\pm 4\pm 3\pm2$:

$4+3+2=\boxed{9}$,

$4+3-2=\boxed{5}$,

$4-3+2=\boxed{3}$,

$-4+3+2=\boxed{1}$,

$4-3-2=\boxed{-1}$,

$-4+3-2=\boxed{-3}$,

$-4-3+2=\boxed{-5}$,

$-4-3-2=\boxed{-9}$

Therefore, the only possible values of $|a-d|$ are 9, 5, 3, and 1. Their sum is $\boxed{18}$.

Solution 2

If we add the same constant to all of $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$, we will not change any of the differences. Hence we can assume that $a=0$.

From $|a-b|=2$ we get that $|b|=2$, hence $b\in\{-2,2\}$.

If we multiply all four numbers by $-1$, we will not change any of the differences. (This is due to the fact that we are calculating |d| at the end ~Williamgolly) Hence we can WLOG assume that $b=2$.

From $|b-c|=3$ we get that $c\in\{-1,5\}$.

From $|c-d|=4$ we get that $d\in\{-5,1,3,9\}$.

Hence $|a-d|=|d|\in\{1,3,5,9\}$, and the sum of possible values is $1+3+5+9 = \boxed{18}$.

See Also

2009 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 15 		Followed by
Problem 17
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

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