Difference between revisions of "2017 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21"
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There are <math>2</math> cases to consider: | There are <math>2</math> cases to consider: | ||
− | Case <math>1</math>: <math>2</math> of <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are positive and the other is negative. WLOG assume that <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are positive and <math>c</math> is negative. In this case, we have that <cmath>\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=1+1-1-1=0.</cmath> | + | Case <math>1</math>: <math>2</math> of <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are positive and the other is negative. WLOG, we can assume that <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are positive and <math>c</math> is negative. In this case, we have that <cmath>\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=1+1-1-1=0.</cmath> |
Case <math>2</math>: <math>2</math> of <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are negative and the other is positive. WLOG assume that <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are negative and <math>c</math> is positive. In this case, we have that <cmath>\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=-1-1+1+1=0.</cmath> | Case <math>2</math>: <math>2</math> of <math>a</math>, <math>b</math>, and <math>c</math> are negative and the other is positive. WLOG assume that <math>a</math> and <math>b</math> are negative and <math>c</math> is positive. In this case, we have that <cmath>\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=-1-1+1+1=0.</cmath> |
Revision as of 14:01, 4 November 2018
Contents
[hide]Problem 21
Suppose , , and are nonzero real numbers, and . What are the possible value(s) for ?
Solution 1
There are cases to consider:
Case : of , , and are positive and the other is negative. WLOG, we can assume that and are positive and is negative. In this case, we have that
Case : of , , and are negative and the other is positive. WLOG assume that and are negative and is positive. In this case, we have that
In both cases, we get that the given expression equals .
Solution 2
Assuming numbers:
WLOG and (Other numbers can apply for and as long as their sum is .) . Then plug and into the given equation. The result is always .
See Also
2017 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 20 |
Followed by Problem 22 | |
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions |
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