2017 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

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Problem

Suppose $a$, $b$, and $c$ are nonzero real numbers, and $a+b+c=0$. What are the possible value(s) for $\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}$?

$\text{(A) }0\qquad\text{(B) }1\text{ and }-1\qquad\text{(C) }2\text{ and }-2\qquad\text{(D) }0,2,\text{ and }-2\qquad\text{(E) }0,1,\text{ and }-1$

Solution 1

There are $2$ cases to consider:

Case $1$: $2$ of $a$, $b$, and $c$ are positive and the other is negative. WLOG, we can assume that $a$ and $b$ are positive and $c$ is negative. In this case, we have that \[\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=1+1-1-1=0.\]

Case $2$: $2$ of $a$, $b$, and $c$ are negative and the other is positive. Without loss of generality, we can assume that $a$ and $b$ are negative and $c$ is positive. In this case, we have that \[\frac{a}{|a|}+\frac{b}{|b|}+\frac{c}{|c|}+\frac{abc}{|abc|}=-1-1+1+1=0.\]

Note these are the only valid cases, for neither $3$ negatives nor $3$ positives would work, as they cannot sum up to $0$. In both cases, we get that the given expression equals $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 0}$.

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/7an5wU9Q5hk?t=2362

Video Solutions

https://youtu.be/FUEHirfk-tw

https://youtu.be/V9wCBTwvIZo - Happytwin

https://youtu.be/xN0dnJC1hv8

~savannahsolver

See Also

2017 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 20
Followed by
Problem 22
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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