1982 AHSME Problems/Problem 19
Problem
Let 
for 
. The sum of the largest and smallest values of 
is
Solution
Note that at 
one of the three absolute values is equal to 
Without using absolute values, we rewrite as a piecewise function:
![\[f(x) = \begin{cases} (x-2)+(4-x)-(6-2x) & \mathrm{if} \ 2\leq x<3 \\ (x-2)+(4-x)-(2x-6) & \mathrm{if} \ 3\leq x<4 \\ (x-2)+(x-4)-(2x-6) & \mathrm{if} \ 4\leq x\leq8 \end{cases},\]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/a/b/4/ab4c849193927ab0c089903567108076ebd16b4c.png)
which simplifies to
![\[f(x) = \begin{cases} 2x-4 & \mathrm{if} \ 2\leq x<3 \\ -2x+8 & \mathrm{if} \ 3\leq x<4 \\ 0 & \mathrm{if} \ 4\leq x\leq8 \end{cases}.\]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/0/2/1/021930b6003205f15bb7d7263a002ff9bf9b693f.png)
The graph of 
is shown below.
![[asy] /* Made by MRENTHUSIASM */ size(220); import TrigMacros; rr_cartesian_axes(-2,10,-2,4,useticks=true); pair A[]; A[0] = (2,0); A[1] = (3,2); A[2] = (4,0); A[3] = (8,0); draw(A[0]--A[1]--A[2]--A[3],red+linewidth(1.5)); for(int i = 0; i <= 3; ++i) { dot(A[i],red+linewidth(4.5)); } label("$(2,0)$",A[0],(0,-1.5),UnFill); label("$(3,2)$",A[1],(0,1.5),UnFill); label("$(4,0)$",A[2],(0,-1.5),UnFill); label("$(8,0)$",A[3],(0,-1.5),UnFill); label("$\phantom{xxx}$",(10,0),(0.5,-1.5),UnFill); label("$\phantom{YYY}$",(0,4),(-2,0.5),UnFill); label("$x$",(10,0),(1,0)); label("$y$",(0,4),N); [/asy]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/1/3/5/135c57dddbe47a970961766a01062887dec15c23.png)
The largest value of is 
and the smallest value of is So, their sum is 
~MRENTHUSIASM
See Also
| 1982 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 18 |
Followed by Problem 20 | |
| 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 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 | ||
| All AHSME Problems and Solutions | ||
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