2010 AMC 10B Problem 1

Attempt Problem 1 of the 2010 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2010 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

1.

What is the value of the following expression? 100(100−3)−(100⋅100−3)100(100-3)-(100 \cdot 100-3)
−20,000-20{,}000
−10,000-10{,}000
−297-297
−6-6
00
Answer: C
Concepts:order of operationswhole number operations
Small hint:
Expand both terms before subtracting
Big hint:
Most of the 100⋅100100\cdot100 terms cancel
Solution:
We have that 100(100−3)=100⋅97=9700 \begin{aligned}100(100 - 3) &= 100 \cdot 97 \\&= 9700\end{aligned} and 100⋅100−3=10000−3=9997. \begin{aligned}100 \cdot 100 - 3 &= 10000 - 3\\ &= 9997.\end{aligned}
As such, their difference is: 9700−9997=−297. 9700 - 9997 = - 297.
Thus, C is the correct answer.
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