2017 AMC 10B Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2017 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 2017 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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3.

Real numbers x,x, y,y, and zz satisfy the inequalities 0<x<1,0 < x < 1, 1<y<0,-1 < y < 0, and 1<z<2.1 < z < 2.

Which of the following numbers is necessarily positive?

y+x2y+x^2

y+xzy+xz

y+y2y+y^2

y+2y2y+2y^2

y+zy+z

Answer: E
Concepts:inequalitycounterexample
Difficulty rating: 960
Solution:

Since 1<y-1 < y and 1<z,1 < z, we can add the inequalities to see that 0<y+z.0 < y+z. This naturally proves choice E correct.

Furthermore, we can eliminate every other choice with the following values: x=0.1,x=0.1,y=0.25,y=-0.25,z=1.25.z=1.25.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

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