2020 AMC 10A Problem 3

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 3 of the 2020 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:algebraic manipulationfraction

Difficulty rating: 770

3.

Assuming a3,a\neq3, b4,b\neq4, and c5,c\neq5, what is the value in simplest form of the following expression? a35cb43ac54b\frac{a-3}{5-c} \cdot \frac{b-4}{3-a} \cdot \frac{c-5}{4-b}

1-1

11

abc60\displaystyle \frac{abc}{60}

1abc160\displaystyle \frac{1}{abc} - \frac{1}{60}

1601abc\displaystyle \frac{1}{60} - \frac{1}{abc}

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Rewrite the denominator factors as 5c=(c5)5-c=-(c-5), 3a=(a3)3-a=-(a-3), and 4b=(b4)4-b=-(b-4). The expression becomes (a3)(b4)(c5)(a3)(b4)(c5)=1\dfrac{(a-3)(b-4)(c-5)}{-(a-3)(b-4)(c-5)}=-1. Thus, A is the correct answer.

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