2022 AMC 10B Problem 1

Attempt Problem 1 of the 2022 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 2022 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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1.

Define x  yx~\diamondsuit~ y to be xy|x-y| for all real numbers xx and y.y. What is the value of (1  (2  3))((1  2)  3)?(1~\diamondsuit~(2~\diamondsuit~3))-((1~\diamondsuit~2)~\diamondsuit~3)?

2 -2

1 -1

0 0

1 1

2 2

Answer: A
Concepts:custom operationabsolute value
Difficulty rating: 560
Solution:

Working from the innermost operations outward gives 1(23)=123=0,(12)3=123=2. \begin{aligned} 1\mathbin\diamondsuit(2\mathbin\diamondsuit3)&=|1-|2-3||=0,\\ (1\mathbin\diamondsuit2)\mathbin\diamondsuit3&=||1-2|-3|=2. \end{aligned} Therefore, the given difference is 02=2.0-2=-2.

Thus, the answer is A .

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