2003 AMC 12B Problem 1

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 1 of the 2003 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2003 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:factoringfraction

Difficulty rating: 840

1.

Which of the following is the same as

24+68+1012+1436+912+1518+21?\frac{2 - 4 + 6 - 8 + 10 - 12 + 14}{3 - 6 + 9 - 12 + 15 - 18 + 21}?

1-1

23-\dfrac{2}{3}

23\dfrac{2}{3}

11

143\dfrac{14}{3}

Solution:

Factor 22 from the numerator and 33 from the denominator: 2(12+34+56+7)3(12+34+56+7).\frac{2(1 - 2 + 3 - 4 + 5 - 6 + 7)}{3(1 - 2 + 3 - 4 + 5 - 6 + 7)}.

The equal parenthesized sums cancel, leaving 23.\dfrac{2}{3}.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 1 in Other Years