2012 AMC 12A Problem 1

Attempt Problem 1 of the 2012 AMC 12A 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 2012 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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

1.

A bug crawls along a number line, starting at −2.-2. It crawls to −6,-6, then turns around and crawls to 5.5. How many units does the bug crawl altogether?
99
1111
1313
1414
1515
Answer: E
Concepts:absolute value
Small hint:
Add the two separate crawl distances rather than the net displacement
Big hint:
The first leg is ∣−6−(−2)∣|-6-(-2)| and the second is ∣5−(−6)∣|5-(-6)|
Solution:
The bug crawls ∣−6−(−2)∣=4|-6-(-2)| = 4 units on the first leg and ∣5−(−6)∣=11|5-(-6)| = 11 units on the second leg.
The total distance is 4+11=15.4 + 11 = 15.
Thus, the correct answer is E.
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