2016 AMC 12B Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2016 AMC 12B 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 2016 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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

3.

Let x=−2016.x=-2016. What is the value of
∣  ∣ ∣x∣−x ∣−∣x∣  ∣−x? \Big|\;\big|\,|x|-x\,\big|-|x|\;\Big|-x?
−2016-2016
00
20162016
40324032
60486048
Answer: D
Concepts:absolute valueorder of operations
Small hint:
∣x∣=2016,|x|=2016, and the innermost part is ∣x∣−x=2016−(−2016)|x|-x=2016-(-2016)
Big hint:
Simplify outward: ∣x∣−x=4032,|x|-x=4032, then ∣4032∣−∣x∣,\big|4032\big|-|x|, then the outer absolute value, and finally −x-x
Solution:
Since x=−2016,x=-2016, ∣x∣=2016.|x|=2016. The innermost expression is ∣x∣−x=2016+2016=4032.|x|-x=2016+2016=4032. Then ∣4032∣−∣x∣=4032−2016\big|4032\big|-|x|=4032-2016 =2016,=2016, and the outer absolute value leaves 2016.2016. Finally subtracting xx gives 2016−(−2016)=4032.2016-(-2016)=4032.
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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