1996 AMC 8 Problem 5
Attempt Problem 5 of the 1996 AMC 8 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 1996 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.
All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
5.
The letters and represent numbers located on the number line as shown.
Which of the following expressions represents a negative number?
Answer: A
Small hint:
From the number line, and are negative while and are positive
Big hint:
A product or quotient is negative only with an odd number of negative factors; check each choice
Solution:
From the number line, and are negative and and are positive.
Then is positive; has two negative factors, so it is positive; is positive; and is positive. Since is to the left of is negative.
Thus, the correct answer is A .
Problem 5 in other years
- 1985 AMC 8
- 1986 AMC 8
- 1987 AMC 8
- 1988 AMC 8
- 1989 AMC 8
- 1990 AMC 8
- 1991 AMC 8
- 1992 AMC 8
- 1993 AMC 8
- 1994 AMC 8
- 1995 AMC 8
- 1997 AMC 8
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- 1999 AMC 8
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