2000 AMC 8 Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2000 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 2000 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

2.

Which of these numbers is less than its reciprocal?
−2-2
−1-1
00
11
22
Answer: A
Concepts:inequality
Small hint:
Check whether 00 has a reciprocal
Big hint:
Compare −2-2 with −12-\frac{1}{2}
Solution:
00 has no reciprocal, and 11 and −1-1 are their own reciprocals.
The reciprocal of 22 is 12,\frac{1}{2}, but 22 is not less than 12.\frac{1}{2}.
Therefore, as −2<−12,-2 < -\frac 12, we know that −2-2 is the only one of the answer choices that is less than its reciprocal.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
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