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2003 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 6

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Problem

Define x \heartsuit y to be |x-y| for all real numbers x and y. Which of the following statements is not true?

\mathrm{(A) \ } x \heartsuit y = y \heartsuit x for all x and y

\mathrm{(B) \ } 2(x \heartsuit y) = (2x) \heartsuit (2y) for all x and y

\mathrm{(C) \ } x \heartsuit 0 = x for all x

\mathrm{(D) \ } x \heartsuit x = 0 for all x

\mathrm{(E) \ } x \heartsuit y > 0 if x \neq y

Solution

Examining statement C:

x \heartsuit 0 = |x-0| = |x|

|x| \neq x when x<0, but statement C says that it does for all x.

Therefore the statement that is not true is "x \heartsuit 0 = x for all x" \Rightarrow C

See Also

2003 AMC 12A (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 5
Followed by
Problem 7
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