2009 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 7
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- The following problem is from both the 2009 AMC 10B #7 and 2009 AMC 12B #6, so both problems redirect to this page.
Problem
By inserting parentheses, it is possible to give the expression
several values. How many different values can be obtained?
Solution
The three operations can be performed on any of 
orders. However, if the addition is performed either first or last, then multiplying in either order produces the same result. So at most four distinct values can be obtained. It is easy to check that the values of the four expressions
are in fact all distinct. So the answer is 
, which is choice 
.
See also
| 2009 AMC 10B (Problems • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 6 | Followed by Problem 8 | |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | ||
| 2009 AMC 12B (Problems • Resources) | ||
| Preceded by Problem 5 | Followed by Problem 7 | |
| 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 | ||
