Problem:
Simplify
3x3x3xx
Answer Choices:
A. x
B. 3x2
C. 27x2
D. 54x
E. 81x80
Solution:
We have
3x3x3xx=(x(x(x⋅x21)31)31)31=(x(x(x23)31)31)31=(x(x⋅x21)31)31=(x(x23)31)31=(x⋅x21)31=(x23)31=x21=x.
Answer: A.
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions