Problem:
For positive numbers x and y the operation ♠(x,y) is defined as
♠(x,y)=x−y1
What is ♠(2,♠(2,2))?
Answer Choices:
A. 32
B. 1
C. 34
D. 35
E. 2
Solution:
Note that ♠(2,2)=2−21=23. Therefore
♠(2,♠(2,2))=♠(2,23)=2−32=(C)34
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions