Problem:
For distinct real numbers x and y, let M(x,y) be the larger of x and y and let m(x,y) be the smaller of x and y. If a<b<c<d<e, then
M(M(a,m(b,c)),m(d,m(a,e)))=
Answer Choices:
A. a
B. b
C. c
D. d
E. e
Solution:
Since m(b,c)=b and m(a,e)=a, we have
M(M(a,m(b,c)),m(d,m(a,e)))=M(M(a,b),m(d,a))=M(b,a)=b.