Problem:
What is the smallest result that can be obtained by the following process?
Choose three different numbers from the set .
Add two of these numbers.
Multiply their sum by the third number.
Answer Choices:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Solution:
To obtain the smallest result, use the three smallest numbers. This yields three choices:
Thus is the smallest result.
Since multiplication is repeated addition, it follows that the smallest result should use the smallest number as the multiplier and the other two of the three smallest numbers for the sum. Thus is the smallest result.
Answer: .
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions