If the operation @ is defined for all integers a and b by a@b = a+b-ab, which of the following statements must be true for all integers a, b, and c?
I. a@b = b@a
II. a@0 = a
III. (a@b) @ c = a @ (b@c)
Answers:
I only
II only
I and II only
I and III only
I, II, and III
a@b = a + b - ab.
In other words, a@b = SUM - PRODUCT.
Statement I is included in four of the five answer choices.
Thus, it is almost certain that statement I must be true.
Otherwise, a test-taker will be able to eliminate four answer choices simply by evaluating statement I.
To save time, start with statement II.
To make the process easier, plug in values.
Let a=2, b=3, and c=10.
Statement II: a@0 = a
2@0 = 2
2+0 - (2*0) = 2
2 = 2.
On the left side, we simply added and subtracted 0 from the value of a=2.
From this example, we can see that statement II will be true for any integer value of a.
Eliminate A and D, which do not include statement II.
Statement III: (a@b) @ c = a @ (b@c)
First calculate the values INSIDE THE PARENTHESES.
(2@3) @ 10 = 2 @
(3@10)
(2+3 - 2*3) @ 10 = 2 @
(3+10 - 3*10)
-1 @ 10 = 2 @ -17
-1 + 10 - (-1*10) = 2 + (-17) - (2)(-17)
19 = 19.
When a=2, b=3 and c=10, statement III is true.
While not a definitive proof, it seems VERY unlikely that these 3 randomly selected values would prove to be an exceptional case.
Eliminate B and C, which do not include statement III.
The correct answer is
E.
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