1972 AMC 12 Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 1972 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1972 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

10.

For xx real, the inequality 1≤∣x−2∣≤71\le\lvert x-2\rvert\le7 is equivalent to:
x≤1x\le1 or x≥3x\ge3
1≤x≤31\le x\le3
−5≤x≤9-5\le x\le9
−5≤x≤1-5\le x\le1 or 3≤x≤93\le x\le9
−6≤x≤1-6\le x\le1 or 3≤x≤103\le x\le10
Answer: D
Concepts:absolute valueinequalitycasework
Small hint:
The upper bound places xx within 77 units of 22
Big hint:
The lower bound removes the open interval of points less than 11 unit from 22
Solution:
The condition ∣x−2∣≤7\lvert x-2\rvert\le7 gives −5≤x≤9.-5\le x\le9. The condition ∣x−2∣≥1\lvert x-2\rvert\ge1 gives x≤1x\le1 or x≥3.x\ge3. Their intersection is [−5,1]∪[3,9]. [-5,1]\cup[3,9].
Therefore, the correct answer is D.
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