Question

If the numbers 4, 5 and 6 are each used exactly once to replace the letters in the expression A ( B − C ), what is the least possible result?

Answer 1

Answer:

The least possible result is -10.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given the numbers 4, 5 and 6 are to be chosen one of the letters A, B or C.

First of all,

Let A = 4, B = 5 and C = 6

$A(B-C) = 4 \times (5-6) = 4 \times -1 = -4$

Let A = 4, B = 6 and C = 5

$A(B-C) = 4 \times (6-5) = 4 \times 1 = 4$

Let A = 5, B =4 and C = 6

$A(B-C) = 5 \times (4-6) = 5 \times -2 = -10$

Let A = 5, B = 6 and C = 4

$A(B-C) = 4 \times (6-4) = 4 \times 2 = 8$

Let A = 6, B = 4 and C = 5

$A(B-C) = 6 \times (4-5) = 6 \times -1 = -6$

Let A = 6, B = 5 and C = 4

$A(B-C) = 6 \times (6-5) = 6 \times 1 = 6$

Summarizing the above values in the form of a table:

$\begin{center}\begin{tabular}{ c c c c}A & B & C & A(B-C)\\ 4 & 5 & 6 & -4\\ 4 & 6 & 5 & 4\\ 5 & 4 & 6 & -10\\ 5 & 6 & 4 & 10\\ 6 & 4 & 5 & -6\\ 6 & 5 & 4 & 6\end{tabular}\end{center}$

So, the least possible result is -10.