Carcass wrote:
x is an integer.
Quantity A |
Quantity B |
\((-1)^{x^2}+(-1)^{x^3}+(-1)^{x^4}\) |
\((-1)^x + (-1)^{2x} + (-1)^{3x} + (-1)^{4x}\) |
A) Quantity A is greater.
B) Quantity B is greater.
C) The two quantities are equal.
D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.
Key properties: (-1)^(even integer) = 1, and (-1)^(odd integer) = -1. So, we need only consider two possible cases: x is EVEN, and x is ODD.
Case i: x is ODD If x is ODD, then x^2 is odd, x^3 is odd, and x^4 is odd.
Also, if x is ODD, then 2x is even, 3x is odd and 4x is even
So, we get:
QUANTITY A: \((-1)^{x^2}+(-1)^{x^3}+(-1)^{x^4}=(-1)+(-1)+(-1)=-3\)
QUANTITY B: \((-1)^x + (-1)^{2x} + (-1)^{3x} + (-1)^{4x}=(-1) + 1 + (-1) + 1 = 0\)
In this case,
Quantity B is greater. Case ii: x is EVEN If x is even, then x^2 is even, x^3 is even, and x^4 is even.
Also, if x is EVEN, then 2x is even, 3x is even and 4x is even.
So, we get:
QUANTITY A: \((-1)^{x^2}+(-1)^{x^3}+(-1)^{x^4}=1+1+1=3\)
QUANTITY B: \((-1)^x + (-1)^{2x} + (-1)^{3x} + (-1)^{4x}=1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4\)
In this case,
Quantity B is greater.In both possible cases,
Quantity B is greater.Answer: B