Carcass wrote:
\(p + |k| > |p| + k\)
  
    Quantity A   | 
    Quantity B   | 
  
  
    p  | 
    k  | 
  
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.
Kudos for 
R.A.E Warning: This is a long solution, but there are some key properties/strategies that some students may find usefulUseful properties: 
#1: If x is POSITIVE, then |x| = x
#2: If x is NEGATIVE, then |x| = -xFor example, if x = 3, then |x| = |3| = 3 = x
Conversely, if x = -3, then |x| = |-3| = 3 = -(-3) = -x
Okay, first notice that 
p and k cannot be equal. 
IF it were the case that p = k, then we can replace p with k to get: \(k + |k| > |k| + k\)
This makes no sense. So, we can be sure that p and k are 
not equalNow let's examine 4 possible cases: 
case i: p is POSITIVE and k is POSITIVE
Applying 
property #1, we get: \(p + k > p + k\)
This makes no sense. \(p + k = p + k\)
So, 
case i is impossible. 
case ii: p is POSITIVE and k is NEGATIVE
Applying 
properties #1 and 2, we get: \(p + (-k) > p + k\)
Subtract p from both sides of the inequality to get: \(-k > k\)
Add k to both sides to get: \(0 > 2k\)
Since k is NEGATIVE in this case, the inequality \(0 > 2k\) is true. 
So, 
case ii is possiblecase iii: p is NEGATIVE and k is POSITIVE 
Applying 
properties #1 and 2, we get: \(p + k > (-p) + k\)
Subtract k from both sides of the inequality to get: \(p > -p\)
Add p to both sides to get: \(2p > 0\)
Since p is NEGATIVE in this case, the inequality \(2p > 0\) is NOT true. 
So, 
case iii is impossible. 
case iv: p is NEGATIVE and k is NEGATIVE 
Applying 
property #2, we get: \(p + (-k) > (-p) + k\)
Add p to both sides to get: \(2p - k > k\)
Add k to both sides to get: \(2p > 2k\)
Divide both sides by 2 to get: \(p > k\)
This tells us that, if p is NEGATIVE and k is NEGATIVE, then \(p > k\)
case iv is possibleAt this point, we can see that there are only two possible cases, and for each case, we can be certain that \(p > k\)
Answer: A
Cheers, 
Brent