GK 2020 Q5
5. Kanga wants to multiply three different numbers from the following list: −5, −3, −1, 2, 4, 6. What is the smallest result she could obtain?
- A −200
- B −120
- C −90
- D −48
- E −15
Grey Kangaroo 2020, Question 5. © UK Mathematics Trust. Original paper on ukmt.org.uk
Answer: B −120
The result furthest from zero is obtained by multiplying the three numbers furthest from zero, namely -5, 4 and 6. This gives -120, which is negative and hence is the smallest possible result.
Solution © UK Mathematics Trust, from the GK 2020 solutions.