# Question regarding what appears to be an identity

This is an MCQ we were posed in school recently (I hope you don't mind elementary stuff):

What is $(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)...(x-z)$ ? Options:

$0$

$1$

$2$

$(x^n)-(abcdef...z)$

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Are you sure it didn't go up to $x-z$? – mixedmath Sep 27 '12 at 2:56
@mixedmath Surely it did, or else none of the choices is correct (not that I particularly like the "solution" in that case). – Austin Mohr Sep 27 '12 at 2:58
Oh yes, it did. I'm so sorry. But the last option was still $x^n - (abc...z)$ AFAIK. I lost the test paper :( – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 2:59
How does it matter if it's $n$ or $z$? – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 3:01
@SohamChowdhury The fact that $n$ or $z$ actually makes a difference is something you should think about. – Erick Wong Sep 27 '12 at 3:07

There is a very basic trick to this problem. It all comes down to a single term (if that's the proper word for it...).

The only real hint I can give is $x$ is a letter between $a$ and $z$...

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+1, Very cool! Also, Thank you @DonAntonio for pointing where I went wrong. – NoChance Sep 27 '12 at 4:11
Ah, I see... $(x-a)(x-b)..(x-x)..(x-z)$ where $(x-x)$ is 0. Nice! – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 4:22

Hint $\$ What is $\rm\ (24-1)(24-2)(24-3)\cdots (24-26)\$ ?

And what is $\rm\,(x_{24}\!-x_1)(x_{24}\!-x_2)(x_{24}\!-x_3)\cdots (x_{24}\!-x_{26})\$ ?

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@Thanks for the hint. Very good point. – NoChance Sep 27 '12 at 4:08
The text passage contains a mathematical question in the form of a multiple-choice question and a hint to solve it. The question is about the value of the expression \((x-a)(x-b)(x-c)...(x-z)\).
single_question_with_answer
Given a text passage, determine:
    1. If it contains a mathematical question (including word problems or calculations)
    2. If an answer to that mathematical question is provided in the text

First, describe the content structure you found in 1-2 sentences.

Then provide your analysis in the following format:
TYPE: <one of the following values>
- NO_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION
- SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS
- MULTIPLE_QUESTIONS_WITH_ANSWERS
system
# Question regarding what appears to be an identity

This is an MCQ we were posed in school recently (I hope you don't mind elementary stuff):

What is $(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)...(x-z)$ ? Options:

$0$

$1$

$2$

$(x^n)-(abcdef...z)$

-
Are you sure it didn't go up to $x-z$? – mixedmath Sep 27 '12 at 2:56
@mixedmath Surely it did, or else none of the choices is correct (not that I particularly like the "solution" in that case). – Austin Mohr Sep 27 '12 at 2:58
Oh yes, it did. I'm so sorry. But the last option was still $x^n - (abc...z)$ AFAIK. I lost the test paper :( – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 2:59
How does it matter if it's $n$ or $z$? – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 3:01
@SohamChowdhury The fact that $n$ or $z$ actually makes a difference is something you should think about. – Erick Wong Sep 27 '12 at 3:07

There is a very basic trick to this problem. It all comes down to a single term (if that's the proper word for it...).

The only real hint I can give is $x$ is a letter between $a$ and $z$...

-
+1, Very cool! Also, Thank you @DonAntonio for pointing where I went wrong. – NoChance Sep 27 '12 at 4:11
Ah, I see... $(x-a)(x-b)..(x-x)..(x-z)$ where $(x-x)$ is 0. Nice! – Soham Chowdhury Sep 27 '12 at 4:22

Hint $\$ What is $\rm\ (24-1)(24-2)(24-3)\cdots (24-26)\$ ?

And what is $\rm\,(x_{24}\!-x_1)(x_{24}\!-x_2)(x_{24}\!-x_3)\cdots (x_{24}\!-x_{26})\$ ?

-
@Thanks for the hint. Very good point. – NoChance Sep 27 '12 at 4:08
user
The text passage contains a mathematical question in the form of a multiple-choice question and a hint to solve it. The question is about the value of the expression \((x-a)(x-b)(x-c)...(x-z)\).

TYPE: SINGLE_QUESTION_WITH_ANSWER