Given that a + b + c + d = 20, what is the minimum number of the variables a, b, c, d that must be positive, where this minimum is denoted as m?

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Official Explanation

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If a + b + c + d = 20, then at least m of the numbers a, b, c, d must be positive, where m is : (A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4. The reasoning is straightforward: four negative numbers cannot sum to a positive total. This rules out option A. Since we know that a + b + c + d = 20, we…

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Comments

DebraFeb 9, 2025

thanks

BTSMar 24, 2024

thanks for posting

What this question tests

What it tests

Your fluency with the order of operations, fractions, decimals, and basic number sense — the foundation every quant question leans on.

Common trap

Applying the order of operations out of sequence or rounding intermediate values before the final step.