Q98
ArithmeticAlgebra, Equations & Operations
If $a$ = 2024, $b$ = 2023, $c$ = 2022, then the value of $(a^2 + b^2 + c^2 - ab - bc - ca)$ is
- a.0
- b.3
- c.4024
- d.2012
Answer: (B) 3
The expression equals $\frac{1}{2}[(a - b)^2 + (b - c)^2 + (c - a)^2]$. Here that is $\frac{1}{2}(1 + 1 + 4) = 3$. It would be 0 only if $a = b = c$.