Math Gold Medalist

Lor

2023 AMC 8 

Problem 6

The digits $2, 0, 2,$ and $3$ are placed in the expression below, one digit per box. What is the maximum possible value of the expression?

[asy] // Diagram by TheMathGuyd. I can compress this later size(5cm); real w=2.2; pair O,I,J; O=(0,0);I=(1,0);J=(0,1); path bsqb = O--I; path bsqr = I--I+J; path bsqt = I+J--J; path bsql = J--O; path lsqb = shift((1.2,0.75))*scale(0.5)*bsqb; path lsqr = shift((1.2,0.75))*scale(0.5)*bsqr; path lsqt = shift((1.2,0.75))*scale(0.5)*bsqt; path lsql = shift((1.2,0.75))*scale(0.5)*bsql; draw(bsqb,dashed); draw(bsqr,dashed); draw(bsqt,dashed); draw(bsql,dashed); draw(lsqb,dashed); draw(lsqr,dashed); draw(lsqt,dashed); draw(lsql,dashed); label(scale(3)*"$\times$",(w,1/3)); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*bsqb,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*bsqr,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*bsqt,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*bsql,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*lsqb,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*lsqr,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*lsqt,dashed); draw(shift(1.3w,0)*lsql,dashed); [/asy]

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 8 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 9 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 16 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 18$

Casework

Priority in Casework: the Most Limited Case

Consider 0 first.

Then Consider 3.

   Solution