Question 1 For some positive integer k, the sum of the absolute values of all the integers from -k through k is 12. What is the value of k?

-- Answer -- 3

12/2 = 6, 1 + 2 + 3 = 6

|-3| + |-2| + |-1| + |0| + |1| + |2| + |3| = 3 + 2 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 2 + 3 = 12

k = 3

Question 2 Which expression is equivalent to | a - b - c |?

| a + b + c |

| a + b - c |

| a - b + c |

| -a + b + c |

| -a - b - c |

-- Answer -- | -a + b + c |

Because the absolute value equation |x| = |-x| is always true, | a - b - c | = | -a + b + c |