The numbers 1-10 are to be entered into the 10 boxes shown below, so that each number is used exactly once: \[P = (\square + \square + \square + \square + \square)(\square + \square + \square + \square + \square).\]
What is the maximum value of P? What is the minimum value of P?
Please just give me a straight answer
(1+2+3+4+5)(6+7+8+9+10) = 15*40 = 600 smallest
Now if the numbers that are multiplied are as close as possible that will give the biggest product.
1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10=55 = 54+1
half of 54 = 27
So one will be 27 and the other 28
I also notice that
1+10=11 first bracket
2+9=11 second bracket
3+8=11 first
4+7=11 second
5+6=11
you can finish it.