2014 AMC 8 Exam Solutions

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All of the real AMC 8 and AMC 10 problems in our complete solution collection are used with official permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

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1.

Harry and Terry are each told to calculate 8(2+5).8-(2+5). Harry gets the correct answer. Terry ignores the parentheses and calculates 82+5.8-2+5. If Harry's answer is HH and Terry’s answer is T,T, what is HT?H-T?

10 -10

6 -6

0 0

6 6

10 10

Solution:

Harry calculates it correctly as follows: 8(2+5)=87=1.\begin{align*} 8 - (2 + 5) &= 8 - 7 \\ &= 1. \end{align*} Terry calculates it incorrectly as follows: 82+5=6+5=11.\begin{align*} 8 - 2 + 5 &= 6 + 5 \\ &= 11. \end{align*} Therefore: HT=111=10.\begin{align*} H - T &= 1 - 11 \\ &= -10. \end{align*}

Thus, A is the correct answer.

2.

Paul owes Paula 3535 cents and has a pocket full of 55-cent coins, 1010-cent coins, and 2525-cent coins that he can use to pay her. What is the difference between the largest and the smallest number of coins he can use to pay her?

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

Solution:

To use the most number of coins, Paul would have to use only 55-cent coins. This would require 35/5=735 / 5 = 7 coins.

To use the least number of coins, Tom would use a 2525-cent coin and a 1010-cent coin, for a total of 22 coins.

Therefore, the difference is 72=5.7 - 2 = 5.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

3.

Isabella had a week to read a book for a school assignment. She read an average of 3636 pages per day for the first three days and an average of 4444 pages per day for the next three days. She then finished the book by reading 1010 pages on the last day. How many pages were in the book?

240 240

250 250

260 260

270 270

280 280

Solution:

During the first three days, Isabella read 363=10836 \cdot 3 = 108 pages.

During the next three days, Isabella read 443=13244 \cdot 3 = 132 pages.

Therefore, she read a total of 108+132+10=250108 + 132 + 10 = 250 pages.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

4.

The sum of two prime numbers is 85.85. What is the product of these two prime numbers?

85 85

91 91

115 115

133 133

166 166

Solution:

The only for two numbers to add to an odd number is if one is even and the other is odd. The only even prime is 2,2, so 22 is one of the prime numbers.

Therefore, the other prime is 852=83,85 - 2 = 83, and the product is 283=166.2 \cdot 83 = 166.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

5.

Margie's car can go 3232 miles on a gallon of gas, and gas currently costs \$\(4\) per gallon. How many miles can Margie drive on \(\$ 20\) worth of gas?

64 64

128 128

160 160

320 320

640 640

Solution:

With $20,\$ 20, Margie can buy 20/4=520 / 4 = 5 gallons of gas. With 55 gallons of gas, Margie can travel 532=1605 \cdot 32 = 160 miles.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

6.

Six rectangles each with a common base width of 22 have lengths of 1,4,9,16,25,1, 4, 9, 16, 25, and 36.36. What is the sum of the areas of the six rectangles?

91 91

93 93

162 162

182 182

202 202

Solution:

To find the area of each rectangle we multiply 22 by their respective lengths. This means that we can factor out the 22 and we are left with the sum of the lengths. Adding together the lengths, we get 91.91.

Therefore, the sum of the areas is 291=182.2 \cdot 91 = 182.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

7.

There are four more girls than boys in Ms. Raub's class of 2828 students. What is the ratio of number of girls to the number of boys in her class?

3:4 3 : 4

4:3 4 : 3

3:2 3 : 2

7:4 7 : 4

2:1 2 : 1

Solution:

Let xx be the number of boys in the class. This means that there are x+4x + 4 girls. As there are 2828 students, we know that: x+x+4=282x=24x=12.\begin{align*} x + x + 4 &= 28\\ 2x&=24 \\ x&=12. \end{align*} Therefore, the ratio of girls to boys is 16:12=4:3.16 : 12 = 4 : 3.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

8.

Eleven members of the Middle School Math Club each paid the same amount for a guest speaker to talk about problem solving at their math club meeting. They paid their guest speaker $1A2. \$ \underline{1} \underline{A} \underline{2}. What is the missing digit AA of this 33-digit number?

0 0

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

Solution:

Note that since 1111 people paid the same amount, then the resulting sum is divisible by 11.11. Therefore, 1A2\underline{1} \underline{A} \underline{2} must be divisible by 11.11.

Remember the divisibility rule for 1111: if we take the difference of the sums of alternating digits, and this difference is divisible by 11,11, the whole number is divisible by 11.11.

For 1A2,\underline{1} \underline{A} \underline{2}, the aforementioned difference is 1+2A=3A.1 + 2 - A = 3 - A. The only way for this to be divisible by 1111 is if A=3.A = 3.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

9.

In ABC,\triangle ABC, DD is a point on side AC\overline{AC} such that BD=DCBD=DC and BCD\angle BCD measures 70.70^\circ. What is the degree measure of ADB?\angle ADB?

100 100

120 120

135 135

140 140

150 150

Solution:

Since BDC\triangle BDC is isosceles, we know that DBC=DCB=70.\angle DBC = \angle DCB = 70^{\circ}. This means that BDC=1807070=40.\begin{align*} \angle BDC &= 180^{\circ} - 70^{\circ} - 70^{\circ} \\ &= 40^{\circ}. \end{align*} Therefore, ADB=180BDC=180140=140.\begin{align*} \angle ADB &= 180^{\circ} - \angle BDC \\ &= 180^{\circ} - 140^{\circ} \\ &= 140^{\circ}. \end{align*} Thus, D is the correct answer.

10.

The first AMC 88 was given in 19851985 and it has been given annually since that time. Samantha turned 1212 years old the year that she took the seventh AMC 8.8. In what year was Samantha born?

1979 1979

1980 1980

1981 1981

1982 1982

1983 1983

Solution:

The seventh AMC 8 would have been administered 66 years after the first one. Therefore, Samantha took it in 1985+6=1991.1985 + 6 = 1991.

This means that Samantha was born 1212 years prior in 199112=1979.1991 - 12 = 1979.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

11.

Jack wants to bike from his house to Jill's house, which is located three blocks east and two blocks north of Jack's house. After biking each block, Jack can continue either east or north, but he needs to avoid a dangerous intersection one block east and one block north of his house. In how many ways can he reach Jill's house by biking a total of five blocks?

4 4

5 5

6 6

8 8

10 10

Solution:

Allow the X is the location of the dangerous intersection.

Let E represent moving one block east and N represent moving one block north. To avoid the dangerous intersection, Jack must go either EE or NN first.

After these moves, there are only 44 possible remaining options: EEENNEENENEENNENNEEE\begin{align*} &• EEENN\\ &• EENEN\\ &• EENNE\\ &• NNEEE \end{align*}

Thus, A is the correct answer.

12.

A magazine printed photos of three celebrities along with three photos of the celebrities as babies. The baby pictures did not identify the celebrities. Readers were asked to match each celebrity with the correct baby pictures. What is the probability that a reader guessing at random will match all three correctly?

19 \dfrac{1}{9}

16 \dfrac{1}{6}

14 \dfrac{1}{4}

13 \dfrac{1}{3}

12 \dfrac{1}{2}

Solution:

Notice that there are 3!=63! = 6 total ways that a reader could match the celebrities. However, only one of these is the correct matching. Therefore, the probability that the reader guesses it correctly is 16.\frac{1}{6}.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

13.

If nn and mm are integers and n2+m2n^2 + m^2 is even, which of the following is impossible?

nn and mm are even

nn and mm are odd

n+mn + m is even

n+mn + m is odd

none of these are impossible

Solution:

Since n2+m2n^2 + m^2 is even, either n2n^2 and m2m^2 are both odd, or both even.

If they are both odd, then nn and mm are both odd. If they are both even, then nn and mm are both even. If nn and mm are both odd or even, their sum will always be even.

Therefore, n+mn + m is never odd.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

14.

Rectangle ABCDABCD and right triangle DCEDCE have the same area. They are joined to form a trapezoid, as shown. What is DE?DE?

12 12

13 13

14 14

15 15

16 16

Solution:

The area of ABCDABCD is 56=30.5 \cdot 6 = 30.

The area of DCE=12DCCE=30\begin{align*} \triangle DCE &= \frac{1}{2}DC \cdot CE \\ &= 30 \end{align*} Therefore: 125CE=30CE=12.\begin{align*} \dfrac{1}{2} \cdot 5 \cdot CE &= 30 \\ CE &= 12. \end{align*} Then using the Pythagorean theorem we get that DE=52+122=169=13.\begin{align*} DE &= \sqrt{5^2 + 12^2} \\ &= \sqrt{169} \\ &= 13. \end{align*}

Thus, B is the correct answer.

15.

The circumference of the circle with center OO is divided into 1212 equal arcs, marked the letters AA through LL as seen below. What is the number of degrees in the sum of the angles xx and y?y?

75 75

80 80

90 90

120 120

150 150

Solution:

Note that each of the 1212 arcs splits the circle evenly, so they each cover 360/12=30.360^{\circ} / 12 = 30^{\circ}.

AOE\angle AOE spans 44 of these arcs, so AOE=430=120.\angle AOE = 4 \cdot 30^{\circ} = 120^{\circ}. Similarly, GOI=230=60.\angle GOI = 2 \cdot 30^{\circ} = 60^{\circ}. We also know that both triangles are isosceles since two of their sides are radii. Therefore, x=1801202=30 x = \dfrac{180 - 120}{2} = 30^{\circ} and y=180602=60. y = \dfrac{180 - 60}{2} = 60^{\circ}. Therefore, x+y=90.x + y = 90^{\circ}.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

16.

The "Middle School Eight" basketball conference has 88 teams. Every season, each team plays every other conference team twice (home and away), and each team also plays 44 games against non-conference opponents. What is the total number of games in a season involving the "Middle School Eight" teams?

60 60

88 88

96 96

144 144

160 160

Solution:

Each time plays 44 non-conference games, totalling 48=324 \cdot 8 = 32 games.

We don't want to double count the conference game, so we can just count all the games every team played out home. Each team played 77 home games, for a total of 87=568 \cdot 7 = 56 home games.

Therefore, the total number of games in a season is 32+56=88.32 + 56 = 88.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

17.

George walks 11 mile to school. He leaves home at the same time each day, walks at a steady speed of 33 miles per hour, and arrives just as school begins.

Today he was distracted by the pleasant weather and walked the first 12\frac{1}{2} mile at a speed of only 22 miles per hour. At how many miles per hour must George run the last 12\frac{1}{2} mile in order to arrive just as school begins today?

4 4

6 6

8 8

10 10

12 12

Solution:

If George normally walks 11 mile at 33 miles per hours, it will take him 13\frac{1}{3} hours to walk to school.

Today, he walked 12\frac{1}{2} miles at 22 miles per hours, which means he walked for 12÷2=14\dfrac{1}{2} \div 2 = \dfrac{1}{4} hours.

This means he has 1314=112 \dfrac{1}{3} - \dfrac{1}{4} = \dfrac{1}{12} hours left to run to school. In order to run 12\frac{1}{2} mile in 112\frac{1}{12} hours, he must run at a speed of 12÷112=6\dfrac{1}{2} \div \dfrac{1}{12} = 6 miles per hour.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

18.

Four children were born at City Hospital yesterday. Assume each child is equally likely to be a boy or a girl. Which of the following outcomes is most likely?

all 44 are boys

all 44 are girls

22 are girls and 22 are boys

33 are of one gender and 11 is one of the other gender

all of these outcomes are equally likely

Solution:

We can count the number of ways for each outcome to occur, and whichever has the most is the answer.

A: There is only one way for the children to all be boys.

B: There is only one way for the children to all be girls.

C: This scenario has 66 possibilities: BBGGBGBGBGGBGBBGGBGBGGBB\begin{align*} \text{BBGG}\\ \text{BGBG}\\ \text{BGGB}\\ \text{GBBG}\\ \text{GBGB}\\ \text{GGBB} \end{align*}

D: This scenario has 88 possibilities: BBBGBBGBBGBBGBBB\begin{align*} \text{BBBG}\\ \text{BBGB}\\ \text{BGBB}\\ \text{GBBB} \end{align*} (swapping G and B yields the other 44 possibilities).

E: Clearly, this is not the case.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

19.

A cube with 33-inch edges is to be constructed from 2727 smaller cubes with 11-inch edges. Twenty-one of the cubes are colored red and 66 are colored white.

If the 33-inch cube is constructed to have the smallest possible white surface area showing, what fraction of the surface area is white?

554 \dfrac{5}{54}

19 \dfrac{1}{9}

527 \dfrac{5}{27}

29 \dfrac{2}{9}

13 \dfrac{1}{3}

Solution:

Note that the interior cube has none of its faces showing, which means that this must be a white cube to minimize the white surface area. We should also place the other 55 white cubes in the middle of every space to minimize the number of white faces showing.

This results in a white surface area of 5 in2.5 \text{ in}^2. The total surface area is 6 in(3 in)2=54 in2.6 \text{ in} \cdot (3 \text{ in})^2 = 54 \text{ in}^2.

Therefore, the fraction of white surface area is 554.\dfrac{5}{54}.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

20.

Rectangle ABCDABCD has sides CD=3CD=3 and DA=5.DA=5. A circle of radius 11 is centered at A,A, a circle of radius 22 is centered at B,B, and a circle of radius 33 is centered at C.C. Which of the following is closest to the area of the region inside the rectangle but outside all three circles?

3.5 3.5

4.0 4.0

4.5 4.5

5.0 5.0

5.5 5.5

Solution:

The three sectors inside the rectangle are all quarter-circles, with areas π4,\frac{\pi}{4}, π,\pi, and 9π4,\frac{9\pi}{4}, and therefore their total area is 7π2.\frac{7\pi}{2}.

We can use 227\frac{22}{7} as an approximation for π.\pi. Substituting this value in, we get 72227=11.\frac{7}{2} \cdot \frac{22}{7} = 11. The area of the rectangle is 35=15,3 \cdot 5 = 15, so the area outside the circles is (approximately) 1511=4.15 - 11 = 4.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

21.

The 77-digit numbers 74A52B1\underline{74A52B1} and 326AB4C\underline{326AB4C} are each multiples of 3.3. Which of the following could be the value of C?C?

1 1

2 2

3 3

5 5

8 8

Solution:

For a number to be divisible by 3,3, the sum of the digits has to be divisible by 3.3. The sum of the digits of 74A52B1\underline{74A52B1} is 19+A+B,19 + A + B, so this has to be divisible by 3.3.

Similarly for 326AB4C,\underline{326AB4C}, we get that 33 divides 15+A+B+C,15 + A + B + C, which means that 33 divides A+B+C.A + B + C.

From the first condition, we get that A+BA + B is 11 less than a multiple of 3.3. This means that CC must be 11 more than a multiple of 3.3.

Therefore, the only way that all these conditions can be satisfied is if C=1.C=1.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

22.

A 22-digit number is such that the product of the digits plus the sum of the digits is equal to the number. What is the units digit of the number?

1 1

3 3

5 5

7 7

9 9

Solution:

We can represent the number as 10a+b,10a + b, where aa and bb are both digits. Then the condition implies that ab+a+b=10a+b.ab + a + b = 10a + b. Simplifying this, we get ab=9a,ab = 9a, which shows that b=9b = 9 since aa cannot equal 0.0.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

23.

Three members of the Euclid Middle School girls' softball team had the following conversation.

Ashley: I just realized that our uniform numbers are all 22-digit primes.

Brittany : And the sum of your two uniform numbers is the date of my birthday earlier this month.

Caitlin: That's funny. The sum of your two uniform numbers is the date of my birthday later this month.

Ashley: And the sum of your two uniform numbers is today's date.

What number does Caitlin wear?

11 11

13 13

17 17

19 19

23 23

Solution:

Since there are no more than 3131 days in a month, the sum of any two girls' uniform numbers must be less than or equal to 31.31. The only possible such pairs of 22-digit primes are 11+13=24 11 + 13 = 2411+17=28, 11 + 17 = 28, 11+19=30 11 + 19 = 3013+17=30.13 + 17 = 30. This shows that the desired dates are 24,28,24, 28, and 30.30. Caitlin's birthday should be the latest, which means that her uniform number must be the smallest.

Therefore, Caitlin's number is 11.11.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

24.

One day the Beverage Barn sold 252252 cans of soda to 100100 customers, and every customer bought at least one can of soda. What is the maximum possible median number of cans of soda bought per customer on that day?

2.5 2.5

3.0 3.0

3.5 3.5

4.0 4.0

4.5 4.5

Solution:

We can order the number of cans bought by customer from least to greatest. In this ordering, the median is the average of the 5050th and 5151st customer.

To maximize this, we want to minimize the first 4949 purchases. To minimize them, we can set them all equal to 1.1. If the 5050th number is 4,4, then there would be 5151 purchases greater than or equal to 4.4.

This would cause the total number of cans sold to be at least 49+514=253,49 + 51 \cdot 4 = 253, which is too large. This forces the 5050th purchase to be 33 cans, which lowers the total by 11 to the desired amount. This means that the 5151st person bought 44 cans, causing the median to be (3+4)/2=3.5.(3 + 4) / 2 = 3.5.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

25.

A straight one-mile stretch of highway, 4040 feet wide, is closed. Robert rides his bike on a path composed of semicircles as shown. If he rides at 55 miles per hour, how many hours will it take to cover the one-mile stretch?

Note: 1 mile = 5280 feet

π11 \dfrac{\pi}{11}

π10 \dfrac{\pi}{10}

π5 \dfrac{\pi}{5}

2π5 \dfrac{2\pi}{5}

2π3 \dfrac{2\pi}{3}

Solution:

If we compare a straight portion to a semi-circular path, we can see that the semi-circular path is π2\frac{\pi}{2} longer than the straight path due to the equation for circumference.

The diameter of each semi-circular path is 8080 feet, which evenly divides a mile, showing that there are an integer number of semi-circular paths. Therefore, the amount of time it takes Robert to ride along the semi-circular path is directly proportional to the length of the straight path.

The straight path would take Robert 15\frac{1}{5} hours to ride. This means that it would take him 15π2=π10\dfrac{1}{5} \cdot \dfrac{\pi}{2} = \dfrac{\pi}{10} hours to ride along the semi-circular path.

Thus, B is the correct answer.