2000 AMC 10 Problem 20

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 20 of the 2000 AMC 10, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2000 AMC 10 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:factoringoptimization

Difficulty rating: 1820

20.

Let A,A, M,M, and CC be nonnegative integers such that A+M+C=10.A + M + C = 10. What is the maximum value of AMC+AM+MC+CA?A \cdot M \cdot C + A \cdot M + M \cdot C + C \cdot A?

4949

5959

6969

7979

8989

Solution:

Notice that AMC+AM+MC+CA=(A+1)(M+1)(C+1)(A+M+C)1=(A+1)(M+1)(C+1)11.A \cdot M \cdot C + AM + MC + CA = (A+1)(M+1)(C+1) - (A + M + C) - 1 = (A+1)(M+1)(C+1) - 11.

We maximize a product of three positive integers summing to 13.13. The most balanced split is 4,4,5,4, 4, 5, giving 445=80.4 \cdot 4 \cdot 5 = 80.

The maximum is 8011=69.80 - 11 = 69.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 20 in Other Years