2003 AMC 10B Problem 2

Question

Al gets the disease algebritis and must take one green pill and one pink pill each day for two weeks. A green pill costs

\$1

more than a pink pill, and Al’s pills cost a total of

\$546

for the two weeks. How much does one green pill cost?

\$7

\$14

\$19

\$20

\$39

Two weeks is

14

days, so find the cost of one day’s pills

If a pink pill costs

p,

then the green pill costs

p+1

and

p+(p+1)=39

Each day’s pills cost

546 \div 14 = 39

dollars. If

x

is the cost of a green pill, then the pink pill costs

x-1,

so

x+(x-1)=39.

Solving gives

x=20.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 2 in other years