2010 AMC 10B Problem 11

Attempt Problem 11 of the 2010 AMC 10B below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2010 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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11.

A shopper plans to purchase an item that has a listed price greater than $100\$100 and can use any one of the three coupons. Coupon A gives 15%15\% off the listed price, Coupon B gives $30\$30 off the listed price, and Coupon C gives 25%25\% off the amount by which the listed price exceeds $100.\$ 100.

Let xx and yy be the smallest and largest prices, respectively, for which Coupon A saves at least as many dollars as Coupon B or C. What is yx?y - x?

5050

6060

7575

8080

100100

Answer: A
Concepts:percentageinequality
Difficulty rating: 1540
Solution:

Let pp be the price of the item. Then coupon A saves .15p..15p. Coupon B saves $30.\$ 30.

Coupon C will save .25(p100)=.25p25. .25(p - 100) = .25p - 25.

We must have that .15p30 .15p \ge 30 p200 p \geq 200 and .15p.25p25 .15p \ge .25p - 25 250p. 250 \geq p.

This shows that x=200x = 200 and y=250.y = 250. Therefore yx=50.y - x = 50.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

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