2021 AMC 10A Fall Problem 3

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 3 of the 2021 AMC 10A Fall, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2021 AMC 10A Fall solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:volumesphereestimation

Difficulty rating: 870

3.

What is the maximum number of balls of clay of radius 22 that can completely fit inside a cube of side length 66 assuming the balls can be reshaped but not compressed before they are packed in the cube?

33

44

55

66

77

Solution:

The cube has volume 63=2166^3=216. One ball of clay has volume 43π23=32π3\frac{4}{3}\pi\cdot 2^3=\frac{32\pi}{3}.

Because the clay may be reshaped but not compressed, the maximum number of balls is 21632π/3=814π.\left\lfloor \frac{216}{32\pi/3}\right\rfloor=\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor.

Since 12<4π<1312\lt 4\pi\lt 13, we have 6<814π<8112<76\lt \frac{81}{4\pi}\lt \frac{81}{12}\lt 7. Therefore the floor is 66.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

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