1959 AMC 12 Problem 29

Attempt Problem 29 of the 1959 AMC 12 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 1959 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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29.

On an examination of nn questions a student answers correctly 1515 of the first 20.20. Of the remaining questions he answers one third correctly. All the questions have the same credit. If the student’s mark is 50%,50\%, how many different values of nn can there be?

44

33

22

11

the problem cannot be solved

Answer: D
Concepts:percentagelinear equationdivisibility
Difficulty rating: 1280
Small Hint:

Express the total number correct in terms of nn

Big Hint:

Set 15+n20315+\frac{n-20}{3} equal to n2\frac{n}{2}

Solution:

The score condition gives 15+n203=n2. 15+\frac{n-20}{3}=\frac n2. Multiplying by 66 yields 90+2n40=3n,90+2n-40=3n, so n=50.n=50. This value also makes the number of remaining correct answers an integer. Hence there is exactly one possible value of n.n.

Therefore, the correct answer is D.

← Problem 28#28
Full Exam

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