1996 AMC 12 Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 1996 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 1996 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Each day Walter gets

\$3

for doing his chores or

\$5

for doing them exceptionally well. After

10

days of doing his chores daily, Walter has received a total of

\$36.

On how many days did Walter do them exceptionally well?

3

4

5

6

7

Begin with the amount Walter would earn at the ordinary rate on all ten days

Each exceptionally good day adds the same amount to that baseline

Ten ordinary days would pay

10\cdot3=30

dollars. Each exceptional day adds

5-3=2

dollars, and the actual total is

6

dollars higher. Thus there were

\frac{6}{2}=3

exceptional days, so the correct answer is A.

Problem 2 in other years