2009 AMC 12B Problem 1

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 1 of the 2009 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:paritymoneycasework

Difficulty rating: 820

1.

Each morning of her five-day workweek, Jane bought either a 5050-cent muffin or a 7575-cent bagel. Her total cost for the week was a whole number of dollars. How many bagels did she buy?

11

22

33

44

55

Solution:

With bb bagels she buys 5b5 - b muffins, costing 50(5b)+75b=250+25b50(5-b) + 75b = 250 + 25b cents. For a whole number of dollars this must be a multiple of 100,100, so 25b25b must end in 50,50, meaning bb is even.

Among b=2b = 2 and b=4,b = 4, only b=2b = 2 works: 250+50=300250 + 50 = 300 cents =$3.= \$3.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

Problem 1 in Other Years