2009 AMC 12B Problem 1

Attempt Problem 1 of the 2009 AMC 12B 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 2009 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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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

Answer: B
Concepts:paritymoneycasework
Difficulty rating: 820
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. Thus 25b50(mod100),25b\equiv50\pmod{100}, or b2(mod4).b\equiv2\pmod4. Since 0b5,0\le b\le5, only b=2b=2 works, giving 300300 cents =$3.= \$3.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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