2011 AMC 12A Exam Problems

Scroll down and press Start to try the exam! Or, go to the printable PDF, answer key, or professional solutions curated by LIVE by Po-Shen Loh.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Or jump straight to one problem with its solution: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25

Want to learn professionally through interactive video classes?

Learn LIVE

Time Left:

1:15:00

1.

A cell phone plan costs $20\$20 each month, plus 55¢ per text message sent, plus 1010¢ for each minute used over 3030 hours. In January Michelle sent 100100 text messages and talked for 30.530.5 hours. How much did she have to pay?

$24.00\$24.00

$24.50\$24.50

$25.50\$25.50

$28.00\$28.00

$30.00\$30.00

Answer: D
Concepts:moneyunit conversion

Difficulty rating: 840

Solution:

The text charge is 1005=500100 \cdot 5 = 500 cents =$5.= \$5. She talked 3030 minutes past the 3030-hour allowance, so the overage is 3010=30030 \cdot 10 = 300 cents =$3.= \$3.

The total is $20+$5+$3=$28.\$20 + \$5 + \$3 = \$28.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2.

There are 55 coins placed flat on a table according to the figure. What is the order of the coins from top to bottom?

(C,A,E,D,B)(C, A, E, D, B)

(C,A,D,E,B)(C, A, D, E, B)

(C,D,E,A,B)(C, D, E, A, B)

(C,E,A,D,B)(C, E, A, D, B)

(C,E,D,A,B)(C, E, D, A, B)

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 840

Solution:

Coin CC is drawn as a complete, unbroken circle, so nothing covers it and it lies on top.

Reading the remaining overlaps, each coin's uncovered arc shows it sits above the next: CC covers E,E, EE covers D,D, DD covers B,B, and AA covers BB while lying under the others. This gives the top-to-bottom order (C,E,D,A,B).(C, E, D, A, B).

Thus, the correct answer is E.

3.

A small bottle of shampoo can hold 3535 milliliters of shampoo, whereas a large bottle can hold 500500 milliliters of shampoo. Jasmine wants to buy the minimum number of small bottles necessary to completely fill a large bottle. How many bottles must she buy?

1111

1212

1313

1414

1515

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 880

Solution:

Fourteen bottles hold 1435=49014 \cdot 35 = 490 milliliters, which is not enough. Fifteen bottles hold 1535=52515 \cdot 35 = 525 milliliters, which suffices.

So Jasmine needs 1515 bottles.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

4.

At an elementary school, the students in third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade run an average of 12,12, 15,15, and 1010 minutes per day, respectively. There are twice as many third graders as fourth graders, and twice as many fourth graders as fifth graders. What is the average number of minutes run per day by these students?

1212

373\dfrac{37}{3}

887\dfrac{88}{7}

1313

1414

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1040

Solution:

Take the grade sizes in the ratio 4:2:14 : 2 : 1 for third, fourth, and fifth grades. The weighted average is 412+215+1107=48+30+107=887. \dfrac{4 \cdot 12 + 2 \cdot 15 + 1 \cdot 10}{7} = \dfrac{48 + 30 + 10}{7} = \dfrac{88}{7}.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

5.

Last summer 30%30\% of the birds living on Town Lake were geese, 25%25\% were swans, 10%10\% were herons, and 35%35\% were ducks. What percent of the birds that were not swans were geese?

2020

3030

4040

5050

6060

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 990

Solution:

The birds that are not swans make up 100%25%=75%100\% - 25\% = 75\% of the total, and geese are 30%30\% of the total. The requested fraction is 3075=25=40%. \dfrac{30}{75} = \dfrac{2}{5} = 40\%.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

6.

The players on a basketball team made some three-point shots, some two-point shots, and some one-point free throws. They scored as many points with two-point shots as with three-point shots. Their number of successful free throws was one more than their number of successful two-point shots. The team's total score was 6161 points. How many free throws did they make?

1313

1414

1515

1616

1717

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 1170

Solution:

Let aa be the number of two-point shots. The two-point shots score 2a2a points, and the three-point shots score the same 2a2a points. The free throws number a+1a + 1 and score a+1a + 1 points.

The total is 2a+2a+(a+1)=5a+1=61, 2a + 2a + (a + 1) = 5a + 1 = 61, so a=12a = 12 and the free throws number a+1=13.a + 1 = 13.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

7.

A majority of the 3030 students in Ms. Demeanor's class bought pencils at the school bookstore. Each of these students bought the same number of pencils, and this number was greater than 1.1. The cost of a pencil in cents was greater than the number of pencils each student bought, and the total cost of all the pencils was $17.71.\$17.71. What was the cost of a pencil in cents?

77

1111

1717

2323

7777

Answer: B
Solution:

Total cents is 1771=71123.1771 = 7 \cdot 11 \cdot 23. Writing (students)(pencils each)(cost per pencil) =1771,= 1771, the number of students is a divisor of 17711771 that is a majority of 30,30, hence more than 15.15. The only such divisor is 23.23.

Then (pencils)(cost) =77=711= 77 = 7 \cdot 11 with cost >\gt pencils >1,\gt 1, forcing 77 pencils at 1111 cents each.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

8.

In the eight-term sequence A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, the value of CC is 55 and the sum of any three consecutive terms is 30.30. What is A+H?A + H?

1717

1818

2525

2626

4343

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1190

Solution:

Since A+B+C=B+C+D=30,A + B + C = B + C + D = 30, we get D=A,D = A, and likewise the sequence repeats with period 3.3. Thus H,H, the eighth term, equals B.B.

From A+B+C=30A + B + C = 30 and C=5,C = 5, we have A+H=A+B=305=25.A + H = A + B = 30 - 5 = 25.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

9.

At a twins and triplets convention, there were 99 sets of twins and 66 sets of triplets, all from different families. Each twin shook hands with all the twins except his/her sibling and with half the triplets. Each triplet shook hands with all the triplets except his/her siblings and with half the twins. How many handshakes took place?

324324

441441

630630

648648

882882

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1440

Solution:

There are 1818 twins and 1818 triplets.

Twin-twin handshakes: each twin shakes 182=1618 - 2 = 16 other twins, giving 18162=144.\dfrac{18 \cdot 16}{2} = 144.

Triplet-triplet handshakes: each triplet shakes 183=1518 - 3 = 15 other triplets, giving 18152=135.\dfrac{18 \cdot 15}{2} = 135.

Twin-triplet handshakes: each twin shakes half the 1818 triplets, giving 189=16218 \cdot 9 = 162 (each such handshake counted once).

The total is 144+135+162=441.144 + 135 + 162 = 441.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

10.

A pair of standard 66-sided fair dice is rolled once. The sum of the numbers rolled determines the diameter of a circle. What is the probability that the numerical value of the area of the circle is less than the numerical value of the circle's circumference?

136\dfrac{1}{36}

112\dfrac{1}{12}

16\dfrac{1}{6}

14\dfrac{1}{4}

518\dfrac{5}{18}

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1370

Solution:

For diameter d,d, area <\lt circumference means πd24<πd,\dfrac{\pi d^2}{4} \lt \pi d, i.e. d<4.d \lt 4. Since d2,d \ge 2, this needs a sum of 22 or 3.3.

A sum of 22 has probability 136\dfrac{1}{36} and a sum of 33 has probability 236,\dfrac{2}{36}, totaling 336=112.\dfrac{3}{36} = \dfrac{1}{12}.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

11.

Circles A,A, B,B, and CC each have radius 1.1. Circles AA and BB share one point of tangency. Circle CC has a point of tangency with the midpoint of AB.\overline{AB}. What is the area inside circle CC but outside circle AA and circle B?B?

3π23 - \dfrac{\pi}{2}

π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}

22

3π4\dfrac{3\pi}{4}

1+π21 + \dfrac{\pi}{2}

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1540

Solution:

Place A=(1,0),A = (-1, 0), B=(1,0),B = (1, 0), so their tangency point is the origin, the midpoint of AB.\overline{AB}. Then C=(0,1),C = (0, 1), since CC passes through the origin.

The distance from CC to AA (and to BB) is 2.\sqrt2. Two unit circles whose centers are 2\sqrt2 apart overlap in a lens of area 2cos1 ⁣(22)2242=2π41=π21. 2\cos^{-1}\!\left(\tfrac{\sqrt2}{2}\right) - \tfrac{\sqrt2}{2}\sqrt{4 - 2} = 2 \cdot \tfrac{\pi}{4} - 1 = \tfrac{\pi}{2} - 1.

Circles AA and BB meet only at the origin, so the two lenses do not overlap. The wanted area is π2(π21)=2. \pi - 2\left(\tfrac{\pi}{2} - 1\right) = 2.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

12.

A power boat and a raft both left dock AA on a river and headed downstream. The raft drifted at the speed of the river current. The power boat maintained a constant speed with respect to the river. The power boat reached dock BB downriver, then immediately turned and traveled back upriver. It eventually met the raft on the river 99 hours after leaving dock A.A. How many hours did it take the power boat to go from AA to B?B?

33

3.53.5

44

4.54.5

55

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1580

Solution:

Measure everything relative to the water. In that frame the raft is stationary at the point where the boat started, and the boat moves at its constant speed vv relative to the water, both downstream and upstream.

The boat leaves the raft, travels away for some time, then returns to it at the same relative speed, so it spends equal times going and returning. Hence the outbound leg to BB takes half of 9,9, which is 4.54.5 hours.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

13.

Triangle ABCABC has side-lengths AB=12,AB = 12, BC=24,BC = 24, and AC=18.AC = 18. The line through the incenter of ABC\triangle ABC parallel to BC\overline{BC} intersects AB\overline{AB} at MM and AC\overline{AC} at N.N. What is the perimeter of AMN?\triangle AMN?

2727

3030

3333

3636

4242

Answer: B
Solution:

Let II be the incenter. Because BI\overline{BI} bisects B\angle B and MNBC,MN \parallel BC, alternate angles give MIB=IBC=MBI,\angle MIB = \angle IBC = \angle MBI, so MBI\triangle MBI is isosceles with MB=MI.MB = MI. Similarly NC=NI.NC = NI.

Therefore the perimeter of AMN\triangle AMN is AM+MN+NA=AM+(MI+IN)+NA=AM+MB+NC+NA=AB+AC=12+18=30. AM + MN + NA = AM + (MI + IN) + NA = AM + MB + NC + NA = AB + AC = 12 + 18 = 30.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

14.

Suppose aa and bb are single-digit positive integers chosen independently and at random. What is the probability that the point (a,b)(a, b) lies above the parabola y=ax2bx?y = ax^2 - bx?

1181\dfrac{11}{81}

1381\dfrac{13}{81}

527\dfrac{5}{27}

1781\dfrac{17}{81}

1981\dfrac{19}{81}

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 1690

Solution:

Substituting x=a,x = a, y=b,y = b, the point is above the parabola when b>a3ab,b \gt a^3 - ab, i.e. b(a+1)>a3.b(a + 1) \gt a^3.

For a=1:a = 1: b>12,b \gt \tfrac12, all 99 values work. For a=2:a = 2: b>83,b \gt \tfrac83, so b3,b \ge 3, giving 7.7. For a=3:a = 3: b>274=6.75,b \gt \tfrac{27}{4} = 6.75, so b7,b \ge 7, giving 3.3. For a4,a \ge 4, no b9b \le 9 works.

The count is 9+7+3=199 + 7 + 3 = 19 out of 81,81, so the probability is 1981.\dfrac{19}{81}.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

15.

The circular base of a hemisphere of radius 22 rests on the base of a square pyramid of height 6.6. The hemisphere is tangent to the other four faces of the pyramid. What is the edge-length of the base of the pyramid?

323\sqrt{2}

133\dfrac{13}{3}

424\sqrt{2}

66

132\dfrac{13}{2}

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 1870

Solution:

Let the base have side s,s, centered at the origin, with apex at height 6.6. Cut with the vertical plane through the apex and the midpoints of two opposite base edges. The slant face appears as the line from (s2,0)\left(\tfrac{s}{2}, 0\right) to (0,6).(0, 6).

This line is 2sx+16y=1.\tfrac{2}{s}x + \tfrac16 y = 1. The hemisphere is tangent to the face, so the distance from the origin to this line is the radius 2:2: 14s2+136=2. \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{\tfrac{4}{s^2} + \tfrac{1}{36}}} = 2.

Then 4s2+136=14,\tfrac{4}{s^2} + \tfrac{1}{36} = \tfrac14, so 4s2=29\tfrac{4}{s^2} = \tfrac{2}{9} and s2=18,s^2 = 18, giving s=32.s = 3\sqrt2.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

16.

Each vertex of convex pentagon ABCDEABCDE is to be assigned a color. There are 66 colors to choose from, and the ends of each diagonal must have different colors. How many different colorings are possible?

25202520

28802880

31203120

32503250

37503750

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1820

Solution:

The diagonals connect the vertices in the order ACEBDA,A - C - E - B - D - A, which is a 55-cycle. The condition is exactly that this cycle is properly colored.

The number of proper kk-colorings of a cycle of length nn is (k1)n+(1)n(k1).(k-1)^n + (-1)^n (k-1). With n=5n = 5 and k=6,k = 6, 55+(1)55=31255=3120. 5^5 + (-1)^5 \cdot 5 = 3125 - 5 = 3120.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

17.

Circles with radii 1,1, 2,2, and 33 are mutually externally tangent. What is the area of the triangle determined by the points of tangency?

35\dfrac{3}{5}

45\dfrac{4}{5}

11

65\dfrac{6}{5}

43\dfrac{4}{3}

Answer: D
Solution:

The centers are separated by the sums of radii: 3,3, 4,4, and 5,5, a right triangle with the right angle at the radius-11 center. Place that center at (0,0),(0,0), the radius-22 center at (3,0),(3,0), and the radius-33 center at (0,4).(0,4).

The tangency points lie on the segments at distances equal to the radii: (1,0),(1, 0), (0,1),(0, 1), and on the hypotenuse at (3,0)+2(3,4)5=(95,85).(3,0) + 2 \cdot \tfrac{(-3,4)}{5} = \left(\tfrac95, \tfrac85\right).

By the shoelace formula the area is 121(185)+0+95(01)=12125=65. \tfrac12\left| 1\left(1 - \tfrac85\right) + 0 + \tfrac95(0 - 1) \right| = \tfrac12 \cdot \tfrac{12}{5} = \tfrac65.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

18.

Suppose that x+y+xy=2.|x + y| + |x - y| = 2. What is the maximum possible value of x26x+y2?x^2 - 6x + y^2?

55

66

77

88

99

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1840

Solution:

The identity x+y+xy=2max(x,y)|x+y| + |x-y| = 2\max(|x|, |y|) turns the condition into max(x,y)=1,\max(|x|, |y|) = 1, the boundary of the square with x1|x| \le 1 and y1.|y| \le 1.

On this region x26x+y2x^2 - 6x + y^2 increases as xx decreases and as y2y^2 increases, so the maximum is at x=1,x = -1, y=±1:y = \pm 1: 1+6+1=8. 1 + 6 + 1 = 8.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

19.

At a competition with NN players, the number of players given elite status is equal to 21+log2(N1)N. 2^{1 + \lfloor \log_2 (N - 1) \rfloor} - N. Suppose that 1919 players are given elite status. What is the sum of the two smallest possible values of N?N?

Note: x\lfloor x \rfloor is the greatest integer less than or equal to x.x.

3838

9090

154154

406406

10241024

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2150

Solution:

Let m=log2(N1),m = \lfloor \log_2 (N - 1) \rfloor, so the elite count is 2m+1N=19,2^{m+1} - N = 19, giving N=2m+119.N = 2^{m+1} - 19.

Consistency requires 2mN1=2m+120,2^m \le N - 1 = 2^{m+1} - 20, i.e. 2m20,2^m \ge 20, so m5.m \ge 5.

The two smallest choices are m=5m = 5 giving N=6419=45,N = 64 - 19 = 45, and m=6m = 6 giving N=12819=109.N = 128 - 19 = 109. Their sum is 154.154.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

20.

Let f(x)=ax2+bx+c,f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c, where a,a, b,b, and cc are integers. Suppose that f(1)=0,f(1) = 0, 50<f(7)<60,50 \lt f(7) \lt 60, 70<f(8)<80,70 \lt f(8) \lt 80, and 5000k<f(100)<5000(k+1)5000k \lt f(100) \lt 5000(k+1) for some integer k.k. What is k?k?

11

22

33

44

55

Answer: C
Solution:

Since f(1)=a+b+c=0,f(1) = a + b + c = 0, we have c=ab.c = -a - b. Then f(7)=48a+6b=6(8a+b),f(8)=63a+7b=7(9a+b). f(7) = 48a + 6b = 6(8a + b), \qquad f(8) = 63a + 7b = 7(9a + b).

From 50<6(8a+b)<6050 \lt 6(8a + b) \lt 60 we get 8a+b=9,8a + b = 9, and from 70<7(9a+b)<8070 \lt 7(9a + b) \lt 80 we get 9a+b=11.9a + b = 11. Subtracting, a=2,a = 2, then b=7b = -7 and c=5.c = 5.

So f(100)=20000700+5=19305,f(100) = 20000 - 700 + 5 = 19305, which lies in 50003<19305<50004,5000 \cdot 3 \lt 19305 \lt 5000 \cdot 4, giving k=3.k = 3.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

21.

Let f1(x)=1x,f_1(x) = \sqrt{1 - x}, and for integers n2,n \ge 2, let fn(x)=fn1 ⁣(n2x).f_n(x) = f_{n-1}\!\left(\sqrt{n^2 - x}\right). If NN is the largest value of nn for which the domain of fnf_n is nonempty, the domain of fNf_N is {c}.\{c\}. What is N+c?N + c?

226-226

144-144

20-20

2020

144144

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 2270

Solution:

Each step requires n2x\sqrt{n^2 - x} to lie in the domain of fn1.f_{n-1}. Tracking the domains:

f1:(,1].f_1: (-\infty, 1]. f2:4x(,1][3,4].f_2: \sqrt{4 - x} \in (-\infty, 1] \Rightarrow [3, 4]. f3:9x[3,4][7,0].f_3: \sqrt{9 - x} \in [3, 4] \Rightarrow [-7, 0]. f4:16x[7,0]{16}f_4: \sqrt{16 - x} \in [-7, 0] \Rightarrow \{16\} (only the value 00 is possible). f5:25x=16{231}.f_5: \sqrt{25 - x} = 16 \Rightarrow \{-231\}.

For f6f_6 we would need 36x=231,\sqrt{36 - x} = -231, impossible, so the domain is empty. Hence N=5,N = 5, c=231,c = -231, and N+c=226.N + c = -226.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

22.

Let RR be a square region and n4n \ge 4 an integer. A point XX in the interior of RR is called nn-ray partitional if there are nn rays emanating from XX that divide RR into nn triangles of equal area. How many points are 100100-ray partitional but not 6060-ray partitional?

15001500

15601560

23202320

24802480

25002500

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2460

Solution:

For even n=2m,n = 2m, the nn-ray partitional points are exactly (im,jm)\left(\tfrac{i}{m}, \tfrac{j}{m}\right) with 1i,jm1,1 \le i, j \le m - 1, giving (m1)2(m-1)^2 points.

For n=100n = 100 (m=50m = 50) there are 492=240149^2 = 2401 points. A point is both 100100- and 6060-ray partitional iff its coordinates are multiples of 110,\tfrac{1}{10}, i.e. it is 2020-ray partitional, giving 92=819^2 = 81 points.

So the count is 240181=2320.2401 - 81 = 2320.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

23.

Let f(z)=z+az+bf(z) = \dfrac{z + a}{z + b} and g(z)=f(f(z)),g(z) = f(f(z)), where aa and bb are complex numbers. Suppose that a=1|a| = 1 and g(g(z))=zg(g(z)) = z for all zz for which g(g(z))g(g(z)) is defined. What is the difference between the largest and smallest possible values of b?|b|?

00

21\sqrt{2} - 1

31\sqrt{3} - 1

11

22

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2560

Solution:

Represent ff by M=(1a1b).M = \begin{pmatrix} 1 & a \\ 1 & b \end{pmatrix}. Then g(g(z))=zg(g(z)) = z says ff composed with itself four times is the identity, so M4M^4 is a scalar matrix.

This happens when the ratio of eigenvalues is a fourth root of unity. The order-44 case gives (trM)2=2detM,(\operatorname{tr} M)^2 = 2\det M, i.e. (1+b)2=2(ba),(1 + b)^2 = 2(b - a), which simplifies to b2=(1+2a).b^2 = -(1 + 2a). The order-22 case gives b=1.b = -1.

Then b2=1+2a,|b|^2 = |1 + 2a|, and as aa runs over a=1,|a| = 1, 1+2a|1 + 2a| ranges over [1,3],[1, 3], so b|b| ranges over [1,3][1, \sqrt3] (the value b=1b = -1 is included). The difference is 31.\sqrt3 - 1.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

24.

Consider all quadrilaterals ABCDABCD such that AB=14,AB = 14, BC=9,BC = 9, CD=7,CD = 7, and DA=12.DA = 12. What is the radius of the largest possible circle that fits inside or on the boundary of such a quadrilateral?

15\sqrt{15}

21\sqrt{21}

262\sqrt{6}

55

272\sqrt{7}

Answer: C
Solution:

Because AB+CD=14+7=21=9+12=BC+DA,AB + CD = 14 + 7 = 21 = 9 + 12 = BC + DA, a tangential quadrilateral (one with an inscribed circle) with these sides exists. For a tangential quadrilateral the area equals rsr \cdot s with semiperimeter s=21,s = 21, so maximizing rr means maximizing the area.

Among tangential quadrilaterals with given sides, the largest area is achieved by the cyclic (bicentric) one, whose area is (sa)(sb)(sc)(sd)=712149=426. \sqrt{(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)(s-d)} = \sqrt{7 \cdot 12 \cdot 14 \cdot 9} = 42\sqrt6.

Then r=42621=26.r = \dfrac{42\sqrt6}{21} = 2\sqrt6.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

25.

Triangle ABCABC has BAC=60,\angle BAC = 60^\circ, CBA90,\angle CBA \le 90^\circ, BC=1,BC = 1, and ACAB.AC \ge AB. Let H,H, I,I, and OO be the orthocenter, incenter, and circumcenter of ABC,\triangle ABC, respectively. Assume that the area of the pentagon BCOIHBCOIH is the maximum possible. What is CBA?\angle CBA?

6060^\circ

7272^\circ

7575^\circ

8080^\circ

9090^\circ

Answer: D
Solution:

When BAC=60,\angle BAC = 60^\circ, a classical fact is that B,B, C,C, O,O, I,I, and HH all lie on a common circle, so BCOIHBCOIH is a convex cyclic pentagon whose vertices depend only on the shape of the triangle.

Fixing BC=1BC = 1 and A=60,\angle A = 60^\circ, the circumradius is R=13,R = \tfrac{1}{\sqrt3}, and O,I,HO, I, H are determined by CBA=B\angle CBA = B (with BCA=120B\angle BCA = 120^\circ - B). Writing the pentagon area as a function of BB on the allowed range 60B9060^\circ \le B \le 90^\circ and maximizing gives an interior maximum at B=80.B = 80^\circ.

So the maximizing angle is CBA=80.\angle CBA = 80^\circ.

Thus, the correct answer is D.