2011 AMC 12B Problem 7

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 7 of the 2011 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2011 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:optimizationbounding to limit cases

Difficulty rating: 1200

7.

Let xx and yy be two-digit positive integers with mean 60.60. What is the maximum value of the ratio xy?\dfrac{x}{y}?

33

337\dfrac{33}{7}

397\dfrac{39}{7}

99

9910\dfrac{99}{10}

Solution:

Since x+y2=60,\dfrac{x+y}{2}=60, we have x+y=120.x+y=120. To maximize xy\dfrac{x}{y} we make yy small.

Because x99,x\le99, it follows that y=120x21.y=120-x\ge21. Taking x=99x=99 and y=21y=21 gives the maximum 9921=337. \dfrac{99}{21}=\dfrac{33}{7}.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

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