2012 AMC 12B Problem 3

Attempt Problem 3 of the 2012 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 2012 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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

3.

For a science project, Sammy observed a chipmunk and a squirrel stashing acorns in holes. The chipmunk hid 33 acorns in each of the holes it dug. The squirrel hid 44 acorns in each of the holes it dug. They each hid the same number of acorns, although the squirrel needed 44 fewer holes. How many acorns did the chipmunk hide?
3030
3636
4242
4848
5454
Answer: D
Concepts:linear equation
Small hint:
Let hh be the number of holes the chipmunk dug, so the squirrel dug h−4h-4
Big hint:
The equal totals give 3h=4(h−4)3h=4(h-4)
Solution:
Let hh be the number of holes the chipmunk dug. The chipmunk hid 3h3h acorns and the squirrel hid 4(h−4)4(h-4) acorns.
Since they hid the same number, 3h=4(h−4),3h=4(h-4), which gives h=16.h=16.
The chipmunk hid 3⋅16=483\cdot16=48 acorns.
Thus, the correct answer is D.
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