2014 AMC 12B Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2014 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 2014 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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

2.

Orvin went to the store with just enough money to buy 3030 balloons. When he arrived he discovered that the store had a special sale on balloons: buy 11 balloon at the regular price and get a second at 13\tfrac13 off the regular price. What is the greatest number of balloons Orvin could buy?
3333
3434
3636
3838
3939
Answer: C
Concepts:ratio and proportionmoney
Small hint:
Group the balloons into pairs, one at full price and one at 23\tfrac23 of the price
Big hint:
Each pair costs 53\tfrac53 of a regular balloon’s price
Solution:
Under the sale, a pair of balloons costs 1+23=531 + \tfrac23 = \tfrac53 times the regular price of one balloon.
Orvin’s money buys 3030 balloons at the regular price, so he can afford 30÷53=18 30 \div \tfrac53 = 18 pairs, which is 3636 balloons.
Thus, the correct answer is C.
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