1986 AMC 8 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 1986 AMC 8 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 1986 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

12.

The table shown displays the grade distribution of the 3030 students in a mathematics class on the last two tests. For example, exactly one student received a ‘D’ on Test 11 and a ‘C’ on Test 22 (the circled entry). What percent of the students received the same grade on both tests?
12%12\%
25%25\%
3313%33\dfrac13\%
40%40\%
50%50\%
Answer: D
Concepts:data and graph interpretationpercentage
Small hint:
A student with the same grade on both tests lies on the diagonal running from the top-left to the bottom-right of the table
Big hint:
Add the diagonal entries, then divide by 3030 and convert to a percent
Solution:
A student received the same grade on both tests exactly when counted on the main diagonal. Those entries are 2+4+5+1+0=12.2 + 4 + 5 + 1 + 0 = 12.
So the fraction is 1230=410=40%.\dfrac{12}{30} = \dfrac{4}{10} = 40\%.
Thus, the correct answer is D .
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