1987 AMC 8 Problem 12

Attempt Problem 12 of the 1987 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 1987 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

12.

What fraction of the large 1212 by 1818 rectangular region is shaded?
1108\dfrac{1}{108}
118\dfrac{1}{18}
112\dfrac{1}{12}
29\dfrac{2}{9}
13\dfrac{1}{3}
Answer: C
Concepts:areafraction
Small hint:
The horizontal line splits the rectangle into a top half and a bottom half
Big hint:
The shaded part is the rightmost third of the bottom-right quarter of the rectangle
Solution:
The whole region has area 12×18=216.12 \times 18 = 216. The shaded region is 33 wide and 66 tall, with area 3×6=18.3 \times 6 = 18.
So the shaded fraction is 18216=112.\dfrac{18}{216} = \dfrac{1}{12}. Equivalently, it is 13\dfrac13 of 14\dfrac14 of the whole.
Thus, the correct answer is C .
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