1987 AMC 8 Problem 16

Attempt Problem 16 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).

16.

Joyce made 1212 of her first 3030 shots in the first three games of the basketball season, so her seasonal shooting average was 40%.40\%. In her next game, she took 1010 shots and raised her seasonal shooting average to 50%.50\%. How many of these 1010 shots did she make?
22
33
55
66
88
Answer: E
Concepts:percentagemean
Small hint:
After the next game she has attempted 30+10=4030 + 10 = 40 shots
Big hint:
A 50%50\% average on 4040 shots means 2020 made in all; she already had 1212
Solution:
After the fourth game she has taken 4040 shots. A 50%50\% average means she made 12×40=20\tfrac12 \times 40 = 20 shots in total.
She had already made 12,12, so she made 20−12=820 - 12 = 8 of the last 10.10.
Thus, the correct answer is E .
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.