1987 AMC 8 Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 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).

23.

Assume the adjoining chart shows the 19801980 U.S. population, in millions, for each region by ethnic group. To the nearest percent, what percent of the U.S. Black population lived in the South?
NE MW South West
White 4242 5252 5757 3535
Black 55 55 1515 22
Asian 11 11 11 33
Other 11 11 22 44
20%20\%
25%25\%
40%40\%
56%56\%
80%80\%
Answer: D
Concepts:percentage
Small hint:
Add the Black population across all four regions to get the total
Big hint:
Divide the South’s figure by that total, then convert to a percent
Solution:
The total Black population is 5+5+15+2=275 + 5 + 15 + 2 = 27 million.
The South’s share is 1527=59≈55.6%,\dfrac{15}{27} = \dfrac59 \approx 55.6\%, which rounds to 56%.56\%.
Thus, the correct answer is D .
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