1988 AMC 8 Problem 14

Attempt Problem 14 of the 1988 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 1988 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

14.

If ⋄\diamond and △\triangle are whole numbers and ⋄×△=36,\diamond \times \triangle = 36, the largest possible value of ⋄+△\diamond + \triangle is
1212
1313
1515
2020
3737
Answer: E
Concepts:factoroptimization
Small hint:
List the factor pairs of 3636
Big hint:
The sum is largest when the two factors are as far apart as possible
Solution:
The factor pairs of 3636 are 1×36,1 \times 36, 2×18,2 \times 18, 3×12,3 \times 12, 4×9,4 \times 9, and 6×6.6 \times 6.
The sum is largest for the most spread-out pair, 1+36=37.1 + 36 = 37.
Thus, the correct answer is E .
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