1988 AMC 8 Exam Solutions

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All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

1.

The diagram shows part of a scale of a measuring device. The arrow indicates an approximate reading of

10.0510.05

10.1510.15

10.2510.25

10.310.3

10.610.6

Concepts:estimation

Difficulty rating: 370

Solution:

The scale is divided into fourths between 1010 and 11,11, so the interior tick marks fall at 10.25,10.25, 10.5,10.5, and 10.75.10.75.

The arrow points just past the 10.2510.25 mark, so the reading is between 10.2510.25 and 10.5.10.5. Of the choices, only 10.310.3 lies in that range.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

2.

What is the product 8×.25×2×.125?8 \times .25 \times 2 \times .125?

18\dfrac{1}{8}

14\dfrac{1}{4}

12\dfrac{1}{2}

11

22

Difficulty rating: 450

Solution:

Write the decimals as fractions: 8×14×2×18.8 \times \dfrac14 \times 2 \times \dfrac18.

Grouping, (8×18)(14×2)=1×12=12.\left(8 \times \dfrac18\right)\left(\dfrac14 \times 2\right) = 1 \times \dfrac12 = \dfrac12.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

3.

What is the value of the following expression?

110+220+330\dfrac{1}{10} + \dfrac{2}{20} + \dfrac{3}{30}

.1.1

.123.123

.2.2

.3.3

.6.6

Concepts:fraction

Difficulty rating: 450

Solution:

Each fraction equals 110=.1,\dfrac{1}{10} = .1, since 220=330=110.\dfrac{2}{20} = \dfrac{3}{30} = \dfrac{1}{10}.

So the sum is .1+.1+.1=.3..1 + .1 + .1 = .3.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

4.

The figure consists of alternating light and dark squares. The number of dark squares exceeds the number of light squares by

77

88

99

1010

1111

Difficulty rating: 560

Solution:

In each horizontal row the squares alternate dark, light, dark, and so on, beginning and ending with a dark square. So every row has exactly one more dark square than light square.

The figure has 88 rows, so the dark squares exceed the light squares by 8.8.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

5.

If CBD\angle CBD is a right angle, then this protractor indicates that the measure of ABC\angle ABC is approximately

2020^\circ

4040^\circ

5050^\circ

7070^\circ

120120^\circ

Concepts:angle chasing

Difficulty rating: 800

Solution:

Reading the protractor, ray BABA is at about 2020^\circ and ray BDBD is at about 160.160^\circ.

Because CBD\angle CBD is a right angle, ray BCBC is at 16090=70.160^\circ - 90^\circ = 70^\circ.

Therefore ABC=7020=50.\angle ABC = 70^\circ - 20^\circ = 50^\circ.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

6.

What is the value of the following expression?

(.2)3(.02)2\dfrac{(.2)^3}{(.02)^2}

.2.2

22

1010

1515

2020

Difficulty rating: 730

Solution:

The numerator is (.2)3=.008(.2)^3 = .008 and the denominator is (.02)2=.0004.(.02)^2 = .0004.

So the value is .008.0004=804=20.\dfrac{.008}{.0004} = \dfrac{80}{4} = 20.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

7.

The expression 2.46×8.163×(5.17+4.829)2.46 \times 8.163 \times (5.17 + 4.829) is closest to

100100

200200

300300

400400

500500

Concepts:estimation

Difficulty rating: 730

Solution:

Round each factor: 2.462.5,2.46 \approx 2.5, 8.1638,8.163 \approx 8, and 5.17+4.82910.5.17 + 4.829 \approx 10.

The product is about 2.5×8×10=200.2.5 \times 8 \times 10 = 200.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

8.

Betty used a calculator to find the product 0.075×2.56.0.075 \times 2.56. She forgot to enter the decimal points. The calculator showed 19200.19200. If Betty had entered the decimal points correctly, the answer would have been

.0192.0192

.192.192

1.921.92

19.219.2

192192

Difficulty rating: 800

Solution:

The factors 0.0750.075 and 2.562.56 have 33 and 22 decimal places, for a total of 5.5.

Placing the decimal point 55 digits from the right of 1920019200 gives 0.19200=.192.0.19200 = .192.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

9.

An isosceles triangle is a triangle with two sides of equal length. How many of the five triangles on the square grid below are isosceles?

11

22

33

44

55

Difficulty rating: 960

Solution:

Read each triangle's side lengths from the grid. A horizontal or vertical side is counted directly, and a slanted side spanning aa units across and bb units up has length a2+b2.\sqrt{a^2 + b^2}.

Top-left triangle: its two slanted sides each span 11 across and 22 up, so each has length 5,\sqrt{5}, with a base of length 2.2. Two equal sides, so it is isosceles.

Top-middle triangle: it has a vertical side of length 22 and a horizontal side of length 22 (its third side is the slant 222\sqrt{2}). Two equal sides, so it is isosceles.

Top-right triangle: its sides are 2,2, 5,\sqrt{5}, and 13,\sqrt{13}, which are all different, so it is not isosceles.

Bottom-left (wide, flat) triangle: its two slanted sides each span 33 across and 11 up, so each has length 10.\sqrt{10}. Two equal sides, so it is isosceles.

Bottom-right triangle: two of its sides each span 22 and 11 (giving length 5\sqrt{5}), while the third is 10.\sqrt{10}. Two equal sides, so it is isosceles.

Four of the five triangles are isosceles.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

10.

Chris' birthday is on a Thursday this year. What day of the week will it be 6060 days after her birthday?

Monday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Difficulty rating: 820

Solution:

Days of the week repeat every 77 days. Since 60=8×7+4,60 = 8 \times 7 + 4, the day 6060 days later is 44 days after Thursday.

Counting forward from Thursday: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday. So it is a Monday.

Thus, the correct answer is A .

11.

The value of 164\sqrt{164} is

4242

less than 1010

between 1010 and 1111

between 1111 and 1212

between 1212 and 1313

Difficulty rating: 660

Solution:

Since 122=14412^2 = 144 and 132=169,13^2 = 169, and 144<164<169,144 \lt 164 \lt 169, the value 164\sqrt{164} lies between 1212 and 13.13.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

12.

Suppose the estimated 2020 billion dollar cost to send a person to the planet Mars is shared equally by the 250250 million people in the U.S. Then each person's share is

$40

$50

$80

$100

$125

Concepts:place value

Difficulty rating: 730

Solution:

Each person's share is 20 billion250 million=2×10102.5×108.\dfrac{20 \text{ billion}}{250 \text{ million}} = \dfrac{2 \times 10^{10}}{2.5 \times 10^{8}}.

This equals .8×102=80..8 \times 10^{2} = 80.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

13.

If rose bushes are spaced about 11 foot apart, approximately how many bushes are needed to surround a circular patio whose radius is 1212 feet?

1212

3838

4848

7575

450450

Difficulty rating: 860

Solution:

The bushes surround the circular edge, so their number is about the circumference 2πr=2π(12).2\pi r = 2\pi(12).

Using π3.14,\pi \approx 3.14, this is about 2×3.14×12752 \times 3.14 \times 12 \approx 75 feet, so roughly 7575 bushes are needed.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

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

Difficulty rating: 730

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 .

15.

What is the reciprocal of (12+13)?\left(\dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{1}{3}\right)?

16\dfrac{1}{6}

25\dfrac{2}{5}

65\dfrac{6}{5}

52\dfrac{5}{2}

55

Concepts:fraction

Difficulty rating: 660

Solution:

Adding, 12+13=36+26=56.\dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{1}{3} = \dfrac{3}{6} + \dfrac{2}{6} = \dfrac{5}{6}.

The reciprocal of 56\dfrac{5}{6} is 65.\dfrac{6}{5}.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

16.

Placing no more than one X in each small square, what is the greatest number of X's that can be put on a 3×33 \times 3 grid without getting three X's in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally?

22

33

44

55

66

Difficulty rating: 1120

Solution:

A placement of 66 X's works: leave the three squares along one main diagonal empty and fill the other six. Then each row and each column is missing one square, the used diagonal has an empty square, and the other diagonal passes through the empty center, so no line of three is complete.

Seven X's is impossible: only two squares would be empty, and two empty squares can lie in at most two of the three rows, forcing the remaining row to be completely filled with three X's.

So the greatest number is 6.6.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

17.

The shaded area is formed by two intersecting perpendicular rectangles, with dimensions as shown. Its area, in square units, is

2323

3838

4444

4646

unable to be determined from the information given

Difficulty rating: 960

Solution:

The horizontal rectangle has area 10×2=20,10 \times 2 = 20, and the vertical rectangle has area 3×8=24.3 \times 8 = 24. Their overlap, a 3×23 \times 2 rectangle, has area 6.6.

Adding the two rectangles counts the overlap twice, so the shaded area is 20+246=38.20 + 24 - 6 = 38.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

18.

The average weight of 66 boys is 150150 pounds and the average weight of 44 girls is 120120 pounds. The average weight of the 1010 children is

135135 pounds

137137 pounds

138138 pounds

140140 pounds

141141 pounds

Concepts:mean

Difficulty rating: 860

Solution:

The total weight is 6×150+4×120=900+480=13806 \times 150 + 4 \times 120 = 900 + 480 = 1380 pounds.

The average of the 1010 children is 138010=138\dfrac{1380}{10} = 138 pounds.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

19.

What is the 100100th number in the arithmetic sequence 1,5,9,13,17,21,25,?1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, \ldots?

397397

399399

401401

403403

405405

Difficulty rating: 820

Solution:

The sequence starts at 11 with common difference 4.4. The 100100th term is reached by adding 44 to the first term 9999 times.

So the 100100th term is 1+99×4=1+396=397.1 + 99 \times 4 = 1 + 396 = 397.

Thus, the correct answer is A .

20.

The glass gauge on a cylindrical coffee maker shows there are 4545 cups left when the coffee maker is 36%36\% full. How many cups of coffee does it hold when it is full?

8080

100100

125125

130130

262262

Difficulty rating: 930

Solution:

Let nn be the full capacity. Then 45n=36100.\dfrac{45}{n} = \dfrac{36}{100}.

Solving, n=45×10036=125n = \dfrac{45 \times 100}{36} = 125 cups.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

21.

A fifth number, n,n, is added to the set of numbers {3,6,9,10}\{3, 6, 9, 10\} to make the mean of the set of five numbers equal to its median. The number of possible values for nn is

11

22

33

44

more than 44

Difficulty rating: 1260

Solution:

The five numbers have sum 28+n28 + n and mean 28+n5.\dfrac{28 + n}{5}. The median is the middle value when sorted, which is 6,6, n,n, or 99 depending on the size of n.n.

If the median is 66: 28+n5=6\dfrac{28 + n}{5} = 6 gives n=2,n = 2, which is indeed less than 6.6. If the median is nn: 28+n5=n\dfrac{28 + n}{5} = n gives n=7,n = 7, which is between 66 and 9.9. If the median is 99: 28+n5=9\dfrac{28 + n}{5} = 9 gives n=17,n = 17, which is indeed greater than 9.9.

Each case yields a valid value, so nn can be 2,2, 7,7, or 1717 — three possible values.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

22.

Tom's Hat Shoppe increased all original prices by 25%.25\%. Now the shoppe is having a sale where all prices are 20%20\% off these increased prices. Which statement best describes the sale price of an item?

The sale price is 5%5\% higher than the original price.

The sale price is higher than the original price, but by less than 5%.5\%.

The sale price is higher than the original price, but by more than 5%.5\%.

The sale price is lower than the original price.

The sale price is the same as the original price.

Concepts:percentage

Difficulty rating: 1060

Solution:

Increasing by 25%25\% multiplies the price by 1.25,1.25, and then taking 20%20\% off multiplies by 0.80.0.80.

The overall factor is 1.25×0.80=1.00,1.25 \times 0.80 = 1.00, so the sale price equals the original price.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

23.

Maria buys computer disks at a price of 44 for $5 and sells them at a price of 33 for $5. How many computer disks must she sell in order to make a profit of $100?

100100

120120

200200

240240

12001200

Difficulty rating: 1110

Solution:

Consider disks in dozens, since 1212 is a multiple of both 44 and 3.3. A dozen disks costs 3×$5=$153 \times \$5 = \$15 to buy and sells for 4×$5=$20,4 \times \$5 = \$20, for a profit of $5 per dozen.

To make $100 profit she needs 1005=20\dfrac{100}{5} = 20 dozen, which is 20×12=24020 \times 12 = 240 disks.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

24.

The square in the first diagram "rolls" clockwise around the fixed regular hexagon until it reaches the bottom. In which position will the solid triangle be in diagram 4?4?

Difficulty rating: 1510

Solution:

Each roll of the square over one edge of the hexagon turns it 150150^\circ clockwise. (At the pivot corner the square turns through 360360^\circ minus the square's own 9090^\circ corner minus the hexagon's 120120^\circ interior angle, which leaves 150.150^\circ.)

From the top of the hexagon to the bottom is 33 rolls, for a total of 3×150=450.3 \times 150^\circ = 450^\circ. That is one complete revolution (360360^\circ) plus an extra 9090^\circ clockwise.

The triangle starts pointing straight up, so after the extra quarter turn clockwise it points to the right.

Thus, the correct answer is A .

25.

A palindrome is a whole number that reads the same forwards as backwards. If one neglects the colon, certain times displayed on a digital watch are palindromes. Three examples are 1:01, 4:44, and 12:21. How many times during a 1212-hour period will be palindromes?

5757

6060

6363

9090

9393

Difficulty rating: 1380

Solution:

For a single-digit hour hh (from 11 to 99), the display h ⁣: ⁣m1m2h\!:\!m_1 m_2 reads the same backwards when m2=h.m_2 = h. The tens digit m1m_1 can be 0,1,2,3,4,0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5,5, giving 66 palindromes per hour, so 9×6=54.9 \times 6 = 54.

For the two-digit hours 10,11,12,10, 11, 12, the display h1h2 ⁣: ⁣m1m2h_1 h_2\!:\!m_1 m_2 is a palindrome when m1=h2m_1 = h_2 and m2=h1,m_2 = h_1, giving exactly 10:01, 11:11, and 12:21 — one each, for 33 more.

The total is 54+3=57.54 + 3 = 57.

Thus, the correct answer is A .