1991 AMC 8 Exam Problems

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1.

What is the value of $1{,}000{,}000{,}000{,}000 - 777{,}777{,}777{,}777?$

$222{,}222{,}222{,}222$

$222{,}222{,}222{,}223$

$233{,}333{,}333{,}333$

$322{,}222{,}222{,}223$

$333{,}333{,}333{,}333$

Answer: B

Concepts:place value

Difficulty rating: 450

Solution:

Lining up the subtraction gives $1{,}000{,}000{,}000{,}000 - 777{,}777{,}777{,}777 = 222{,}222{,}222{,}223.$

Equivalently, to climb from $777{,}777{,}777{,}777$ up to $1{,}000{,}000{,}000{,}000$ you add $3$ in the units place and $2$ in each of the other eleven places.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

2.

What is the value of $\frac{16+8}{4-2}?$

$4$

$8$

$12$

$16$

$20$

Answer: C

Concepts:order of operations whole number operations

Difficulty rating: 450

Solution:

$\frac{16+8}{4-2} = \frac{24}{2} = 12.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .

3.

Two hundred thousand times two hundred thousand equals

four hundred thousand

four million

forty thousand

four hundred million

forty billion

Answer: E

Concepts:place value exponent

Difficulty rating: 450

Solution:

$200{,}000 \times 200{,}000 = 4 \times 10^{10} = 40{,}000{,}000{,}000,$ which is forty billion.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

4.

If $991 + 993 + 995 + 997 + 999 = 5000 - N,$ then $N =$

$5$

$10$

$15$

$20$

$25$

Answer: E

Concepts:arithmetic sequence

Difficulty rating: 560

Solution:

Since $991+993+995+997+999 = (1000-9)+(1000-7)+(1000-5)+(1000-3)+(1000-1) = 5000 - (9+7+5+3+1) = 5000 - 25,$ we get $N = 25.$

Thus, the correct answer is E .

5.

A "domino" is made up of two small squares:

. Which of the "checkerboards" illustrated below CANNOT be covered exactly and completely by a whole number of non-overlapping dominoes?

$3 \times 4$

$3 \times 5$

$4 \times 4$

$4 \times 5$

$6 \times 3$

Answer: B

Concepts:tiling parity

Difficulty rating: 800

Solution:

Every domino covers exactly $2$ squares, so any board that is completely covered by non-overlapping dominoes must contain an even number of small squares.

Counting squares: $3 \times 4 = 12,$ $3 \times 5 = 15,$ $4 \times 4 = 16,$ $4 \times 5 = 20,$ and $6 \times 3 = 18.$ Only $3 \times 5 = 15$ is odd, so that board cannot be covered. (Each of the even boards has a side of even length and is easily tiled with dominoes.)

Thus, the correct answer is B .

6.

Which number in the array below is both the largest in its column and the smallest in its row? (Columns go up and down, rows go right and left.)

$\begin{array}{ccccc} 10 & 6 & 4 & 3 & 2 \\ 11 & 7 & 14 & 10 & 8 \\ 8 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 9 \\ 13 & 4 & 15 & 12 & 1 \\ 8 & 2 & 5 & 9 & 3 \end{array}$

$1$

$6$

$7$

$12$

$15$

Answer: C

Concepts:systematic listing extremal argument

Difficulty rating: 800

Solution:

The largest entry in each column is $13$ (column $1$ ), $7$ (column $2$ ), $15$ (column $3$ ), $12$ (column $4$ ), and $9$ (column $5$ ).

Of these, only $7$ is the smallest number in its own row (row $2$ is $11, 7, 14, 10, 8$ ).

Thus, the correct answer is C .

7.

The value of $\frac{(487{,}000)(12{,}027{,}300) + (9{,}621{,}001)(487{,}000)}{(19{,}367)(.05)}$ is closest to

$10{,}000{,}000$

$100{,}000{,}000$

$1{,}000{,}000{,}000$

$10{,}000{,}000{,}000$

$100{,}000{,}000{,}000$

Answer: D

Concepts:estimation distributive property

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

Factor the numerator: $487{,}000\,(12{,}027{,}300 + 9{,}621{,}001).$

Rounding to leading digits, this is about $500{,}000 \times (10{,}000{,}000 + 10{,}000{,}000) = 500{,}000 \times 2 \times 10^{7}.$ The denominator is about $20{,}000 \times .05 = 1000.$

So the value is roughly $\dfrac{500{,}000 \times 2 \times 10^{7}}{1000} = 10^{10} = 10{,}000{,}000{,}000.$

Thus, the correct answer is D .

8.

What is the largest quotient that can be formed using two numbers chosen from the set $\{-24, -3, -2, 1, 2, 8\}?$

$-24$

$-3$

$8$

$12$

$24$

Answer: D

Concepts:optimization casework

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

For a large quotient it should be positive, so use two positive numbers or two negative numbers.

Best positive pair: $\dfrac{8}{1} = 8.$ Best negative pair: $\dfrac{-24}{-2} = 12.$ The larger is $12.$

Thus, the correct answer is D .

9.

How many whole numbers from $1$ through $46$ are divisible by either $3$ or $5$ or both?

$18$

$21$

$24$

$25$

$27$

Answer: B

Concepts:inclusion-exclusion multiple

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

There are $15$ multiples of $3$ and $9$ multiples of $5$ up to $46.$ The $3$ multiples of $15$ (namely $15, 30, 45$ ) were counted twice.

By inclusion-exclusion, the count is $15 + 9 - 3 = 21.$

Thus, the correct answer is B .

10.

The area in square units of the region enclosed by parallelogram $ABCD$ is

$6$

$8$

$12$

$15$

$18$

Answer: B

Concepts:coordinate geometry parallelogram area

Difficulty rating: 860

Solution:

Side $BC$ runs from $(0,2)$ to $(4,2),$ so the base is $4.$ The opposite side $AD$ lies on the $x$ -axis, so the height is $2.$

The area is $4 \times 2 = 8.$

Thus, the correct answer is B .

11.

There are several sets of three different numbers whose sum is $15$ which can be chosen from $\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9\}.$ How many of these sets contain a $5?$

$3$

$4$

$5$

$6$

$7$

Answer: B

Concepts:counting pairs systematic listing

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

With $5$ chosen, the other two different numbers must sum to $10.$ The pairs are $1+9,\ 2+8,\ 3+7,\ 4+6,$ giving $4$ sets.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

12.

If $\frac{2+3+4}{3} = \frac{1990+1991+1992}{N},$ then $N =$

$3$

$6$

$1990$

$1991$

$1992$

Answer: D

Concepts:arithmetic sequence mean

Difficulty rating: 820

Solution:

The left side is $\dfrac{9}{3} = 3.$ The right side is $\dfrac{5973}{N},$ and setting it equal to $3$ gives $N = 1991.$

Equivalently, $(k-1) + k + (k+1) = 3k,$ so dividing by $3$ leaves the middle term. Here the middle term is $1991.$

Thus, the correct answer is D .

13.

How many zeros are at the end of the product $25 \times 25 \times 25 \times 25 \times 25 \times 25 \times 25 \times 8 \times 8 \times 8?$

$3$

$6$

$9$

$10$

$12$

Answer: C

Concepts:trailing zeros prime factorization

Difficulty rating: 1000

Solution:

Since $25 = 5^2,$ the seven $25$ 's give $5^{14}.$ Since $8 = 2^3,$ the three $8$ 's give $2^9.$

The number of trailing zeros is $\min(14, 9) = 9.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .

14.

Several students are competing in a series of three races. A student earns $5$ points for winning a race, $3$ points for finishing second, and $1$ point for finishing third. There are no ties. What is the smallest number of points that a student must earn in the three races to be guaranteed of earning more points than any other student?

$9$

$10$

$11$

$13$

$15$

Answer: D

Concepts:extremal argument

Difficulty rating: 1090

Solution:

A total of $11$ (for example $5+5+1$ ) does not guarantee first place, since another student could also reach $11.$

But if one student scores $5+5+3 = 13,$ the remaining places give every other student at most $3+3+5 = 11.$ So $13$ points guarantees the lead.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

15.

All six faces of a rectangular solid are rectangles, and the solid measures $1$ foot by $3$ feet by $9$ feet. A one-foot cube is cut out of the top of the solid to form a notch; the notch spans the full one-foot depth (from the front face to the back face) and lies partway along the nine-foot length. The total number of square feet in the surface of the new solid is how many more or less than that of the original solid?

$2$ less

$1$ less

the same

$1$ more

$2$ more

Answer: C

Concepts:surface area 3D geometry

Difficulty rating: 1140

Solution:

The removed cube had three faces on the surface of the solid (top, front, and back), so $3$ square feet of surface are removed.

Cutting it out exposes three new faces (the floor of the notch and its two side walls), adding $3$ square feet. The surface area is unchanged.

Thus, the correct answer is C .

16.

The $16$ squares on a piece of paper are numbered as shown in the diagram. While lying on a table, the paper is folded in half four times in the following sequence:

(1) fold the top half over the bottom half; (2) fold the bottom half over the top half; (3) fold the right half over the left half; (4) fold the left half over the right half.

Which numbered square is on top after step $4?$

$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 \\ \hline 5 & 6 & 7 & 8 \\ \hline 9 & 10 & 11 & 12 \\ \hline 13 & 14 & 15 & 16 \\ \hline \end{array}$

$1$

$9$

$10$

$14$

$16$

Answer: B

Concepts:paper folding process simulation

Difficulty rating: 1180

Solution:

Fold $1$ (top over bottom) leaves squares $9\text{–}16$ on the bottom. Fold $2$ (bottom over top) leaves $9\text{–}12$ on the bottom. Fold $3$ (right over left) leaves $9$ and $10$ on the bottom.

Fold $4$ (left over right) puts $10$ on the bottom and brings $9$ to the top.

Thus, the correct answer is B .

17.

An auditorium with $20$ rows of seats has $10$ seats in the first row. Each successive row has one more seat than the previous row. If students taking an exam are permitted to sit in any row, but not next to another student in that row, then the maximum number of students that can be seated for an exam is

$150$

$180$

$200$

$400$

$460$

Answer: C

Concepts:arrangements with restrictions arithmetic sequence floor and ceiling functions

Difficulty rating: 1140

Solution:

Row $k$ has $9+k$ seats, so it holds $\left\lceil (9+k)/2 \right\rceil$ students. For rows $1$ through $20$ (seats $10$ through $29$ ) the maxima are $5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 8, \ldots, 14, 14, 15.$

These sum to $200.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .

18.

The vertical axis indicates the number of employees, but the scale was accidentally omitted from this graph. What percent of the employees at the Gauss Company have worked there for $5$ years or more?

$9\%$

$23\dfrac13\%$

$30\%$

$42\dfrac67\%$

$50\%$

Answer: C

Concepts:data and graph interpretation percentage

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

No matter the missing scale, each X represents the same number of employees. There are $9$ X's over years $5$ through $10,$ and $30$ X's in all.

So the fraction is $\dfrac{9}{30} = 30\%.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .

19.

The average (arithmetic mean) of $10$ different positive whole numbers is $10.$ The largest possible value of any of these numbers is

$10$

$50$

$55$

$90$

$91$

Answer: C

Concepts:mean extremal argument

Difficulty rating: 1030

Solution:

The ten numbers sum to $100.$ To maximize one of them, the other nine (all different positive whole numbers) should be as small as possible: $1 + 2 + \cdots + 9 = 45.$

The largest number is then $100 - 45 = 55.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .

20.

In the addition problem shown, each digit has been replaced by a letter. If different letters represent different digits, then $C =$

$\begin{array}{cccc} & A & B & C \\ & & A & B \\ + & & & A \\ \hline & 3 & 0 & 0 \end{array}$

$1$

$3$

$5$

$7$

$9$

Answer: A

Concepts:cryptarithm place value

Difficulty rating: 1140

Solution:

The three numbers add to $111A + 11B + C = 300.$ Since $A = 1$ is too small and $A \ge 3$ is too large, $A = 2.$

Then $11B + C = 78,$ which forces $B = 7$ and $C = 1.$ So $C = 1.$

Thus, the correct answer is A .

21.

For every $3^\circ$ rise in temperature, the volume of a certain gas expands by $4$ cubic centimeters. If the volume of the gas is $24$ cubic centimeters when the temperature is $32^\circ,$ what was the volume of the gas in cubic centimeters when the temperature was $20^\circ?$

$8$

$12$

$15$

$16$

$40$

Answer: A

Concepts:rate work backwards

Difficulty rating: 950

Solution:

From $32^\circ$ to $20^\circ$ is a $12^\circ$ decrease, which is $4$ steps of $3^\circ.$

The volume decreases by $4 \times 4 = 16$ cubic centimeters, from $24$ down to $24 - 16 = 8.$

Thus, the correct answer is A .

22.

One spinner is divided into three equal parts labeled $1, 2,$ and $3.$ A second spinner is divided into three equal parts labeled $4, 5,$ and $6.$ Each spinner is spun once and the two resulting numbers are multiplied. What is the probability that this product is an even number?

$\dfrac13$

$\dfrac12$

$\dfrac23$

$\dfrac79$

$1$

Answer: D

Concepts:complementary probability parity

Difficulty rating: 1000

Solution:

The product is odd only when both numbers are odd. The first spinner is odd ( $1$ or $3$ ) with probability $\dfrac23,$ and the second is odd ( $5$ ) with probability $\dfrac13.$

So the product is odd with probability $\dfrac23 \times \dfrac13 = \dfrac29,$ and even with probability $1 - \dfrac29 = \dfrac79.$

Thus, the correct answer is D .

23.

The Pythagoras High School band has $100$ female and $80$ male members. The Pythagoras High School orchestra has $80$ female and $100$ male members. There are $60$ females who are members in both band and orchestra. Altogether, there are $230$ students who are in either band or orchestra or both. The number of males in the band who are NOT in the orchestra is

$10$

$20$

$30$

$50$

$70$

Answer: A

Concepts:inclusion-exclusion Venn Diagram

Difficulty rating: 1200

Solution:

Females in band or orchestra: $100 + 80 - 60 = 120.$ So males in at least one group: $230 - 120 = 110.$

With $80$ males in band and $100$ in orchestra, the males in both are $80 + 100 - 110 = 70.$ Hence males in band but not orchestra: $80 - 70 = 10.$

Thus, the correct answer is A .

24.

A cube of edge $3$ cm is cut into $N$ smaller cubes, not all the same size. If the edge of each of the smaller cubes is a whole number of centimeters, then $N =$

$4$

$8$

$12$

$16$

$20$

Answer: E

Concepts:cube geometry volume

Difficulty rating: 1140

Solution:

The $3 \times 3 \times 3$ cube has volume $27.$ Since the cubes are not all the same size, at most one edge- $2$ cube (volume $8$ ) fits.

The remaining $27 - 8 = 19$ of volume is filled by $19$ unit cubes. That is $1 + 19 = 20$ cubes.

Thus, the correct answer is E .

25.

An equilateral triangle is originally painted black. Each time the triangle is changed, the middle fourth of each black triangle turns white. After five changes, what fractional part of the original area of the black triangle remains black?

$\dfrac{1}{1024}$

$\dfrac{15}{64}$

$\dfrac{243}{1024}$

$\dfrac14$

$\dfrac{81}{256}$

Answer: C

Concepts:geometric sequence area ratio

Difficulty rating: 1140

Solution:

Each change leaves $\dfrac34$ of the current black area black. After five changes the black fraction is $\left(\dfrac34\right)^5 = \dfrac{243}{1024}.$

Thus, the correct answer is C .