1994 AMC 8 Problem 20

Attempt Problem 20 of the 1994 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 1994 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

20.

Let W,W, X,X, Y,Y, and ZZ be four different digits selected from the set
{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}.\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9\}.
If the sum WX+YZ\dfrac{W}{X} + \dfrac{Y}{Z} is to be as small as possible, then WX+YZ\dfrac{W}{X} + \dfrac{Y}{Z} must equal
217\dfrac{2}{17}
317\dfrac{3}{17}
1772\dfrac{17}{72}
2572\dfrac{25}{72}
1336\dfrac{13}{36}
Answer: D
Concepts:fractionoptimization
Small hint:
To make each fraction small, use the smallest digits as numerators and the largest as denominators
Big hint:
Compare 18+29\dfrac18 + \dfrac29 with 19+28\dfrac19 + \dfrac28 to see which is smaller
Solution:
Small numerators and large denominators make small fractions, so use 11 and 22 as numerators and 88 and 99 as denominators.
Pairing the larger numerator with the larger denominator gives 18+29=9+1672=2572,\dfrac18 + \dfrac29 = \dfrac{9 + 16}{72} = \dfrac{25}{72}, which is smaller than 19+28=2672.\dfrac19 + \dfrac28 = \dfrac{26}{72}. So the minimum sum is 2572.\dfrac{25}{72}.
Thus, the correct answer is D .
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