1997 AMC 8 Problem 13

Attempt Problem 13 of the 1997 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 1997 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

13.

Three bags of jelly beans contain 26,26, 28,28, and 3030 beans. The ratios of yellow beans to all beans in each of these bags are 50%,50\%, 25%,25\%, and 20%,20\%, respectively. All three bags of candy are dumped into one bowl. Which of the following is closest to the ratio of yellow jelly beans to all beans in the bowl?
31%31\%
32%32\%
33%33\%
35%35\%
95%95\%
Answer: A
Concepts:percentagemean
Small hint:
Divide total yellow beans by total beans
Big hint:
Find the number of yellow beans in each bag
Solution:
There are 26⋅0.5=26÷2=13 26 \cdot 0.5 = 26 \div 2 = 13 yellow jelly beans in the first bag, 28⋅0.25=28÷4=7 28 \cdot 0.25 = 28 \div 4 = 7 yellow jelly beans in the second bag, and 30⋅0.2=30÷5=6 30 \cdot 0.2 = 30 \div 5 = 6 yellow jelly beans in the third bag.
The total number of yellow jelly beans is 13+7+6=26 13 + 7 + 6 = 26 and the total number of jelly beans is 26+28+30=84. 26 + 28 + 30 = 84. The ratio of yellow jelly beans to all the beans is 2684⋅100%=1342⋅100% \dfrac{26}{84} \cdot 100 \% = \dfrac{13}{42} \cdot 100 \%≈30.9%. \approx 30.9 \%.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
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