1997 AMC 8 Problem 16

Attempt Problem 16 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).

16.

Penni Precisely buys $100\$ 100 worth of stock in each of three companies: Alabama Almonds, Boston Beans, and California Cauliflower. After one year, AA was up 20%,20 \%, BB was down 25%,25 \%, and CC was unchanged. For the second year, AA was down 20%20 \% from the previous year, BB was up 25%25 \% from the previous year, and CC was unchanged. If A,A, B,B, and CC are the final values of the stock, then
A=B=CA = B = C
A=B<CA = B \lt C
C<B=AC \lt B = A
A<B<CA \lt B \lt C
B<A<CB \lt A \lt C
Answer: E
Concepts:percentage
Small hint:
A 2020 percent gain followed by a 2020 percent loss does not return to the start
Big hint:
Apply each percent change multiplicatively
Solution:
After the first year, AA’s stock’s worth goes up to $100⋅1.2=$120 \$ 100 \cdot 1.2 = \$ 120 and BB’s goes down to $100⋅0.75=$75. \$ 100 \cdot 0.75 = \$ 75.
After the second year, AA’s stock is worth $120⋅0.8=$96 \$ 120 \cdot 0.8 = \$ 96 and BB’s is worth $75⋅1.25=$93.75. \$ 75 \cdot 1.25 = \$ 93.75.
CC’s stock worth remains the same, so the ordering of the stock worths is now B<A<C. B \lt A \lt C.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
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