1999 AMC 8 Exam Problems
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Used with permission of the Mathematical Association of America.
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1.
To make this statement true, the question mark between the and the should be replaced by
None of these
Answer: A
Solution(s):
We have that
Then
The only choice that works is
Thus, A is the correct answer.
2.
What is the degree measure of the smaller angle formed by the hands of a clock at o'clock?
Answer: C
Solution(s):
At o'clock, we have that the hour hand is at and the minute hand is at
This means that the hands are a of the entire circle apart. This is equal to
Thus, C is the correct answer.
3.
Which triplet of numbers has a sum NOT equal to
Answer: D
Solution(s):
We have that A is the same as
B reduces to
C adds up to
D however adds to
To make sure, we check that E has a sum of
Thus, D is the correct answer.
4.
The diagram shows the miles traveled by bikers Alberto and Bjorn. After four hours, about how many more miles has Alberto biked than Bjorn?
Answer: A
Solution(s):
Looking at the graph, we have that Alberto has biked miles and Bjorn miles after hours.
The difference between the two distances is miles.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
5.
A rectangular garden feet long and feet wide is enclosed by a fence. To make the garden larger, while using the same fence, its shape is changed to a square. By how many square feet does this enlarge the garden?
Answer: D
Solution(s):
The current length of the fence is feet. If all the sides become the same, then each side length is feet. As such, the area of the square is then square feet. Note that the original area of the garden is square feet.
Therefore, the difference is square feet.
Thus, D is the correct answer.
6.
Bo, Coe, Flo, Jo, and Moe have different amounts of money. Neither Jo nor Bo has as much money as Flo. Both Bo and Coe have more than Moe. Jo has more than Moe, but less than Bo. Who has the least amount of money?
Bo
Coe
Flo
Jo
Moe
Answer: E
Solution(s):
Let and represent the amount of money that Bo, Coe, Flo, Jo, and Moe have respectively.
Then
We also have
Finally, we are given
From the first and second inequalities, we can get that
This shows that everyone has more money than Moe.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
7.
The third exit on a highway is located at milepost and the tenth exit is at milepost There is a service center on the highway located three-fourths of the way from the third exit to the tenth exit. At what milepost would you expect to find this service center?
Answer: E
Solution(s):
There are mileposts between the third and tenth exits.
This means of the way is at the milepost.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
8.
Six squares are colored, front and back, (R = red, B = blue, O = orange, Y = yellow, G = green, and W = white). They are hinged together as shown, then folded to form a cube. The face opposite the white face is
B
G
O
R
Y
Answer: A
Solution(s):
Consider the cube with the yellow face facing upwards.
Then we can fold the white, green, and orange faces down.
Since the blue face is attached to the green face, it will end up folding backwards.
This means that the blue face will end up facing opposite the white face.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
9.
Three flower beds overlap as shown. Bed A has plants, bed B has plants, and bed C has plants. Beds A and B share plants, while beds A and C share The total number of plants is
Answer: C
Solution(s):
Note there are plants that are in two beds and there are no plants in all three beds.
The total number of plants is then We subtract to get rid of the plants that we counted twice.
Thus, C is the correct answer.
10.
A complete cycle of a traffic light takes seconds. During each cycle the light is green for seconds, yellow for seconds, and red for seconds. At a randomly chosen time, what is the probability that the light will NOT be green?
Answer: E
Solution(s):
During a given cycle, the light is not green for seconds.
Then the probability that it is not green is
Thus, E is the correct answer.
11.
Each of the five numbers and is placed in one of the five squares so that the sum of the three numbers in the horizontal row equals the sum of the three numbers in the vertical column. The largest possible value for the horizontal or vertical sum is
Answer: D
Solution(s):
Let be the number in the middle. Then the sum of the horizontal and vertical sums is since is counted twice. To maximize this, we want to maximize so we let
Then, from the above, expression, we have that the largest possible value of the sum of the horizontal and vertical sums is
The sum of one direction is then
Thus, D is the correct answer.
12.
The ratio of the number of games won to the number of games lost (no ties) by the Middle School Middies is To the nearest whole percent, what percent of its games did the team lose?
Answer: B
Solution(s):
The total number of games is so the percent of games lost is
Thus, B is the correct answer
13.
The average age of the members of a computer science camp is years. There are girls, boys, and adults. If the average age of the girls is and the average age of the boys is what is the average age of the adults?
Answer: C
Solution(s):
The sum of the ages of everybody at the camp is
The sum of the ages of the girls is and of the boys is
As such, we know that the ages of the adults must be
And therefore, the average age of the adults is then
Thus, C is the correct answer.
14.
In trapezoid the sides and are equal. The perimeter of is
Answer: D
Solution(s):
Let be where the altitude from to intersects
Then we have that since
We then have that
Then the perimeter is
Thus, D is the correct answer.
15.
Bicycle license plates in Flatville each contain three letters. The first is chosen from the set the second from and the third from
When Flatville needed more license plates, they added two new letters. The new letters may both be added to one set or one letter may be added to one set and one to another set. What is the largest possible number of additional license plates that can be made by adding two letters?
Answer: D
Solution(s):
There are currently license plates that can be made.
If both letters are added to the first set, then there are possible plates.
If they are both added to the second, there are plates.
If they are added to the third, there are choices.
If one is added to the first set and the other to the second set, there are plates.
If the other is added to the third set, we get possible plates.
Finally, if the letters are added to the second and third sets, there are plates.
We see that is the greatest number of plates that we can achieve. This is an additional plates.
Thus, D is the correct answer.
16.
Tori's mathematics test had problems: arithmetic, algebra, and geometry problems. Although she answered of the arithmetic, of the algebra, and of the geometry problems correctly, she did not pass the test because she got less than of the problems right.
How many more problems would she have needed to answer correctly to earn a passing grade?
Answer: B
Solution(s):
She answered arithmetic questions correctly. She answered algebra ones correctly. She also got geometry questions correctly.
This means she got a total of questions correct.
As such, in order to get a Tori must have answered questions correctly. This means that she would have needed to answer an additional questions correctly.
Thus, B is the correct answer.
17.
Problems and refer to the following:
Cookies For a Crowd
At Central Middle School the students who take the AMC meet in the evening to talk about problems and eat an average of two cookies apiece. Walter and Gretel are baking Bonnie's Best Bar Cookies this year. Their recipe, which makes a pan of cookies, lists these items: cups of flour, eggs, tablespoons butter, cups sugar, and package of chocolate drops. They will make only full recipes, not partial recipes.
Walter can buy eggs by the half-dozen. How many half-dozens should he buy to make enough cookies? (Some eggs and some cookies may be left over.)
Answer: C
Solution(s):
Since the students eat an average of cookies each, they will eat a total of cookies.
Each recipe makes cookies, which means we need full recipes to make enough cookies.
Each pan requires eggs, which means we need eggs. There are eggs in a half-dozen, so we need half-dozens.
Thus, C is the correct answer.
18.
They learn that a big concert is scheduled for the same night and attendance will be down How many recipes of cookies should they make for their smaller party?
Answer: E
Solution(s):
There will now only be people at the party. This means we need recipes.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
19.
The drummer gets sick. The concert is cancelled. Walter and Gretel must make enough pans of cookies to supply cookies. There are tablespoons in a stick of butter. How many sticks of butter will be needed? (Some butter may be left over, of course.)
Answer: B
Solution(s):
To make cookies, they have to make pans. Since each pan requires tablespoons of butter, all the pans will need tablespoons.
They will then need sticks of butter.
Thus, B is the correct answer.
20.
Figure is called a "stack map." The numbers tell how many cubes are stacked in each position. Fig. shows these cubes, and Fig. shows the view of the stacked cubes as seen from the front.
Which of the following is the front view for the stack map in Fig.
Answer: B
Solution(s):
Note that the height of the column is the maximum height of the front and back columns.
In the left column, we have that the back column is taller with height
In the middle column, we have that the front column is taller with height
Finally, the right column has height
Thus, B is the correct answer.
21.
The degree measure of angle is
Answer: B
Solution(s):
Label the vertices as below.
We then have that by supplementary angles. Then we have again by supplementary angles. Using the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is we get Then, using vertical angles, we have Finally, using the sum of the interior angles of a triangle, we get
Thus, B is the correct answer.
22.
In a far-off land three fish can be traded for two loaves of bread and a loaf of bread can be traded for four bags of rice. How many bags of rice is one fish worth?
Answer: D
Solution(s):
Let be the worth of a fish, for a loaf of bread, and for rice.
Then we are given
Substituting, we get
Thus, D is the correct answer.
23.
Square has sides of length Segments and divide the square's area into three equal parts. How long is segment
Answer: C
Solution(s):
The area of the square is which means that the area of one region is
This means the area of is which means that
Since is right, we have
Thus, C is the correct answer.
24.
When is divided by the remainder is
Answer: D
Solution(s):
Note that to find the remainder when divided by we only care about the units digit.
This means we only have to observe how the powers of the units digit work, namely the powers of
Then, looking at powers of we see that the units digit alternates between and This means that ends in a since the power is even.
The remainder when divided by is then since it is more than a multiple of
Thus, D is the correct answer.
25.
Points and are midpoints of the sides of right triangle Points are midpoints of the sides of triangle etc. If the dividing and shading process is done times (the first three are shown) and then the total area of the shaded triangles is nearest
Answer: A
Solution(s):
Note that all the triangles are isosceles right triangles. We can find the following side lengths: and
We then have that the areas of the triangles are and
The sum of these areas is
This can act as underestimate for the areas of all triangles, since it does not include some areas.
Now, we have that the other triangles are all contained with
This means that we can use the area of is an overestimate for all the other triangles.
The area of is Then
Then, the true value is between and which means that is nearest it.
Thus, A is the correct answer.