2003 AMC 8 Problem 17

Attempt Problem 17 of the 2003 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 2003 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

17.

The six children listed below are from two families of three siblings each. Each child has blue or brown eyes and black or blond hair. Children from the same family have at least one of these characteristics in common. Which two children are Jim’s siblings?
Child Eye Color Hair Color
Benjamin Blue Black
Jim Brown Blond
Nadeen Brown Black
Austin Blue Blond
Tevyn Blue Black
Sue Blue Blond
Nadeen and Austin
Benjamin and Sue
Benjamin and Austin
Nadeen and Tevyn
Austin and Sue
Answer: E
Concepts:logical deduction
Small hint:
Jim’s siblings must each share eye color or hair color with Jim.
Big hint:
The two siblings must also share at least one characteristic with each other.
Solution:
Note that Nadeen, Austin, and Sue are the only individuals who share a characteristic with Jim. We need to find which of the 33 are completely different from the others.
Austin and Sue both have blue eyes, which makes Nadeen the odd one out. Therefore, Austin and Sue are Jim’s siblings.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
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