2003 AMC 8 Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 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).

23.

In the pattern below, the cat moves clockwise through the four squares and the mouse moves counterclockwise through the eight exterior segments of the four squares.
If the pattern is continued, where would the cat and mouse be after the 247247th move?
Answer: A
Concepts:modular arithmeticpattern recognition
Small hint:
The cat repeats every 44 moves.
Big hint:
The mouse repeats every 88 moves; use the remainders of 247.247.
Solution:
The cat’s position repeats every 44 moves, and the mouse’s position repeats every 88 moves.
Since 247≡3(mod4),247\equiv3\pmod{4}, the cat is in the same position as after the 33rd move: the lower right square.
Since 247≡7(mod8),247\equiv7\pmod{8}, the mouse is in the same position as after the 77th move: the left side of the lower left square.
Thus, A is the correct answer.
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