2005 AMC 8 Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2005 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2005 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:pigeonhole principle

Difficulty rating: 1230

16.

A five-legged Martian has a drawer full of socks, each of which is red, white or blue, and there are at least five socks of each color. The Martian pulls out one sock at a time without looking. How many socks must the Martian remove from the drawer to be certain there will be 55 socks of the same color?

66

99

1212

1313

1515

Solution:

Note that the Martian can pull out 44 socks of each color without drawing 55 of the same color. The 1313th sock, however, must be the 55th sock of some color.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

Problem 16 in Other Years

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