Question

The students in Mr. Neatkin's class took a penmanship test. Two-thirds of the boys and $\frac{3}{4}$ of the girls passed the test, and an equal number of boys and girls passed the test. What is the minimum possible number of students in the class?

$\ 12$

$\ 17$

$\ 24$

$\ 27$

$\ 36$

Solution:

Let $p$ be the common number of boys and girls who passed.

Since $\dfrac{2}{3}$ of the boys passed, the number of boys is $\dfrac{3p}{2}$ . Since $\dfrac{3}{4}$ of the girls passed, the number of girls is $\dfrac{4p}{3}$ .

The smallest positive $p$ that makes both counts whole is $6$ . Then there are $9$ boys and $8$ girls, for a minimum total of $17$ students.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

2008 AMC 8 Problem 20

Solution:

Problem 20 in Other Years