2008 AMC 8 Problem 6

Attempt Problem 6 of the 2008 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 2008 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

6.

In the figure, what is the ratio of the area of the shaded squares to the area of the unshaded squares?
 3:10 \ 3:10
 3:8 \ 3:8
 3:7 \ 3:7
 3:5 \ 3:5
 1:1 \ 1:1
Answer: D
Concepts:arearatio and proportion
Small hint:
Subdivide the central shaded square into unit-size pieces matching the others.
Big hint:
Count shaded and unshaded equal-area small squares.
Solution:
After subdividing the central shaded square, the figure has 1616 equal small squares.
Of these, 66 are shaded and 1010 are unshaded, so the desired ratio is 6:10=3:56:10=3:5.
Thus, D is the correct answer.
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