2009 AMC 8 Problem 18

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 18 of the 2009 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:pattern recognitionperfect square

Difficulty rating: 1310

18.

The diagram represents a 77-foot-by-77-foot floor that is tiled with 11-square-foot shaded tiles and unshaded tiles. Notice that the corners have unshaded tiles. If a 1515-foot-by-1515-foot floor is to be tiled in the same manner, how many unshaded tiles will be needed?

4949

5757

6464

9696

126126

Solution:

In the 7×77\times7 example, there are 44 rows that contain 44 unshaded tiles, for 42=164^2=16 unshaded tiles.

For a 15×1515\times15 floor with the same pattern, there will be 88 such rows with 88 unshaded tiles each.

Thus the number of unshaded tiles is 82=648^2=64.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

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