2009 AMC 8 Problem 8

Attempt Problem 8 of the 2009 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 2009 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

8.

The length of a rectangle is increased by 10%10\% and the width is decreased by 10%.10\%. What percent of the old area is the new area?
9090
9999
100100
101101
110110
Answer: B
Concepts:areapercentage
Small hint:
Multiply the scale factors for length and width.
Big hint:
The new area is 1.10⋅0.901.10\cdot0.90 times the old area.
Solution:
Let the old length and width be ll and w,w, so the old area is lw.lw.
The new length is 1.1l,1.1l, and the new width is 0.9w.0.9w. Thus the new area is 1.1⋅0.9lw=0.99lw.1.1\cdot0.9lw=0.99lw.
This shows that the new area is 99%99\% of the old area.
Thus, B is the correct answer.
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