2014 AMC 8 Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2014 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 2014 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

2.

Paul owes Paula 3535 cents and has a pocket full of 55-cent coins, 1010-cent coins, and 2525-cent coins that he can use to pay her. What is the difference between the largest and the smallest number of coins he can use to pay her?
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Answer: E
Concepts:moneyoptimization
Small hint:
Use the smallest coins to maximize the number of coins.
Big hint:
Use a quarter and a dime to minimize the number of coins.
Solution:
To use the largest number of coins, Paul would use only 55-cent coins, which gives 355=7\frac{35}{5}=7 coins.
To use the smallest number of coins, Paul would use a 2525-cent coin and a 1010-cent coin, for a total of 22 coins. The difference is 7−2=57-2=5.
Thus, E is the correct answer.
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