2023 AMC 8 Problem 16

Below is the video solution and professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2023 AMC 8, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2023 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:pattern recognitionmodular arithmetic

Difficulty rating: 1540

16.

The letters P, Q, and R are entered into a 20×2020 \times 20 table according to the pattern shown below. How many Ps, Qs, and Rs will appear in the completed table?

132132 Ps, 134134 Qs, 134134 Rs

133133 Ps, 133133 Qs, 134134 Rs

133133 Ps, 134134 Qs, 133133 Rs

134134 Ps, 132132 Qs, 134134 Rs

134134 Ps, 133133 Qs, 133133 Rs

Video solution:
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Written solution:

Since 20=36+2,20 = 3 \cdot 6 + 2, the bottom 22 letters in each column will occur one more time than the third letter.

This means that the third letter in each column will occur 66 times, whereas the other 22 will appear 77 times.

Using the same analysis, we can see that RR and PP appear in the third row 77 times, whereas QQ only appears 66 times.

Therefore, in 207=1320 - 7 = 13 columns, PP and RR appear 77 times, for a total of 137=9113 \cdot 7 = 91 times.

They also appear 66 times in 77 columns, adding 67=426 \cdot 7 = 42 appearances to the total. This gives us a total of 91+42=13391 + 42 = 133 appearances for PP and R.R.

QQ will therefore appear 20202133=400266=134\begin{align*} 20 \cdot 20 - 2 \cdot 133 &=400 - 266 \\ &= 134 \end{align*} times.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

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