2006 AMC 12A Problem 4

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 4 of the 2006 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2006 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

Concepts:digitsclock

Difficulty rating: 1050

4.

A digital watch displays hours and minutes with AM and PM. What is the largest possible sum of the digits in the display?

1717

1919

2121

2222

2323

Solution:

The two minutes digits sum to at most 5+9=14,5 + 9 = 14, at 5959 minutes past the hour. For the hour, a single digit 99 gives digit sum 9,9, which beats any two-digit hour (10,11,12(10, 11, 12 give at most 1+2=3).1 + 2 = 3).

The largest total is 14+9=23,14 + 9 = 23, occurring at 9 ⁣: ⁣59.9\!:\!59.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

Problem 4 in Other Years