2009 AMC 12B Problem 5

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 5 of the 2009 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2009 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:prime factorizationpower of 2

Difficulty rating: 1080

5.

Kiana has two older twin brothers. The product of their three ages is 128.128. What is the sum of their three ages?

1010

1212

1616

1818

2424

Solution:

Since 128=27,128 = 2^7, each age is a power of 2.2. The twins share an age t,t, so Kiana's age is 128t2.\dfrac{128}{t^2}.

Taking t=8t = 8 gives Kiana 12864=2,\dfrac{128}{64} = 2, who is younger than the twins. (Smaller twins would make Kiana older, which is not allowed.) The sum is 8+8+2=18.8 + 8 + 2 = 18.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

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