2011 AMC 12A Problem 4

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 4 of the 2011 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2011 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:weighted meanratio and proportion

Difficulty rating: 1040

4.

At an elementary school, the students in third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade run an average of 12,12, 15,15, and 1010 minutes per day, respectively. There are twice as many third graders as fourth graders, and twice as many fourth graders as fifth graders. What is the average number of minutes run per day by these students?

1212

373\dfrac{37}{3}

887\dfrac{88}{7}

1313

1414

Solution:

Take the grade sizes in the ratio 4:2:14 : 2 : 1 for third, fourth, and fifth grades. The weighted average is 412+215+1107=48+30+107=887. \dfrac{4 \cdot 12 + 2 \cdot 15 + 1 \cdot 10}{7} = \dfrac{48 + 30 + 10}{7} = \dfrac{88}{7}.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

Problem 4 in Other Years