2014 AMC 12B Problem 2

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 2 of the 2014 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2014 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:ratio and proportion money

Difficulty rating: 1070

Orvin went to the store with just enough money to buy $30$ balloons. When he arrived he discovered that the store had a special sale on balloons: buy $1$ balloon at the regular price and get a second at $\tfrac13$ off the regular price. What is the greatest number of balloons Orvin could buy?

$33$

$34$

$36$

$38$

$39$

Solution:

Under the sale, a pair of balloons costs $1 + \tfrac23 = \tfrac53$ times the regular price of one balloon.

Orvin's money buys $30$ balloons at the regular price, so he can afford $30 \div \tfrac53 = 18$ pairs, which is $36$ balloons.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

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