Question

Several students are competing in a series of three races. A student earns $5$ points for winning a race, $3$ points for finishing second, and $1$ point for finishing third. There are no ties. What is the smallest number of points that a student must earn in the three races to be guaranteed of earning more points than any other student?

$9$

$10$

$11$

$13$

$15$

Solution:

A total of $11$ (for example $5+5+1$ ) does not guarantee first place, since another student could also reach $11.$

But if one student scores $5+5+3 = 13,$ the remaining places give every other student at most $3+3+5 = 11.$ So $13$ points guarantees the lead.

Thus, the correct answer is D .

1991 AMC 8 Problem 14

Solution:

Problem 14 in Other Years