GET READY FOR THE AMC 10 WITH AoPS
Learn with outstanding instructors and top-scoring students from around the world in our AMC 10 Problem Series online course.
CHECK SCHEDULE

2008 AMC 10B Problems

2008 AMC 10B (Answer Key)
Printable versions: WikiAoPS ResourcesPDF

Instructions

  1. This is a 25-question, multiple choice test. Each question is followed by answers marked A, B, C, D and E. Only one of these is correct.
  2. You will receive 6 points for each correct answer, 2.5 points for each problem left unanswered if the year is before 2006, 1.5 points for each problem left unanswered if the year is after 2006, and 0 points for each incorrect answer.
  3. No aids are permitted other than scratch paper, graph paper, ruler, compass, protractor and erasers (and calculators that are accepted for use on the SAT if before 2006. No problems on the test will require the use of a calculator).
  4. Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.
  5. You will have 75 minutes working time to complete the test.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Problem 1

A basketball player made $5$ baskets during a game. Each basket was worth either $2$ or $3$ points. How many different numbers could represent the total points scored by the player?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 3\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 4\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 5\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 6$

Solution

Problem 2

A $4\times 4$ block of calendar dates is shown. The order of the numbers in the second row is to be reversed. Then the order of the numbers in the fourth row is to be reversed. Finally, the numbers on each diagonal are to be added. What will be the positive difference between the two diagonal sums?

$\begin{tabular}[t]{|c|c|c|c|} \multicolumn{4}{c}{}\\\hline 1&2&3&4\\\hline 8&9&10&11\\\hline 15&16&17&18\\\hline 22&23&24&25\\\hline \end{tabular}$

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 6 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 8 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 10$

Solution

Problem 3

Assume that $x$ is a positive real number. Which is equivalent to $\sqrt[3]{x\sqrt{x}}$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ x^{1/6}\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ x^{1/4}\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ x^{3/8}\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ x^{1/2}\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ x$

Solution

Problem 4

A semipro baseball league has teams with $21$ players each. League rules state that a player must be paid at least $\textdollar 15,000$ and that the total of all players' salaries for each team cannot exceed $\textdollar 700,000.$ What is the maximum possible salary, in dollars, for a single player?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 270,000\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 385,000\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 400,000\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 430,000\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 700,000$

Solution

Problem 5

For real numbers $a$ and $b$, define $a \textdollar b$ $=(a-b)^2$. What is $(x-y)^2\textdollar(y-x)^2$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 0\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ x^2+y^2\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 2x^2\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 2y^2\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 4xy$

Solution

Problem 6

Points $B$ and $C$ lie on $AD$. The length of $AB$ is $4$ times the length of $BD$, and the length of $AC$ is $9$ times the length of $CD$. The length of $BC$ is what fraction of the length of $AD$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1/36\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 1/13\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 1/10\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 5/36\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1/5$

Solution

Problem 7

An equilateral triangle of side length $10$ is completely filled in by non-overlapping equilateral triangles of side length $1$. How many small triangles are required?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 10\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 25\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 100\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 250\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1000$

Solution

Problem 8

A class collects $\textdollar50$ to buy flowers for a classmate who is in the hospital. Roses cost $\textdollar3$ each, and carnations cost $\textdollar2$ each. No other flowers are to be used. How many different bouquets could be purchased for exactly $\textdollar50$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1 \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 7 \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 9 \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 16 \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 17$

Solution

Problem 9

A quadratic equation $ax^2 - 2ax + b = 0$ has two real solutions. What is the average of these two solutions?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \frac ba\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ \frac{2b}a\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ \sqrt{2b-a}$

Solution

Problem 10

Points $A$ and $B$ are on a circle of radius $5$ and $AB=6$. Point $C$ is the midpoint of the minor arc $AB$. What is the length of the line segment $AC$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \sqrt{10}\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ \frac{7}{2}\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ \sqrt{14}\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ \sqrt{15}\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 4$

Solution

Problem 11

Suppose that $(u_n)$ is a sequence of real numbers satisfying $u_{n+2}=2u_{n+1}+u_n$,

and that $u_3=9$ and $u_6=128$. What is $u_5$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 40\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 53\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 68\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 88\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 104$

Solution

Problem 12

Postman Pete has a pedometer to count his steps. The pedometer records up to 99999 steps, then flips over to 00000 on the next step. Pete plans to determine his mileage for a year. On January 1 Pete sets the pedometer to 00000. During the year, the pedometer flips from 99999 to 00000 forty-four times. On December 31 the pedometer reads 50000. Pete takes 1800 steps per mile. Which of the following is closest to the number of miles Pete walked during the year?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 2500\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 3000\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 3500\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 4000\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 4500$

Solution

Problem 13

For each positive integer $n$, the mean of the first $n$ terms of a sequence is $n$. What is the 2008th term of the sequence?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ {{{2008}}} \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ {{{4015}}} \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ {{{4016}}} \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ {{{4,030,056}}} \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ {{{4,032,064}}}$

Solution

Problem 14

Triangle $OAB$ has $O=(0,0)$, $B=(5,0)$, and $A$ in the first quadrant. In addition, $\angle ABO=90^\circ$ and $\angle AOB=30^\circ$. Suppose that $OA$ is rotated $90^\circ$ counterclockwise about $O$. What are the coordinates of the image of $A$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \left( - \frac {10}{3}\sqrt {3},5\right) \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \left( - \frac {5}{3}\sqrt {3},5\right) \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \left(\sqrt {3},5\right) \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ \left(\frac {5}{3}\sqrt {3},5\right) \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ \left(\frac {10}{3}\sqrt {3},5\right)$

Solution

Problem 15

How many right triangles have integer leg lengths $a$ and $b$ and a hypotenuse of length $b+1$, where $b<100$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 6\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 7\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 8\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 9\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 10$

Solution

Problem 16

Two fair coins are to be tossed once. For each head that results, one fair die is to be rolled. What is the probability that the sum of the die rolls is odd? (Note that if no die is rolled, the sum is $0$.)

$\mathrm{(A)}\ {{{\frac{3} {8}}}} \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ {{{\frac{1} {2}}}} \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ {{{\frac{43} {72}}}} \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ {{{\frac{5} {8}}}} \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ {{{\frac{2} {3}}}}$

Solution

Problem 17

A poll shows that $70\%$ of all voters approve of the mayor's work. On three separate occasions a pollster selects a voter at random. What is the probability that on exactly one of these three occasions the voter approves of the mayor's work?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ {{{0.063}}} \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ {{{0.189}}} \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ {{{0.233}}} \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ {{{0.333}}} \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ {{{0.441}}}$

Solution

Problem 18

Bricklayer Brenda would take nine hours to build a chimney alone, and Bricklayer Brandon would take $10$ hours to build it alone. When they work together, they talk a lot, and their combined output decreases by $10$ bricks per hour. Working together, they build the chimney in $5$ hours. How many bricks are in the chimney?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 500\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 900\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 950\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 1000\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1900$

Solution

Problem 19

A cylindrical tank with radius $4$ feet and height $9$ feet is lying on its side. The tank is filled with water to a depth of $2$ feet. What is the volume of water, in cubic feet?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 24\pi - 36 \sqrt {2} \qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ 24\pi - 24 \sqrt {3} \qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ 36\pi - 36 \sqrt {3} \qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ 36\pi - 24 \sqrt {2} \qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ 48\pi - 36 \sqrt {3}$

Solution

Problem 20

The faces of a cubical die are marked with the numbers $1$, $2$, $2$, $3$, $3$, and $4$. The faces of another die are marked with the numbers $1$, $3$, $4$, $5$, $6$, and $8$. Both dice are thrown. What is the probability that the sum of the top two numbers will be $5$, $7$, or $9$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 5/18\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 7/18\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 11/18\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 3/4\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 8/9$

Solution

Problem 21

Ten chairs are evenly spaced around a round table and numbered clockwise from $1$ through $10$. Five married couples are to sit in the chairs with men and women alternating, and no one is to sit either next to or across from his/her spouse. How many seating arrangements are possible?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 240\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 360\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 480\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 540\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 720$

Solution

Problem 22

Three red beads, two white beads, and one blue bead are placed in line in random order. What is the probability that no two neighboring beads are the same color?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1/12\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 1/10\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 1/6\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 1/3\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 1/2$

Solution

Problem 23

A rectangular floor measures $a$ by $b$ feet, where $a$ and $b$ are positive integers with $b > a$. An artist paints a rectangle on the floor with the sides of the rectangle parallel to the sides of the floor. The unpainted part of the floor forms a border of width 1 foot around the painted rectangle and occupies half of the area of the entire floor. How many possibilities are there for the ordered pair $(a, b)$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 1\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 2\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 3\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 4\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 5$

Solution

Problem 24

Quadrilateral $ABCD$ has $AB = BC = CD$, angle $ABC = 70^\circ$ and angle $BCD = 170^\circ$. What is the measure of angle $BAD$?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 75\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 80\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 85\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 90\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 95$

Solution

Problem 25

Michael walks at the rate of $5$ feet per second on a long straight path. Trash pails are located every $200$ feet along the path. A garbage truck travels at $10$ feet per second in the same direction as Michael and stops for $30$ seconds at each pail. As Michael passes a pail, he notices the truck ahead of him just leaving the next pail. How many times will Michael and the truck meet?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ 4\qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 5\qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 6\qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 7\qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 8$

Solution

See also

2008 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
2008 AMC 10A Problems
Followed by
2009 AMC 10A Problems
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png