2018 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 3

Problem

Students Arn, Bob, Cyd, Dan, Eve, and Fon are arranged in that order in a circle. They start counting: Arn first, then Bob, and so forth. When the number contains a 7 as a digit (such as 47) or is a multiple of 7 that person leaves the circle and the counting continues. Who is the last one present in the circle?

$\textbf{(A) } \text{Arn}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\text{Bob}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\text{Cyd}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\text{Dan}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\text{Eve}\qquad$

Solution 1(Simulation)

The five numbers which cause people to leave the circle are $7, 14, 17, 21,$ and $27.$

The most straightforward way to do this would be to draw out the circle with the people, and cross off people as you count.

Assuming the six people start with $1$, Arn counts $7$ so he leaves first. Then, Cyd counts $14$ as there are $7$ numbers to be counted from this point. Then, Fon, Bob, and Eve, count, $17,$ $21,$ and $27$, respectively, so the last one standing is Dan. Hence, the answer would be $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }\text{Dan}}$.

~Nivaar

Solution 2

Assign each person a position: Arn is in position $1$, Bob in $2$, etc. Note that if there are $n$ people standing in a circle, a person will say a number that is congruent to their position modulo $n$. It follows that if there are $k$ numbers to be said (with someone leaving on the $kth$), the person that leaves will stand in position $k\pmod{n}.$

The five numbers which cause people to leave the circle are $7, 14, 17, 21,$ and $27.$ Since there are initially $6$ people in the circle, so the person who leaves stands in position $7\equiv 1\pmod 6$, or position $1$.

Arn now leaves, and because Bob is the next person to say a number, we reassign the positions such that Bob is in position $1$, Cyd in $2$, and Fon in $5$. There are $7$ more numbers to be said, and someone leaves on the $7th$. It follows that the person who leaves stands in position $7\equiv 2\pmod 5$.

Cyd leaves the circle, and $4$ people remain, namely Bob, Dan, Eve, and Fon. Assign the position numbers such that Dan has $1$, Eve $2$, etc. There are $3$ more numbers to be said, and someone leaves on the $3rd$. The person standing in position $3$ (Fon) now leaves.

There are two people left, Eve and Dan, with Dan in position $1$ now. There are $6$ more numbers to be said, and Eve is standing in position $6\equiv 0\pmod 2$, so she leaves.

The last person standing is $\boxed{\textbf{(D) }\text{Dan}}$.

-Benedict T (countmath1) Why? Why would you do this?

Video Solution (CRITICAL THINKING!!!)

https://youtu.be/wziaWxZmjgg

~Education, the Study of Everything

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/uK4bbVpwHGc

~savannahsolver

See Also

2018 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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