Difference between revisions of "2021 Fall AMC 10A Problems/Problem 3"

(Solution 4)
(Solution 4: Removed repetitive solution. Prof. Chen agreed with this in PM ...)
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~Arcticturn ~MRENTHUSIASM
 
~Arcticturn ~MRENTHUSIASM
 
== Solution 4 ==
 
We have
 
<cmath>
 
\begin{align*}
 
\left\lfloor \frac{6^3}{\frac{4}{3} \pi 2^3} \right\rfloor
 
& = \left\lfloor \frac{81}{4 \pi } \right\rfloor \\
 
& = 6 .
 
\end{align*}
 
</cmath>
 
 
Therefore, the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D) }6}</math>.
 
 
~Steven Chen (www.professorchenedu.com)
 
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2021 Fall|ab=A|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2021 Fall|ab=A|num-b=2|num-a=4}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}
 
{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 01:17, 26 November 2021

Problem

What is the maximum number of balls of clay of radius $2$ that can completely fit inside a cube of side length $6$ assuming the balls can be reshaped but not compressed before they are packed in the cube?

$\textbf{(A) }3\qquad\textbf{(B) }4\qquad\textbf{(C) }5\qquad\textbf{(D) }6\qquad\textbf{(E) }7$

Solution 1 (Inequality)

The volume of the cube is $V_{\text{cube}}=6^3=216,$ and the volume of a clay ball is $V_{\text{ball}}=\frac43\cdot\pi\cdot2^3=\frac{32}{3}\pi.$

Since the balls can be reshaped but not compressed, the maximum number of balls that can completely fit inside a cube is \[\left\lfloor\frac{V_{\text{cube}}}{V_{\text{ball}}}\right\rfloor=\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor.\] Approximating with $\pi\approx3.14,$ we have $12<4\pi<13,$ or $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{13}\right\rfloor \leq \left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor \leq \left\lfloor\frac{81}{12}\right\rfloor.$ We simplify to get \[6 \leq \left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor \leq 6,\] from which $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor=\boxed{\textbf{(D) }6}.$

~NH14 ~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 2 (Inequality)

As shown in Solution 1, we conclude that the maximum number of balls that can completely fit inside a cube is $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor.$

By an underestimation $\pi\approx3,$ we have $4\pi>12,$ or $\frac{81}{4\pi}<6\frac34.$

By an overestimation $\pi\approx\frac{22}{7},$ we have $4\pi<\frac{88}{7},$ or $\frac{81}{4\pi}>6\frac{39}{88}.$

Together, we get \[6\frac{39}{88} < \frac{81}{4\pi} < 6\frac34,\] from which $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor=\boxed{\textbf{(D) }6}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 3 (Approximation)

As shown in Solution 1, we conclude that the maximum number of balls that can completely fit inside a cube is $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor.$

Approximating with $\pi\approx3,$ we have $\frac{81}{4\pi}\approx6\frac34.$ Since $\pi$ is about $5\%$ greater than $3,$ it is safe to claim that $\left\lfloor\frac{81}{4\pi}\right\rfloor=\boxed{\textbf{(D) }6}.$

~Arcticturn ~MRENTHUSIASM

See Also

2021 Fall AMC 10A (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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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