Difference between revisions of "2000 AMC 10 Problems/Problem 22"

(New page: ==Problem== ==Solution== ==See Also== {{AMC10 box|year=2000|num-b=21|num-a=23}})
 
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==Problem==
 
==Problem==
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One morning each member of Angela's family drank an 8-ounce mixture of coffee with milk. The amounts of coffee and milk varied from cup to cup, but were never zero. Angela drank a quarter of the total amount of milk and a sixth of the total amount of coffee. How many people are in the family?
  
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<math>\mathrm{(A)}\ 3 \qquad\mathrm{(B)}\ 4 \qquad\mathrm{(C)}\ 5 \qquad\mathrm{(D)}\ 6 \qquad\mathrm{(E)}\ 7</math>
 
==Solution==
 
==Solution==
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The exact value "8 ounces" is not important. We will only use the fact that each member of the family drank the same amount.
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Let <math>m</math> be the total number of ounces of milk drank by the family and <math>c</math> the total number of ounces of coffee. Thus the whole family drank a total of <math>m+c</math> ounces of fluids.
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Let <math>n</math> be the number of family members. Then each family member drank <math>\frac {m+c}n</math> ounces of fluids.
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We know that Angela drank <math>\frac m4 + \frac c6</math> ounces of fluids.
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As Angela is a family member, we have <math>\frac m4 + \frac c6 = \frac {m+c}n</math>.
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Multiply both sides by <math>n</math> to get <math>n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = m+c</math>.
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If <math>n\leq 4</math>, we have <math>n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) \leq 4\cdot \left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = m + \frac{2c}3 < m+c</math>.
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If <math>n\geq 6</math>, we have <math>n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) \geq 6\cdot \left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = \frac{3m}2 + c > m+c</math>.
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Therefore the only remaining option is <math>n=\boxed{5}</math>.
  
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
  
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2000|num-b=21|num-a=23}}
 
{{AMC10 box|year=2000|num-b=21|num-a=23}}

Revision as of 11:00, 11 January 2009

Problem

One morning each member of Angela's family drank an 8-ounce mixture of coffee with milk. The amounts of coffee and milk varied from cup to cup, but were never zero. Angela drank a quarter of the total amount of milk and a sixth of the total amount of coffee. How many people are in the family?

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

Solution

The exact value "8 ounces" is not important. We will only use the fact that each member of the family drank the same amount.

Let $m$ be the total number of ounces of milk drank by the family and $c$ the total number of ounces of coffee. Thus the whole family drank a total of $m+c$ ounces of fluids.

Let $n$ be the number of family members. Then each family member drank $\frac {m+c}n$ ounces of fluids.

We know that Angela drank $\frac m4 + \frac c6$ ounces of fluids.

As Angela is a family member, we have $\frac m4 + \frac c6 = \frac {m+c}n$.

Multiply both sides by $n$ to get $n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = m+c$.

If $n\leq 4$, we have $n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) \leq 4\cdot \left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = m + \frac{2c}3 < m+c$.

If $n\geq 6$, we have $n\cdot\left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) \geq 6\cdot \left( \frac m4 + \frac c6 \right) = \frac{3m}2 + c > m+c$.

Therefore the only remaining option is $n=\boxed{5}$.

See Also

2000 AMC 10 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 21
Followed by
Problem 23
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