2017 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 4

Problem

Mia is "helping" her mom pick up $30$ toys that are strewn on the floor. Mia’s mom manages to put $3$ toys into the toy box every $30$ seconds, but each time immediately after those $30$ seconds have elapsed, Mia takes $2$ toys out of the box. How much time, in minutes, will it take Mia and her mom to put all $30$ toys into the box for the first time?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 13.5\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 14\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 14.5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 15.5$

Solution

Every $30$ seconds $3-2=1$ toys are put in the box, so after $27\cdot30$ seconds there will be $27$ toys in the box. Mia's mom will then put $3$ toys into to the box, and we have our total amount of time to be $27\cdot30+30=840$ seconds, which equals $14$ minutes. $\boxed{(\textbf{B})\ 14}$

Solution 2

Though Mia's mom places $3$ toys every $30$ seconds, Mia takes out $2$ toys right after. Therefore, after $30$ seconds, the two have collectively placed $1$ toy into the box. Therefore by $13.5$ minutes, the two would have placed $27$ toys into the box. Therefore, at $14$ minutes, the two would have placed $30$ toys into the box. Though Mia may take $2$ toys out right after, the number of toys in the box first reaches $30$ by $14$ minutes. $\boxed{(\textbf{B})\ 14}$

2017 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 3	Followed by Problem 5
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2017 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 4

Contents

Problem

Solution

Solution 2

See also