2004 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 5

Problem

Ms. Hamilton's eighth-grade class wants to participate in the annual three-person-team basketball tournament. The losing team of each game is eliminated from the tournament. If sixteen teams compete, how many games will be played to determine the winner?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 8\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 16$

Solution 1

The remaining team will be the only undefeated one. The other $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 15}$ teams must have lost a game before getting out, thus fifteen games yielding fifteen losers.

Solution 2

There will be $8$ games the first round, $4$ games the second round, $2$ games the third round, and $1$ game in the final round, giving us a total of $8+4+2+1=15$ games. $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 15}$ .

2004 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 4	Followed by Problem 6
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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2004 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 5

Contents

Problem

Solution 1

Solution 2

See Also