1999 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 15

Problem

Bicycle license plates in Flatville each contain three letters. The first is chosen from the set {C,H,L,P,R}, the second from {A,I,O}, and the third from {D,M,N,T}.

When Flatville needed more license plates, they added two new letters. The new letters may both be added to one set or one letter may be added to one set and one to another set. What is the largest possible number of ADDITIONAL license plates that can be made by adding two letters?

Solution

Solution 1

There are currently choices for the first letter, choices for the second letter, and choices for the third letter, for a total of license plates.

Adding letters to the start gives plates.

Adding letters to the middle gives plates.

Adding letters to the end gives plates.

Adding a letter to the start and middle gives plates.

Adding a letter to the start and end gives plates.

Adding a letter to the middle and end gives plates.

You can get at most license plates total, giving an additional plates, making the answer

Solution 2

Using the same logic as above, the number of combinations of plates is simply the product of the size of each set of letters.

In general, when three numbers have the same fixed sum, their product will be maximal when they are as close together as possible. This is a 3D analogue of the fact that a rectangle with fixed perimeter maximizes its area when the sides are equal (ie when it becomes a square). In this case, no matter where you add the letters, there will be letters in total. If you divide them as evenly as possible among the three groups, you get , which is a possible situation.

As before, the answer is , and the correct choice is

See Also

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.