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, $3$ toys are put in the box and $2$ toys are taken out, so the number of toys increases by $3-2=1$ every $30$ seconds. Then after $27 \times 30 = 810$ seconds (or $13 \frac{1}{2}$ minutes), there are $27$ toys in the box. Mia's mom will then put $3$ toys into the box after $30$ more seconds, so the total time taken is $27\times 30+30=840$ seconds, or $\boxed{(\textbf{B})\ 14}$ minutes.

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/str7kmcRMY8

https://youtu.be/1F0IB0y6578

~savannahsolver

2017 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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2017 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 4

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Problem

Solution

Video Solution

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