2006 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 14

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Problem

Two farmers agree that pigs are worth $300$ dollars and that goats are worth $210$ dollars. When one farmer owes the other money, he pays the debt in pigs or goats, with "change" received in the form of goats or pigs as necessary. (For example, a $390$ dollar debt could be paid with two pigs, with one goat received in change.) What is the amount of the smallest positive debt that can be resolved in this way?

$\mathrm{(A) \ }$5\qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } $10\qquad \mathrm{(C) \ }$30\qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } $90\qquad \mathrm{(E) \ }$210$== Solution == The problem can be restated as an equation of the form$300p + 210g = x$, where$p$is the number of pigs,$g$is the number of goats, and$x$is the positive debt. The problem asks us to find the lowest ''x'' possible. ''p'' and ''g'' must be [[integer]]s, which makes the equation a [[Diophantine equation]].  The [[Euclidean algorithm]] tells us that there are integer solutions to the Diophantine equation$am + bn = c$, where$c$is the [[greatest common divisor]] of$a$and$b$, and no solutions for any smaller$c$. Therefore, the answer is the greatest common divisor of 300 and 210, which is 30,$\mathrm{(C) \ }$Alternatively, note that$300p + 210g = 30(10p + 7g)$is divisible by 30 no matter what$p$and$g$are, so our answer must be divisible by 30.  In addition, three goats minus two pigs give us$630 - 600 = 30$exactly.  Since our theoretical best can be achived, it must really be the best, and the answer is$\mathrm{(C) \ }$. debt that can be resolved.

See also

2006 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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 12 Problems and Solutions
2006 AMC 10A (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