Difference between revisions of "2012 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 14"

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== Problem ==
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Chubby makes nonstandard checkerboards that have <math>31</math> squares on each side.  The checkerboards have a black square in every corner and alternate red and black squares along every row and column.  How many black squares are there on such a checkerboard?
 
Chubby makes nonstandard checkerboards that have <math>31</math> squares on each side.  The checkerboards have a black square in every corner and alternate red and black squares along every row and column.  How many black squares are there on such a checkerboard?
  
<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 480
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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 480 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 481 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 482 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 483 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 484</math>
\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 481
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\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 482
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== Solution 1==
\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 483
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There are 15 rows with 15 black tiles, and 16 rows with 16 black tiles, so the answer is <math>15^2+16^2 =225+256= \boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}</math>
\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 484
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  </math>
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Note: When solving <math>16^2</math>+<math>15^2</math>, you only need to calculate the units digit.
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==Solution 2==
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We build the <math>31 \times 31</math> checkerboard starting with a board of <math>30 \times 30</math> that is exactly half black. There are <math>15 \cdot 30</math> black tiles in this region.
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Add to this <math>30 \times 30</math> checkerboard a <math>1 \times 30</math> strip on the bottom that has <math>15</math> black tiles.
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Add to this <math>31 \times 30</math> checkerboard a <math>31 \times 1</math> strip on the right that has <math>15 + 1</math> black tiles.
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In total, there are <math>15 \cdot 30 + 15 + 15 + 1 = 481</math> tiles, giving an answer of <math>\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}</math>
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==Solution 3==
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For every <math>2 \times 31</math> strip, there are 31 black tiles and 31 white tiles. There are 15 such strips in total and another <math>1 \times 31</math> strip having 16 black titles.
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In total, there are <math>31\times 15+16=481</math> black tiles.
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~Bran_Quin
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==Solution 4==
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Drawing smaller scale sketches, we notice that the odd columns of an <math>n \times n</math> (where <math>n</math> is odd) board have <math>\left \lceil \frac{n}{2} \right \rceil</math> black tiles, while the even columns have <math>\left \lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right \rfloor</math> black tiles. In our case, we have a <math>31 \times 31</math> board. We have <math>16</math> odd columns, and <math>15</math> even columns, so the number of black tiles in total is <math>16^2 + 15^2 = \boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}</math>.
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~kn07
  
Solution
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== See Also ==
  
There are 15 rows with 15 black tiles, and 16 rows with 16 black tiles, so the answer is <math>15^2+16^2</math> <math>\boxed{\mathrm{ (B)}\ 481}</math>
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{{AMC10 box|year=2012|ab=A|num-b=13|num-a=15}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Latest revision as of 17:40, 27 November 2022

Problem

Chubby makes nonstandard checkerboards that have $31$ squares on each side. The checkerboards have a black square in every corner and alternate red and black squares along every row and column. How many black squares are there on such a checkerboard?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 480 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 481 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 482 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 483 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 484$

Solution 1

There are 15 rows with 15 black tiles, and 16 rows with 16 black tiles, so the answer is $15^2+16^2 =225+256= \boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}$

Note: When solving $16^2$+$15^2$, you only need to calculate the units digit.

Solution 2

We build the $31 \times 31$ checkerboard starting with a board of $30 \times 30$ that is exactly half black. There are $15 \cdot 30$ black tiles in this region.

Add to this $30 \times 30$ checkerboard a $1 \times 30$ strip on the bottom that has $15$ black tiles.

Add to this $31 \times 30$ checkerboard a $31 \times 1$ strip on the right that has $15 + 1$ black tiles.

In total, there are $15 \cdot 30 + 15 + 15 + 1 = 481$ tiles, giving an answer of $\boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}$

Solution 3

For every $2 \times 31$ strip, there are 31 black tiles and 31 white tiles. There are 15 such strips in total and another $1 \times 31$ strip having 16 black titles.

In total, there are $31\times 15+16=481$ black tiles.

~Bran_Quin

Solution 4

Drawing smaller scale sketches, we notice that the odd columns of an $n \times n$ (where $n$ is odd) board have $\left \lceil \frac{n}{2} \right \rceil$ black tiles, while the even columns have $\left \lfloor \frac{n}{2} \right \rfloor$ black tiles. In our case, we have a $31 \times 31$ board. We have $16$ odd columns, and $15$ even columns, so the number of black tiles in total is $16^2 + 15^2 = \boxed{\textbf{(B)}\ 481}$.

~kn07

See Also

2012 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 13
Followed by
Problem 15
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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