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2010 AMC 12A Problem 5

Problem 5 of 25EasierAlgebraProblem-Solving Techniques

Halfway through a 100100-shot archery tournament, Chelsea leads by 5050 points. For each shot a bullseye scores 1010 points, with other possible scores being 8,8, 4,4, 2,2, and 00 points. Chelsea always scores at least 44 points on each shot. If Chelsea’s next nn shots are bullseyes she will be guaranteed victory. What is the minimum value for n?n?

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Solution

The opponent can score at most 50⋅10=50050\cdot10=500 on the last 5050 shots. Since Chelsea leads by 50,50, she must score more than 500−50=450500-50=450 points on her remaining shots to guarantee victory. Her nn bullseyes give 10n10n points, and her other 50−n50-n shots give at least 4(50−n)4(50-n) points, so 10n+4(50−n)>450.10n+4(50-n)\gt450. This simplifies to 6n>250,6n\gt250, i.e. n>4123.n\gt41\tfrac23. Therefore Chelsea needs at least 4242 bullseyes. Thus, C is the correct answer.
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Tagged: inequality · bounding to limit cases

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