Difference between revisions of "2014 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 11"

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==Problem==
  
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A list of <math>11</math> positive integers has a mean of <math>10</math>, a median of <math>9</math>, and a unique mode of <math>8</math>. What is the largest possible value of an integer in the list?
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<math> \textbf{(A)}\ 24\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 30\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 31\qquad\textbf{(D)}}\ 33\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 35 </math>
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==Solution==
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We start off with the fact that the median is <math>9</math>, so we must have <math>a, b, c, d, e, 9, f, g, h, i, j</math>, listed in ascending order. Note that the integers do not have to be distinct.
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Since the mode is <math>8</math>, we have to have at least <math>2</math> occurrences of <math>8</math> in the list. If there are <math>2</math> occurrences of <math>8</math> in the list, we will have <math>a, b, c, 8, 8, 9, f, g, h, i, j</math>. In this case, since <math>8</math> is the unique mode, the rest of the integers have to be distinct. So we minimize <math>a,b,c,f,g,h,i</math> in order to maximize <math>j</math>. If we let the list be <math>1,2,3,8,8,9,10,11,12,13,j</math>, then <math>j = 11 \times 10 - (1+2+3+8+8+9+10+11+12+13) = 33</math>.
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Next, consider the case where there are <math>3</math> occurrences of <math>8</math> in the list. Now, we can have two occurrences of another integer in the list. We try <math>1,1,8,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,j</math>. Following the same process as above, we get <math>j = 11 \times 10 - (1+1+8+8+8+9+9+10+10+11) = 35</math>. As this is the highest choice in the list, we know this is our answer. Therefore, the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }35}</math>
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{{AMC12 box|year=2014|ab=B|num-b=10|num-a=12}}
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{{MAA Notice}}

Revision as of 12:15, 21 February 2014

Problem

A list of $11$ positive integers has a mean of $10$, a median of $9$, and a unique mode of $8$. What is the largest possible value of an integer in the list?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 24\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 30\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 31\qquad\textbf{(D)}}\ 33\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 35$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg)

Solution

We start off with the fact that the median is $9$, so we must have $a, b, c, d, e, 9, f, g, h, i, j$, listed in ascending order. Note that the integers do not have to be distinct.

Since the mode is $8$, we have to have at least $2$ occurrences of $8$ in the list. If there are $2$ occurrences of $8$ in the list, we will have $a, b, c, 8, 8, 9, f, g, h, i, j$. In this case, since $8$ is the unique mode, the rest of the integers have to be distinct. So we minimize $a,b,c,f,g,h,i$ in order to maximize $j$. If we let the list be $1,2,3,8,8,9,10,11,12,13,j$, then $j = 11 \times 10 - (1+2+3+8+8+9+10+11+12+13) = 33$.

Next, consider the case where there are $3$ occurrences of $8$ in the list. Now, we can have two occurrences of another integer in the list. We try $1,1,8,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,j$. Following the same process as above, we get $j = 11 \times 10 - (1+1+8+8+8+9+9+10+10+11) = 35$. As this is the highest choice in the list, we know this is our answer. Therefore, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }35}$

2014 AMC 12B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 10
Followed by
Problem 12
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

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