2013 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 1

Revision as of 15:33, 22 February 2013 by Turkeybob777 (talk | contribs)

Problem

On a particular January day, the high temperature in Lincoln, Nebraska, was $16$ degrees higher than the low temperature, and the average of the high and low temperatures was $3\textdegree$. In degrees, what was the low temperature in Lincoln that day?

$\textbf{(A)}\ -13 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ -8 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ -5 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ -3 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 11$

Solution

Let $L$ be the low temperature. The high temperature is $L+16$. The average is $\frac{L+(L+16)}{2}=3$. Solving for $L$, we get $L=\boxed{\textbf{(C) } -5}$