2011 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

Problem

Students guess that Norb's age is $24, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 41, 44, 47$ , and $49$ . Norb says, "At least half of you guessed too low, two of you are off by one, and my age is a prime number." How old is Norb?

$\textbf{(A) }29\qquad\textbf{(B) }31\qquad\textbf{(C) }37\qquad\textbf{(D) }43\qquad\textbf{(E) }48$

Solution

If at least half the guesses are too low, then Norb's age must be greater than $36.$

If two of the guesses are off by one, then his age is in between two guesses whose difference is $2.$ It could be $31,37,$ or $48,$ but because his age is greater than $36$ it can only be $37$ or $48.$

Lastly, Norb's age is a prime number so the answer must be $\boxed{\textbf{(C)}\ 37}$

2011 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 20	Followed by Problem 22
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2011 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21

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