2021 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 4

The following problem is from both the 2021 AMC 10A #7 and 2021 AMC 12A #4, so both problems redirect to this page.

1 Problem
2 Solution 1
3 Solution 2 (Explains Solution 1 Using Arrows)
4 Solution 3
5 Video Solution (Simple & Quick)
6 Video Solution by Aaron He (Sets)
7 Video Solution by Punxsutawney Phil
8 Video Solution by Hawk Math
9 Video Solution (Using logic to eliminate choices)
10 Video Solution 6
11 Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath
12 See also

Problem

Tom has a collection of $13$ snakes, $4$ of which are purple and $5$ of which are happy. He observes that all of his happy snakes can add, none of his purple snakes can subtract, and all of his snakes that can't subtract also can't add. Which of these conclusions can be drawn about Tom's snakes?

$\textbf{(A) }$ Purple snakes can add.

$\textbf{(B) }$ Purple snakes are happy.

$\textbf{(C) }$ Snakes that can add are purple.

$\textbf{(D) }$ Happy snakes are not purple.

$\textbf{(E) }$ Happy snakes can't subtract.

Solution 1

We know that purple snakes cannot subtract, thus they cannot add either. Since happy snakes must be able to add, the purple snakes cannot be happy. Therefore, we know that the happy snakes are not purple and the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}}$ .

--abhinavg0627

Solution 2 (Explains Solution 1 Using Arrows)

We are given that

$\text{(1) Happy}\Longrightarrow\text{can add}$

$\text{(2) Purple}\Longrightarrow\text{cannot subtract}$

$\text{(3) Cannot subtract}\Longrightarrow\text{cannot add}$

Combining $\text{(2)}$ and $\text{(3)}$ into $\text{(*)}$ below, we have

$\text{(1) Happy}\Longrightarrow\text{can add}$

$\text{(*) Purple}\Longrightarrow\text{cannot subtract}\Longrightarrow\text{cannot add}$

Clearly, the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 3

We can also see this through the process of elimination. Statement $A$ is false because purple snakes cannot add. $B$ is false as well because since happy snakes can add and purple snakes can not add, purple snakes are not happy snakes. $E$ is false using the same reasoning, purple snakes are not happy snakes so happy snakes can subtract since purple snakes cannot subtract. $C$ is false since snakes that can add are happy, not purple. That leaves statement D. $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}}$ is the only correct statement.

~Bakedpotato66

Video Solution (Simple & Quick)

https://youtu.be/hJKHaIcyIxA

~ Education the Study of Everything

Video Solution by Aaron He (Sets)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTGDKBthWsw&t=164

Video Solution by Punxsutawney Phil

https://youtube.com/watch?v=MUHja8TpKGw&t=259s (Note that there's a slight error in the video I corrected in the description)

Video Solution by Hawk Math

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5al76DxyHY

Video Solution (Using logic to eliminate choices)

https://youtu.be/Mofw3VXHPyg

~ pi_is_3.14

Video Solution 6

https://youtu.be/uDJv06-cNrI

~savannahsolver

Video Solution by TheBeautyofMath

https://youtu.be/s6E4E06XhPU?t=202 (AMC10A)

https://youtu.be/rEWS75W0Q54?t=353 (AMC12A)

~IceMatrix

2021 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 6	Followed by Problem 8
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 10 Problems and Solutions

2021 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 3	Followed by Problem 5
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

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

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