1999 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 11

Problem

Each of the five numbers 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 is placed in one of the five squares so that the sum of the three numbers in the horizontal row equals the sum of the three numbers in the vertical column. The largest possible value for the horizontal or vertical sum is

$[asy] draw((0,0)--(3,0)--(3,1)--(0,1)--cycle); draw((1,-1)--(2,-1)--(2,2)--(1,2)--cycle); [/asy]$

$\text{(A)}\ 20 \qquad \text{(B)}\ 21 \qquad \text{(C)}\ 22 \qquad \text{(D)}\ 24 \qquad \text{(E)}\ 30$

Solution

Solution 1

The largest sum occurs when $13$ is placed in the center. This sum is $13 + 10 + 1 = 13 + 7 + 4 = \boxed{\text{(D)}\ 24}$ . Note: Two other common sums, $18$ and $21$ , are also possible.

Solution 2

Since the horizontal sum equals the vertical sum, twice this sum will be the sum of the five numbers plus the number in the center. When the center number is $13$ , the sum is the largest, $[10 + 4 + 1 + 7 + 2(13)]=2S\\ 48=2S\\ S=\boxed{\text{(D)}\ 24}$ The other four numbers are divided into two pairs with equal sums.

1999 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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
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1999 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 11

Contents

Problem

Solution

Solution 1

Solution 2

See Also