1956 AMC 12 Problem 28

Attempt Problem 28 of the 1956 AMC 12 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1956 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

28.

Mr. J left his entire estate to his wife, his daughter, his son, and the cook. His daughter and son got half the estate, sharing in the ratio of 44 to 3.3. His wife got twice as much as the son. If the cook received a bequest of $500,\$500, then the entire estate was:
$3500\$3500
$5500\$5500
$6500\$6500
$7000\$7000
$7500\$7500
Answer: D
Concepts:ratiosestate distributionlinear equation
Small hint:
Let the daughter’s and son’s shares be 4x4x and 3x3x
Big hint:
Their 7x7x is half the estate, while the other half is the wife’s 6x6x plus $500\$500
Solution:
Let the daughter receive 4x4x and the son 3x.3x. Together they receive 7x,7x, which is half the estate. The wife receives 6x,6x, so the other half gives 7x=6x+500. 7x=6x+500. Thus x=500,x=500, and the whole estate is 2(7x)=14(500)=70002(7x)=14(500)=7000 dollars.
Therefore, the correct answer is D.
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