1976 AMC 12 Problem 29

Attempt Problem 29 of the 1976 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 1976 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

29.

Ann and Barbara were comparing their ages and found that Barbara is as old as Ann was when Barbara was as old as Ann had been when Barbara was half as old as Ann is. If the sum of their present ages is 4444 years, then Ann’s age is
2222
2424
2525
2626
2828
Answer: B
Concepts:ageslinear equationwork backwards
Small hint:
Let Ann’s and Barbara’s present ages be xx and y,y, with x+y=44x+y=44
Big hint:
Translate each “when” by subtracting the same elapsed time from both ages
Solution:
Let Ann’s and Barbara’s present ages be xx and y,y, and let their constant age difference be d=x−y.d=x-y. At the first referenced time Ann was y,y, so Barbara was y−d.y-d. At the earlier referenced time Ann was that age y−d,y-d, so Barbara was y−2d.y-2d. The final clause says this last age was x2.\frac{x}{2}. Hence y−2(x−y)=x2, y-2(x-y)=\frac{x}{2}, which gives 6y=5x.6y=5x. Together with x+y=44,x+y=44, this yields x=24x=24 and y=20.y=20.
Therefore, the correct answer is B.
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