1981 AMC 12 Problem 4

Attempt Problem 4 of the 1981 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 1981 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

4.

If three times the larger of two numbers is four times the smaller and the difference between the numbers is 8,8, then the larger of the two numbers is
1616
2424
3232
4444
5252
Answer: C
Concepts:linear equationratio and proportion
Small hint:
Let LL and SS denote the larger and smaller numbers
Big hint:
Use 3L=4S3L=4S together with L−S=8L-S=8
Solution:
The relation 3L=4S3L=4S gives S=3L4.S=\frac{3L}{4}. Thus L−S=L−3L4=L4=8, L-S=L-\frac{3L}{4}=\frac L4=8, so L=32.L=32.
Therefore, the correct answer is C.
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