1989 AMC 12 Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 1989 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 1989 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

5.

Toothpicks of equal length are used to build a rectangular grid as shown. If the grid is 2020 toothpicks high and 1010 toothpicks wide, then the number of toothpicks used is
3030
200200
410410
420420
430430
Answer: E
Concepts:counting shapes in figuresrectanglesystematic listing
Small hint:
Count horizontal and vertical toothpicks separately
Big hint:
A grid 1010 toothpicks wide has 1111 vertical grid lines
Solution:
There are 1111 vertical grid lines with 2020 toothpicks each, and 2121 horizontal grid lines with 1010 toothpicks each. The total is 11⋅20+21⋅10=430. 11\cdot20+21\cdot10=430.
Thus the correct answer is E.
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