Three Avid Students Are State Winners of the AMC 8 Competition

Mathematical Associations of America (MAA) announced the results of the 2009 American Mathematics Contest 8 (AMC 8) results.  Three Avid Academy students were among the California State Winners: Benjamin Chen, a fifth grader from Pantera Elementary School, Kevin Cha, an 8th grader from Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, and Brian Wagner, an 8th grader from Harbor Day School.  In addition, 21 students received national honors with distinction certificates awarded to top 1% test takers and 25 students received national honor roll certificates awarded to top 5% test takers.  14 students in grade 6 or under received national merid roll certificates.  For a full list of our top students, visit 2009 AMC 8 Results.

Over 150,000 students worldwide took the AMC 8 exam.  The average score is 10.28 out of a maximum of 25.  The average score of a school winner is 17.83.  In California, about 16,000 students participated and the overall state average score is 10.61.  The exam is considerable harder than previous year's: the top 1% cut-off score is 20 (compared to 22 in 2008) and top 5% cub-off score is 17 (compared to 19 in 2008).  Every Avid student achieved a score that is higher than the California and national average.

There are a total 163 (compared to 334 in 2008) students worldwide received perfect scores with 37 from California followed by 9 from Washington, 7 from Texas, 5 from Virginia, and 4 each from Indiana, Michigan, and New Hampshire.  If Avid Academy is a state, our number of perfect scores would have tied us with Florida, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, and North Carolina at 3 each.  Internationally, Taiwan produced 20 perfect scores followed by China, Korea, and Singapore at 6 each.

Question 14 turns out to be the most difficult one on this exam with only 12% of the students got it right.  Here is the question:

14. Austin and Temple are 50 miles apart along Interstate 35.  Bonnie drove from Austin to her daughter's house in Temple, average 60 miles per hour.  Leaving the car with her daughter, Bonnie rod a bus back to Austin along the same route and averaged 40 miles per hour on the return trip.  What was the average speed for the round trip, in miles per hour?

(A) 46 (B) 48 (C) 50 (D) 52 (E) 54

Email your answer to info@avidacademy.com.