Problem:
Suppose the estimated 20 billion dollar cost to send a person to the planet Mars is shared equally by the 250 million people in the U.S. Then each person's share is
Answer Choices:
A. $40
B. $50
C. $80
D. $100
E. $125
Solution:
The cost per person = number of people total cost . Thus 250 million $20 billion =2.5×1082×1010=.8×102=$80.
OR
Since 2500000001000000000=4, the cost per person is ($4)(20) or $80.
Answer: C.
The problems on this page are the property of the MAA's American Mathematics Competitions