Maths Olympiad Prep

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, 2026

Algebra Difficulty 2.6 Junior Find the answer Canada

The Dollop sells ice cream cones. Each cone sold is exactly one
of three different types: chocolate or vanilla or twist (chocolate and
vanilla combined). Of all cones sold, 1117\frac{11}{17} contained some chocolate
and 1017\frac{10}{17} contained some
vanilla. If 8585 ice cream cones were
sold in total, how many were twist cones?

Pick one

Solutions — 2

Solution 1

Of all 8585 cones sold, 1117×85=55\dfrac{11}{17}\times85=55 cones contained
some chocolate. Of all 8585 cones
sold, 1017×85=50\dfrac{10}{17}\times85=50
cones contained some vanilla. The total 55+50=10555+50=105 is more than the number of
cones (85)(85) because it counts each
twist cone exactly twice. Thus, 10585=20105-85=20 must equal the number of twist
cones. That is, 2020 cones were
twist, 5520=3555-20=35 cones were
chocolate, and 5020=3050-20=30 cones were
vanilla, as shown in the Venn diagram.

Solution 2

Of all 8585 cones sold, 1117×85=55\dfrac{11}{17}\times85=55 cones contained
some chocolate.

Of all 8585 cones sold, 1017×85=50\dfrac{10}{17}\times85=50 cones contained
some vanilla.

The total 55+50=10555+50=105 is more than
the number of cones (85)(85) because it
counts each twist cone exactly twice. Thus, 10585=20105-85=20 must equal the number of twist
cones. That is, 2020 cones were
twist, 5520=3555-20=35 cones were
chocolate, and 5020=3050-20=30 cones were
vanilla, as shown in the Venn diagram.

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Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.