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2012 Math Kangaroo

Problem 6

Problem 6 · 2012 Math Kangaroo Easy
Algebra & Patterns arithmetic-sequence

A dragon has 5 heads. Each time someone chops off one head, 5 new heads grow back. If 6 heads are chopped off one after the other, how many heads does the dragon end up with?

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Answer: C — 29
Show hints
Hint 1 of 2
Each chop removes one head but adds five, so track the net change.
Still stuck? Show hint 2 →
Hint 2 of 2
What is the net change in the number of heads per chop?
Show solution
Approach: net change per step
  1. Each chop removes 1 head and grows 5, a net gain of 4 heads.
  2. After 6 chops the heads increase by 6 × 4 = 24.
  3. Starting from 5: 5 + 24 = 29 heads.
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