SOLUTION: The 20 balls in a box as shown above have either 0 (blank), 1, or 2 letters on them. If five balls have only a C on them, two balls have only a B on them, and two balls have an A

Algebra ->  Permutations -> SOLUTION: The 20 balls in a box as shown above have either 0 (blank), 1, or 2 letters on them. If five balls have only a C on them, two balls have only a B on them, and two balls have an A       Log On


   

Question 1042395: The 20 balls in a box as shown above have either 0 (blank), 1, or 2 letters on them. If five balls have only a C on them, two balls have only a B on them, and two balls have an A and a C on them, what is the maximum number of balls that can be blank?
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20054) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The 20 balls in a box as shown above have either 0 (blank),
1, or 2 letters on them. If five balls have only a C on
them, two balls have only a B on them, and two balls have
an A and a C on them, what is the maximum number of balls
that can be blank?
There are no balls with 3 letters.  Since the 5+2+2 = 9 balls 
mentioned include some with only one letter, and some with two 
letters, the other 20-9=11 balls could all be blank.  So the 
answer is 11.

Edwin