Difference between revisions of "2016 UNCO Math Contest II Problems/Problem 8"

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== Problem ==
 
== Problem ==
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Tree
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Each circle in this tree diagram is to be assigned a value, chosen from a set <math>S</math>, in such a way that along every pathway down the tree, the assigned values never increase. That is, <math>A \ge B, B \ge C, C \ge D, D \ge E</math>, and <math>A, B, C, D, E \in S</math>. (It is permissible for a value in <math>S</math> to appear more than once.)
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(a) How many ways can the tree be so numbered, using
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only values chosen from the set <math>S = \{1, . . . , 6\}</math>?
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(b) Generalize to the case in which <math>S = \{1, . . . , n\}</math>. Find a formula for the number of ways the
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tree can be numbered.
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For maximal credit, express your answer in closed form as an explicit algebraic expression in <math>n</math>.
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
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a)<math>994</math> b) <math>\frac{1}{120}n(n + 1)(n + 2)(8n^22 + 11n + 1)</math>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{UNCO Math Contest box|year=2016|n=II|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
 
{{UNCO Math Contest box|year=2016|n=II|num-b=7|num-a=9}}
  
[[Category:]]
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[[Category: Intermediate Combinatorics Problems]]

Latest revision as of 04:03, 13 January 2019

Problem

Tree


Each circle in this tree diagram is to be assigned a value, chosen from a set $S$, in such a way that along every pathway down the tree, the assigned values never increase. That is, $A \ge B, B \ge C, C \ge D, D \ge E$, and $A, B, C, D, E \in S$. (It is permissible for a value in $S$ to appear more than once.)

(a) How many ways can the tree be so numbered, using only values chosen from the set $S = \{1, . . . , 6\}$?

(b) Generalize to the case in which $S = \{1, . . . , n\}$. Find a formula for the number of ways the tree can be numbered.

For maximal credit, express your answer in closed form as an explicit algebraic expression in $n$.

Solution

a)$994$ b) $\frac{1}{120}n(n + 1)(n + 2)(8n^22 + 11n + 1)$

See also

2016 UNCO Math Contest II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 7
Followed by
Problem 9
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
All UNCO Math Contest Problems and Solutions