Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

Difference between revisions of "2005 AIME II Problems/Problem 1"
(→‎See Also)
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
A game uses a deck of <math> n </math> different cards, where <math> n </math> is an integer and <math> n \geq 6. </math> The number of possible sets of 6 cards that can be drawn from the deck is 6 times the number of possible sets of 3 cards that can be drawn. Find <math> n. </math>
 
A game uses a deck of <math> n </math> different cards, where <math> n </math> is an integer and <math> n \geq 6. </math> The number of possible sets of 6 cards that can be drawn from the deck is 6 times the number of possible sets of 3 cards that can be drawn. Find <math> n. </math>
 +
 +
== Video Solution ==
 +
https://youtu.be/IRyWOZQMTV8?t=150
 +
 +
~ pi_is_3.14
  
 
== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Line 11: Line 16:
 
We are given that <math>{n\choose 6} = 6 {n \choose 3}</math>, so <math>\frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)\cdot(n-3)\cdot(n-4)\cdot(n-5)}{6\cdot5\cdot4\cdot3\cdot2\cdot1} = 6 \frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)}{3\cdot2\cdot1}</math>.
 
We are given that <math>{n\choose 6} = 6 {n \choose 3}</math>, so <math>\frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)\cdot(n-3)\cdot(n-4)\cdot(n-5)}{6\cdot5\cdot4\cdot3\cdot2\cdot1} = 6 \frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)}{3\cdot2\cdot1}</math>.
  
−
Cancelling like terms, we get <math>(n - 3)(n - 4)(n - 5) = 6\cdot6\cdot5\cdot4</math>.
+
Cancelling like terms, we get <math>(n - 3)(n - 4)(n - 5) = 720</math>.
  
−
We must find a [[factoring|factorization]] of the left-hand side of this equation into three consecutive [[integer]]s.
+
We must find a [[factoring|factorization]] of the left-hand side of this equation into three consecutive [[integer]]s. Since 720 is close to <math>9^3=729</math>, we try 8, 9, and 10, which works, so <math>n - 3 = 10</math> and <math>n = \boxed{13}</math>.
−
 
 
−
With a little work we realize the factorization <math>8 \cdot 9 \cdot 10</math>, so <math>n - 3 = 10</math> and <math>n = 13</math>.
 
  
 
== See Also ==
 
== See Also ==
 +
{{AIME  box|year=2005|n=II|before=First Question|num-a=2}}
  
−
*[[2005 AIME II Problems/Problem 2| Next problem]]
+
[[Category:Introductory Combinatorics Problems, Introductory Algebra Problems]]
−
*[[2005 AIME II Problems]]
+
{{MAA Notice}}
−
 
 
−
 
 
−
[[Category:Introductory Combinatorics Problems]]
 

Latest revision as of 10:54, 31 July 2023

Problem

A game uses a deck of $n$ different cards, where $n$ is an integer and $n \geq 6.$ The number of possible sets of 6 cards that can be drawn from the deck is 6 times the number of possible sets of 3 cards that can be drawn. Find $n.$

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/IRyWOZQMTV8?t=150

~ pi_is_3.14

Solution

The number of ways to draw six cards from $n$ is given by the binomial coefficient ${n \choose 6} = \frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)\cdot(n-3)\cdot(n-4)\cdot(n-5)}{6\cdot5\cdot4\cdot3\cdot2\cdot1}$.

The number of ways to choose three cards from $n$ is ${n\choose 3} = \frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)}{3\cdot2\cdot1}$.

We are given that ${n\choose 6} = 6 {n \choose 3}$, so $\frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)\cdot(n-3)\cdot(n-4)\cdot(n-5)}{6\cdot5\cdot4\cdot3\cdot2\cdot1} = 6 \frac{n\cdot(n-1)\cdot(n-2)}{3\cdot2\cdot1}$.

Cancelling like terms, we get $(n - 3)(n - 4)(n - 5) = 720$.

We must find a factorization of the left-hand side of this equation into three consecutive integers. Since 720 is close to $9^3=729$, we try 8, 9, and 10, which works, so $n - 3 = 10$ and $n = \boxed{13}$.

See Also

2005 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
First Question 		Followed by
Problem 2
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2005_AIME_II_Problems/Problem_1&oldid=196290"