Difference between revisions of "University of South Carolina High School Math Contest/1993 Exam/Problem 19"
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− | + | There are 4 color choices for dot <math>A</math>. After coloring dot <math>A</math>, there are 3 color choices for dot <math>B</math>. If dot <math>D</math> is the same color as dot <math>B</math> (1 way), there are 3 choices for dot <math>C</math>. If dot <math>D</math> is a different color from dot <math>B</math> (2 ways), there are only 2 choices for dot <math>C</math>. Thus we have in total <math>4\cdot3\cdot(1\cdot3 + 2\cdot2) = 84</math> possible colorings, so choice <math>\mathrm{(C)}</math> is the answer. | |
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Latest revision as of 16:37, 17 August 2006
Problem
In the figure below, there are 4 distinct dots and
, joined by edges. Each dot is to be colored either red, blue, green, or yellow. No two dots joined by an edge are to be colored with the same color. How many completed colorings are possible?
![$\mathrm{(A) \ }24 \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ }72 \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ }84 \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ }96 \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ }108$](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/f/c/3/fc3291dae8a5c740962b60c44d4d42e5f1112d29.png)
Solution
There are 4 color choices for dot . After coloring dot
, there are 3 color choices for dot
. If dot
is the same color as dot
(1 way), there are 3 choices for dot
. If dot
is a different color from dot
(2 ways), there are only 2 choices for dot
. Thus we have in total
possible colorings, so choice
is the answer.