Difference between revisions of "2011 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 13"

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(Solution 2)
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== Solution 2 ==
 
== Solution 2 ==
  
We can also plot this problem on the coordinate grid. First, plot the possible region [the square with endpoints <math>(10,10), (-20, 10), (-20, -20), (-20, 10)</math>]  Then, we can find our possible region which is if both numbers are positive or if both numbers are negative. Lets take the first case in which both numbers are positive: We can plot this as the top right of our possible square [<math>(10,10) ,(0,0) ,(10,0) ,(0,10)</math>]. Similarly if both numbers are negative we get the square [<math>(-20,-20), (0,0), (-20,0) ,(0,-20)</math>] Then we find the area of the possible region <math>30\cdot 30 = 900</math> and then find the areas of our positive regions <math>10\cdot 10=100  and 20\cdot 20 = 400. Adding and simplifying we get </math>\frac{100+400}{900}=\frac{5}{9}$.
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We can also plot this problem on the coordinate grid. First, plot the possible region [the square with endpoints <math>(10,10), (-20, 10), (-20, -20), (-20, 10)</math>]  Then, we can find our possible region which is if both numbers are positive or if both numbers are negative. Lets take the first case in which both numbers are positive: We can plot this as the top right of our possible square [<math>(10,10) ,(0,0) ,(10,0) ,(0,10)</math>]. Similarly if both numbers are negative we get the square [<math>(-20,-20), (0,0), (-20,0) ,(0,-20)</math>] Then we find the area of the possible region <math>30\cdot 30 = 900</math> and then find the areas of our positive regions <math>10\cdot 10=100</math> and <math>20\cdot 20 = 400</math>. Adding and simplifying we get <math>\frac{100+400}{900}=\frac{5}{9}</math>.
  
 
== See Also==
 
== See Also==

Revision as of 17:40, 29 October 2019

Problem

Two real numbers are selected independently at random from the interval $[-20, 10]$. What is the probability that the product of those numbers is greater than zero?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{9} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{3} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{4}{9} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{5}{9} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{2}{3}$

Solution

For the product of two numbers to be greater than zero, they either have to both be negative or both be positive. The interval for a positive number is $\frac{1}{3}$ of the total interval, and the interval for a negative number is $\frac{2}{3}$. Therefore, the probability the product is greater than zero is \[\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \frac{5}{9}}\]


Solution 2

We can also plot this problem on the coordinate grid. First, plot the possible region [the square with endpoints $(10,10), (-20, 10), (-20, -20), (-20, 10)$] Then, we can find our possible region which is if both numbers are positive or if both numbers are negative. Lets take the first case in which both numbers are positive: We can plot this as the top right of our possible square [$(10,10) ,(0,0) ,(10,0) ,(0,10)$]. Similarly if both numbers are negative we get the square [$(-20,-20), (0,0), (-20,0) ,(0,-20)$] Then we find the area of the possible region $30\cdot 30 = 900$ and then find the areas of our positive regions $10\cdot 10=100$ and $20\cdot 20 = 400$. Adding and simplifying we get $\frac{100+400}{900}=\frac{5}{9}$.

See Also

2011 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 12
Followed by
Problem 14
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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