Difference between revisions of "2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 9"

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== Solution ==
 
== Solution ==
Since we have 3 numbers, consider how many ways we can put this 3 number in a string of 7 digits by putting A,B,C together
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Since we have three numbers, consider the number of ways we can put these three numbers together in a string of 7 digits.
  
For example: <math>A=113, B=13, C=31</math>
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For example, if <math>A=113, B=13, C=31</math>,
  
Then the string is
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then the string is
  
<cmath>1131331</cmath>
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<cmath>1131331</cmath>.
  
Since the strings have 7 digits and 3 three's. There are
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Since the strings have seven digits and three threes, there are
  
<math>_7C_3</math> of such string
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<math>_7C_3</math> arrangements of such strings.
  
In other to obtain all combination of A,B,C. We partition all the possible strings into 3 groups
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In order to obtain all combination of A,B,C, we partition all the possible strings into 3 groups.
  
Let look at the example.
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Let's look at the example. We have to partition it into 3 groups with each group having at least 1 digit. In other words, we need to find the solution to
  
We have to partition it into 3 groups with each group having at least 1 digit
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<cmath>x+y+z=7, 0<x,y,z</cmath>.
  
We have to find solution where
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This gives us
  
<cmath>x+y+z=7, 0<x,y,z<5</cmath>
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<cmath>_6C_2</cmath>
  
This gives us:
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by balls and urns. But we have counted the one with 5 digit numbers; that is, <math>(5,1,1),(1,1,5),(1,5,1)</math>.
  
<cmath>_6C_2</cmath> (balls and urns)
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Thus, each arrangement has <cmath>(_6C_2)-3=12</cmath> ways per arrangement, and there are <math>12\times35=\boxed{420}</math> ways.
 
 
But we have counted the one with 5 digit numbers. That is <math>(5,1,1),(1,1,5),(1,5,1)</math>
 
 
 
Thus, each arrangement has <cmath>(_6C_2)-3=12</cmath> ways per arrangement
 
 
 
Thus, there are <math>12\times35=\boxed{420}</math> ways.
 
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
{{AIME box|year=2009|n=I|num-b=8|num-a=10}}
 
{{AIME box|year=2009|n=I|num-b=8|num-a=10}}

Revision as of 20:39, 12 March 2012

Problem

A game show offers a contestant three prizes A, B and C, each of which is worth a whole number of dollars from <dollar/>$1$ to <dollar/>$9999$ inclusive. The contestant wins the prizes by correctly guessing the price of each prize in the order A, B, C. As a hint, the digits of the three prices are given. On a particular day, the digits given were $1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3$. Find the total number of possible guesses for all three prizes consistent with the hint.

Solution

Since we have three numbers, consider the number of ways we can put these three numbers together in a string of 7 digits.

For example, if $A=113, B=13, C=31$,

then the string is

\[1131331\].

Since the strings have seven digits and three threes, there are

$_7C_3$ arrangements of such strings.

In order to obtain all combination of A,B,C, we partition all the possible strings into 3 groups.

Let's look at the example. We have to partition it into 3 groups with each group having at least 1 digit. In other words, we need to find the solution to

\[x+y+z=7, 0<x,y,z\].

This gives us

\[_6C_2\]

by balls and urns. But we have counted the one with 5 digit numbers; that is, $(5,1,1),(1,1,5),(1,5,1)$.

Thus, each arrangement has \[(_6C_2)-3=12\] ways per arrangement, and there are $12\times35=\boxed{420}$ ways.

See also

2009 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions