Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 21"
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So the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)}28}</math> | So the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)}28}</math> | ||
~yofro (Diagram credits to franzliszt) | ~yofro (Diagram credits to franzliszt) | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==Solution 2== | ||
+ | Suppose we "extend" the chessboard indefinitely to the right: | ||
+ | |||
+ | <asy> | ||
+ | int N = 7; | ||
+ | for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) { | ||
+ | for (int j = 0; j < 8; ++j) { | ||
+ | draw((i,j)--(i+1,j)--(i+1,j+1)--(i,j+1)--(i,j)); | ||
+ | if ((i+j) % 2 == 0) { | ||
+ | filldraw((i,j)--(i+1,j)--(i+1,j+1)--(i,j+1)--(i,j)--cycle,black); | ||
+ | } | ||
+ | } | ||
+ | } | ||
+ | draw((8,0) -- (8,8),red); | ||
+ | label("$P$", (5.5,.5)); | ||
+ | label("$Q$", (6.5,7.5)); | ||
+ | label("$X$", (8.5,3.5)); | ||
+ | label("$Y$", (8.5,5.5)); | ||
+ | </asy> | ||
+ | The total number of paths from <math>P</math> to <math>Q</math> (including invalid paths which cross over the red line) is <math>\binom{7}{3} = 35</math>. We subtract the number of invalid paths that pass through <math>X</math> or <math>Y</math>. The number of paths that pass through <math>X</math> is <math>\binom{3}{0}\binom{4}{3} = 4</math> and the number of paths that pass through <math>Y</math> is <math>\binom{5}{1}\binom{2}{2} = 5</math>. However, we overcounted the invalid paths which pass through both <math>X</math> and <math>Y</math>, of which there are 2 paths. Hence, the number of invalid paths is <math>4+5-2=7</math> and the number of valid paths from <math>P</math> to <math>Q</math> is <math>35-7 = \boxed{\textbf{(A)} 28}</math>. -scrabbler94 | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{AMC8 box|year=2020|num-b=20|num-a=22}} | {{AMC8 box|year=2020|num-b=20|num-a=22}} | ||
{{MAA Notice}} | {{MAA Notice}} |
Revision as of 12:27, 18 November 2020
Contents
Problem 21
A game board consists of squares that alternate in color between black and white. The figure below shows square
in the bottom row and square
in the top row. A marker is placed at
A step consists of moving the marker onto one of the adjoining white squares in the row above. How many
-step paths are there from
to
(The figure shows a sample path.)
Solution
We count paths. Noticing that we can only go along white squares, to get to a white square we can only go from the two whites beneath it. Here is a diagram:
So the answer is
~yofro (Diagram credits to franzliszt)
Solution 2
Suppose we "extend" the chessboard indefinitely to the right:
The total number of paths from
to
(including invalid paths which cross over the red line) is
. We subtract the number of invalid paths that pass through
or
. The number of paths that pass through
is
and the number of paths that pass through
is
. However, we overcounted the invalid paths which pass through both
and
, of which there are 2 paths. Hence, the number of invalid paths is
and the number of valid paths from
to
is
. -scrabbler94
See also
2020 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 20 |
Followed by Problem 22 | |
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.