Difference between revisions of "2020 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 16"
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(This strategy is not "optimal" if other winning stategies exist, so I have made the wording more accurate and concise.) |
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==Solution== | ==Solution== | ||
− | + | If Bela selects the middle number in the range <math>[0, n]</math> and then mirror whatever number Jenn selects, then if Jenn can select a number within the range, so can Bela. Jenn will always be the first person to run out of a number to choose, so the answer is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(A)} \text{ Bela will always win}}</math>. | |
==Solution 2 (Guessing)== | ==Solution 2 (Guessing)== |
Revision as of 01:10, 12 January 2021
- The following problem is from both the 2020 AMC 10B #16 and 2020 AMC 12B #14, so both problems redirect to this page.
Problem
Bela and Jenn play the following game on the closed interval of the real number line, where is a fixed integer greater than . They take turns playing, with Bela going first. At his first turn, Bela chooses any real number in the interval . Thereafter, the player whose turn it is chooses a real number that is more than one unit away from all numbers previously chosen by either player. A player unable to choose such a number loses. Using optimal strategy, which player will win the game?
Solution
If Bela selects the middle number in the range and then mirror whatever number Jenn selects, then if Jenn can select a number within the range, so can Bela. Jenn will always be the first person to run out of a number to choose, so the answer is .
Solution 2 (Guessing)
First of all, realize that the value of should have no effect on the strategy at all. This is because they can choose real numbers, not integers, so even if is odd, for example, they can still go halfway. Similarly, there is no reason the strategy would change when .
So we are left with (A) and (B). From here it is best to try out random numbers and try to find the strategy that will let Bela win, but if you can't find it, realize that it is more likely the answer is since Bela has the first move and thus has more control.
Video Solution
https://youtu.be/3BvJeZU3T-M (for AMC 10) https://youtu.be/0xgTR3UEqbQ (for AMC 12)
~IceMatrix
See Also
2020 AMC 10B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 15 |
Followed by Problem 17 | |
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 |
2020 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
Preceded by Problem 13 |
Followed by Problem 15 |
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 12 Problems and Solutions |
The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.