Art of Problem Solving
AoPS Online
Math texts, online classes, and more
for students in grades 5-12.
Visit AoPS Online ‚
Books for Grades 5-12 Online Courses
Beast Academy
Engaging math books and online learning
for students ages 6-13.
Visit Beast Academy ‚
Books for Ages 6-13 Beast Academy Online
AoPS Academy
Small live classes for advanced math
and language arts learners in grades 2-12.
Visit AoPS Academy ‚
Find a Physical Campus Visit the Virtual Campus

2004 AIME II Problems/Problem 10

Revision as of 23:29, 16 December 2021 by Kingravi (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution 2)

Problem

Let $S$ be the set of integers between $1$ and $2^{40}$ whose binary expansions have exactly two $1$'s. If a number is chosen at random from $S,$ the probability that it is divisible by $9$ is $p/q,$ where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $p+q.$

Solution 1

A positive integer $n$ has exactly two 1s in its binary representation exactly when $n = 2^j + 2^k$ for $j \neq k$ nonnegative integers. Thus, the set $S$ is equal to the set $\{n \in \mathbb{Z} \mid n = 2^j + 2^k \,\mathrm{ and }\, 0 \leq j < k \leq 39\}$. (The second condition ensures simultaneously that $j \neq k$ and that each such number less than $2^{40}$ is counted exactly once.) This means there are ${40 \choose 2} = 780$ total such numbers.

Now, consider the powers of $2$ mod $9$: $2^{6n} \equiv 1, 2^{6n + 1} \equiv 2, 2^{6n + 2} \equiv 4, 2^{6n + 3} \equiv 8 \equiv -1,$ $2^{6n + 4} \equiv 7 \equiv -2,$ $2^{6n + 5} \equiv 5 \equiv -4 \pmod 9$.

It's clear what the pairs $j, k$ can look like. If one is of the form $6n$ (7 choices), the other must be of the form $6n + 3$ (7 choices). If one is of the form $6n + 1$ (7 choices) the other must be of the form $6n + 4$ (6 choices). And if one is of the form $6n + 2$ (7 choices), the other must be of the form $6n + 5$ (6 choices). This means that there are $7\cdot 7 + 7\cdot 6 + 7\cdot 6 = 49 + 42 +42 = 133$ total "good" numbers.

The probability is $\frac{133}{780}$, and the answer is $133 + 780 = \boxed{913}$.

Solution 2

Any number from 1 to $2^{40}$ can be represented in binary with 40 digits (because $2^{40}$ has 41) with leading zeroes if necessary. Therefore the number of sets where there are exactly two 1’s in this binary representation is just $\binom {40}{2}$ because we’re choosing 2 1s to go in 40 digit slots. This is equal to 780; we have found $q$, our denominator.

With these particular numbers, when converting back to decimal note that the 38 zeroes all cancel out. Let the first 1 when reading the number in binary from left to right be in position $y$, I.e. when converting to decimal, it will have value $2^{y}$. Similarly, let the second 1 have position $x$ (note $x<y$); then the decimal value of that 1 will be $2^{x}$. Therefore this number is equal to $2^{x}+2{y} = 2^{x} \cdot (1+2^{y-x})$. The conditions say that this is divisible by 9. $2^{x}$ is clearly never divisible by 9, so we can just focus on $1+2^{y-x}$. \[1+2^{y-x} \cong 0 \pmod 9 \implies 2^{y-x} \cong 8 \pmod 9\] 

Since $2^6 = 64 \equiv 1\text{ (mod 9)}$, multiplying by $2^6$ gives $2^{3+6n} \equiv -1\text{ (mod 9)}$.

The solutions that work are in the form $2^a+2^b$. Since $2^{3+6n}+1 \equiv 0\text{ (mod 9)}$, all of the solutions are in this form or this form multiplied by $2^x$ where $0 \leq 3+6n+x \leq 39$.

Now we just do casework: \[2^3+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^{36}\] \[2^9+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^{30}\] \[2^{15}+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^{24}\] \[2^{21}+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^{18}\] \[2^{27}+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^{12}\] \[2^{33}+1: 2^0 \text{ to } 2^6\] \[2^{39}+1: 2^0\]

So, the numerator is $37+31+25+19+13+7+1 = 133$. The denominator is just ${40 \choose 2}$, so the probability is $\frac{133}{780}$, and the answer is $133 + 780 = \boxed{913}$.

Solution 3 (similar to 1)

As mentioned above, there are 780 possible combinations. Since we are essentially adding two powers of two together, thinking about the properties of this sum organizes our solution. All powers of two are even except for $2^0$, so we begin with labeling an entire group "where one of the 1s is in the rightmost spot". In an equation, $2^n+1$ is congruent to 0 mod 9. Instantly we think of $2^3=8$, and trial and error soon gives us $2^9=512$. Notice a pattern? Trying 2^15 = 32768 also works. You could go on, but basically all powers of two 3 mod 6 are 1 mod 9. (This is proven with the fact that $2^6$ is 1 mod 9) There are seven 3 mod 6 powers of 2 from 1-39, so for our first category there are seven "good" combinations.


Next, we look at powers of two exclusive from 1-39. Expressed in an equation, $2^n+2^m$ is congruent to 0 mod 9. Since nine is a relatively small number, we can treat powers of two as remainders of nine, to find "good" combinations quickly. Making a list of powers of two from 1-6 shows that the remainders when divided by nine are 2, 4, 8, 7, 5, and 1. This repeats itself every 6 powers. With simple counting we see there are seven powers of two that give remainders of 2, 4, and 8 each. Also there are six powers of two two that give remainders of 7, 5, and 1 each. Notice that each trio of powers correspond with another in the opposite trio. WLOG, if you choose two, (which there are seven to select) there are six different sevens to pair. This gives $7*6$. Repeat for the other two pairs.

In the end there are $7+42+42+42$ "good" combinations, for an answer of $133 + 780 = \boxed{913}$.


-jackshi2006

See also

2004 AIME II (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 9 		Followed by
Problem 11
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png

Retrieved from "https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2004_AIME_II_Problems/Problem_10&oldid=167883"