2013 AIME I Problems/Problem 6

Problem 6

Melinda has three empty boxes and $12$ textbooks, three of which are mathematics textbooks. One box will hold any three of her textbooks, one will hold any four of her textbooks, and one will hold any five of her textbooks. If Melinda packs her textbooks into these boxes in random order, the probability that all three mathematics textbooks end up in the same box can be written as $\frac{m}{n}$ , where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m+n$ .

Solution One

The total ways the textbooks can be arranged in the 3 boxes is $( \,_{12}C_{3} )\cdot( \,_{9}C_{4} )$ , which is equivalent to $12\cdot11\cdot10\cdot7\cdot3$ . If all of the math textbooks are put into the box that can hold 3 textbooks, there are $\,_{9}C_{4}$ ways for the other textbooks to be arranged. If all of the math textbooks are put into the box that can hold 4 textbooks, there are $9$ ways to choose the other book in that box, times $\,_{8}C_{3}$ ways for the other books to be arranged. If all of the math textbooks are put into the box with the capability of holding 5 textbooks, there are $\,_{9}C_{2}$ ways to choose the other 2 textbooks in that box, times $\,_{7}C_{3}$ ways to arrange the other 7 textbooks. $\,_{9}C_{4} =9\cdot7\cdot2$ , $9\cdot( \,_{8}C_{3} )=9\cdot7\cdot8$ , and $( \,_{9}C_{2} )\cdot( \,_{7}C_{3} )=9\cdot7\cdot4\cdot5$ , so the total number of ways the math textbooks can all be placed into the same box is $(9\cdot7)(2+8+(4\cdot5))$ . So, the probability of this occurring is $\frac{(9\cdot7)(2+8+(4\cdot5))}{12\cdot11\cdot10\cdot7\cdot3}$ . If the numerator and denominator are both divided by $9\cdot7$ , we have $\frac{(2+8+(4\cdot5))}{4\cdot11\cdot10}$ . Simplifying the numerator yields $\frac{30}{10\cdot4\cdot11}$ , and dividing both numerator and denominator by 10 results in $\frac{3}{44}$ . This fraction cannot be simplified any further, so $m=3$ and $n=44$ . Therefore, $m+n=3+44=\boxed{047}$ .

Solution Two

Consider the books as either math or not-math where books in each category are indistiguishable from one another. Then, there are $\,_{12}C_{3}$ total distinguishable ways to pack the books. Now, in order to determine the desired propability, we must find the total number of ways the condition that all math books are in the same box can be satisfied. We proceed with casework for each box:

Case 1: The math books are placed into the smallest box. This can be done in $\,_{3}C_{3}$ ways.

Case 2: The math books are placed into the middle box. This can be done in $\,_{4}C_{3}$ ways.

Case 3: The math books are placed into the largest box. This can be done in $\,_{5}C_{3}$ ways.

So, the total ways the condition can be satisfied is $\,_{3}C_{3} + \,_{4}C_{3} + \,_{5}C_{3}$ . This can be simplified to $\,_{6}C_{4} = \,_{6}C_{2}$ by the Hockey Stick Identity. Therefore, the desired probability is $\frac{ \,_{6}C_{2} }{ \,_{12}C_{3} }$ = $\frac{3}{44}$ , and $m+n=3+44=\boxed{047}$ .

2013 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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2013 AIME I Problems/Problem 6

Contents

Problem 6

Solution One

Solution Two

See also