2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 3

Problem

A coin that comes up heads with probability $p > 0$ and tails with probability $1 - p > 0$ independently on each flip is flipped eight times. Suppose the probability of three heads and five tails is equal to $\frac {1}{25}$ of the probability of five heads and three tails. Let $p = \frac {m}{n}$ , where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m + n$ .

Solution

The probability of three heads and five tails is $\binom {8}{3}p^3(1-p)^5$ and the probability of five heads and three tails is $\binom {8}{3}p^5(1-p)^3$ .

$\begin{align*} 25\binom {8}{3}p^3(1-p)^5&=\binom {8}{3}p^5(1-p)^3 \\ 25(1-p)^2&=p^2 \\ 25p^2-50p+25=p^2 \\ 24p^2-50p+25=0 \\ p&=\frac {5}{6}\end{align*}$

Therefore, the answer is $5+6=\boxed{011}$ .

2009 AIME I (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 2	Followed by Problem 4
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2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 3

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