2019 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 25
Contents
[hide]Problem 25
Alice has apples. In how many ways can she share them with Becky and Chris so that each of the three people has at least two apples?
Solution 1
We use stars and bars. Let Alice get apples, let Becky get apples, let Chris get apples. We can manipulate this into an equation which can be solved using stars and bars.
All of them get at least apples, so we can subtract from , from , and from . Let , let , let . We can allow either of them to equal to , hence this can be solved by stars and bars.
By Stars and Bars, our answer is just .
Solution 2
Without loss of generality, let's assume that Alice has apples. There are ways to split the rest of the apples with Becky and Chris. If Alice has apples, there are ways to split the rest of the apples with Becky and Chris. If Alice has apples, there are ways to split the rest. So the total number of ways to split apples between the three friends is equal to
Solution 3
Let's assume that the three of them have apples. Since each of them has to have at least apples, we say that and . Thus, , and so by stars and bars, the number of solutions for this is - aops5234
Solution 4 (EASIEST AND FASTEST SOLUTION)
Since we have to give each of the friends at least apples, we need to spend a total of apples to solve the restriction. Now we have apples left to be divided among Alice, Becky, and Chris, without any constraints. We use the Ball-and-urn technique, or sometimes known as ([Sticks and Stones]/[Stars and Bars]), to divide the apples. We now have stones and sticks, which have a total of ways to arrange.
~by sakshamsethi
Videos explaining solution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dBUklyUaNI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJzSOPXULBc
https://youtu.be/ZsCRGK4VgBE ~DSA_Catachu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qp0wTq-LI0&list=PLLCzevlMcsWNBsdpItBT4r7Pa8cZb6Viu&index=7 ~ MathEx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aStuVhoD8wc- Also includes other problems from 21-25
See Also
2019 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
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