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1994 AHSME Problems/Problem 30

Revision as of 13:19, 28 May 2021 by Logsobolev (talk | contribs) (→‎Solution)

Problem

When $n$ standard 6-sided dice are rolled, the probability of obtaining a sum of 1994 is greater than zero and is the same as the probability of obtaining a sum of $S$. The smallest possible value of $S$ is

$\textbf{(A)}\ 333 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 335 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 337 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 339 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 341$

Solution

Let $d_i$ be the number on the $i$th die. There is a symmetry where we can replace each die's result with $d_i' = 7-d_i$. Note that applying the symmetry twice we get back to where we started since $7-(7-d_i)=d_i$. Under this symmetry the sum $S=\sum_{i=1}^n d_i$ is replaced by $S' = \sum_{i=1}^n 7-d_i = 7n - S$. As a result of this symmetry the probabilities of obtaing the sum $S$ and the sum $S'$ are equal because any combination of $d_i$ which sum to $S$ can be replaced with $d_i'$ to get the sum $S'$, and conversely. In other words, there is a one-to-one mapping between the combinations of dice which sum to $S$ and the combinations which sum to $S'$.

When $S=1994$ the smallest number $S'=7n-1994$ corresponds to the smallest number $n$. Thus we want to find the smallest $n$ which gives non-zero probability of obtaining $S=1994$. This occurs when there are just enough dice for this sum to be possible, and any fewer dice would result in $S=1994$ being impossible. Clearly $n = \left\lceil \frac{1994}{6} \right\rceil = 333$. By the symmetry mentioned above, the probability of rolling $S=1994$ is the same as the probability of rolling $S' = 333\cdot 7 - 1994 = 337$. The answer is $\textbf{(C)}$.

See Also

1994 AHSME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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