1997 AIME Problems/Problem 2

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Problem

The nine horizontal and nine vertical lines on an $8\times8$ checkeboard form $r$ rectangles, of which $s$ are squares. The number $s/r$ can be written in the form $m/n,$ where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m + n.$

Solution

For r, we can choose two out of 9 lines, and 2 out of nine lines again, to get $r=(\binom{9}{2})^2=36^2=1296$

For s, there are 8^2 unit squares, 7^2 2*2 squares, .... 1^1 8*8 squares. That gives us $s=1^2+2^2+\cdots+8^2=\dfrac{8*9*17}{6}=12*17=204$

$\dfrac{204}{1296}=\dfrac{17}{108}$

$m+n=125$

See also

1997 AIME (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 1
Followed by
Problem 3
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All AIME Problems and Solutions