Difference between revisions of "1997 PMWC Problems/Problem I15"

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In total, we get <math>20 + 6 = 26</math> paths.
 
In total, we get <math>20 + 6 = 26</math> paths.
  
== See also ==
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== See Also ==
 
{{PMWC box|year=1997|num-b=I14|num-a=T1}}
 
{{PMWC box|year=1997|num-b=I14|num-a=T1}}
  
 
[[Category:Introductory Combinatorics Problems]]
 
[[Category:Introductory Combinatorics Problems]]

Revision as of 16:05, 15 May 2012

Problem

How many paths from A to B consist of exactly six line segments (vertical, horizontal or inclined)?

[asy]size(150); dotfactor=7; pointpen=black; draw(unitsquare); draw((1/3,0)--(1/3,1));draw((2/3,0)--(2/3,1)); draw((0,1/3)--(1,1/3));draw((0,2/3)--(1,2/3)); draw((1/3,0)--(2/3,1/3));draw((1/3,1/3)--(2/3,2/3));draw((1/3,2/3)--(2/3,1)); for(int i=0;i<4;++i)   for(int j=0;j<4;++j)     dot((i/3,j/3)); MP("\mathrm{A}",D((0,0)),SW,fontsize(9)); MP("\mathrm{B}",D((1,1)),NE,fontsize(9));[/asy]

Solution

Casework:

  • Ignoring the diagonal segments, there are $\frac{6!}{3!3!} = 20$ paths.
  • Traversing the diagonals, we quickly find that the path must run through exactly 2 diagonals. There are ${3\choose2} = 3$ pairs of diagonals through which this is possible; quick counting shows us that each pair of diagonals yields 2 paths. So there are 6 more cases here.

In total, we get $20 + 6 = 26$ paths.

See Also

1997 PMWC (Problems)
Preceded by
Problem I14
Followed by
Problem T1
I: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
T: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10