Difference between revisions of "2007 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 12"

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==Solution 1==
 
==Solution 1==
The only time when <math>ad-bc</math> is even is when <math>ad</math> and <math>bc</math> are of the same [[parity]]. The chance of <math>ad</math> being odd is <math>\frac 12 \cdot \frac 12 = \frac 14</math>, since the only way to have <math>ad</math> be odd is to have both <math>a</math> and <math>d</math> be odd. As a result, <math>ad</math> has a <math>\frac 34</math> probability of being even. <math>bc</math> also has a <math>\frac 14</math> chance of being odd and a <math>\frac34</math> chance of being even. Therefore, the probability that <math>ad-bc</math> will be even is <math>\left(\frac 14\right)^2+\left(\frac 34\right)^2=\frac 58\ \mathrm{(E)}</math>.
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The only time when <math>ad-bc</math> is even is when <math>ad</math> and <math>bc</math> are of the same [[parity]]. The chance of <math>ad</math> being odd is <math>\frac 12 \cdot \frac 12 = \frac 14</math>, since the only way to have <math>ad</math> be odd is to have both <math>a</math> and <math>d</math> be odd. As a result, <math>ad</math> has a <math>\frac 34</math> probability of being even. <math>bc</math> also has a <math>\frac 14</math> chance of being odd and a <math>\frac34</math> chance of being even. Therefore, the probability that <math>ad-bc</math> will be even is <math>\left(\frac 14\right)^2+\left(\frac 34\right)^2=\boxed {\frac 58\ \mathrm{(E)}}</math>.
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<math>\boxed {(D)60}</math>
  
 
==Solution 2 (casework)==
 
==Solution 2 (casework)==

Revision as of 14:33, 30 June 2022

The following problem is from both the 2007 AMC 12A #12 and 2007 AMC 10A #16, so both problems redirect to this page.

Problem

Integers $a, b, c,$ and $d$, not necessarily distinct, are chosen independently and at random from 0 to 2007, inclusive. What is the probability that $ad-bc$ is even?

$\mathrm{(A)}\ \frac 38\qquad \mathrm{(B)}\ \frac 7{16}\qquad \mathrm{(C)}\ \frac 12\qquad \mathrm{(D)}\ \frac 9{16}\qquad \mathrm{(E)}\ \frac 58$

Solution 1

The only time when $ad-bc$ is even is when $ad$ and $bc$ are of the same parity. The chance of $ad$ being odd is $\frac 12 \cdot \frac 12 = \frac 14$, since the only way to have $ad$ be odd is to have both $a$ and $d$ be odd. As a result, $ad$ has a $\frac 34$ probability of being even. $bc$ also has a $\frac 14$ chance of being odd and a $\frac34$ chance of being even. Therefore, the probability that $ad-bc$ will be even is $\left(\frac 14\right)^2+\left(\frac 34\right)^2=\boxed {\frac 58\ \mathrm{(E)}}$.


$\boxed {(D)60}$

Solution 2 (casework)

If we don't know our parity rules, we can check and see that $ad-bc$ is only even when $ad$ and $bc$ are of the same parity (as stated above). From here, we have two cases.

Case 1: $odd-odd$ (which must be $o \cdot o-o \cdot o$). The probability for this to occur is $\left(\frac 12\right)^4 = \frac 1{16}$, because each integer has a $\frac 12$ chance of being odd.

Case 2: $even-even$ (which occurs in 4 cases: $(e \cdot e-e \cdot e$), ($o \cdot e-o \cdot e$) (alternating of any kind), and ($e \cdot e-o \cdot e$) with its reverse, ($o \cdot e-e \cdot e$).

Our first subcase of case 2 has a chance of $\frac 1{16}$ (same reasoning as above).

Our second subcase of case 2 has a $\frac 14$ chance, since only the 2nd and 4th flip matter (or 1st and 3rd).

Our third subcase of case 2 has a $\frac 18$ chance, because the 1st, 2nd, and either 3rd or 4th flip matter.

Our fourth subcase of case 2 has a $\frac 18$ chance, because it's the same, just reversed.

We sum these, and get our answer of $\frac 1{16} + \frac 1{16} + \frac 14 + \frac 18 + \frac 18 = \frac 58\ \mathrm{(E)}$

~Dynosol

See also

2007 AMC 12A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 11
Followed by
Problem 13
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions
2007 AMC 10A (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 15
Followed by
Problem 17
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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