2009 AIME I Problems/Problem 3

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Problem

A coin that comes up heads with probability $p > 0$ and tails with probability $1 - p > 0$ independently on each flip is flipped eight times. Suppose the probability of three heads and five tails is equal to $\frac {1}{25}$ of the probability of five heads and three tails. Let $p = \frac {m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m + n$.

Solution

The probability of three heads and five tails is $\binom {8}{3}p^3(1-p)^5$ and the probability of five heads and three tails is $\binom {8}{3}p^5(1-p)^3$.

\begin{align*} 25\binom {8}{3}p^3(1-p)^5&=\binom {8}{3}p^5(1-p)^3 \\ 25(1-p)^2&=p^2 \\ 25p^2-50p+25&=p^2 \\ 24p^2-50p+25&=0 \\ p&=\frac {5}{6}\end{align*}

Therefore, the answer is $5+6=\boxed{011}$.

Solution 2

We start as shown above, however, as we get to $25(1-p)^2=p^2$, we square root both sides to get $5(1-p)=p$. Then, we get:

\begin{align*} 5(1-p)&=p \\ 5-5p&=p \\ 5&=6p \\ p&=\frac {5}{6}\end{align*}

We get the same answer as above, $5+6=\boxed{011}$

-Jerry_Guo

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/NL79UexadzE

~IceMatrix

See also

2009 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 2
Followed by
Problem 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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