Difference between revisions of "2019 AIME II Problems/Problem 2"

m (Solution)
m (Solution)
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==Solution==
 
==Solution==
Let <math>P_n</math> be the probability the frog reaches pad <math>7</math> starting from pad <math>n</math>. Then <math>P_7 = 1</math>, <math>P_6 = \frac12</math>, and <math>P_n = \frac12(P_{n + 1} + P_{n + 2})</math> for all integers <math>1 \leq n \leq 5</math>. Working our way down, we find
+
Let <math>P_n</math> be the probability the frog visits pad <math>7</math> starting from pad <math>n</math>. Then <math>P_7 = 1</math>, <math>P_6 = \frac12</math>, and <math>P_n = \frac12(P_{n + 1} + P_{n + 2})</math> for all integers <math>1 \leq n \leq 5</math>. Working our way down, we find
 
<cmath>P_5 = \frac{3}{4}</cmath>
 
<cmath>P_5 = \frac{3}{4}</cmath>
 
<cmath>P_4 = \frac{5}{8}</cmath>
 
<cmath>P_4 = \frac{5}{8}</cmath>

Revision as of 18:50, 22 March 2019

Problem 2

Lily pads $1,2,3,\ldots$ lie in a row on a pond. A frog makes a sequence of jumps starting on pad $1$. From any pad $k$ the frog jumps to either pad $k+1$ or pad $k+2$ chosen randomly with probability $\tfrac{1}{2}$ and independently of other jumps. The probability that the frog visits pad $7$ is $\tfrac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $p+q$.

Solution

Let $P_n$ be the probability the frog visits pad $7$ starting from pad $n$. Then $P_7 = 1$, $P_6 = \frac12$, and $P_n = \frac12(P_{n + 1} + P_{n + 2})$ for all integers $1 \leq n \leq 5$. Working our way down, we find \[P_5 = \frac{3}{4}\] \[P_4 = \frac{5}{8}\] \[P_3 = \frac{11}{16}\] \[P_2 = \frac{21}{32}\] \[P_1 = \frac{43}{64}\] $43 + 64 = \boxed{107}$.

See Also

2019 AIME II (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 1
Followed by
Problem 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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