Difference between revisions of "2022 AIME I Problems/Problem 9"

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is even. Ellina arranges her blocks in a row in random order. The probability that her arrangement is even is <math>\frac{m}{n},</math> where <math>m</math> and <math>n</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>m+n.</math>
 
is even. Ellina arranges her blocks in a row in random order. The probability that her arrangement is even is <math>\frac{m}{n},</math> where <math>m</math> and <math>n</math> are relatively prime positive integers. Find <math>m+n.</math>
  
== Solution 1 ==
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== Solution ==
 
Consider this position chart:
 
Consider this position chart:
 
<cmath> {\text {\bf 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}}</cmath>
 
<cmath> {\text {\bf 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}}</cmath>
Since there has to be an even number of spaces between each ball of the same color, spots <math>1</math>, <math>3</math>, <math>5</math>, <math>7</math>, <math>9</math>, and <math>11</math> contain some permutation of all 6 colored balls. Likewise, so do the even spots, so the number of even configurations is <math>6! \cdot 6!</math> (after putting every pair of colored balls in opposite parity positions, the configuration can be shown to be even). This is out of <math>\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}</math> possible arrangements, so the probability is: <cmath>\frac{6!\cdot6!}{\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}} = \frac{6!\cdot2^6}{7\cdot8\cdot9\cdot10\cdot11\cdot12} = \frac{2^6}{7\cdot11\cdot12} = \frac{16}{231}</cmath>
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Since there has to be an even number of spaces between each ball of the same color, spots <math>1</math>, <math>3</math>, <math>5</math>, <math>7</math>, <math>9</math>, and <math>11</math> contain some permutation of all 6 colored balls. Likewise, so do the even spots, so the number of even configurations is <math>6! \cdot 6!</math> (after putting every pair of colored balls in opposite parity positions, the configuration can be shown to be even). This is out of <math>\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}</math> possible arrangements, so the probability is: <cmath>\frac{6!\cdot6!}{\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}} = \frac{6!\cdot2^6}{7\cdot8\cdot9\cdot10\cdot11\cdot12} = \frac{2^4}{7\cdot11\cdot3} = \frac{16}{231},</cmath>
, which is in simplest form. So <math>m + n = 16 + 231 = \boxed{247}</math>.
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which is in simplest form. So, <math>m + n = 16 + 231 = \boxed{247}</math>.
  
 
-Oxymoronic15
 
-Oxymoronic15

Revision as of 19:45, 23 February 2022

Problem

Ellina has twelve blocks, two each of red ($\textbf{R}$), blue ($\textbf{B}$), yellow ($\textbf{Y}$), green ($\textbf{G}$), orange ($\textbf{O}$), and purple ($\textbf{P}$). Call an arrangement of blocks $\textit{even}$ if there is an even number of blocks between each pair of blocks of the same color. For example, the arrangement \[\textbf{R B B Y G G Y R O P P O}\] is even. Ellina arranges her blocks in a row in random order. The probability that her arrangement is even is $\frac{m}{n},$ where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m+n.$

Solution

Consider this position chart: \[{\text {\bf 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12}}\] Since there has to be an even number of spaces between each ball of the same color, spots $1$, $3$, $5$, $7$, $9$, and $11$ contain some permutation of all 6 colored balls. Likewise, so do the even spots, so the number of even configurations is $6! \cdot 6!$ (after putting every pair of colored balls in opposite parity positions, the configuration can be shown to be even). This is out of $\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}$ possible arrangements, so the probability is: \[\frac{6!\cdot6!}{\frac{12!}{(2!)^6}} = \frac{6!\cdot2^6}{7\cdot8\cdot9\cdot10\cdot11\cdot12} = \frac{2^4}{7\cdot11\cdot3} = \frac{16}{231},\] which is in simplest form. So, $m + n = 16 + 231 = \boxed{247}$.

-Oxymoronic15

Video Solution (Mathematical Dexterity)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkoF7StwtrM

Video Solution (Power of Logic)

https://youtu.be/AF6TOG7MSwA

See Also

2022 AIME I (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 8
Followed by
Problem 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
All AIME Problems and Solutions

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