2022 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 17
Contents
Problem
How many 
arrays whose entries are 
s and 
s are there such that the row sums (the sum of the
entries in each row) are 1, 2, 3, and 4, in some order, and the column sums (the sum of the entries in
each column) are also 1, 2, 3, and 4, in some order? For example, the array
![\[ \left[ \begin{array}{cccc} 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 & 0 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\ \end{array} \right] \]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/1/e/d/1ed0d3496d557ffdd95007df829ae30e27f35e80.png)
satisfies the condition.
Solution (Linear transformation, permutation)
In this problem, we call a matrix that satisfies all constraints given in the problem a feasible matrix.
First, we observe that if a matrix is feasible, and we swap two rows or two columns to get a new matrix, then this new matrix is still feasible.
Therefore, any feasible matrix can be obtained through a sequence of such swapping operations from a feasible matrix where for all 
, the sum of entries in row 
is and the sum of entries in column is , hereafter called as a benchmark matrix.
Second, we observe that there is a unique benchmark matrix, as shown below:
![\[ \left[ \begin{array}{cccc} 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\ 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\ 0 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 \\ \end{array} \right] \]](http://latex.artofproblemsolving.com/b/3/b/b3bdce5939d78cd8e80ea7f639c9b47254d84c0a.png)
With above observations, we now count the number of feasible matrixes. We construct a feasible matrix in the following steps.
Step 1: We make a permutation of rows of the benchmark matrix.
The number of ways is 
.
Step 2: We make a permutation of columns of the matrix obtained after Step 1.
The number of ways is .
Following from the rule of product, the total number of feasible matrixes is 
.
~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
Alternate Solution (From outside to inside)
Since exactly row sum is 
and exactly column sum is , there is a unique entry in the array such that it, and every other entry in the same row or column, is a 
Since there are 
total entries in the array, there are ways to choose the entry with only s in its row and column.
WLOG, let that entry be in the top-left corner of the square. Note that there is already entry numbered in each unfilled row, and entry numbered in each unfilled column. Since exactly row sum is and exactly column sum is , there is a unique entry in the 
array of the empty squares such that it, and every other entry in the same row or column in the array, is a 
Using a process similar to what we used in the first paragraph, we can see that there are 
ways to choose the entry with only in its row and column (in the array).
WLOG, let that entry be in the bottom right corner of the square. Then, the remaining empty squares are the center squares. Of these, one of the columns of the empty 
array will have 
s and the other column will have That happens if and only if exactly of the remaining squares is filled with a , and there are ways to choose that square. Filling that square with a and the other 
squares with s completes the grid.
All in all, there are 
ways to complete the grid.
pianoboy.
Video Solution
~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
See Also
| 2022 AMC 12B (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | |
| Preceded by Problem 16 |
Followed by Problem 18 |
| 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 | |
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