1987 AIME Problem 13
Attempt Problem 13 of the 1987 AIME below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1987 AIME solutions, or check the answer key.
All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).
13.
A given sequence of distinct real numbers can be put in ascending order by means of one or more “bubble passes.” A bubble pass through a given sequence consists of comparing the second term with the first term, and exchanging them if and only if the second term is smaller, then comparing the third term with the second term and exchanging them if and only if the third term is smaller, and so on in order, through comparing the last term, with its current predecessor and exchanging them if and only if the last term is smaller.
The example below shows how the sequence is transformed into the sequence by one bubble pass. The numbers compared at each step are underlined.
Suppose that and that the terms of the initial sequence are distinct from one another and are in random order. Let in lowest terms, be the probability that the number that begins as will end up, after one bubble pass, in the th place. Find
Answer: 931
Small Hint:
After the comparison reaching position that position holds the maximum of the first original terms
Big Hint:
Characterize the relative ranks of and among the first terms
Solution:
For to move right to position it must exceed every other term among It stops at position exactly when Thus among the first terms, must be greatest and second greatest. These two ordered rank assignments have probability Therefore
Problem 13 in Other Years
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