2004 AIME II Problem 2

Attempt Problem 2 of the 2004 AIME II 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 2004 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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2.

A jar has 1010 red candies and 1010 blue candies. Terry picks two candies at random, then Mary picks two of the remaining candies at random. Given that the probability that they get the same color combination, irrespective of order, is mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers, find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 441
Concepts:sampling without replacementcombinationscasework
Difficulty rating: 2180
Solution:

The combinations match exactly when both draw two reds, both draw two blues, or both draw one candy of each color. The probability that Terry draws two reds is (102)(202)=45190=938,\frac{\binom{10}{2}}{\binom{20}{2}} = \frac{45}{190} = \frac{9}{38}, after which 88 reds and 1010 blues remain, so Mary draws two reds with probability (82)(182)=28153.\frac{\binom{8}{2}}{\binom{18}{2}} = \frac{28}{153}. That case has probability 93828153=14323,\frac{9}{38} \cdot \frac{28}{153} = \frac{14}{323}, and by symmetry two blues each is also 14323.\frac{14}{323}.

For mixed draws, Terry succeeds with probability 1010(202)=1019,\frac{10 \cdot 10}{\binom{20}{2}} = \frac{10}{19}, leaving 99 of each color, and Mary with probability 99(182)=917,\frac{9 \cdot 9}{\binom{18}{2}} = \frac{9}{17}, for 1019917=90323.\frac{10}{19} \cdot \frac{9}{17} = \frac{90}{323}.

The total is 14+14+90323=118323.\frac{14 + 14 + 90}{323} = \frac{118}{323}. Since 118=259118 = 2 \cdot 59 and 323=1719,323 = 17 \cdot 19, the fraction is in lowest terms, and m+n=118+323=441.m + n = 118 + 323 = 441.

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