2006 AIME II Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2006 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 2006 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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5.

When rolling a certain unfair six-sided die with faces numbered 1,1, 2,2, 3,3, 4,4, 5,5, and 6,6, the probability of obtaining face FF is greater than 16,\frac{1}{6}, the probability of obtaining the face opposite face FF is less than 16,\frac{1}{6}, the probability of obtaining each of the other faces is 16,\frac{1}{6}, and the sum of the numbers on each pair of opposite faces is 7.7. When two such dice are rolled, the probability of obtaining a sum of 77 is 47288.\frac{47}{288}. Given that the probability of obtaining face FF is mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers, find m+n.m + n.

Answer: 29
Concepts:dice (probability)difference of squares
Difficulty rating: 2350
Solution:

Let the probability of face FF be 16+x,\frac{1}{6} + x, so the face opposite FF has probability 16x\frac{1}{6} - x (the six probabilities must sum to 11). Since opposite faces sum to 7,7, a total of 77 occurs exactly when the two dice show a pair of opposite faces. Of the six ordered pairs that sum to 7,7, four use only ordinary faces, and two pair FF with its opposite. Thus 47288=4(16)2+2(16+x)(16x)=162x2. \begin{aligned} \frac{47}{288} &= 4\left(\frac{1}{6}\right)^2 \\ &\quad {}+ 2\left(\frac{1}{6} + x\right)\left(\frac{1}{6} - x\right) \\ &= \frac{1}{6} - 2x^2. \end{aligned}

Since 16=48288,\frac{1}{6} = \frac{48}{288}, this gives 2x2=1288,2x^2 = \frac{1}{288}, so x=124.x = \frac{1}{24}. The probability of face FF is 16+124=524,\frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{24} = \frac{5}{24}, and m+n=5+24=29.m + n = 5 + 24 = 29.

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