2014 AIME I Problem 2

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 2 of the 2014 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2014 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:basic probabilityindependent eventslinear equation

Difficulty rating: 1750

2.

An urn contains 44 green balls and 66 blue balls. A second urn contains 1616 green balls and NN blue balls. A single ball is drawn at random from each urn. The probability that both balls are of the same color is 0.58.0.58. Find N.N.

Solution:

Both balls are green with probability 4101616+N,\frac{4}{10} \cdot \frac{16}{16+N}, and both are blue with probability 610N16+N.\frac{6}{10} \cdot \frac{N}{16+N}. The condition is 64+6N10(16+N)=2950.\frac{64 + 6N}{10(16 + N)} = \frac{29}{50}.

Clearing denominators, 5(64+6N)=29(16+N),5(64 + 6N) = 29(16 + N), so 320+30N=464+29N,320 + 30N = 464 + 29N, giving N=144.N = 144.

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