Question

An urn contains $4$ green balls and $6$ blue balls. A second urn contains $16$ green balls and $N$ blue balls. A single ball is drawn at random from each urn. The probability that both balls are of the same color is $0.58.$ Find $N.$

Answer

Answer: 144

Concepts:basic probability independent events linear equation

Difficulty rating: 1750

Solution:

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

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

2014 AIME I Problem 2

Answer: 144

Difficulty rating: 1750

Solution:

Problem 2 in Other Years