2015 AIME II Problem 10

Attempt Problem 10 of the 2015 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 2015 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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10.

Call a permutation a1,a_1, a2,a_2, …,\ldots, ana_n of the integers 1,1, 2,2, …,\ldots, nn quasi-increasing if ak≤ak+1+2a_k \le a_{k+1} + 2 for each 1≤k≤n−1.1 \le k \le n - 1. For example, 5342153421 and 1425314253 are quasi-increasing permutations of the integers 1,1, 2,2, 3,3, 4,4, 5,5, but 4512345123 is not. Find the number of quasi-increasing permutations of the integers 1,1, 2,2, …,\ldots, 7.7.

Answer: 486
Concepts:permutationsrecursive counting
Difficulty rating: 2890
Small Hint:

Try building a quasi-increasing permutation of 1,…,n1, \ldots, n by inserting nn into a quasi-increasing permutation of 1,…,n−11, \ldots, n-1

Big Hint:

The nn can go immediately before n−1,n-1, immediately before n−2,n-2, or at the very end — always exactly 33 places, so the count triples with each new nn

Solution:

Let SnS_n be the number of quasi-increasing permutations of 1,…,n.1, \ldots, n. Insert nn into a quasi-increasing permutation of 1,…,n−1:1, \ldots, n - 1: the entry following nn must be at least n−2,n - 2, so nn can go immediately before n−1,n - 1, immediately before n−2,n - 2, or at the very end — exactly 33 positions, and each insertion keeps every other adjacent condition intact.

Conversely, deleting nn from a quasi-increasing permutation of 1,…,n1, \ldots, n leaves a quasi-increasing permutation of 1,…,n−1,1, \ldots, n - 1, since the entries around the deleted nn satisfy ak−1≤n−1≤ak+1+2a_{k-1} \le n - 1 \le a_{k+1} + 2 when n≥3.n \ge 3. So Sn=3Sn−1S_n = 3S_{n-1} for n≥3.n \ge 3.

Since S2=2,S_2 = 2, we get S7=2⋅35=486.S_7 = 2 \cdot 3^5 = 486.

Problem 9#9
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