2013 AMC 10A Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 2013 AMC 10A 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 2013 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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24.

Central High School is competing against Northern High School in a backgammon match. Each school has three players, and the contest rules require that each player play two games against each of the other school's players. The match takes place in six rounds, with three games played simultaneously in each round. In how many different ways can the match be scheduled?

540540

600600

720720

810810

900900

Answer: E
Concepts:arrangements with restrictionsmultiset permutationscasework
Difficulty rating: 2390
Solution:

Label Central's players A,B,CA,B,C and Northern's players X,Y,ZX,Y,Z.

Player AA's six-round opponent string contains two each of X,Y,ZX,Y,Z, so it can be chosen in 6!2!2!2!=90\frac{6!}{2!2!2!}=90 ways.

For a fixed AA-string, say XXYYZZXXYYZZ, player BB's string must also contain two each of X,Y,ZX,Y,Z and cannot match AA's opponent in any position.

If BB's first two entries are Y,ZY,Z in either order, then the middle two entries must be X,ZX,Z in either order and the last two must be X,YX,Y in either order, giving 23=82^3=8 strings. The two remaining possibilities are YYZZXXYYZZXX and ZZXXYYZZXXYY, for 1010 total BB-strings.

Once AA and BB are scheduled, CC's schedule is forced. Hence there are 9010=90090\cdot10=900 schedules.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

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