2020 AMC 10B Problem 5

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 5 of the 2020 AMC 10B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:multiset permutations

Difficulty rating: 900

5.

How many distinguishable arrangements are there of 11 brown tile, 11 purple tile, 22 green tiles, and 33 yellow tiles in a row from left to right? (Tiles of the same color are indistinguishable.)

210210

420420

630630

840840

10501050

Solution:

There are 1+1+2+3=71+1+2+3=7 total tiles. If all seven tiles were distinct, there would be 7!7! arrangements. The two green tiles are indistinguishable, and the three yellow tiles are indistinguishable, so we divide by 2!2! and 3!3!.

Thus the number of arrangements is 7!2!3!=420.\frac{7!}{2!3!}=420.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

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