2020 AMC 10B Problem 5

Attempt Problem 5 of the 2020 AMC 10B 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 2020 AMC 10B solutions, or check the answer key.

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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

Answer: B
Concepts:multiset permutations
Difficulty rating: 900
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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