1999 AMC 12 Problem 24

Attempt Problem 24 of the 1999 AMC 12 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 1999 AMC 12 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

24.

Six points on a circle are given. Four of the chords joining pairs of the six points are selected at random. What is the probability that the four chords form a convex quadrilateral?
115\dfrac{1}{15}
191\dfrac{1}{91}
1273\dfrac{1}{273}
1455\dfrac{1}{455}
11365\dfrac{1}{1365}
Answer: B
Concepts:basic probabilitycombinations
Small hint:
Any 44 of the 66 points determine exactly one convex quadrilateral
Big hint:
Count all ways to choose 44 chords from the (62)\binom{6}{2} chords
Solution:
There are (62)=15\binom{6}{2} = 15 chords, so (154)=1365\binom{15}{4} = 1365 ways to select four of them. A convex quadrilateral arises exactly when the four chords are the sides of a quadrilateral on four of the six points, and each choice of 44 points gives exactly one such quadrilateral.
Hence there are (64)=15\binom{6}{4} = 15 favorable outcomes, and the probability is 151365=191.\dfrac{15}{1365} = \dfrac{1}{91}.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
LIVE by Po-Shen Loh
Programs

LIVE Classes

Self-Paced Classes

Stars

Scholarship

About Us

Who Is Po-Shen Loh?

Email Contact

Newsletter

Jobs

Become a Star

For a more Thought Full world.

© 2026 Expii, Inc.