1998 AMC 8 Problem 19

Attempt Problem 19 of the 1998 AMC 8 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 1998 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

19.

Tamika selects two different numbers at random from the set {8,9,10}\{8,9,10\} and adds them. Carlos takes two different numbers at random from the set {3,5,6}\{3,5,6\} and multiplies them. What is the probability that Tamika’s result is greater than Carlos’ result?
49\dfrac{4}{9}
59\dfrac{5}{9}
12\dfrac{1}{2}
13\dfrac{1}{3}
23\dfrac{2}{3}
Answer: A
Concepts:basic probabilitycasework
Small hint:
List Tamika’s possible sums and Carlos’ possible products.
Big hint:
Count the favorable ordered pairs among the nine equally likely pairs.
Solution:
Tamika can get 17,17, 18,18, or 19,19, and Carlos can get 15,15, 18,18, or 30.30.
The nine equally likely pairs are formed by choosing one result from each person. Tamika’s result is greater in (17,15),(17,15), (18,15),(18,15), (19,15),(19,15), and (19,18),(19,18), so 44 of the 99 pairs work.
Thus, the correct answer is A .
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