2020 AMC 8 Problem 23

Attempt Problem 23 of the 2020 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the video solution and professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2020 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

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

23.

Five different awards are to be given to three students. Each student will receive at least one award. In how many different ways can the awards be distributed?
120120
150150
180180
210210
240240
Answer: B
Concepts:inclusion-exclusionmultiplication principle
Small hint:
Start with 353^5 unrestricted distributions
Big hint:
Use inclusion-exclusion for students receiving no awards
Video solution:
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Written solution:
There are 35=2433^5=243 ways to give each of the 55 distinct awards to one of the 33 students.
Subtract the distributions in which at least one student receives no award. If a particular student receives none, the awards go to the other two students in 252^5 ways. This gives 3⋅253\cdot2^5 counts, but the 33 cases in which one student receives all awards have each been subtracted twice.
By inclusion-exclusion, the desired number is 35−3⋅25+3=150.3^5-3\cdot2^5+3=150.
Thus, the correct answer is B.
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