2000 AIME I Problem 5

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 5 of the 2000 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2000 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:basic probabilitydivisibilitycasework

Difficulty rating: 2300

5.

Each of two boxes contains both black and white marbles, and the total number of marbles in the two boxes is 25.25. One marble is taken out of each box randomly. The probability that both marbles are black is 2750,\frac{27}{50}, and the probability that both marbles are white is mn,\frac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. What is m+n?m + n?

Solution:

Say the boxes hold aa and bb marbles with a+b=25,a + b = 25, containing pp and qq black marbles. Then pqab=2750,\frac{pq}{ab} = \frac{27}{50}, so 50pq=27ab,50pq = 27ab, and since gcd(27,50)=1,\gcd(27, 50) = 1, we need 50ab.50 \mid ab. Checking a(25a)a(25 - a) for a=1,,12,a = 1, \ldots, 12, only {a,b}={20,5}\{a, b\} = \{20, 5\} and {10,15}\{10, 15\} give a multiple of 50.50.

For sizes 2020 and 5:5: pq=2710050=54,pq = \frac{27 \cdot 100}{50} = 54, and since each box also holds a white marble, p19p \le 19 and q4,q \le 4, forcing p=18,p = 18, q=3.q = 3. The white counts are 22 and 2,2, so the white-white probability is 22025=125.\frac{2}{20} \cdot \frac{2}{5} = \frac{1}{25}. For sizes 1010 and 15:15: pq=2715050=81,pq = \frac{27 \cdot 150}{50} = 81, and p9,p \le 9, q14q \le 14 force p=q=9.p = q = 9. The white counts are 11 and 6,6, giving 110615=125\frac{1}{10} \cdot \frac{6}{15} = \frac{1}{25} again.

Either way the probability is 125,\frac{1}{25}, so m+n=1+25=26.m + n = 1 + 25 = 26.

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