2016 AIME II Problem 2

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 2 of the 2016 AIME II, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2016 AIME II solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:conditional probabilitycomplementary probability

Difficulty rating: 2070

2.

There is a 40%40\% chance of rain on Saturday and a 30%30\% chance of rain on Sunday. However, it is twice as likely to rain on Sunday if it rains on Saturday than if it does not rain on Saturday. The probability that it rains at least one day this weekend is ab,\frac{a}{b}, where aa and bb are relatively prime positive integers. Find a+b.a + b.

Solution:

Let pp be the probability that it rains on Sunday given a dry Saturday; given a rainy Saturday it is 2p.2p. The overall Sunday chance gives 0.4(2p)+0.6p=0.3,0.4(2p) + 0.6p = 0.3, so 1.4p=0.31.4p = 0.3 and p=314.p = \frac{3}{14}.

The weekend is completely dry exactly when Saturday is dry and then Sunday is dry: 35(1314)=351114=3370.\frac{3}{5}\left(1 - \frac{3}{14}\right) = \frac{3}{5} \cdot \frac{11}{14} = \frac{33}{70}. So the probability of rain on at least one day is 13370=3770,1 - \frac{33}{70} = \frac{37}{70}, which is in lowest terms, and a+b=37+70=107.a + b = 37 + 70 = 107.

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