2025 AIME I Problem 7
Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 7 of the 2025 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2025 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.
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Difficulty rating: 2710
7.
The twelve letters and are randomly grouped into six pairs of letters. The two letters in each pair are placed next to each other in alphabetical order to form six two-letter words, and then those six words are listed alphabetically. For example, a possible result is The probability that the last word listed contains is where and are relatively prime positive integers. Find
Solution:
There are ways to pair the letters. Each word begins with the smaller letter of its pair, so the last word alphabetically is the pair whose smaller letter is largest.
Case 1: is the smaller letter of the last word. Then pairs with one of ( ways), and no two of the remaining four late letters may pair together (such a pair would start with a letter after ). Those four letters must take distinct partners from in ways, and the two leftover early letters pair with each other. That gives pairings. Case 2: is the larger letter, paired with some before Then none of may pair together, so all five take partners among the other five early letters; the six smaller letters are then exactly through and the largest is So the last word is and match with in ways.
The probability is so
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