2026 AIME I Problem 7

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 7 of the 2026 AIME I, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2026 AIME I solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:permutationscomplementary countingcasework

Difficulty rating: 2510

7.

Find the number of functions π\pi mapping the set A={1,2,3,4,5,6}A = \{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6\} onto AA such that for every aA,a \in A, π(π(π(π(π(π(a))))))=a.\pi(\pi(\pi(\pi(\pi(\pi(a)))))) = a.

Solution:

A function from a finite set onto itself is a bijection, so π\pi is a permutation of six elements, and the condition says π6\pi^6 is the identity. A permutation satisfies π6=id\pi^6 = \mathrm{id} exactly when every cycle in its cycle decomposition has length dividing 6.6. Among the possible lengths 11 through 6,6, only 44 and 55 fail to divide 6.6.

We subtract the permutations containing a 44-cycle or a 55-cycle from 6!=720.6! = 720. Cycle type 4+1+14+1+1 gives 6!42!=90,\frac{6!}{4 \cdot 2!} = 90, type 4+24+2 gives 6!42=90,\frac{6!}{4 \cdot 2} = 90, and type 5+15+1 gives 6!5=144,\frac{6!}{5} = 144, for 90+90+144=32490 + 90 + 144 = 324 excluded permutations.

The count is 720324=396.720 - 324 = 396.

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