2007 AMC 10A Problem 16

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 16 of the 2007 AMC 10A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2007 AMC 10A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:paritybasic probabilityindependent events

Difficulty rating: 1540

16.

Integers a,b,c,a, b, c, and d,d, not necessarily distinct, are chosen independently and at random from 00 to 2007,2007, inclusive. What is the probability that adbcad - bc is even?

38\dfrac{3}{8}

716\dfrac{7}{16}

12\dfrac{1}{2}

916\dfrac{9}{16}

58\dfrac{5}{8}

Solution:

Half the integers from 00 to 20072007 are odd, so each of adad and bcbc is odd with probability 1212=14\tfrac12 \cdot \tfrac12 = \tfrac14 and even with probability 34.\tfrac34.

The difference adbcad - bc is even when both products have the same parity: 1414+3434=116+916=58. \tfrac14 \cdot \tfrac14 + \tfrac34 \cdot \tfrac34 = \tfrac{1}{16} + \tfrac{9}{16} = \tfrac58.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

Problem 16 in Other Years