2005 AMC 12B Problem 11

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 11 of the 2005 AMC 12B, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2005 AMC 12B solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:basic probabilitycombinationscasework

Difficulty rating: 1500

11.

An envelope contains eight bills: 22 ones, 22 fives, 22 tens, and 22 twenties. Two bills are drawn at random without replacement. What is the probability that their sum is $20\$20 or more?

14\dfrac{1}{4}

27\dfrac{2}{7}

37\dfrac{3}{7}

12\dfrac{1}{2}

23\dfrac{2}{3}

Solution:

There are (82)=28\binom{8}{2} = 28 equally likely pairs of bills.

The sum is $20\$20 or more in these cases: both twenties (11 way), one twenty with one of the six smaller bills (26=122 \cdot 6 = 12 ways), or both tens (11 way).

That is 1+12+1=141 + 12 + 1 = 14 favorable pairs, so the probability is 1428=12.\dfrac{14}{28} = \dfrac12.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

Problem 11 in Other Years