2016 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 17

Problem

Let $N$ be a positive multiple of $5$ . One red ball and $N$ green balls are arranged in a line in random order. Let $P(N)$ be the probability that at least $\tfrac{3}{5}$ of the green balls are on the same side of the red ball. Observe that $P(5)=1$ and that $P(N)$ approaches $\tfrac{4}{5}$ as $N$ grows large. What is the sum of the digits of the least value of $N$ such that $P(N) < \tfrac{321}{400}$ ?

$\textbf{(A) } 12 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 14 \qquad \textbf{(C) }16 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 18 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 20$

Solution 1

Let $n = \frac{N}{5}$ . Then, consider $5$ blocks of $n$ green balls in a line, along with the red ball. Shuffling the line is equivalent to choosing one of the $N + 1$ positions between the green balls to insert the red ball. Less than $\frac{3}{5}$ of the green balls will be on the same side of the red ball if the red ball is inserted inside the middle block of $n$ balls, and there are $n - 1$ positions where this happens. Thus, $P(N) = 1 - \frac{n - 1}{N + 1} = \frac{4n + 2}{5n + 1}$ , so

$P(N) = \frac{4n + 2}{5n + 1} < \frac{321}{400}.$

Multiplying both sides of the inequality by $400(5n+1)$ , we have

$400(4n+2)<321(5n+1),$

and by the distributive property,

$1600n+800<1605n+321.$

Subtracting $1600n+321$ on both sides of the inequality gives us

$479<5n.$

Therefore, $N=5n>479$ , so the least possible value of $N$ is $480$ . The sum of the digits of $480$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) } 12}$ .

Solution 2 (Pattern Solution)

Let $N=5$ , $P(N)=1$ (Given)

Let $N=10$ , $P(N)=\frac{10}{11}$

Let $N=15$ , $P(N)=\frac{14}{16}$

Notice that the fraction can be written as $1-\frac{\frac{N}{5}-1}{N+1}$

Now it's quite simple to write the inequality as $1-\frac{\frac{N}{5}-1}{N+1}<\frac{321}{400}$

We can subtract $1$ on both sides to obtain $-\frac{\frac{N}{5}-1}{N+1}<-\frac{79}{400}$

Dividing both sides by $-1$ , we derive $\frac{\frac{N}{5}-1}{N+1}>\frac{79}{400}$ . (Switch the inequality sign when dividing by $-1$ )

We then cross multiply to get $80N - 400 > 79N + 79$

Finally we get $N > 479$

To achieve $N = 480$

So the sum of the digits of $N$ = $\boxed{\textbf{(A) } 12}$

Solution 3

We are trying to find the number of places to put the red ball, such that $\frac{3}{5}$ of the green balls or more are on one side of it. Notice that we can put the ball in a number of spaces describable with $N$ : Trying a few values, we see that the ball "works" in places $1$ to $\frac{2}{5}N + 1$ and spaces $\frac{3}{5}N+1$ to $N+1$ . This is a total of $\frac{4}{5}N + 2$ spaces, over a total possible $N + 1$ places to put the ball. So:

$\frac{\frac{4}{5}N + 2}{N+1} = \frac{321}{400} \rightarrow N = 479.$ And we know that the next value is what we are looking for, so $N+1 = 480$ , and the sum of its digits is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) } 12}$ .

Solution 4

Draw $N$ balls as described in the problem. First consider the left side arrangements. Notice that for at least $\frac{3}{5}N$ balls must be to the right of the valid left side arrangements. Since we have $N+1$ balls, we know that there are $\frac{2}{5}N+1$ valid left side arrangements. This also goes for the right side arrangements, for a total of

 spaces, over a total possible  places to put the ball. So:

$\frac{\frac{4}{5}N + 2}{N+1} = \frac{321}{400} \rightarrow N = 479.$ And we know that the next value is what we are looking for, so $N+1 = 480$ , and the sum of its digits is $\boxed{\textbf{(A) } 12}$ .

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/YsIPcwuycF0

~IceMatrix

Video Solution 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFSTuWCrosY

2016 AMC 10A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 16	Followed by Problem 18
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All AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

2016 AMC 12A (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 12	Followed by Problem 14
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AMC 12 Problems and Solutions

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