Difference between revisions of "2022 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 25"

Latest revision as of 20:43, 2 June 2024

Problem

A cricket randomly hops between $4$ leaves, on each turn hopping to one of the other $3$ leaves with equal probability. After $4$ hops what is the probability that the cricket has returned to the leaf where it started?

$\textbf{(A) }\frac{2}{9}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\frac{19}{80}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\frac{20}{81}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\frac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}$

Solution 1 (Casework)

Let $A$ denote the leaf where the cricket starts and $B$ denote one of the other $3$ leaves. Note that:

If the cricket is at $A,$ then the probability that it hops to $B$ next is $1.$

If the cricket is at $B,$ then the probability that it hops to $A$ next is $\frac13.$

If the cricket is at $B,$ then the probability that it hops to $B$ next is $\frac23.$

We apply casework to the possible paths of the cricket:

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A$
The probability for this case is $1\cdot\frac13\cdot1\cdot\frac13=\frac19.$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow B \rightarrow B \rightarrow A$
The probability for this case is $1\cdot\frac23\cdot\frac23\cdot\frac13=\frac{4}{27}.$

Together, the probability that the cricket returns to $A$ after $4$ hops is $\frac19+\frac{4}{27}=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}.$

~MRENTHUSIASM

Solution 2 (Casework)

We can label the leaves as shown below:

Carefully counting cases, we see that there are $7$ ways for the cricket to return to leaf $A$ after four hops if its first hop was to leaf $B$ :

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A \rightarrow C \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow A \rightarrow D \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow C \rightarrow B \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow C \rightarrow D \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow D \rightarrow B \rightarrow A$

$A \rightarrow B \rightarrow D \rightarrow C \rightarrow A$

By symmetry, we know that there are $7$ ways if the cricket's first hop was to leaf $C$ , and there are $7$ ways if the cricket's first hop was to leaf $D$ . So, there are $21$ ways in total for the cricket to return to leaf $A$ after four hops.

Since there are $3^4 = 81$ possible ways altogether for the cricket to hop to any other leaf four times, the answer is $\frac{21}{81} = \boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}$ .

~mahaler

Solution 3 (Complement)

There are always three possible leaves to jump to every time the cricket decides to jump, so there is a total number of $3^4$ routes. Let $A$ denote the leaf cricket starts at, and $B, C, D$ be the other leaves. If we want the cricket to move to leaf $A$ for its last jump, the cricket cannot jump to leaf $A$ for its third jump. Also, considering that the cricket starts at leaf $A$ , he cannot jump to leaf $A$ for its first jump. Note that there are $3\cdot2=6$ paths if the cricket moves to leaf $A$ for its third jump. Therefore, we can conclude that the total number of possible paths for the cricket to return to leaf $A$ after four jumps is $3^3 - 6 = 21$ , so the answer is $\frac{21}{3^4} = \frac{21}{81}=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}$ .

~Bloggish

Solution 4 (Recursion)

Denote $P_n$ to be the probability that the cricket would return back to the first point after $n$ hops. Then, we get the recursive formula $P_n = \frac13(1-P_{n-1})$ because if the leaf is not on the target leaf, then there is a $\frac13$ probability that it will make it back.

With this formula and the fact that $P_1=0$ (After one hop, the cricket can never be back to the target leaf.), we have $P_2 = \frac13, P_3 = \frac29, P_4 = \frac7{27},$ so our answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}$ .

~wamofan

Solution 5 (Dynamic Programming)

Let $A$ denote the leaf cricket starts at, and $B, C, D$ be the other leaves, similar to Solution 2.

Let $A(n)$ be the probability the cricket lands on $A$ after $n$ hops, $B(n)$ be the probability the cricket lands on $B$ after crawling $n$ hops, etc.

Note that $A(1)=0$ and $B(1)=C(1)=D(1)=\frac13.$ For $n\geq2,$ the probability that the cricket land on each leaf after $n$ hops is $\frac13$ the sum of the probability the cricket land on other leaves after $n-1$ hops. So, we have $\begin{align*} A(n) &= \frac13 \cdot [B(n-1) + C(n-1) + D(n-1)], \\ B(n) &= \frac13 \cdot [A(n-1) + C(n-1) + D(n-1)], \\ C(n) &= \frac13 \cdot [A(n-1) + B(n-1) + D(n-1)], \\ D(n) &= \frac13 \cdot [A(n-1) + B(n-1) + C(n-1)]. \end{align*}$ It follows that $A(n) = B(n-1) = C(n-1) = D(n-1).$

We construct the following table: $\begin{array}{c|cccc} & & & & \\ [-2ex] n & A(n) & B(n) & C(n) & D(n) \\ [1ex] \hline & & & & \\ [-1ex] 1 & 0 & \frac13 & \frac13 & \frac13 \\ & & & & \\ 2 & \frac13 & \frac29 & \frac29 & \frac29 \\ & & & & \\ 3 & \frac29 & \frac{7}{27} & \frac{7}{27} & \frac{7}{27} \\ & & & & \\ 4 & \frac{7}{27} & \frac{20}{81} & \frac{20}{81} & \frac{20}{81} \\ [1ex] \end{array}$ Therefore, the answer is $A(4)=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}$ .

~isabelchen

Solution 6 (Generating Function)

Assign the leaves to $0, 1, 2,$ and $3$ modulo $4,$ and let $0$ be the starting leaf. We then use generating functions with relation to the change of leaves. For example, from $3$ to $1$ would be a change of $2,$ and from $1$ to $2$ would be a change of $1.$ This generating function is equal to $(x+x^2+x^3)^4.$ It is clear that we want the coefficients in the form of $x^{4n},$ where $n$ is a positive integer. One application of roots of unity filter gives us a successful case count of $\frac{81+1+1+1}{4} = 21.$

Therefore, the answer is $\frac{21}{3^4}=\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}.$

~sigma

Solution 7 (Also Generating Functions)

Let the leaves be $(0,0), (0,1), (1,0),$ and $(1,1)$ on the coordinate plane, with the cricket starting at $(0,0)$ . Then we write a generating function. We denote $x$ a change in the x-value of the cricket, and similarly for $y$ . Then our generating function is $(x+y+xy)^4,$ and we wish to compute the number of terms in which the exponents of both x and y are even. To do this, we first square to get $(x^2 + y^2 + x^2y^2 + 2xy + 2x^2y + 2xy^2)^2$ . Note that every term squared will give even powers for x and y, so that gives us $3 + 4\cdot3 = 15.$ Then every combination of $x^2, y^2,$ and $x^2y^2$ will also give us even powers for x and y, so that yields $6$ more terms, for a total of $21.$ Now in total there $3^4 = 81$ possible sequences, so $21/81$ gives us the answer of $\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}.$

~littlefox_amc

Remark

This problem is a reduced version of 1985 AIME Problem 12, changing $7$ steps into $4$ steps.

This problem is also similar to 2003 AIME II Problem 13.

~isabelchen

Video Solution by Math-X (First understand the problem!!!)

https://youtu.be/oUEa7AjMF2A?si=n9aPrcW_qLqFC8IF&t=5261

~Math-X

Video Solution(🚀Under 2 min🚀 Easy logic with all paths color-coded ✨)

https://youtu.be/YiI9szmMWX4

~Education, the Study of Everything

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/GNFG4cmYDgw

Please like and subscribe!

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/kE15Sy0B2Pk?t=633

~ pi_is_3.14

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85A6av3oqRo

~Mathematical Dexterity

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/Ij9pAy6tQSg?t=2588

~Interstigation

Video Solution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1zxrkq6DKg

~David

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/0orAAUaLIO0?t=609

~STEMbreezy

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/9SKUdTut3l4

~savannahsolver

Video Solution Using States by SpreadTheMathLove

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740Z355PtWs&t=777s

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 Let <math>A</math> denote the leaf cricket starts at, and <math>B, C, D</math> be the other leaves, similar to Solution 2.
-Let <math>A(n)</math> be the probability the cricket lands on <math>A</math> after <math>n</math> hops, <math>B(n)</math> be the probability the cricket lands on <math>B</math> after crawling <math>n</math> hops, and etc.
+Let <math>A(n)</math> be the probability the cricket lands on <math>A</math> after <math>n</math> hops, <math>B(n)</math> be the probability the cricket lands on <math>B</math> after crawling <math>n</math> hops, etc.
 Note that <math>A(1)=0</math> and <math>B(1)=C(1)=D(1)=\frac13.</math> For <math>n\geq2,</math> the probability that the cricket land on each leaf after <math>n</math> hops is <math>\frac13</math> the sum of the probability the cricket land on other leaves after <math>n-1</math> hops. So, we have
@@ Line 101: / Line 101: @@
 ~sigma
+==Solution 7 (Also Generating Functions)==
+Let the leaves be <math>(0,0), (0,1), (1,0),</math> and <math>(1,1)</math> on the coordinate plane, with the cricket starting at <math>(0,0)</math>. Then we write a generating function. We denote <math>x</math> a change in the x-value of the cricket, and similarly for <math>y</math>. Then our generating function is <math>(x+y+xy)^4,</math> and we wish to compute the number of terms in which the exponents of both x and y are even. To do this, we first square to get <math>(x^2 + y^2 + x^2y^2 + 2xy + 2x^2y + 2xy^2)^2</math>. Note that every term squared will give even powers for x and y, so that gives us <math>3 + 4\cdot3 = 15.</math> Then every combination of <math>x^2, y^2,</math> and <math>x^2y^2</math> will also give us even powers for x and y, so that yields <math>6</math> more terms, for a total of <math>21.</math> Now in total there <math>3^4 = 81</math> possible sequences, so <math>21/81</math> gives us the answer of <math>\boxed{\textbf{(E) }\frac{7}{27}}.</math>
+~littlefox_amc
 ==Remark==
@@ Line 109: / Line 115: @@
 ~[https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/User:Isabelchen isabelchen]
+==Video Solution by Math-X (First understand the problem!!!)==
+https://youtu.be/oUEa7AjMF2A?si=n9aPrcW_qLqFC8IF&t=5261
+~Math-X
+==Video Solution(🚀Under 2 min🚀 Easy logic with all paths color-coded ✨)==
+https://youtu.be/YiI9szmMWX4
+<i>~Education, the Study of Everything</i>
 ==Video Solution==
 https://youtu.be/GNFG4cmYDgw
@@ Line 129: / Line 146: @@
 ==Video Solution==
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1zxrkq6DKg
+~David
 ==Video Solution==
@@ Line 139: / Line 158: @@
 ~savannahsolver
+== Video Solution Using States by SpreadTheMathLove ==
+https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=740Z355PtWs&t=777s
 ==See Also==
 {{AMC8 box|year=2022|num-b=24|after=Last Problem}}
 {{MAA Notice}}

2022 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by Problem 24	Followed by Last Problem
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All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

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Difference between revisions of "2022 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 25"

Latest revision as of 20:43, 2 June 2024

Contents

Problem

Solution 1 (Casework)

Solution 2 (Casework)

Solution 3 (Complement)

Solution 4 (Recursion)

Solution 5 (Dynamic Programming)

Solution 6 (Generating Function)

Solution 7 (Also Generating Functions)

Remark

Video Solution by Math-X (First understand the problem!!!)

Video Solution(🚀Under 2 min🚀 Easy logic with all paths color-coded ✨)

Video Solution

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

Video Solution

Video Solution

Video Solution

Video Solution

Video Solution

Video Solution Using States by SpreadTheMathLove

See Also