Difference between revisions of "1996 AIME Problems/Problem 7"
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== Solution == | == Solution == | ||
− | There are <math>{49 \choose 2}</math> possible ways to select two squares to be painted | + | There are <math>{49 \choose 2}</math> possible ways to select two squares to be painted yellow. There are four possible ways to rotate each board. Given an arbitrary pair of yellow squares, these four rotations will either yield two or four equivalent but distinct boards. |
<center><table><tr><td> <asy> | <center><table><tr><td> <asy> | ||
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for(int j=0;j<7;++j) | for(int j=0;j<7;++j) | ||
D(shift(i,j)*unitsquare); | D(shift(i,j)*unitsquare); | ||
− | fill(shift(4,5)*unitsquare,rgb( | + | fill(shift(4,5)*unitsquare,rgb(1,1,.4)); |
− | fill(shift(2,1)*unitsquare,rgb( | + | fill(shift(2,1)*unitsquare,rgb(1,1,.4)); |
− | fill(shift(1,4)*unitsquare,rgb(. | + | fill(shift(1,4)*unitsquare,rgb(.4,.4,.7)); |
− | fill(shift(5,2)*unitsquare,rgb(. | + | fill(shift(5,2)*unitsquare,rgb(.4,.4,.7)); |
D(arc(O,5^.5,-20,50),EndArrow(4)); | D(arc(O,5^.5,-20,50),EndArrow(4)); | ||
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</asy></td></tr><tr><td><font style="font-size:85%">For most pairs, there will be <br /> three other equivalent boards.</font></td><td><font style="font-size:85%">For those symmetric about the center, <br /> there is only one other.</font></td></tr></table></center> | </asy></td></tr><tr><td><font style="font-size:85%">For most pairs, there will be <br /> three other equivalent boards.</font></td><td><font style="font-size:85%">For those symmetric about the center, <br /> there is only one other.</font></td></tr></table></center> | ||
− | Note that a pair of | + | Note that a pair of yellow squares will only yield <math>2</math> distinct boards upon rotation [[iff]] the yellow squares are rotationally symmetric about the center square; there are <math>\frac{49-1}{2}=24</math> such pairs. There are then <math>{49 \choose 2}-24</math> pairs that yield <math>4</math> distinct boards upon rotation; in other words, for each of the <math>{49 \choose 2}-24</math> pairs, there are three other pairs that yield an equivalent board. |
Thus, the number of inequivalent boards is <math>\frac{{49 \choose 2} - 24}{4} + \frac{24}{2} = \boxed{300}</math>. For a <math>(2n+1) \times (2n+1)</math> board, this argument generalizes to <math>n(n+1)(2n^2+2n+1)</math> inequivalent configurations. | Thus, the number of inequivalent boards is <math>\frac{{49 \choose 2} - 24}{4} + \frac{24}{2} = \boxed{300}</math>. For a <math>(2n+1) \times (2n+1)</math> board, this argument generalizes to <math>n(n+1)(2n^2+2n+1)</math> inequivalent configurations. |
Revision as of 22:12, 12 March 2011
Problem
Two squares of a checkerboard are painted yellow, and the rest are painted green. Two color schemes are equivalent if one can be obtained from the other by applying a rotation in the plane board. How many inequivalent color schemes are possible?
Solution
There are possible ways to select two squares to be painted yellow. There are four possible ways to rotate each board. Given an arbitrary pair of yellow squares, these four rotations will either yield two or four equivalent but distinct boards.
For most pairs, there will be three other equivalent boards. | For those symmetric about the center, there is only one other. |
Note that a pair of yellow squares will only yield distinct boards upon rotation iff the yellow squares are rotationally symmetric about the center square; there are such pairs. There are then pairs that yield distinct boards upon rotation; in other words, for each of the pairs, there are three other pairs that yield an equivalent board.
Thus, the number of inequivalent boards is . For a board, this argument generalizes to inequivalent configurations.
See also
1996 AIME (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) | ||
Preceded by Problem 6 |
Followed by Problem 8 | |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 | ||
All AIME Problems and Solutions |