Difference between revisions of "2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 13"

(Solution 2)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
== Problem ==
 +
 
Two different numbers are randomly selected from the set <math>{ - 2, -1, 0, 3, 4, 5}</math> and multiplied together. What is the probability that the product is <math>0</math>?
 
Two different numbers are randomly selected from the set <math>{ - 2, -1, 0, 3, 4, 5}</math> and multiplied together. What is the probability that the product is <math>0</math>?
  
 
<math>\textbf{(A) }\dfrac{1}{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{1}{5}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac{1}{3}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\dfrac{1}{2}</math>
 
<math>\textbf{(A) }\dfrac{1}{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{1}{5}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac{1}{3}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\dfrac{1}{2}</math>
  
==Solution 1==
+
== Solutions==
 +
 
 +
===Solution 1===
 
The product can only be <math>0</math> if one of the numbers is 0. Once we chose <math>0</math>, there are <math>5</math> ways we can chose the second number, or <math>6-1</math>. There are <math>\dbinom{6}{2}</math> ways we can chose <math>2</math> numbers randomly, and that is <math>15</math>. So, <math>\frac{5}{15}=\frac{1}{3}</math> so the answer is  <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}</math>.
 
The product can only be <math>0</math> if one of the numbers is 0. Once we chose <math>0</math>, there are <math>5</math> ways we can chose the second number, or <math>6-1</math>. There are <math>\dbinom{6}{2}</math> ways we can chose <math>2</math> numbers randomly, and that is <math>15</math>. So, <math>\frac{5}{15}=\frac{1}{3}</math> so the answer is  <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}</math>.
  
==Solution 2==
+
===Solution 2===
 
There are a total of <math>30</math> possibilities, because the two numbers that being multiplied are being picked at the same time, so there are <math>5</math> possibilities that zero is being chosen because another number is already being chosen. We want <math>0</math> to be the product so one of the numbers is <math>0</math>. There are <math>5</math> possibilities where <math>0</math> is chosen for the first number and there are <math>5</math> ways for <math>0</math> to be chosen as the second number. We seek <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}</math>.
 
There are a total of <math>30</math> possibilities, because the two numbers that being multiplied are being picked at the same time, so there are <math>5</math> possibilities that zero is being chosen because another number is already being chosen. We want <math>0</math> to be the product so one of the numbers is <math>0</math>. There are <math>5</math> possibilities where <math>0</math> is chosen for the first number and there are <math>5</math> ways for <math>0</math> to be chosen as the second number. We seek <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}</math>.
  
==Solution 3 (Complementary Counting)==
+
===Solution 3 (Complementary Counting)===
 
Because the only way the product of the two numbers is <math>0</math> is if one of the numbers we choose is <math>0,</math> we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a <math>0.</math> We get <math>\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.</math> Therefore our answer is <math>1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
 
Because the only way the product of the two numbers is <math>0</math> is if one of the numbers we choose is <math>0,</math> we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a <math>0.</math> We get <math>\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.</math> Therefore our answer is <math>1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
  

Revision as of 02:42, 16 January 2021

Problem

Two different numbers are randomly selected from the set ${ - 2, -1, 0, 3, 4, 5}$ and multiplied together. What is the probability that the product is $0$?

$\textbf{(A) }\dfrac{1}{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{1}{5}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac{1}{3}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\dfrac{1}{2}$

Solutions

Solution 1

The product can only be $0$ if one of the numbers is 0. Once we chose $0$, there are $5$ ways we can chose the second number, or $6-1$. There are $\dbinom{6}{2}$ ways we can chose $2$ numbers randomly, and that is $15$. So, $\frac{5}{15}=\frac{1}{3}$ so the answer is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}$.

Solution 2

There are a total of $30$ possibilities, because the two numbers that being multiplied are being picked at the same time, so there are $5$ possibilities that zero is being chosen because another number is already being chosen. We want $0$ to be the product so one of the numbers is $0$. There are $5$ possibilities where $0$ is chosen for the first number and there are $5$ ways for $0$ to be chosen as the second number. We seek $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \, \frac{1}{3}}$.

Solution 3 (Complementary Counting)

Because the only way the product of the two numbers is $0$ is if one of the numbers we choose is $0,$ we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a $0.$ We get $\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.$ Therefore our answer is $1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.$


2016 AMC 8 (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
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 AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions. AMC logo.png