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| − | ==Problem==
| + | #redirect [[2022 AMC 12B Problems/Problem 22]] |
| − | Ant Amelia starts on the number line at <math>0</math> and crawls in the following manner. For <math>n=1,2,3,</math> Amelia chooses a time duration <math>t_n</math> and an increment <math>x_n</math> independently and uniformly at random from the interval <math>(0,1).</math> During the <math>n</math>th step of the process, Amelia moves <math>x_n</math> units in the positive direction, using up <math>t_n</math> minutes. If the total elapsed time has exceeded <math>1</math> minute during the <math>n</math>th step, she stops at the end of that step; otherwise, she continues with the next step, taking at most <math>3</math> steps in all. What is the probability that Amelia’s position when she stops will be greater than <math>1</math>?
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| − | <math>\textbf{(A) }\frac{1}{3} \qquad \textbf{(B) }\frac{1}{2} \qquad \textbf{(C) }\frac{2}{3} \qquad \textbf{(D) }\frac{3}{4} \qquad \textbf{(E) }\frac{5}{6}</math>
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| − | ==Solution==
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| − | We use the following lemma to solve this problem.
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| − | ---------------------------------------
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| − | Let <math>y_1, y_2, \cdots, y_n</math> be independent random variables that are uniformly distributed on <math>(0,1)</math>. Then for <math>n = 2</math>,
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| − | <cmath>
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| − | \[
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| − | \Bbb P \left( y_1 + y_2 \leq 1 \right) = \frac{1}{2} .
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| − | \]
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| − | </cmath>
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| − | For <math>n = 3</math>,
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| − | <cmath>
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| − | \[
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| − | \Bbb P \left( y_1 + y_2 + y_3 \leq 1 \right) = \frac{1}{6} .
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| − | \]
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| − | </cmath>
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| − | ---------------------------------------
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| − | Now, we solve this problem.
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| − | We denote by <math>\tau</math> the last step Amelia moves. Thus, <math>\tau \in \left\{ 2, 3 \right\}</math>.
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| − | We have
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| − | <cmath>
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| − | \begin{align*}
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| − | P \left( \sum_{n=1}^\tau x_n > 1 \right)
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| − | & = P \left( x_1 + x_2 > 1 | t_1 + t_2 > 1 \right)
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| − | P \left( t_1 + t_2 > 1 \right) \\
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| − | & \hspace{1cm} + P \left( x_1 + x_2 + x_3 > 1 | t_1 + t_2 \leq 1 \right)
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| − | P \left( t_1 + t_2 \leq 1 \right) \\
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| − | & = P \left( x_1 + x_2 > 1 \right)
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| − | P \left( t_1 + t_2 > 1 \right)
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| − | + P \left( x_1 + x_2 + x_3 > 1 \right)
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| − | P \left( t_1 + t_2 \leq 1 \right) \\
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| − | & = \left( 1 - \frac{1}{2} \right)\left( 1 - \frac{1}{2} \right)
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| − | + \left( 1 - \frac{1}{6} \right) \frac{1}{2} \\
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| − | & = \boxed{\textbf{(C) } \frac{2}{3}} ,
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| − | \end{align*}
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| − | </cmath>
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| − | where the second equation follows from the property that <math>\left\{ x_n \right\}</math> and <math>\left\{ t_n \right\}</math> are independent sequences, the third equality follows from the lemma above.
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| − | ~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
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| − | ==Solution 2 (Elimination)==
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| − | There is a <math>0</math> probability that Amelia is past <math>1</math> after <math>1</math> turn, so Amelia can only pass <math>1</math> after <math>2</math> turns or <math>3</math> turns. The probability of finishing in <math>2</math> turns is <math>\frac{1}{2}</math> (due to the fact that the probability of getting <math>x</math> is the same as the probability of getting <math>2 - x</math>), and thus the probability of finishing in <math>3</math> turns is also <math>\frac{1}{2}</math>.
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| − | It is also clear that the probability of Amelia being past <math>1</math> in <math>2</math> turns is equal to <math>\frac{1}{2}</math>.
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| − | Therefore, if <math>x</math> is the probability that Amelia finishes if she takes three turns, our final probability is <math>\frac{1}{2} \cdot \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2} \cdot x = \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{2} \cdot x</math>.
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| − | <math>x</math> must be a number between <math>0</math> and <math>1</math> (non-inclusive), and it is clearly greater than <math>\frac{1}{2}</math>, because the probability of getting more than <math>\frac{3}{2}</math> in <math>3</math> turns is <math>\frac{1}{2}</math>. Thus, the answer must be between <math>\frac{1}{2}</math> and <math>\frac{3}{4}</math>, non-inclusive, so the only answer that makes sense is <math>\fbox{C}</math>.
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| − | ~mathboy100
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| − | == Video Solution by OmegaLearn Using Geometric Probability ==
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| − | https://youtu.be/-AqhcVX8mTw
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| − | | |
| − | ~ pi_is_3.14
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| − | ==Video Solution==
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| − | https://youtu.be/WsA94SmsF5o
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| − | ~ThePuzzlr
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| − | https://youtu.be/qOxnx_c9kVo
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| − | ~Steven Chen (Professor Chen Education Palace, www.professorchenedu.com)
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