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Difference between revisions of "2010 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 25"

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Complementary counting is also possible. Considering the six steps, Jo has to land on the last step, so there are <math>2^5=32</math> subsets (hit steps) of the other five steps. After that, subtract the number of ways to climb the steps while taking a leap of <math>4</math>, <math>5</math>, or <math>6</math>. The eight possible ways for this is (<math>4</math>, <math>1</math>, <math>1</math>), (<math>4</math>, <math>2</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>4</math>, <math>1</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>1</math>, <math>4</math>), (<math>2</math>, <math>4</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>5</math>), (<math>5</math>, <math>1</math>), and (<math>6</math>)
 
Complementary counting is also possible. Considering the six steps, Jo has to land on the last step, so there are <math>2^5=32</math> subsets (hit steps) of the other five steps. After that, subtract the number of ways to climb the steps while taking a leap of <math>4</math>, <math>5</math>, or <math>6</math>. The eight possible ways for this is (<math>4</math>, <math>1</math>, <math>1</math>), (<math>4</math>, <math>2</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>4</math>, <math>1</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>1</math>, <math>4</math>), (<math>2</math>, <math>4</math>), (<math>1</math>, <math>5</math>), (<math>5</math>, <math>1</math>), and (<math>6</math>)
  
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Altogether this makes for <math>32-8= \boxed{\textbf{(E) 24}}</math> valid ways for Jo to get to step 6. -ady
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Altogether this makes for <math>32-8= \boxed{\textbf{(E) 24}}</math> valid ways for Jo to get to step 6.
  
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn ==
 
== Video Solution by OmegaLearn ==

Revision as of 20:40, 3 December 2023

Problem

Everyday at school, Jo climbs a flight of $6$ stairs. Jo can take the stairs $1$, $2$, or $3$ at a time. For example, Jo could climb $3$, then $1$, then $2$. In how many ways can Jo climb the stairs?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 13 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 20\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 22\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 24$

Solution 1

A valid climb is a sequence of some or all of the $1$, $2$, and $3$ step hops, in which the sum of the sequence adds to $6$.

There are three possible sequences which only contain one number- all the $1s$, all $2s$, or all $3s$.

If we attempt to create sequences which contain one $2$ and the rest $1s$, the sequence will contain one $2$ and four $1s$. We can place the $2$ in either the first, second, third, fourth, or fifth position, giving a total of five possibilities.

If we attempt to create sequences which contain one $3$ and the rest $1s$, the sequence will contain one $3$ and three $1s$. We can place the $3$ in either the first, second, third, or fourth position, giving a total of four possibilities.

For sequences which contain exactly two $2s$ and the rest $1s$, the sequence will contain two $2s$ and two $1s$. The two $2s$ could be next to each other, separated by one $1$ in between, or separated by two $1s$ in between. We can place the two $2s$ next to each other in three ways, separated by one $1$ in two ways, and separated by two $1s$ in only one way. This gives us a total of six ways to create a sequence which contains two $2s$ and two $1s$.

Note that we cannot have a sequence of only $2s$ and $3s$ since the sum will either be $5$ or greater than $6$.

We now only need to consider the case where we use all three numbers in the sequence. Since all three numbers add to $6$, the number of permutations of the three numbers is $3!=6$.

Adding up the number of sequences above, we get: $3+5+4+6+6=24$. Thus, answer choice $\boxed{\textbf{(E)}\ 24}$ is correct.

  • Note that this strategy is impractical (and error-prone) for larger numbers.

Solution 2

A dynamics programming approach is quick and easy. The number of ways to climb one stair is $1$. There are $2$ ways to climb two stairs: $1$,$1$ or $2$. For 3 stairs, there are $4$ ways: ($1$,$1$,$1$) ($1$,$2$) ($2$,$1$) ($3$)

For four stairs, consider what step they came from to land on the fourth stair. They could have hopped straight from the 1st, done a double from #2, or used a single step from #3. The ways to get to each of these steps are $1+2+4=7$ ways to get to step 4. The pattern can then be extended: $4$ steps: $1+2+4=7$ ways. $5$ steps: $2+4+7=13$ ways. $6$ steps: $4+7+13=24$ ways.

Thus, there are $\boxed{\textbf{(E) } 24}$ ways to get to step $6.$

Solution 3

Complementary counting is also possible. Considering the six steps, Jo has to land on the last step, so there are $2^5=32$ subsets (hit steps) of the other five steps. After that, subtract the number of ways to climb the steps while taking a leap of $4$, $5$, or $6$. The eight possible ways for this is ($4$, $1$, $1$), ($4$, $2$), ($1$, $4$, $1$), ($1$, $1$, $4$), ($2$, $4$), ($1$, $5$), ($5$, $1$), and ($6$)

Altogether this makes for $32-8= \boxed{\textbf{(E) 24}}$ valid ways for Jo to get to step 6.

Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/5UojVH4Cqqs?t=4560

~ pi_is_3.14

Video by MathTalks

https://youtu.be/mSCQzmfdX-g



See Also

2010 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 24 		Followed by
Last Problem
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

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