This website contains problems from math contests. Problems and corresponding tags were obtained from the Art of Problem Solving website.

Tags were heavily modified to better represent problems.

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Found problems: 75

2011 AIME Problems, 5

The vertices of a regular nonagon (9-sided polygon) are to be labeled with the digits $1$ through $9$ in such a way that the sum of the numbers on every three consecutive vertices is a multiple of $3$. Two acceptable arrangements are considered to be indistinguishable if one can be obtained from the other by rotating the nonagon in the plane. Find the number of distinguishable acceptable arrangements.

2005 AIME Problems, 5

Robert has 4 indistinguishable gold coins and 4 indistinguishable silver coins. Each coin has an engraving of one face on one side, but not on the other. He wants to stack the eight coins on a table into a single stack so that no two adjacent coins are face to face. Find the number of possible distinguishable arrangements of the 8 coins.

2006 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 5

Fifteen freshmen are sitting in a circle around a table, but the course assistant (who remains standing) has made only six copies of today’s handout. No freshman should get more than one handout, and any freshman who does not get one should be able to read a neighbor’s. If the freshmen are distinguishable but the handouts are not, how many ways are there to distribute the six handouts subject to the above conditions?

2014 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 13

An auditorium has two rows of seats, with $50$ seats in each row. $100$ indistinguishable people sit in the seats one at a time, subject to the condition that each person, except for the first person to sit in each row, must sit to the left or right of an occupied seat, and no two people can sit in the same seat. In how many ways can this process occur?

2014 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 4

Find the number of triples of sets $(A, B, C)$ such that: (a) $A, B, C \subseteq \{1, 2, 3, \dots , 8 \}$. (b) $|A \cap B| = |B \cap C| = |C \cap A| = 2$. (c) $|A| = |B| = |C| = 4$. Here, $|S|$ denotes the number of elements in the set $S$.

2015 USAMO, 4

Steve is piling $m\geq 1$ indistinguishable stones on the squares of an $n\times n$ grid. Each square can have an arbitrarily high pile of stones. After he finished piling his stones in some manner, he can then perform [i]stone moves[/i], defined as follows. Consider any four grid squares, which are corners of a rectangle, i.e. in positions $(i, k), (i, l), (j, k), (j, l)$ for some $1\leq i, j, k, l\leq n$, such that $i<j$ and $k<l$. A stone move consists of either removing one stone from each of $(i, k)$ and $(j, l)$ and moving them to $(i, l)$ and $(j, k)$ respectively, or removing one stone from each of $(i, l)$ and $(j, k)$ and moving them to $(i, k)$ and $(j, l)$ respectively. Two ways of piling the stones are equivalent if they can be obtained from one another by a sequence of stone moves. How many different non-equivalent ways can Steve pile the stones on the grid?

2011 AIME Problems, 12

Six men and some number of women stand in a line in random order. Let $p$ be the probability that a group of at least four men stand together in the line, given that every man stands next to at least one other man. Find the least number of women in the line such that $p$ does not exceed 1 percent.

2007 Putnam, 3

Let $ k$ be a positive integer. Suppose that the integers $ 1,2,3,\dots,3k \plus{} 1$ are written down in random order. What is the probability that at no time during this process, the sum of the integers that have been written up to that time is a positive integer divisible by $ 3$ ? Your answer should be in closed form, but may include factorials.

2013 ELMO Shortlist, 8

We define the [i]Fibonacci sequence[/i] $\{F_n\}_{n\ge0}$ by $F_0=0$, $F_1=1$, and for $n\ge2$, $F_n=F_{n-1}+F_{n-2}$; we define the [i]Stirling number of the second kind[/i] $S(n,k)$ as the number of ways to partition a set of $n\ge1$ distinguishable elements into $k\ge1$ indistinguishable nonempty subsets. For every positive integer $n$, let $t_n = \sum_{k=1}^{n} S(n,k) F_k$. Let $p\ge7$ be a prime. Prove that \[ t_{n+p^{2p}-1} \equiv t_n \pmod{p} \] for all $n\ge1$. [i]Proposed by Victor Wang[/i]

2010 ELMO Shortlist, 5

Let $n > 1$ be a positive integer. A 2-dimensional grid, infinite in all directions, is given. Each 1 by 1 square in a given $n$ by $n$ square has a counter on it. A [i]move[/i] consists of taking $n$ adjacent counters in a row or column and sliding them each by one space along that row or column. A [i]returning sequence[/i] is a finite sequence of moves such that all counters again fill the original $n$ by $n$ square at the end of the sequence. [list] [*] Assume that all counters are distinguishable except two, which are indistinguishable from each other. Prove that any distinguishable arrangement of counters in the $n$ by $n$ square can be reached by a returning sequence. [*] Assume all counters are distinguishable. Prove that there is no returning sequence that switches two counters and returns the rest to their original positions.[/list] [i]Mitchell Lee and Benjamin Gunby.[/i]

2007 Purple Comet Problems, 16

We have some identical paper squares which are black on one side of the sheet and white on the other side. We can join nine squares together to make a $3$ by $3$ sheet of squares by placing each of the nine squares either white side up or black side up. Two of these $3$ by $3$ sheets are distinguishable if neither can be made to look like the other by rotating the sheet or by turning it over. How many distinguishable $3$ by $3$ squares can we form?

2003 AMC 12-AHSME, 20

How many $ 15$-letter arrangements of $ 5$ A's, $ 5$ B's, and $ 5$ C's have no A's in the first $ 5$ letters, no B's in the next $ 5$ letters, and no C's in the last $ 5$ letters? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \sum_{k\equal{}0}^5\binom{5}{k}^3 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 3^5\cdot 2^5 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2^{15} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{15!}{(5!)^3} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 3^{15}$

2015 AMC 10, 20

Erin the ant starts at a given corner of a cube and crawls along exactly $7$ edges in such a way that she visits every corner exactly once and then finds that she is unable to return along an edge to her starting point. How many paths are there meeting these conditions? $ \textbf{(A) }\text{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\text{9}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\text{12}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\text{18}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\text{24} $

1995 AMC 12/AHSME, 29

For how many three-element sets of positive integers $\{a,b,c\}$ is it true that $a \times b \times c = 2310$? $\textbf{(A)}\ 32 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 36 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 40 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 43 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 45$

2009 Stanford Mathematics Tournament, 1

In the future, each country in the world produces its Olympic athletes via cloning and strict training programs. Therefore, in the fi nals of the 200 m free, there are two indistinguishable athletes from each of the four countries. How many ways are there to arrange them into eight lanes?

2007 USA Team Selection Test, 6

For a polynomial $ P(x)$ with integer coefficients, $ r(2i \minus{} 1)$ (for $ i \equal{} 1,2,3,\ldots,512$) is the remainder obtained when $ P(2i \minus{} 1)$ is divided by $ 1024$. The sequence \[ (r(1),r(3),\ldots,r(1023)) \] is called the [i]remainder sequence[/i] of $ P(x)$. A remainder sequence is called [i]complete[/i] if it is a permutation of $ (1,3,5,\ldots,1023)$. Prove that there are no more than $ 2^{35}$ different complete remainder sequences.

2006 Pan African, 5

In how many ways can the integers from $1$ to $2006$ be divided into three non-empty disjoint sets so that none of these sets contains a pair of consecutive integers?

2007 Purple Comet Problems, 15

We have some identical paper squares which are black on one side of the sheet and white on the other side. We can join nine squares together to make a $3$ by $3$ sheet of squares by placing each of the nine squares either white side up or black side up. Two of these $3$ by $3$ sheets are distinguishable if neither can be made to look like the other by rotating the sheet or by turning it over. How many distinguishable $3$ by $3$ squares can we form?

2018 PUMaC Combinatorics B, 3

In an election between $\text{A}$ and $\text{B}$, during the counting of the votes, neither candidate was more than $2$ votes ahead, and the vote ended in a tie, $6$ votes to $6$ votes. Two votes for the same candidate are indistinguishable. In how many orders could the votes have been counted? One possibility is $\text{AABBABBABABA}$.

2014 AMC 12/AHSME, 13

A fancy bed and breakfast inn has $5$ rooms, each with a distinctive color-coded decor. One day $5$ friends arrive to spend the night. There are no other guests that night. The friends can room in any combination they wish, but with no more than $2$ friends per room. In how many ways can the innkeeper assign the guests to the rooms? $\textbf{(A) }2100\qquad \textbf{(B) }2220\qquad \textbf{(C) }3000\qquad \textbf{(D) }3120\qquad \textbf{(E) }3125\qquad$

2007 AMC 12/AHSME, 16

Each face of a regular tetrahedron is painted either red, white or blue. Two colorings are considered indistinguishable if two congruent tetrahedra with those colorings can be rotated so that their appearances are identical. How many distinguishable colorings are possible? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 15 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 18 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 27 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 54 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 81$

2007 Princeton University Math Competition, 2

In how many distinguishable ways can $10$ distinct pool balls be formed into a pyramid ($6$ on the bottom, $3$ in the middle, one on top), assuming that all rotations of the pyramid are indistinguishable?

2005 AIME Problems, 2

A hotel packed breakfast for each of three guests. Each breakfast should have consisted of three types of rolls, one each of nut, cheese, and fruit rolls. The preparer wrapped each of the nine rolls and once wrapped, the rolls were indistinguishable from one another. She then randomly put three rolls in a bag for each of the guests. Given that the probability each guest got one roll of each type is $\frac{m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime integers, find $m+n$.

2014 NIMO Problems, 9

This is an ARML Super Relay! I'm sure you know how this works! You start from #1 and #15 and meet in the middle. We are going to require you to solve all $15$ problems, though -- so for the entire task, submit the sum of all the answers, rather than just the answer to #8. Also, uhh, we can't actually find the slip for #1. Sorry about that. Have fun anyways! Problem 2. Let $T = TNYWR$. Find the number of way to distribute $6$ indistinguishable pieces of candy to $T$ hungry (and distinguishable) schoolchildren, such that each child gets at most one piece of candy. Problem 3. Let $T = TNYWR$. If $d$ is the largest proper divisor of $T$, compute $\frac12 d$. Problem 4. Let $T = TNYWR$ and flip $4$ fair coins. Suppose the probability that at most $T$ heads appear is $\frac mn$, where $m$ and $n$ are coprime positive integers. Compute $m+n$. Problem 5. Let $T = TNYWR$. Compute the last digit of $T^T$ in base $10$. Problem 6. Let $T = TNYWR$ and flip $6$ fair coins. Suppose the probability that at most $T$ heads appear is $\frac mn$, where $m$ and $n$ are coprime positive integers. Compute $m+n$. Problem 7. Let $T = TNYWR$. Compute the smallest prime $p$ for which $n^T \not\equiv n \pmod{p}$ for some integer $n$. Problem 8. Let $M$ and $N$ be the two answers received, with $M \le N$. Compute the number of integer quadruples $(w,x,y,z)$ with $w+x+y+z = M \sqrt{wxyz}$ and $1 \le w,x,y,z \le N$. Problem 9. Let $T = TNYWR$. Compute the smallest integer $n$ with $n \ge 2$ such that $n$ is coprime to $T+1$, and there exists positive integers $a$, $b$, $c$ with $a^2+b^2+c^2 = n(ab+bc+ca)$. Problem 10. Let $T = TNYWR$ and flip $10$ fair coins. Suppose the probability that at most $T$ heads appear is $\frac mn$, where $m$ and $n$ are coprime positive integers. Compute $m+n$. Problem 11. Let $T = TNYWR$. Compute the last digit of $T^T$ in base $10$. Problem 12. Let $T = TNYWR$ and flip $12$ fair coins. Suppose the probability that at most $T$ heads appear is $\frac mn$, where $m$ and $n$ are coprime positive integers. Compute $m+n$. Problem 13. Let $T = TNYWR$. If $d$ is the largest proper divisor of $T$, compute $\frac12 d$. Problem 14. Let $T = TNYWR$. Compute the number of way to distribute $6$ indistinguishable pieces of candy to $T$ hungry (and distinguishable) schoolchildren, such that each child gets at most one piece of candy. Also, we can't find the slip for #15, either. We think the SFBA coaches stole it to prevent us from winning the Super Relay, but that's not going to stop us, is it? We have another #15 slip that produces an equivalent answer. Here you go! Problem 15. Let $A$, $B$, $C$ be the answers to #8, #9, #10. Compute $\gcd(A,C) \cdot B$.

2006 AIME Problems, 8

There is an unlimited supply of congruent equilateral triangles made of colored paper. Each triangle is a solid color with the same color on both sides of the paper. A large equilateral triangle is constructed from four of these paper triangles. Two large triangles are considered distinguishable if it is not possible to place one on the other, using translations, rotations, and/or reflections, so that their corresponding small triangles are of the same color. Given that there are six different colors of triangles from which to choose, how many distinguishable large equilateral triangles may be formed?