An ordinary domino tile can be identified as a pair $(k,m)$ where numbers $k$ and $m$ can get values $0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5$ and $6.$ Pairs $(k,m)$ and $(m, k)$ determine the same tile. In particular, the pair $(k, k)$ determines one tile. We say that two domino tiles [i]match[/i], if they have a common component. [i]Generalized n-domino tiles[/i] $m$ and $k$ can get values $0, 1,... , n.$ What is the probability that two randomly chosen $n$-domino tiles match?

Consider a fair coin and a fair 6-sided die. The die begins with the number 1 face up. A [i]step[/i] starts with a toss of the coin: if the coin comes out heads, we roll the die; otherwise (if the coin comes out tails), we do nothing else in this step. After 5 such steps, what is the probability that the number 1 is face up on the die?

Let $ABC$ be an equilateral triangle with each side of length 1. Let $X$ be a point chosen uniformly at random on side $\overline{AB}$. Let $Y$ be a point chosen uniformly at random on side $\overline{AC}$. (Points $X$ and $Y$ are chosen independently.) Let $p$ be the probability that the distance $XY$ is at most $\dfrac{1}{\sqrt[4]{3}}\,$. What is the value of $900p$, rounded to the nearest integer?

In the array of $13$ squares shown below, $8$ squares are colored red, and the remaining $5$ squares are colored blue. If one of all possible such colorings is chosen at random, the probability that the chosen colored array appears the same when rotated $90^{\circ}$ around the central square is $\tfrac{1}{n}$, where $n$ is a positive integer. Find $n$. [asy] draw((0,0)--(1,0)--(1,1)--(0,1)--(0,0)); draw((2,0)--(2,2)--(3,2)--(3,0)--(3,1)--(2,1)--(4,1)--(4,0)--(2,0)); draw((1,2)--(1,4)--(0,4)--(0,2)--(0,3)--(1,3)--(-1,3)--(-1,2)--(1,2)); draw((-1,1)--(-3,1)--(-3,0)--(-1,0)--(-2,0)--(-2,1)--(-2,-1)--(-1,-1)--(-1,1)); draw((0,-1)--(0,-3)--(1,-3)--(1,-1)--(1,-2)--(0,-2)--(2,-2)--(2,-1)--(0,-1)); size(100); [/asy]

Ten birds land on a $10$-meter-long wire, each at a random point chosen uniformly along the wire. (That is, if we pick out any $x$-meter portion of the wire, there is an $\tfrac{x}{10}$ probability that a given bird will land there.) What is the probability that every bird sits more than one meter away from its closest neighbor?

The vertices $V$ of a centrally symmetric hexagon in the complex plane are given by $$V=\left\{ \sqrt{2}i,-\sqrt{2}i, \frac{1}{\sqrt{8}}(1+i),\frac{1}{\sqrt{8}}(-1+i),\frac{1}{\sqrt{8}}(1-i),\frac{1}{\sqrt{8}}(-1-i) \right\}.$$ For each $j$, $1\leq j\leq 12$, an element $z_j$ is chosen from $V$ at random, independently of the other choices. Let $P={\prod}_{j=1}^{12}z_j$ be the product of the $12$ numbers selected. What is the probability that $P=-1$? $\textbf{(A) } \dfrac{5\cdot11}{3^{10}} \qquad \textbf{(B) } \dfrac{5^2\cdot11}{2\cdot3^{10}} \qquad \textbf{(C) } \dfrac{5\cdot11}{3^{9}} \qquad \textbf{(D) } \dfrac{5\cdot7\cdot11}{2\cdot3^{10}} \qquad \textbf{(E) } \dfrac{2^2\cdot5\cdot11}{3^{10}}$

Find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{Z}^2 \to [0, 1]$ such that for any integers $x$ and $y$, \[f(x, y) = \frac{f(x - 1, y) + f(x, y - 1)}{2}.\] [i]Proposed by Yang Liu and Michael Kural[/i]

Andrew the ant starts at vertex $A$ of square $ABCD$. Each time he moves, he chooses the clockwise vertex with probability $\frac{2}{3}$ and the counter-clockwise vertex with probability $\frac{1}{3}$. What is the probability that he ends up on vertex $A$ after $6$ moves? [i]2015 CCA Math Bonanza Lightning Round #4.3[/i]

One player conceals a $10$ or $20$ copeck coin, and the other guesses its value. If he is right he gets the coin, if wrong he pays $15$ copecks. Is this a fair game? What are the optimal mixed strategies for both players?

Kelvin the Frog and Alex the Kat play a game. Kelvin the Frog goes first, and they alternate rolling a standard $6\text{-sided die.} If they roll an even number or a number that was previously rolled, they win. What is the probability that Alex wins?

A modern artist paints all of his paintings by dividing his $3$ ft by $5$ ft canvas into $21$ random regions. He then colours some of the regions, and leaves some of them white. If the smallest region has area $a = 10$ square inches, and the probability that any given region with area $a_i$ is left white is $\frac{a}{a_i}$, then what is the probability that any given point on the canvas is left white? ($1$ ft $= 12$ in)

For a permutation $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$, let $\text{Inv}(\pi)$ be the number of pairs $(i,j)$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$ and $\pi(i) > \pi(j)$. [list=1] [*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \text{Inv}(\pi)$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$? [*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \left(\text{Inv}(\pi)\right)^2$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$?[/list] [i]Brian Hamrick.[/i]

Five men and seven women stand in a line in random order. Let m and n be relatively prime positive integers so that $\tfrac{m}{n}$ is the probability that each man stands next to at least one woman. Find $m + n.$

$2019$ points are chosen at random, independently, and distributed uniformly in the unit disc $\{(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2: x^2+y^2\le 1\}$. Let $C$ be the convex hull of the chosen points. Which probability is larger: that $C$ is a polygon with three vertices, or a polygon with four vertices? [i]Proposed by Fedor Petrov, St. Petersburg State University[/i]

Consider $n$ events, each of which has probability $\frac12$. We also know that the probability of any two both happening is $\frac14$. Prove the following. (a) The probability that none of these events happen is at most $\frac1{n+1}$. (b) We can reach equality in (a) for infinitely many $n$.

Alex starts at the origin $O$ of a hexagonal lattice. Every second, he moves to one of the six vertices adjacent to the vertex he is currently at. If he ends up at $X$ after $2018$ moves, then let $p$ be the probability that the shortest walk from $O$ to $X$ (where a valid move is from a vertex to an adjacent vertex) has length $2018$. Then $p$ can be expressed as $\tfrac{a^m-b}{c^n}$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are positive integers less than $10$; $a$ and $c$ are not perfect squares; and $m$ and $n$ are positive integers less than $10000$. Find $a+b+c+m+n$.

A fair 100-sided die is rolled twice, giving the numbers $a$ and $b$ in that order. If the probability that $a^2-4b$ is a perfect square is $\frac{m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers, compute $100m+n$. [i] Proposed by Justin Stevens [/i]

Hi guys, I was just reading over old posts that I made last year ( :P ) and saw how much the level of Getting Started became harder. To encourage more people from posting, I decided to start a Problem of the Day. This is how I'll conduct this: 1. In each post (not including this one since it has rules, etc) everyday, I'll post the problem. I may post another thread after it to give hints though. 2. Level of problem.. This is VERY important. All problems in this thread will be all AHSME or problems similar to this level. No AIME. Some AHSME problems, however, that involve tough insight or skills will not be posted. The chosen problems will be usually ones that everyone can solve after working. Calculators are allowed when you solve problems but it is NOT necessary. 3. Response.. All you have to do is simply solve the problem and post the solution. There is no credit given or taken away if you get the problem wrong. This isn't like other threads where the number of problems you get right or not matters. As for posting, post your solutions here in this thread. Do NOT PM me. Also, here are some more restrictions when posting solutions: A. No single answer post. It doesn't matter if you put hide and say "Answer is ###..." If you don't put explanation, it simply means you cheated off from some other people. I've seen several posts that went like "I know the answer" and simply post the letter. What is the purpose of even posting then? Huh? B. Do NOT go back to the previous problem(s). This causes too much confusion. C. You're FREE to give hints and post different idea, way or answer in some cases in problems. If you see someone did wrong or you don't understand what they did, post here. That's what this thread is for. 4. Main purpose.. This is for anyone who visits this forum to enjoy math. I rememeber when I first came into this forum, I was poor at math compared to other people. But I kindly got help from many people such as JBL, joml88, tokenadult, and many other people that would take too much time to type. Perhaps without them, I wouldn't be even a moderator in this forum now. This site clearly made me to enjoy math more and more and I'd like to do the same thing. That's about the rule.. Have fun problem solving! Next post will contain the Day 1 Problem. You can post the solutions until I post one. :D

Positive integers $ a,b,$ and $ c$ are randomly and independently selected with replacement from the set $ \{ 1,2,3,\dots,2010 \}.$ What is the probability that $ abc \plus{} ab \plus{} a$ is divisible by $ 3$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \dfrac{1}{3} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \dfrac{29}{81} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \dfrac{31}{81} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \dfrac{11}{27} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \dfrac{13}{27}$

Real numbers $X_1, X_2, \dots, X_{10}$ are chosen uniformly at random from the interval $[0,1]$. If the expected value of $\min(X_1,X_2,\dots, X_{10})^4$ can be expressed as a rational number $\frac{m}{n}$ for relatively prime positive integers $m$ and $n$, what is $m+n$? [i]2016 CCA Math Bonanza Lightning #4.4[/i]

Six people play the following game: They have a cube, initially white. One by one, the players mark an $ X$ on a white face of the cube, and roll it like a die. The winner is the first person to roll an $ X$ (for example, player 1 wins with probability $ \frac {1}{6}$, while if none of players 1-5 win, player 6 will place an $ X$ on the last square and win for sure). What is the probability that the sixth player wins?

200 students participated in a math contest. They had 6 problems to solve. Each problem was correctly solved by at least 120 participants. Prove that there must be 2 participants such that every problem was solved by at least one of these two students.

A moving particle starts at the point $\left(4,4\right)$ and moves until it hits one of the coordinate axes for the first time. When the particle is at the point $\left(a,b\right)$, it moves at random to one of the points $\left(a-1,b\right)$, $\left(a,b-1\right)$, or $\left(a-1,b-1\right)$, each with probability $\tfrac{1}{3}$, independently of its previous moves. The probability that it will hit the coordinate axes at $\left(0,0\right)$ is $\tfrac{m}{3^n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are positive integers, and $m$ is not divisible by $3$. Find $m+n$.

There are $1001$ red marbles and $1001$ black marbles in a box. Let $P_s$ be the probability that two marbles drawn at random from the box are the same color, and let $P_d$ be the probability that they are different colors. Find $|P_s-P_d|$. $\textbf{(A) }0\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac1{2002}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac1{2001}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac2{2001}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\dfrac1{1000}$

Alex and Brian take turns shooting free throws until they each shoot twice. Alex and Brian have 80% and 60% chances of making their free throws, respectively. What is the probability that after each free throw they take, Alex has made at least as many free throws as Brian if Brian shoots first?