2025 AMC 12A Problems/Problem 23: Difference between revisions
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==Problem 23== | |||
==Solution 1== | |||
To satisfy the conditions, a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer must have no digit be a local minimum. Let's say we have <imath>n</imath> distinct digits, with each digit being a number from <imath>1</imath> to <imath>9</imath>. To create a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer, we begin by placing the largest digit. For the second-largest digit, we can either place this digit to the right or to the left of the string already created. We have these <imath>2</imath> options for the third-largest digit, and so on. Therefore, there are <imath>2^{n-1}</imath> valid permutations to create a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer. | To satisfy the conditions, a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer must have no digit be a local minimum. Let's say we have <imath>n</imath> distinct digits, with each digit being a number from <imath>1</imath> to <imath>9</imath>. To create a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer, we begin by placing the largest digit. For the second-largest digit, we can either place this digit to the right or to the left of the string already created. We have these <imath>2</imath> options for the third-largest digit, and so on. Therefore, there are <imath>2^{n-1}</imath> valid permutations to create a <imath>\textit{fair}</imath> integer. | ||
Revision as of 13:39, 6 November 2025
Problem 23
Solution 1
To satisfy the conditions, a
integer must have no digit be a local minimum. Let's say we have
distinct digits, with each digit being a number from
to
. To create a
integer, we begin by placing the largest digit. For the second-largest digit, we can either place this digit to the right or to the left of the string already created. We have these
options for the third-largest digit, and so on. Therefore, there are
valid permutations to create a
integer.
We must also choose which digits will be in the permutation. If you are creating an
-digit long
integer, there are
ways to pick which digits will be in the number.
Therefore, for each
, the number of fair integers of length
is:
Summing over all
:
Note that the Binomial Theorem was used to equate
~lprado