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Algebra Difficulty 4.5 AIME Find the answer China

An information station employs four different codes, AA, BB, CC and DD, for communication, but each week uses only one of them. The code used in a definite week is randomly selected with equal chance among the three ones that have not been used in the last week. Suppose the code used in the first week is AA. Then the probability that AA is also used in the seventh week is _______. (expressed as an irreducible fraction)

A number or a short expression. Spacing and $ signs are ignored.

Solution

Let PkP_k denote the probability that code AA is used in the kk\text{th}week.Thentheprobabilitythat week. Then the probability that Aisnotusedinthe is not used in the kth\text{th} week is 1Pk1 - P_k. Therefore, we have
Pk+1=13(1Pk). P_{k+1} = \frac{1}{3}(1 - P_k).
Or
Pk+114=13(Pk14). P_{k+1} - \frac{1}{4} = -\frac{1}{3}\left(P_k - \frac{1}{4}\right).
As P1=1P_1 = 1, {Pk14}\{P_k - \frac{1}{4}\} is then a geometric sequence with 34\frac{3}{4} as the first term and 13-\frac{1}{3} as the common ratio. So we have
Pk14=34(13)k1. P_k - \frac{1}{4} = \frac{3}{4}\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{k-1}.
Or
Pk=34(13)k1+14. P_k = \frac{3}{4}\left(-\frac{1}{3}\right)^{k-1} + \frac{1}{4}.
Therefore, P7=61243P_7 = \frac{61}{243}.

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