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2010 AMC 10A Problem 22

Problem 22 of 25HarderCounting & Probability

Eight points are chosen on a circle, and chords are drawn connecting every pair of points. No three chords intersect in a single point inside the circle. How many triangles with all three vertices in the interior of the circle are created?

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Solution

An interior triangle is formed by three chords that pairwise intersect inside the circle. Such a triangle uses six distinct endpoints on the circle. Conversely, for any six chosen points in circular order, exactly one set of three chords pairs opposite endpoints so that the three chords intersect pairwise inside the circle. Therefore the number of triangles is (86)=(82)=28.\binom{8}{6}=\binom{8}{2}=28. Thus, A is the correct answer.

More practice

Concepts: counting intersections · combinations · bijection

Problem text and solution from the LIVE past-contest archive. See also the AoPS wiki page for community solutions.