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2015 AMC 10B Problem 16

Problem 16 of 25IntermediateNumber TheoryCounting & Probability

Al, Bill, and Cal will each randomly be assigned a whole number from 11 to 10,10, inclusive, with no two of them getting the same number. What is the probability that Al’s number will be a whole number multiple of Bill’s and Bill’s number will be a whole number multiple of Cal’s?

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Solution

Let (A,B,C)(A,B,C) be the numbers assigned to Al, Bill, and Cal. We need AA to be a multiple of BB, and BB to be a multiple of CC, with all three numbers distinct. The valid triples are (4,2,1),(6,2,1),(8,2,1),(10,2,1),(6,3,1),(9,3,1),(8,4,1),(10,5,1),(8,4,2). \begin{gathered} (4,2,1),(6,2,1),(8,2,1), \\ (10,2,1),(6,3,1),(9,3,1), \\ (8,4,1),(10,5,1),(8,4,2). \end{gathered} There are 99 favorable assignments. The total number of assignments is 1098=72010\cdot9\cdot8=720, so the probability is 9720=180\frac9{720}=\frac1{80}. Thus, the correct answer is C.

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Concepts: basic probability · divisibility · systematic listing

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