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2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 13: Difference between revisions

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== Solutions==
== Solutions==
===Solution 1===
1. Identify the total number of ways to select two different numbers from the set:
The set has 6 elements. The number of ways to choose 2 different numbers from 6 is given by the combination formula: <math>\binom{6}{2} = \frac{6 \times 5}{2 \times 1} = 15</math>.
2. Identify the favorable outcomes:
For the product to be zero, one of the chosen numbers must be zero. The set contains one zero (0). To have a product of zero, we need to choose 0 and any other number from the remaining five numbers <math>-2, -1, 3, 4, 5</math>.
The number of ways to choose 0 and one other number from the remaining five is 5.
3. Calculate the probability:
The probability is the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of outcomes: <math>\text{Probability} = \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{Total number of outcomes}} = \frac{5}{15} = \frac{1}{3}</math>.
Thus, the probability that the product is <math>0</math> is <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
~GeometryMystery


===Solution 2 (Complementary Counting)===
===Solution 2 (Complementary Counting)===
Because the only way the product of the two numbers is <math>0</math> is if one of the numbers we choose is <math>0,</math> we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a <math>0.</math> We get <math>\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.</math> Therefore our answer is <math>1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
Because the only way the product of the two numbers is <math>0</math> is if one of the numbers we choose is <math>0,</math> we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a <math>0.</math> We get <math>\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.</math> Therefore our answer is <math>1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
===Solution 3(One Sentence!!!)===
1/6 * Any other number + Any other number * 1/6 = 1/6+1/6 = <math>\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.</math>
-JasonDaGoat


==Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING!!!)==
==Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING!!!)==
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{{AMC8 box|year=2016|num-b=12|num-a=14}}
{{AMC8 box|year=2016|num-b=12|num-a=14}}
{{MAA Notice}}
{{MAA Notice}}
[[Category:Introductory Probability Problems]]

Latest revision as of 15:10, 7 September 2025

Problem

Two different numbers are randomly selected from the set $\{ - 2, -1, 0, 3, 4, 5\}$ and multiplied together. What is the probability that the product is $0$?

$\textbf{(A) }\dfrac{1}{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{1}{5}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\dfrac{1}{4}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\dfrac{1}{3}\qquad \textbf{(E) }\dfrac{1}{2}$

Solutions

Solution 1

1. Identify the total number of ways to select two different numbers from the set:

The set has 6 elements. The number of ways to choose 2 different numbers from 6 is given by the combination formula: $\binom{6}{2} = \frac{6 \times 5}{2 \times 1} = 15$.

2. Identify the favorable outcomes:

For the product to be zero, one of the chosen numbers must be zero. The set contains one zero (0). To have a product of zero, we need to choose 0 and any other number from the remaining five numbers $-2, -1, 3, 4, 5$.

The number of ways to choose 0 and one other number from the remaining five is 5.

3. Calculate the probability:

The probability is the number of favorable outcomes divided by the total number of outcomes: $\text{Probability} = \frac{\text{Number of favorable outcomes}}{\text{Total number of outcomes}} = \frac{5}{15} = \frac{1}{3}$.

Thus, the probability that the product is $0$ is $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.$

~GeometryMystery

Solution 2 (Complementary Counting)

Because the only way the product of the two numbers is $0$ is if one of the numbers we choose is $0,$ we calculate the probability of NOT choosing a $0.$ We get $\frac{5}{6} \cdot \frac{4}{5} = \frac{2}{3}.$ Therefore our answer is $1 - \frac{2}{3} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.$

Solution 3(One Sentence!!!)

1/6 * Any other number + Any other number * 1/6 = 1/6+1/6 = $\boxed{\textbf{(D)} \ \frac{1}{3}}.$ -JasonDaGoat

Video Solution (CREATIVE THINKING!!!)

https://youtu.be/cRsvq0BH4MI

~Education, the Study of Everything


Video Solution by OmegaLearn

https://youtu.be/6xNkyDgIhEE?t=357

~ pi_is_3.14

Video Solution

https://youtu.be/jDeS4A6N-nE

~savannahsolver

See Also

2016 AMC 8 (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
Preceded by
Problem 12 		Followed by
Problem 14
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25
All AJHSME/AMC 8 Problems and Solutions

These problems are copyrighted © by the Mathematical Association of America, as part of the American Mathematics Competitions. Error creating thumbnail: File missing

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