Probably Number Theory!

Positive integers a a , b b , and c c are randomly and independently selected with replacement from the set { 1 , 2 , 3 , , 2010 } \{1, 2, 3,\dots, 2010\} . What is the probability that a b c + a b + a abc + ab + a is divisible by 3 3 ?


Probably Algebra

11 27 \frac{11}{27} 29 81 \frac{29}{81} 1 3 \frac{1}{3} 31 81 \frac{31}{81} 13 27 \frac{13}{27}

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1 solution

Brian Moehring
Jul 8, 2018

We want to investigate a ( b ( c + 1 ) + 1 ) = a b c + a b + a 0 ( m o d 3 ) a(b(c+1)+1) = abc + ab + a \equiv 0 \pmod{3} Therefore, either a 0 ( m o d 3 ) a\equiv 0 \pmod{3} or b ( c + 1 ) 2 ( m o d 3 ) ( b , c ) ( 1 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) ( m o d 3 ) b(c+1) \equiv 2 \pmod{3} \iff (b,c) \equiv (1,1), (2,0) \pmod{3}

Now, there are 2010 3 = 670 \frac{2010}{3} = 670 elements in the set { 1 , 2 , , 2010 } \{1,2,\ldots, 2010\} corresponding to each residue, so we see that each residue has an equal probability of being chosen. It follows that Prob ( a 0 ) = 1 3 Prob ( ( b , c ) ( 1 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) ) = 2 9 Prob ( a 0 and ( b , c ) ( 1 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) ) = 2 27 \text{Prob}\Big(a\equiv 0\Big) = \frac{1}{3} \\ \text{Prob}\Big( (b,c) \equiv (1,1),(2,0) \Big) = \frac{2}{9} \\ \text{Prob}\Big(a\equiv 0 \text{ and } (b,c) \equiv (1,1), (2,0)\Big) = \frac{2}{27} so that Prob ( a 0 or ( b , c ) ( 1 , 1 ) , ( 2 , 0 ) ) = 1 3 + 2 9 2 27 = 13 27 \text{Prob}\Big(a\equiv 0 \text{ or } (b,c) \equiv (1,1), (2,0)\Big) = \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{9} - \frac{2}{27} = \boxed{\frac{13}{27}}

It seems to me that with (b,c)= (1,1) that you don't achieve a remainder of 2. for example, 7 times 7 is 49 which has a remainder of only 1. So only (2,0) works, right? So I got 11/27 for my answer because of that.

Mark Kessler - 2 years, 10 months ago

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If b = c = 7 b=c=7 , then b ( c + 1 ) = 56 b(c+1) = 56 leaves a remainder of 2 when divided by 3.

Brian Moehring - 2 years, 10 months ago

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Oh yeah the plus one oops lol

Mark Kessler - 2 years, 10 months ago

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