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2006 AMC 10A Problems/Problem 20

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Problem

Six distinct positive integers are randomly chosen between 1 and 2006, inclusive. What is the probability that some pair of these integers has a difference that is a multiple of 5?

\mathrm{(A) \ } \frac{1}{2}\qquad\mathrm{(B) \ } \frac{3}{5}\qquad\mathrm{(C) \ } \frac{2}{3}\qquad\mathrm{(D) \ } \frac{4}{5...

Solution

For two numbers to have a difference that is a multiple of 5, the numbers must be congruent \bmod{5} (their remainders after division by 5 must be the same).

0, 1, 2, 3, 4 are the possible values of numbers in \bmod{5}. Since there are only 5 possible values in \bmod{5} and we are picking 6 numbers, by the Pigeonhole Principle, two of the numbers must be congruent \bmod{5}.

Therefore the probability that some pair of the 6 integers has a difference that is a multiple of 5 is 1 \Longrightarrow \mathrm{E}.

See also

2006 AMC 10A (ProblemsResources)
Preceded by
Problem 19
Followed by
Problem 21
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
Want to learn how to tackle those tough MATHCOUNTS and AMC counting and probability problems? Check out Art of Problem Solving's Introduction to Counting & Probability by David Patrick.
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