Difference between revisions of "2011 AMC 10B Problems/Problem 13"

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For the product of two numbers to be greater than zero, they either have to both be negative or both be positive. The interval for a positive number is <math>\frac{1}{3}</math> of the total interval, and the interval for a negative number is <math>\frac{2}{3}</math>. Therefore, the probability the product is greater than zero is
 
For the product of two numbers to be greater than zero, they either have to both be negative or both be positive. The interval for a positive number is <math>\frac{1}{3}</math> of the total interval, and the interval for a negative number is <math>\frac{2}{3}</math>. Therefore, the probability the product is greater than zero is
 
<cmath>\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \frac{5}{9}}</cmath>
 
<cmath>\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \frac{5}{9}}</cmath>
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== Solution 2 ==
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We can also plot this problem on the coordinate grid. First, plot the possible region [the square with endpoints (10,10) (-20, 10) (-20, -20) (-20, 10)]  Then, we can find our possible region which is if both numbers are positive or if both numbers are negative. Lets take the first case in which both numbers are positive: We can plot this as the top right of our possible square [(10,10) (0,0) (10,0) (0,10)]. Similarly if both numbers are negative we get the square [(-20,-20) (0,0) (-20,0) (0,-20)] Then we find the area of the possible region 30*30 = 900 and then find the areas of our positive regions 10*10=100  and 20*20 = 400. Adding and simplifying we get 100+400/900 or 5/9
  
 
== See Also==
 
== See Also==

Revision as of 15:32, 29 June 2018

Problem

Two real numbers are selected independently at random from the interval $[-20, 10]$. What is the probability that the product of those numbers is greater than zero?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{9} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{3} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{4}{9} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{5}{9} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{2}{3}$

Solution

For the product of two numbers to be greater than zero, they either have to both be negative or both be positive. The interval for a positive number is $\frac{1}{3}$ of the total interval, and the interval for a negative number is $\frac{2}{3}$. Therefore, the probability the product is greater than zero is \[\frac{1}{3} \times \frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3} \times \frac{2}{3} = \frac{1}{9} + \frac{4}{9} = \boxed{\textbf{(D)} \frac{5}{9}}\]


Solution 2

We can also plot this problem on the coordinate grid. First, plot the possible region [the square with endpoints (10,10) (-20, 10) (-20, -20) (-20, 10)] Then, we can find our possible region which is if both numbers are positive or if both numbers are negative. Lets take the first case in which both numbers are positive: We can plot this as the top right of our possible square [(10,10) (0,0) (10,0) (0,10)]. Similarly if both numbers are negative we get the square [(-20,-20) (0,0) (-20,0) (0,-20)] Then we find the area of the possible region 30*30 = 900 and then find the areas of our positive regions 10*10=100 and 20*20 = 400. Adding and simplifying we get 100+400/900 or 5/9

See Also

2011 AMC 10B (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
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 AMC 10 Problems and Solutions

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