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# Probability of tossing a coin | AIME I, 2009 | Question 3

Try this beautiful problem from American Invitational Mathematics Examination, AIME, 2009 based on Probability of tossing a coin.

Try this beautiful problem from American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME I, 2009 based on Probability of tossing a coin.

## Probability of tossing a coin – AIME I, 2009 Question 3

A coin that comes up heads with probability p>0and tails with probability (1-p)>0 independently on each flip is flipped eight times. Suppose the probability of three heads and five tails is equal to $\frac{1}{25}$ the probability of five heads and three tails. Let p=$\frac{m}{n}$ where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m+n.

• 10
• 20
• 30
• 11

### Key Concepts

Probability

Theory of equations

Polynomials

AIME, 2009

Course in Probability Theory by Kai Lai Chung .

## Try with Hints

here $\frac{8!}{3!5!}p^{3}(1-p)^{5}$=$\frac{1}{25}\frac{8!}{5!3!}p^{5}(1-p)^{3}$

then $(1-p)^{2}$=$\frac{1}{25}p^{2}$ then 1-p=$\frac{1}{5}p$

then p=$\frac{5}{6}$ then m+n=11