A five digit positive integer is a mountain number if the first three digits are in strictly ascending order and the last three digits are in strictly descending order. For example, 46872 is a mountain number, but none of 43434, 54456 and 46766 is a mountain number.

Determine the probability that N is a mountain number, given that N is a positive integer chosen at random between 40000 and 99999 inclusively.

 

Mountain numbers

 

 

If we simplify the generation process of possible sequences we will   get the right answer with a lesser effort than a straightforward counting.

 

If the middle digit is 9 we start with a generating sequence 456789876543210

We want to erase some digits , just to leave 2 numbers before 9 and 2 numbers after 9.

#OF WAYS:     COMB(5,2)* COMB(9,2)= 10*36

,. For middle digit 8 we start with a generating sequence 4567876543210

M=8    #OF WAYS"     COMB(4,2)* COMB(8,2)= 6*28

And similarly:
.

  M=7     #OF WAYS"     COMB3,2)* COMB(7,2)= 3*21

  M=6     #OF WAYS"     COMB(2,2)* COMB(6,2)= 1*15

Sum up:

360+168+63+15=606

                           

 The advantage of this approach would be much more evident  if we were looking

for   the total number of mountain numbers between 121 and 123456789876543210 ( bonus project - just to compare methods).

          

Posted by Ady TZIDON on 2010-04-08 10:09:52