todai-math 2024 Q3

todai-math · Japan · science Independent Events
3

Consider a point P moving on the coordinate plane every 1 second according to the following rules (i), (ii).
  • [(i)] Initially, P is at the point $(2,\ 1)$.
  • [(ii)] When P is at point $(a,\ b)$ at some moment, 1 second later P is at
    • the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the $x$-axis, with probability $\dfrac{1}{3}$
    • the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the $y$-axis, with probability $\dfrac{1}{3}$
    • the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the line $y = x$, with probability $\dfrac{1}{6}$
    • the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the line $y = -x$, with probability $\dfrac{1}{6}$

Answer the following questions. For question (1), it suffices to state only the conclusion.
  • [(1)] Find all possible coordinates of points that P can occupy.
  • [(2)] Let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that the probability that P is at point $(2,\ 1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start equals the probability that P is at point $(-2,\ -1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start.
  • [(3)] Let $n$ be a positive integer. Find the probability that P is at point $(2,\ 1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start.

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Consider a point P moving on the coordinate plane every 1 second according to the following rules (i), (ii).

\begin{itemize}
  \item[(i)] Initially, P is at the point $(2,\ 1)$.
  \item[(ii)] When P is at point $(a,\ b)$ at some moment, 1 second later P is at
  \begin{itemize}
    \item the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the $x$-axis, with probability $\dfrac{1}{3}$
    \item the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the $y$-axis, with probability $\dfrac{1}{3}$
    \item the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the line $y = x$, with probability $\dfrac{1}{6}$
    \item the point symmetric to $(a,\ b)$ with respect to the line $y = -x$, with probability $\dfrac{1}{6}$
  \end{itemize}
\end{itemize}

\noindent Answer the following questions. For question (1), it suffices to state only the conclusion.

\begin{itemize}
  \item[(1)] Find all possible coordinates of points that P can occupy.
  \item[(2)] Let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that the probability that P is at point $(2,\ 1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start equals the probability that P is at point $(-2,\ -1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start.
  \item[(3)] Let $n$ be a positive integer. Find the probability that P is at point $(2,\ 1)$ after $n$ seconds from the start.
\end{itemize}



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