AMC 10 Step by Step
2025 AMC 10BProblem 24P21-25~6 minPrint

A frog hops along the number line according to the following rules.

\qquad\bullet It starts at 00 .

\qquad\bullet If it is at 00 , then it moves to 11 with probability 12\tfrac{1}{2} and it disappears with probability 12\tfrac{1}{2} .

\qquad\bullet For n=1,2,n = 1, 2, or 3,3, if it is at n,n, then it moves to n+1n+1 with probability 14,\tfrac{1}{4}, it moves to n1n-1 with probability 14,\tfrac{1}{4}, and it disappears with \qquad\phantom{\bullet} probability 12\tfrac{1}{2} .

What is the probability that the frog reaches 4?{4\,?}

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Problem © Mathematical Association of America (MAA), American Mathematics Competitions. Reproduced for non-commercial educational use. Solution and commentary are original to this site.