\documentclass[ solutions, hidewarning, singlenumbering, nopagenumber ]{../../resources/ormc_handout} \usepackage{../../resources/macros} \title{Warm-Up: Mario Kart} \uptitler{\smallurl{}} \subtitle{Prepared by Mark on \today} \begin{document} \maketitle \problem{} A standard Mario Kart cup consists of 12 players and four races. \par Each race is scored as follows: \begin{itemize} \item 15 points are awarded for first place; \item 12 for second; \item and $(13 - \text{place})$ otherwise. \end{itemize} In any one race, no players may tie. A player's score at the end of a cup is the sum of their scores for each of the four races. \vspace{2mm} An $n$-way tie occurs when the top $n$ players have the same score at the end of a round. \par What is the largest possible $n$, and how is it achieved? \begin{solution} A 12-way tie is impossible, since the total number of point is not divisible by 12. \vspace{2mm} A 11-way tie is possible, with a top score of 28: \begin{itemize} \item Four players finish $1^\text{st}$, $3^\text{ed}$, $11^\text{th}$, and $12^\text{th}$; % spell:off \item Four players finish $2^\text{nd}$, $4^\text{th}$, $9^\text{th}$, and $10^\text{th}$; % spell:on \item Two players finish fifth twice and seventh twice, \item One player finishes sixth in each race. \end{itemize} The final player always finishes eighth, with a non-tie score of 20. \end{solution} \end{document}