A Particle Walks to the Origin

Problem

A particle starts at (4,4)(4, 4) and stops upon first touching a coordinate axis. From (a,b)(a, b) it moves to (a−1,b)(a-1, b), (a,b−1)(a, b-1), or (a−1,b−1)(a-1, b-1), each with probability 13\tfrac13, independently. The probability that it stops exactly at the origin is m3n\dfrac{m}{3^n} in lowest terms. Find m+nm + n.

Answer

Solution

Difficulty7/10
Topicscombinatorics, Counting, probability, Casework

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