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Problem 419: (2020 AMC 10b, 23; 12b 19)
Square $ABCD$ in the coordinate plane has vertices at the points $A(1,1), B(-1,1), C(-1,-1),$ and $D(1,-1).$ Consider the following four transformations: $\quad\bullet\qquad$ $L,$ a rotation of $90^{\circ}$ counterclockwise around the origin; $\quad\bullet\qquad$ $R,$ a rotation of $90^{\circ}$ clockwise around the origin; $\quad\bullet\qquad$ $H,$ a reflection across the $x$-axis; and $\quad\bullet\qquad$ $V,$ a reflection across the $y$-axis. Each of these transformations maps the squares onto itself, but the positions of the labeled vertices will change. For example, applying $R$ and then $V$ would send the vertex $A$ at $(1,1)$ to $(-1,-1)$ and would send the vertex $B$ at $(-1,1)$ to itself. How many sequences of $20$ transformations chosen from $\{L, R, H, V\}$ will send all of the labeled vertices back to their original positions? (For example, $R, R, V, H$ is one sequence of $4$ transformations that will send the vertices back to their original positions.) $\textbf{(A)}\ 2^{37} \qquad$ $\textbf{(B)}\ 3\cdot 2^{36} \qquad$ $\textbf{(C)}\ 2^{38} \qquad$ $\textbf{(D)}\ 3\cdot 2^{37} \qquad$ $\textbf{(E)}\ 2^{39}$
Solution
Exercise 419: Solution
Square $ABCD$ in the coordinate plane has vertices at the points $A(1,1), B(-1,1), C(-1,-1),$ and $D(1,-1).$ Consider the two transformations $L$ and $R$, the rotations by $90^\circ$ counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, about the origin. How many sequences of $6$ transformations chosen from $\{L, R\}$ will send all of the labeled vertices back to their original positions?
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