AwesomeMath Team Contest 2013 Solutions

Problem 1. Dene the value of a letter as its position in the alphabet. For example, C is the third letter, so its
value is 3. The value of a word is the sum of the value of the letters in it. Find the value of MATH.
Answer. 42
Solution outline. M is the 13th letter, A is the 1st letter, T is the 20th letter, H is the 8th letter. 13 + 1 + 20 + 8
= 42.
Problem 2. The sum of three consecutive integers is 15. Determine their product.
Answer. 120
Solution outline. Let the numbers be n 1, n and n +1. Then their sum is 3n = 15, which implies that n = 5. The
numbers are thus 4, 5, 6. Their product is 4 5 6 = 120.
Problem 3. How many dierent positive integers divide
10! = 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10?
Answer. 270
Solution outline. Note that 10! = 2
8
3
4
5
2
7. When constructing a divisor, we can choose to have 0 to 8 factors (9
choices) of 2. Similarly, we can choose to have 0 to 4 factors (5 choices) of 3. Continuing this argument, the number
of choices for divisors for 10! is (8 + 1)(4 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 270.
Problem 4. Four rectangular strips, each measuring 4 by 16 inches, are laid out with two vertical strips crossing
two horizontal strips forming a single polygon which looks like a tic-tac-toe pattern. What is the perimeter of this
polygon?
Answer. 96
Solution outline. Each of the strips have a perimeter of 2(4 + 16) = 40, so the total perimeter of the four separate
strips is 4 40 = 160. When placed in the conguration shown, for every crossing, a 4 4 square is eliminated
from the perimeter. Since there are four 4 crossings, each of which have a perimeter of 16, the desired perimeter is
160 4 16 = 96.
Problem 5. Evaluate the product
_
1 +
2
3
__
1 +
2
4
__
1 +
2
5
_

_
1 +
2
98
_
Answer. 825
Solution outline.
_
1 +
2
3
__
1 +
2
4
__
1 +
2
5
_

_
1 +
2
98
_
=
5
3

6
4

7
5

100
98
All the factors cancel except for the 99 and 100 in the numerator and the 3 and 4 in the denominator. The answer
is thus
99100
34
= 825.
Problem 6. Let p
1
= 2, p
2
= 3, p
3
= 5, be the sequence of prime numbers. Find the least positive even integer
n such that p
1
+p
2
+ +p
n
is not a prime.
Answer. 8
Solution outline. Let S
n
= p
1
+ p
2
+ + p
n
. Calculating, we nd S
2
= 5, S
4
= 17, S
6
= 41, S
8
= 77, which is
composite. Thus the answer is 8.
1
Problem 7. In ABC, the measure of

ABC is 120

. Point D is chosen in the triangle so that line DA bisects

BAC and line DC bisects

BCA. Find the degree measure of

ADC.
Answer. 150
Solution outline.
From triangle ABC, we have 2x + 2y + 120 = 180. From triangle ADC, we have x + y + = 180, implying
2x + 2y + 2 = 360. Subtracting the rst equation, we have 2 120 = 180, implying = 150.
Problem 8. A regular polygon has ve times as many diagonals as it has sides. How many vertices does the
polygon have?
Answer. 13
Solution outline. If a regular polygon has n sides, it has
n(n3)
2
diagonals. This can be seen by pairing each vertex
with each other vertex not counting itself or its two neighbors. We are thus solving the equation
n(n3)
2
= 5n, which
implies n(n 3) = 10n, or n 3 = 10 implying n = 13.
Problem 9. The faces of a cube contain the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 such that the sum of the numbers on each
pair of opposite faces is 7. For each of the cubes eight corners, we multiply the three numbers on the faces incident
to that corner, and write down its value. (In the diagram, the value of the indicated corner is 1 2 3 = 6.) What is
the sum of the eight values assigned to the cubes corners?
Answer. 343
Solution outline. The left picture shows the corners and faces touching the side labeled 1, and the right picture shows
the opposite side of the die, whose label is 6.
Computing the eight numbers individually and summing them, we can nd that the sum of numbers is 343.
Alternatively, since no corner contains two numbers that sum to 7, the sum can be computed as (1+6)(2+5)(3+4) =
7
3
= 343.
2
Problem 10. Given three distinct digits a, b, and c, it is possible, by choosing two distinct digits at a time, to form
six two-digit numbers. Determine all possible sets a, b, c for which the sum of the six two-digit numbers is 484.
Answer. 6, 7, 9, 5, 8, 9
(order of elements does not matter: accept all permutations)
Solution outline. The six possible numbers are 10a +b, 10a +c, 10b +a, 10b +c, 10c +a, 10c +b. The sum of all six
numbers is 22(a +b +c). Since the digits are distinct, the possible sets are 6, 7, 9 and 5, 8, 9.
Problem 11. In a certain football league, the only way to score is to kick a eld goal for 3 points or score a
touchdown for 7 points. Thus the scores 1, 4 and 8 are not possible. How many positive scores are not possible?
Answer. 6
Solution outline. Checking directly, we obtain that 3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 points are achievable. Since we have 3
consecutive scores, 12, 13, 14 which are achievable, it follows that every score > 14 is achievable.
Note that if n is an achievable score, then n +3 is achievable. Hence 12 +3 = 15, 13 +3 = 16, 14 + 3 = 17 are all
achievable scores. Continuing this argument, all positive integer scores greater than 14 are achievable.
Consequently the only scores that are not achievable are 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 11. The answer is 6.
Problem 12. The two roots of the quadratic equation x
2
85x +c = 0 are prime numbers. What is the value of
c?
Answer. 166
Solution outline. By Vietas relations, if a and b are the roots of the quadratic, we have a +b = 85 and ab = c. Since
a+b is odd, one root of equation must be even. One root must be 2, which implies that the other is 83. c = 283 = 166.
Problem 13. Simplify the product
(

5 +

7 +

11)(

5 +

11)(

7 +

11)(

5 +

7 +

11)
Answer. 139
Solution outline. Rewrite the given product as
(

5 +

7 +

11)(

5 +

11)(

11 +

7)(

11 (

7))
= [(

5 +

7)
2
11][11 (

7)
2
]
= 11(

5 +

7)
2
(5 7)
2
121 + 11(

7)
2
This can be computed directly, coming out to
139
Problem 14. What is the sum of all the dierent solutions to the following equation?
(x
2
+ 1)(x
4
+ 1)(x
6
+ 1)
x + 1
+ (x 1) = 0
Answer. 0
Solution outline. Mltiplying by x + 1, we nd that the roots of the above equation are the same as the roots of
(x
2
+ 1)(x
4
+ 1)(x
6
+ 1) + (x
2
1) = 0
Where we have used the fact that 1 is not a root of the above equation. Note that if r is a root, then so is r.
Consequently the sum of the roots if 0.
3
Problem 15. How many triangles are there in the diagram below?
Answer. 56
Solution outline. To count the triangles, notice that all triangles are right triangles. There are 10 triangles with a
right angle at the intersection of two diagonal lines and a hypotenuse along the left vertical side of the rectangle. By
symmetry, there are just as many triangles with a hypotenuse along the top, right, or bottom side of the rectange.
This accounts for 40 triangles. There are 4 triangles with a right angle at the lower right corner of the rectangle.
Again by symmetry, there are four times this many triangles or 16. Thus the diagram contains 40 +16 = 56 triangles.
Problem 16. How many sequences a
1
, a
2
, a
3
, a
4
, a
5
satisfying a
1
< a
2
< a
3
< a
4
< a
5
can be formed if each a
i
must be chosen from the set 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9?
Answer. 126
Solution outline. Any 5 numbers chosen from the set 1, 2, , 9 determine exactly one increasing sequence of a
i
.
Thus to nd the answer we can just count the number of ways to pick 5 numbers from the 9. This is just
_
9
5
_
= 126.
Problem 17. If x, y, z are real numbers, nd the minimal value of
2x
2
+ 5y
2
+ 10z
2
2xy 4yz 6zx + 3
Answer. 3
Solution outline. Note that the given expression is equal to
(x y)
2
+ (2y z)
2
+ (3z x)
2
+ 3
The minimum of the sum of squares is 0, achieved when x = y = z = 0. Hence the minimum of the expression is 3.
Problem 18. Find the minimum value of the following function:
f(x) = (x 5)
2
+ (x 7)
2
(x 4)
2
(x 8)
2
+ (x 3)
2
+ (x 9)
2
Answer. 12
Solution outline. The function f(x) is quadratic. Its leading coecient is 1 +1 1 1 +1 +1 = 2 > 0, so the graph
of f is a U-shaped or upward pointing parabola. The minimum is attained at its vertex.
Since the function is symmetric about x = 6, the vertex must be at x = 6.
We have f(6) = 1 + 1 4 4 + 9 + 9 = 2(1 + 9 4) = 12.
Problem 19. Let x
1
and x
2
be the roots of the equation x
2
+ 3x + 1 = 0. Evaluate
_
x
1
x
2
+ 1
_
2
+
_
x
2
x
1
+ 1
_
2
Answer. 18
Solution outline. We have x
2
1
+ 3x
1
+ 1 = 0 and x
2
2
+ 3x
2
+ 1 = 0, which implies
_
x
1
x
2
+ 1
_
2
+
_
x
2
x
1
+ 1
_
2
=
x
2
1
x
2
2
+ 2x
2
+ 1
+
x
2
2
x
2
1
+ 2x
1
+ 1
=
3x
1
1
x
2
+
3x
2
1
x
1
=
3(x
2
1
+x
2
2
) +x
1
+x
2
x
1
x
2
=
3(x
1
+x
2
)
2
6x
1
x
2
+ (x
1
+x
2
)
x
1
x
2
By Vietas formulas, we nd the value of this expression to be 18.
4
Problem 20. Find the smallest positive integer n such that 11
n
1 is divisible by 105.
Answer. 6
Solution outline. The last digit of 11
n
1 is 0, so 5 always divides 11
n
1. Checking the remainders when the powers
of 11 are divided by 3 and 7, we nd that 3 divides 11
n
1 precisely when n is even, and 7 divides 11
n
1 when 3[n.
The smallest value of n that satises these conditions is n = 6.
Problem 21. In how many ways can we arrange 7 (identical) white balls and 5 (identical) black balls in a row so
that there is at least one white ball between any two black balls?
Answer. 56
Solution outline. Denote the white balls as W and the black ones as B. We must have BWBWBWBWB, leaving us
with 3 spare W balls which can be placed anywhere. There are 6 dierent places to place each white ball (at either
end or next to one of the existing W balls). If we put each W in a dierent place, then there are 6 5 4/3! = 20
possibilities. If we put two W in one place and one in another, there are 6 5 = 30 possibilities. If we put all of the
W in the same place, there are 6 possibilities. Adding them, we have 56 possibilities total.
Alternatively, place all the 7 white balls rst. Then there are 8 places to put the 5 black ones, which each must be
in a dierent place. The number of ways to do this is
87654
5!
= 56.
Problem 22. The diagram shows a rectangle ABCD with AB = 16 and BC = 12. Angle ACE is a right angle
and CE = 15. The line segments AE and CD meet at F. What is the area of triangle ACF?
Answer. 75
Solution outline. Using the Pythagorean theorem in ABC and then in ACE we nd AC = 20 and AE = 25. It
follows that ABC ACE, as the sides are in the same ratio. Therefore, we have

BAC =

CAE. Of course,
by alternate interior angles,

BAC =

ACF. It follows that

CAF =

ACF, implying that ACF is isosceles. Let
M be the midpoint of AC and join M to F. This creates two more right angled triangles AMF and CMF also
similar to ABC. We have
MF
MA
=
BC
CA
which implies MF =
15
2
. The area of ACF is thus
1
2

15
2
20 = 75.
Problem 23. The integer m has ninety-nine digits, all of them nines. What is the sum of the digits of m
2
?
Answer. 891.
Solution outline. We have that m = 10
99
1. m
2
= (10
99
1)
2
= 10
198
2 10
99
+ 1 = 999...9998000...001 where
there are 98 nines and 98 zeros. The sum of the digits is 98 9 + 8 + 1 = 891.
Problem 24. Let ABCD be a square with A = (0, 0), B = (5, 0), C = (5, 5), D = (0, 5). Let P be a point on the
line y = 2x. Find the value of x such that the sum of the squares of the distances from P to the vertices of the square
is a minimum.
Answer.
3
2
Solution outline. Let P = (x, 2x). We have
PA
2
+PB
2
+PC
2
+PD
2
= x
2
+ 4x
2
+ (x 5)
2
+ 4x
2
+ (x 5)
2
+ (2x 5)
2
+x
2
+ (2x 5)
2
= 20x
2
60x + 100
= 20
_
_
x
3
2
_
2
+
11
4
_
The quadratic function is minimized at the vertex, i.e. when x =
3
2
.
5
Problem 25. A circle has two parallel chords of length x that are x units apart. If the part of the circle included
between the chords has area 2 +, nd x.
Answer. 2
Solution outline. Let C be the area of the circle, S be the area of the square two of whose edges are chords, and A
be the area of the part of the circle included between the chords.
The radius of the circle is

2
2
x, implying that C =

2
x
2
and S = x
2
. The area A is the area of the square plus one
half of the dierence between the areas of the circle and square.
A =
C S
2
+S =
C +S
2
=
1 +/2
2
x
2
It follows that x =
_
2A
1+

2
= 2.
Problem 26. How many subsets a, b, c of 1, 2, 3, . . . , 15 satisfy b a 3 and c b 3?
Answer. 165
Solution outline.
Let x = a, y = b 2, and z = c 4. Then x, y, and z are elements that satisfy 1 x < y < z 11, so the number
of possible triples (x, y, z) is
_
11
3
_
= 165. Each triple (x, y, z) leads back to a possible triple (a, b, c), so the number of
possible triples (a, b, c) is also 165.
Problem 27. Find all ordered triples (x, y, z) of positive reals such that x+y+z = 27 and x
2
+y
2
+z
2
xyyzzx =
0.
Answer. (x, y, z) = (9, 9, 9)
Solution outline. We have x
2
+y
2
+z
2
xy yz zx =
(xy)
2
+(yz)
2
+(zx)
2
2
= 0, which implies x = y = z =
27
3
= 9.
Problem 28. Three lines are drawn parallel to each of the sides of triangle ABC so that they intersect in the
interior of ABC. The resulting three smaller traingles have areas 1, 4, and 9. Find the area of triangle ABC.
Answer. 36
Solution outline. Name the three intersection points along the horizontal in the center of the triangle D, E, F, and
name the two intersections along the base of the triangle G, H as shown.
Since the areas of the shaded triangles are in the ratio 1 to 4 to 9, the sides of these similar triangles are in the
ratio 1 to 2 to 3. Thus DE + EF = GH. Since EF is parallel to DB, BG = DE. Similarly, HC = EF. Therefore
BC = 2 DF and ADF has half the altitude of ABC. Thus ADF

= EGH, and [ABC] = 4 [EGH] = 36.
6
Problem 29. In a certain country, there are 100 senators, each of whom has 4 aides. These senators and aides
serve on various committees. A committee may consist either of 5 senators, of 4 senators and 4 aides, or of 2 senators
and 12 aides. Every senator serves on 5 committees, and every aide serves on 3 committees. How many committees
are there altogether?
Answer. 160
Solution outline. If each senator gets a point for every committee on which she serves, and every aide gets
1
4
point
for every committee on which he serves, then the 100 senators get 500 points altogether, and the 400 aides get 300
points altogether, for a total of 800 points.
But each committee contributes 5 points, so there must be
800
5
= 160 committees.
Problem 30. Let ACE be a triangle with a point B on segment AC and a point D on segment CE such that BD
is parallel to AE. A point Y is chosen on segment AE and segment CY is drawn. Let X be the intersection of CY
and BD. If CX = 5, XY = 3, what is the ratio of the area of trapezoid ABDE to the area of triangle BCD?
Answer.
39
25
Solution outline.
Draw the altitude from C to AE intersecting line BD at K and line AE at L. Then CK is the altitude of triangle
BCD, so CKX CLY . Since CY/CX = 8/5, CL/CK = 8/5. Also CKB CLA, so that CA/CB = 8/5
and BCD ACE, so that AE/BD = 8/5. The area of ACE is (1/2)(AE)(CL), and the area of BCD is
(1/2)(BD)(CK) so the ratio of the area of ACE to the area of BCD is 64/25. It follows that the ratio of the area of
ABDE to the area of BCD is 39/25.
Problem 31.
The function f(x), dened for 0 x 1, has the following properties:
(i) f(0) = 0.
(ii) If 0 x < y 1, then f(x) f(y).
(iii) f(1 x) = 1 f(x) for all 0 x 1.
(iv) f(
x
3
) =
f(x)
2
for all 0 x 1.
Express f(
2
7
) in lowest terms.
Answer.
3
8
Solution outline. From (iii), f(1) = 1. Then from (iv), f(1/3) = f(1)/2 = 1/2, and from (iii), f(2/3) = 1 f(1/3) =
1/2. Then from (ii), f(x) = 1/2 for all 1/3 x 2/3. In particular, f(3/7) = 1/2.
Then from (iv), f(1/7) = f(3/7)/2 = 1/4. Then from (iii), f(6/7) = 1 f(1/7) = 3/4. Finally, from (iv),
f(2/7) = f(6/7)/2 = 3/8.
7
Problem 32. Let g(x) = 3x
3
2x
2
+ 7x 9. Find
g(x + 7) g(x + 6) g(x + 5) +g(x + 4) g(x + 3) +g(x + 2) +g(x + 1) g(x).
Answer. 144
Solution outline. Let
g
1
(x) = g(x + 1) g(x)
= [3(x + 1)
3
2(x + 1)
2
+ 7(x + 1) 9] (3x
3
2x
2
+ 7x 9)
= 9x
2
+ 5x + 8.
Then
g(x + 7) g(x + 6) g(x + 5) +g(x + 4) g(x + 3) +g(x + 2) +g(x + 1) g(x)
= g
1
(x + 6) g
1
(x + 4) g
1
(x + 2) +g
1
(x).
Let
g
2
(x) = g
1
(x + 2) g
1
(x)
= [9(x + 2)
2
+ 5(x + 2) + 8] (9x
2
+ 5x + 8)
= 36x + 46.
Then
g
1
(x + 6) g
1
(x + 4) g
1
(x + 2) +g
1
(x) = g
2
(x + 4) g
2
(x)
= 36(x + 4) + 46 36x 46
= 144.
Problem 33. Solve in complex numbers the system
_

_
x(yz 1) = 3
y(zx 1) = 4
z(xy 1) = 5
Answer. (x, y, z) = (3, 2, 1), (i, 1 +i, 2 +i), (i, 1 i, 2 i)
Solution outline. Subtracting the rst equation from the second, we obtain x y = 1, while subtracting the second
equation from the third yields y z = 1. We have y = z + 1 which implies from the rst equation x = z + 2. The
third equation becomes
z(z
2
+ 3z + 1) = 5
Moving all the terms to the left, we nd that z
3
+3z
2
+z 5 = 0. Noting this cubic equation has 1 as a root, this
is equivalent to
(z 1)(z
2
+ 4z + 5) = 0
whose solutions are z
1
= 1 and z
2,3
= 2 1. The solutions to the system are thus
(x, y, z) = (3, 2, 1), (i, 1 +i, 2 +i), (i, 1 i, 2 i)
Problem 34. When expressed in decimal, the number 2
6684
contains 2013 digits. How many digits does the
number 5
6684
contain?
Answer. 4672
Solution outline. In general, the number of digits in n is log
10
n| + 1. Hence,
log
10
2
6684
| + 1 = 2013.
Since log
10
2
6684
is not an integer, it must be strictly between 2012 and 2013.
But
log
10
2
6684
+ log
10
5
6684
= log
10
10
6684
= 6684,
so log
10
5
6684
must be strictly between 6684 2013 = 4671 and 6684 2012 = 4672. Then the number of digits in
5
6684
is
log
10
5
6684
| + 1 = 4671 + 1 = 4672.
8
Problem 35. A perfect power is a number of the form m
n
, where m and n are positive integers greater than 1.
How many positive integers less than or equal to 2
12
can be expressed as a perfect power?
Answer. 81
Solution outline. For 2 n 12, it is not dicult to list the perfect n
th
powers that are less than or equal to 2
12
.
n n
th
perfect powers less than or equal to 2
12
#
2 2
2
, 3
2
, . . . , 64
2
63
3 2
3
, 3
3
, . . . , 16
3
15
4 2
4
, 3
4
, . . . , 8
4
7
5 2
5
, 3
5
, 4
5
3
6 2
6
, 3
6
, 4
6
3
7 2
7
, 3
7
2
8 2
8
1
9 2
9
1
10 2
10
1
11 2
11
1
12 2
12
1
This gives us a count of 63 + 15 + 7 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 98. However, in the table, the number
2
12
appears ve times, the number 2
10
appears twice, the number 2
9
appears twice, the number 2
8
appears three
times, the numbers 2
6
and 3
6
appear three times, and the numbers 2
4
, 3
4
, 5
4
, 6
4
, and 7
4
appear twice, for a total of
98 4 1 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 = 81 distinct perfect powers.
Problem 36. Find the sum of the coecients of x
17
and x
18
in the expansion of (1 +x
5
+x
7
)
20
.
Answer. 3420
Solution outline. To get a term of x
k
in the expansion of (1 +x
5
+x
7
)
20
, we can choose a, b, and c terms of the form
1, x
5
, and x
7
, respectively, among the 20 factors of 1 +x
5
+x
7
. Then 5b + 7c = k and a +b +c = 20.
When k = 17, the only solution is a = 17, b = 2, and c = 1. Hence, the coecient of x
17
is
20!
17!2!1!
= 3420.
When k = 18, there is no solution in a, b, and c. Hence, the sum of the coecients is 3420.
Problem 37. Simplify (17 + 2

52)
3/2
(17 2

52)
3/2
Answer. 172
Solution outline. First, we nd
_
17 + 2

52. Let a + b =
_
17 + 2

52. Then a
2
+ 2ab + b
2
= 17 + 2

52. We set
a
2
+ b
2
= 17 and 2ab = 2

52. Then ab =

52, so a
2
b
2
= 52. Hence, by Vietas formulas, a
2
and b
2
are roots of the
quadratic
x
2
17x + 52 = (x 4)(x 13) = 0.
Thus, we can take a = 2 and b =

13, so
_
17 + 2

52 = 2 +

13. Similarly, 17 2

52 =

13 2. Then
(17 + 2

52)
3/2
(17 2

52)
3/2
= (2 +

13)
3
(

13 2)
3
= (8 + 3 2
2

13 + 3 2 13 +

13
3
) (

13
3
3 2 13 + 3 2
2

13 8)
= 172.
Problem 38. Suppose x
3
ax
2
+bx48 is a polynomial with three positive roots p, q, and r such that p < q < r.
What is the minimum possible value of 1/p + 2/q + 3/r?
Answer.
3
2
Solution outline. By Vietas relations, we know pqr = 48. By AM-GM, we have
1
p
+
2
q
+
3
r
3
3
_
6
pqr
=
3
2
by AM-GM, with equality when 1/p = 2/q = 3/r. Indeed, equality is achievable when p = 2, q = 4, r = 6, which
implies that 3/2 is the minimum possible value.
9
Problem 39. You have innitely many boxes, and you randomly put 3 balls into them. The boxes are labeled
1, 2, . Each ball has probability 1/2
n
of being put into box n. The balls are placed independently of each other.
What is the probability that some box will contain at least 2 balls?
Answer. 5/7
Solution outline. The desired probability is the sum of the probabilities that boxes 1, 2, respectively contain at
least 2 balls.
For box n, the probability of having at least 2 balls is
3[(1/2
n
)
2
(1 1/2
n
)] + (1/2
n
)
3
= 3/2
2n
2/2
3n
= 3/4
n
2/8
n
Summing to innity using the geometric series formula, we nd that the answer is
3/4
11/4
+
2/8
11/8
= 5/7.
Problem 40. A great circle is a circle drawn on a sphere whose center is also the center of the sphere. Eight great
circles are drawn on a sphere, so that no three great circles pass through the same point. Find the number of regions
these eight great circles divide the surface of the sphere into.
Answer. 58
Solution outline. Let a
n
be the number of regions that n great circles divide the surface of the sphere into.
Suppose that we have n 1 great circles. When we draw the n
th
great circle, this circle intersects each of the
previous great circles at two points, so the n
th
great circle can be divided into 2n2 arcs, where each arc runs between
two consecutive intersection points. Furthermore, each of these 2n2 arcs divides a previous region into two regions,
so
a
n
= a
n1
+ 2n 2.
Using this recursion, we nd a
1
= 2, a
2
= 4, a
3
= 8, a
4
= 14, a
5
= 22, a
6
= 32, a
7
= 44, and a
8
= 58. In general,
a
n
= n
2
n + 2.
Problem 41. When the product 1 3 5 7 99 is written as a number, what is its tens digit?
Answer. 7
Solution outline.
Let P
n
= (10n + 1)(10n + 3)(10n + 5)(10n + 7)(10n + 9). Then
P
n
1 3 5 7 9 + 10n 1 3 5 7 + 10n 1 3 5 9 + 10n 1 3 7 9
+ 10n 1 5 7 9 + 10n 3 5 7 9
45 + 90n (mod 100).
Hence,
1 3 5 99 = P
0
P
1
P
9
45 35 25 15 5 95 85 75 65 55
(5 95) (15 85) (25 75) (35 65) (45 55)
75 75 75 75 75
75 (mod 100).
Problem 42. Solve the system of equations
_
_
(x 2)
2
+y
2
+
_
(x + 2)
2
+y
2
= 6
9x
2
+ 5y
2
= 45
Answer.
(x, y) = (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70)
Also accept the same solution set with
3
14

70 replaced with 3
_
5
14
.
Solution outline.
From the second equation, we consider the ellipse
x
2
5
+
y
2
9
= 1. By the denition of the ellipse, the sum of distances
from any point on the ellipse to each of its foci are constant. We calculate its foci as F
1
(0, 2) and F
2
(0, 2), and for
any point P on the ellipse, we have PF
1
+PF
2
= 6.
10
The rst equation states that the sum of distances from a point P on the ellipse to the points F
3
(2, 0) and F
4
(2, 0)
is also 6. By symmetry it implies that the point must also be on the ellipse
x
2
9
+
y
2
5
= 1. Solving the two ellipse
equations, the system is now easily solved. To simplify calculations, we can use the fact that x = y or x = y by
geometrical symmetry (since F
1
F
3
F
2
F
4
is a square).
Calculating, we nd that
(x, y) = (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70), (
3
14

70,
3
14

70)
Problem 43. Let x =
3

2+
3

4. There exist unique integers a, b, and c such that x

5
= ax
2
+bx+c. Find a+b +c.
Answer. 78
Solution outline. Let =
3

2 and =
3

4. Then x = +, and
x
3
= ( +)
3
=
3
+ 3
2
+ 3
2
+
3
= 2 + 3( +) + 4
= 6 + 6x.
Hence,
x
5
= x
3
x
2
= (6x + 6)x
2
= 6x
3
+ 6x
2
= 6(6x + 6) + 6x
2
= 6x
2
+ 36x + 36.
Thus, a = 6, b = 36, and c = 36, so a +b +c = 6 + 36 + 36 = 78
Problem 44. Let ABC be a triangle and let D and E be points on BC such that

DAB =

EAC. If BD = 1,
DE = 3, and EC = 4, then what is AC/AB?
Answer.

7
Solution outline.
By the sine law on triangles ABD and ACD, AB/ sin

ADB = BD/ sin

BAD and AC/ sin

ADC = CD/ sin

CAD.
From these equations,
AB
AC
=
BDsin

ADB/ sin

BAD
CDsin

ADC/ sin

CAD
.
Since

ADB +

ADC = 180

, sin

ADB = sin

ADC. Hence,
AB
AC
=
BDsin

CAD
CDsin

BAD
.
Likewise, by the sine law on triangles ABE and ACE, AB/ sin

AEB = BE/ sin

BAE and AC/ sin

AEC =
CE/ sin

CAE. From these equations,

AB
AC
=
BE sin

AEB/ sin

BAE
CE sin

AEC/ sin

CAE
.
Since

AEB +

AEC = 180

, sin

AEB = sin

AEC. Hence,
AB
AC
=
BE sin

CAE
CE sin

BAE
.
But

BAD =

CAE, which means

BAE =

CAD. Therefore,
AB
AC

AB
AC
=
BDsin

CAD
CDsin

BAD

BE sin

CAE
CE sin

BAE
=
BD
CD

BE
CE
=
1
7

4
4
=
1
7
.
Then 7AB
2
= AC
2
, so AC/AB =

7.
11
Problem 45. Let ABC be a triangle with AB = 2, CA = 3, BC = 4. Let D be the point diametrically opposite
A on the circumcircle of ABC, and let E lie on line AD such that D is the midpoint of AE. Line l passes through E
perpendicular to AE, and F and G are the intersections of the extensions of AB and AC with l. Compute FG.
Answer.
1024
45
Solution outline. Using Herons formula we arrive at [ABC] =
3

15
4
. Employing the relation [ABC] =
abc
4R
, where
R is the circumradius of ABC, we have R
2
=
_
23
[ABC]
2
_
=
64
15
. Since

ABD = 90

, BDEF is cyclic. Hence

AB AF = AD AE = 2R 4R =
512
15
. Similarly, AC AG =
512
15
. Hence BCGF is cyclic, implying ABC AGF. We
then have FG = BC
AF
AC
= 4
512
2153
=
1024
45
.
Problem 46. Points A, C, and B lie on a line in that order such that AC = 4 and BC = 2. Circles
1
,
2
, and

3
have BC, AC, and AB as diameters. Circle is externally tangent to
1
and
2
at D and E respectively, and is
internally tangent to
3
. Compute the circumradius of triangle CDE.
Answer.
2
3
Solution outline. Let the center of
i
be O
i
for i = 1, 2, 3 and let O denote the center of . Then O, D, and O
1
are
collinear, as are O, E, and O
2
. If we let r denote the radius of , we have OO
1
= r + 1, OO
2
= r + 2, OO
3
= 3 r,
O
1
O
3
= 2, O
3
O
2
= 1, O
1
O
2
= 3.
By Stewarts Theorem, we have
OO
2
1
O
2
O
3
+OO
2
2
O
3
O
1
= O
2
O
3
O
3
O
1
O
1
O
2
+OO
2
3
O
1
O
2
This gives rise to the equation
(r + 1)
2
1 + (r + 2)
2
2 = 1 2 3 + (3 r)
2
3
Solving, we nd r =
6
7
. Noting that the circumcircle of CDE is the incircle of OO
1
O
2
, we can easily compute
the sides of OO
1
O
2
to be
13
7
,
20
7
, 3. By Herons, the area of OO
1
O
2
is
18
7
, but the semipereter s =
27
7
, so the desired
radius is
2
3
.
Problem 47. If f(x) = x
x
x
x
, nd the last two digits of f(17) +f(18) +f(19) +f(20).
Answer. 32
Solution outline. Our goal is to nd f(17) +f(18) +f(19) +f(20) modulo 100. By the Chinese Remainder Theorem,
it suces to nd the sum modulo 4 and 25. The sum 0 (mod 4) because 18 and 20 are raised to high powers and
19 and 17 are both raised to odd powers.
Computing, we have 18
4
1 (mod 25) = f(18) 1 (mod 25). Also, clearly f(20) 0 (mod 25). To nd
f(17) modulo 25, we compute X 17
17
17
mod (25) = 20. X 1 (mod 4) since 17 1 (mod 4). X 2 (mod 5),
so X 17 (mod 20). Since 3 17 1 (mod 25), we have 17
17
3
3
(mod 25). Thus f(17) 2 (mod 25)
To compute f(19) mod 25, we need to compute Y 19
19
19
mod 20. We have 19 1 (mod 20), which implies
Y 1 (mod 20). Therefore f(19) = 19
1
4 (mod 25). Thus f(17) + f(18) + f(19) + f(20) 2 + 1 + 4 + 0 7
(mod 25). We have that this sum is 0 (mod 4). Hence f(17) +f(18) +f(19) +f(20) 32 (mod 100).
Problem 48. If p(x) is a polynomial with integer coecients, let q(x) =
p(x)
x(1x)
. If q(x) = q
_
1
1x
_
for every x ,= 0
and p(2) = 7, p(3) = 11, nd p(10).
Answer. 521
Solution outline. Insert the equation for q(x) into itself, and obtain q((x1)/x) = q(x). Write q(x) and q((x1)/x)
in terms of x and p(x). Multiplying and clearing denominators, we have p(x) = x
3
p((x 1/x)) = x
3
p(1 1/x).
Since both sides of the equation must be polynomials, it follows that p(x) is a cubic. Let p(x) = ax
3
+bx
2
+cx +d.
Substituting, we can obtain two equations: b +c = 3a = 3d. The values of p(2) and p(3) give two more equations:
8a +4b +2c +d = 7 and 27a +9b +3c +d = 11. Solving the system of four equations, we obtain a = 1, b = 5, c =
2, d = 1. It follows that p(10) = 1000 500 + 20 + 1 = 521.
12
Problem 49. A set of six edges of a regular octahedron is called a Hamiltonian cycle if the edges in some order
constitute a continuous loop that visits each vertex exactly once. How many ways are there to partition the twelve
edges into two Hamiltonian cycles?
Answer. 6
Solution outline. Call the octahedron ABCDEF where A, B, and C are opposite D, E, and F, respectively. Note
that each Hamiltonian cycle can be described in terms of the order it visits vertices in exactly 12 dierent ways.
Conversely, listing the six vertices in some order determines a Hamiltonian cycle precisely when no pair of opposite
vertices are listed consecutively or rst-and-last. Suppose we begin with AB. If D is listed third, then the nal
three letters are CEF or FEC. Otherwise C or F is listed next, and each gives three possibilities for the nal three.
(For example, ABC is to be followed by DEF, DFE, or EDF.) Thus, there are 6 4 (2 + 3 + 3) = 192 listings.
These correspond to 192/12 = 16 Hamiltonian cycles. Finally, the complement of all but four Hamiltonian cycles is a
Hamiltonian cycle. Each vertex has degree four, so it is an endpoint of two edges in the complement of a Hamiltonian
cycle, so it is also a Hamiltonian cycle unless it describes two opposite faces. It follows that there are six pairs of
disjoint Hamiltonian cycles.
Problem 50. Find the number of quadruples (a, b, c, d) of non-zero integers satisfying both
1
a
+
1
b
+
1
c
+
1
d
=
1
2
and
2(a +b +c +d) = ab +cd + (a +b)(c +d) + 1
Answer. 48
Solution outline. Multiply the rst equation by 2abcd and then rewrite it as
abcd 2(bcd +acd +abd +abc) = 0
Rewrite the second equation to get
2(a +b +c +d) (ab +cd +ac +ad +bc +bd) = 1
Now note that
(a 2)(b 2)(c 2)(d 2) = abcd 2(bcd +acd +abd +abc)
+4(ab +cd +ac +ad +bc +cd) 8(a +b +c +d) + 16
= [abcd 2(bcd +acd +abd +abc)]
4[2(a +b +c +d) (ab +cd +ac +ad +bc +bd)] + 16
= [0] 4[1] + 16 = 12
There are four ways to factor 12 as the product of four positive integers: 12 1 1 1, 6 2 1 1, 4 3 1 1, and
3 2 2 1. If one takes one of these products and assigns the rst factor to be a 2, the second factor to be b 2, the
third to be c 2, and the fourth to be d 2, the assignment does not result in an assignment of values for a, b, c, d
which satisfy the original two equations. On the other hand, if two or four of the four factors in some of the products
are made negative, then some solutions can be found.
There are three families of such solutions resulting from the products (3)(2)(2)(1), (4)(3)(1)(1), and
(4)(3)(1)(1). There are 4! +
4!
2!
+
4!
2!
= 48 ways to permute these solutions, which gives rise to 48 quadruples.
13