SOLUTIONS

to calendar

1. 14. Label the two bisected angles as

shown in the figure. Using the triangle
sum theorem, + 58 + 71 = 180
= 51. Then 51 + 122 + = 180
= 7. Two angles of the original triangle are now known to measure 2(51)
= 102 and 2(7) = 14. The third angle
of the triangle measures 180 102
14 = 64, so the smallest angle measures
14.

must now be false, as well. Since (b) is

false, we must have more than one true
statement, so both the unknown, erased
statements must be true. Thus, two
statements are true.

122

6. 18. The 300 students make 300 6 =

1800 class selections. Since each class
has 25 students, there must be 1800/25
= 72 classes to staff. Each teacher
teaches 4 classes, so the school needs
72/4 = 18 teachers.
r-2

Using the values (1 = A, 2 = B, . . .,

26 = Z), we obtain the following:
N
14

U
21

I
9

S
19

S
19

U
21

O
15

F
6

T
20

H
8

M
13

B
2

I
9

B
2

E
5

R
18

T
20

H
8

E
5

S
19

T
20

A
1

A
1

L
12

L
12

N
14

G
7

S
19

58
71

N
14

C
3

E
5

This is a famous statement by Pythagoras.

2. 21. The figure consists of 4 large

congruent rectangles; 7 small singlecell rectangles that contain no interior
lines; 8 rectangles that contain exactly 2
smaller rectangles;
that
4 3 and
2 2rectangles
2 .
E
contain exactly 3 smaller
rectangles.
The
6-t
total number ofH
rectanglesXis 21.
4 t15 / 15,
3. 13. An n-gon has n(n 3)/2 diagoR
S t 2
nals. To see
this, note that there are
<Solutions>

(((

) )

This months Calendar was written by Chris

Bolognese.
The Editorial Panel of Mathematics Teacher
is considering sets of problems submitted by
individuals, classes of prospective teachers,
and mathematics clubs for publication in the
monthly Calendar. Send problems to the Cal
endar editors. Remember to include a com
plete solution for each problem submitted.
Department editors
Margaret Coffey, Margaret.Coffey@fcps.edu,
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science
and Technology, Alexandria, VA 22312; and
Art Kalish, artkalish@verizon.net, Director
of the Institute of MERIT at SUNY College at
Old Westbury

N n(n A1)
C(n,2) =
G 2
ways of joining any two of the n vertices
with a segment. However, n of these are
already sides, so there are n(n 1)/2 n
= n(n 3)/2 diagonals. For an n-gon to
have 5 times as many diagonals as sides,
2
we require n(n 3)/2 = 5n. Since n 0,
(n 3)/2 = 5, which implies that n = 13.
4. 2. If statement (a) were true,5 then
statement (b) would also be true, but
2
then two statements are true, which
contradicts the claim of (b). Thus, (a)
4 false as a result; and (c)
is false; (b)is

682 MATHEMATICS TEACHER | Vol. 108, No. 9 May 2015

5. 5. Let p(x) be a quintic (degree 5)

polynomial, and let q(x) be a cubic
(degree 3) polynomial. For their graphs
to intersect, p(x) q(x) = 0. Note that
the left side of this equation is still of
degree 5, so this equation has at most
five real solutions. Thus, we have a maximum of five points of intersection.

r-1
7. 9. Let f, s, and t stand for the numberr
of times the contestant was ranked first,
V
1
second, and third, respectively, by2 all the
judges. We require 5f + 3s + t = 37 and
f + s + t 10. Possible cases are shown in
the table below; each results in a total of
9 judges.

Total

9
t 2.
9

3 92.

t 2
8. 19. Each side of the square is 6 units.
Since SH = SN, SHN is a 45- 45-90
3 2be
right triangle. Let the side measures
t, t, and t 2.. If the area of HEXAGN is
half that of SGRE, then the sum 3
of the
2
t 2.
areas of 3the2.two congruent
right triangles is also half the squares area. Thus,
t 2.
t 2.
2 of
2 t2/2 = 18 t = 3 t2.. 2.
The perimeter
t 2is then 4(6 t) + 2(t 2.) =
HEXAGN
4(6 3 2.) + 2 3 t2.23 2.= 36 12 2
19, to the
integer.
3 nearest
2
3 2.
t 2
3 2

t 32 t2 2

3 2

3 32 2
3 2

t 2

58
71

r-2 O
r-1

E
H
E

t
S
S

t
t

t H2

6-t
6-t

t 2

R
R

N
G

A2x 2y = 14 is
N
9. 20. The equation
equivalent to y =Gx 7; thus, the equations represent parallel lines with
slope 1. The graphed lines show that the
desired region is an isosceles trapezoid.
The area is also the difference of the
2 isosceles right triangles:
areas of two
2 = 20.
72/2 32/2
5

44
6

Smallest is 1: {1, 2, 15}, {1, 3, 14},

{1, 4, 13}, {1, 5, 12}, {1, 6, 11},
{1, 7, 10}, {1, 8, 9}
Smallest is 2: {2, 3, 13}, {2, 4, 12},
{2, 5, 11}, {2, 6, 10}, {2, 7, 9}
Smallest is 3: {3, 4, 11}, {3, 5, 10},
{3, 6, 9}, {3, 7, 8}
Smallest is 4: {4, 5, 9}, {4, 6, 8}
Smallest is 5: {5, 6, 7}
We have 7 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19 ways.
13. 21. Replace the alphabet letters
with the entries from Pascals triangle
that would appear if we superimposed
Pascals triangle on the figure. The triangle entries are additive; thus, they
essentially count the number of ways to
reach a given letter. The entry that corresponds to the red Y is 21 or, equivalently, 7C2.
14. 2. Compute the first few terms:
a2 = 02 + i = i
a3 = i2 + i = 1 + i
a4 = (1 + i)2 + i = 1 2i + i2 + i = i
a5 = (i)2 + i = 1 + i = a3
a6 = (1 + i)2 + i = i = a4

88

99
99
eral X is also a rhombus, one of whose
interior angles is 2 . The area of rhom2 2 sin
99. cos < 2 99.
bus X is = s2 sin2 = 2s
(The inequality follows from the fact
that cos < 1.) Since 100 = 10, the 100
area
of X is an integer greater than 0 and less
than 2(10) = 20, so there
are
19 possible
2
a(1
) + b(1) +
12 ) + b(1) +
c a=(1
areas.

.
a(2 ) + b(2) +
ca=(252 ) +b(2) +

16. 20. If we square both

sides
of
the
2
a(3 ) + b(3) + ca=(313
) +b(3) +
given equation, we obtain (x + 1/x)2 =
2
2
2
2
x + 2 + 1/x = 22 x + 1/x = 20.

17. 1. Find the value of the innermost

expression first: 4 3 = 4 3 4 3 = 5.
Then 5 2 = 5 2 5 2 = 3. Finally,
3 2 = 3 2 3 2 = 1.
18. 14. Let x be the number of gold
bars the youngest son has before trading. Thus, before trading, the six sons
have x, 2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, and 6x gold bars,
respectively, from the youngest to the
oldest. After trading, the youngest will
have x + 10 bars, and the oldest will
have 6x 10 bars. Since each son has
the same number of gold bars, x + 10 =
6x 10 x = 4. Each son now has
14 gold bars.

7 2
19. 3. The known values are 4.5 million,
7 2
5 million, and 2.5 million. We are told
Alternate solution: Consider the trapthat summer sales represent 20% of total
ezoid with bases 7 2 and 3 72.. 2Since the
3 the
2. bases have slope 1,
annual sales. If x represents the amount
lines containing
in millions from summer sales, then
the altitude has slope
1.
Find
its
length
For n > 2, if n is even, then an = a4 = i;
3 2.
2 32 2.
total annual sales are 5x = 4.5 + 5 + 2.5 +
by inspection: 2 2 , the diagonals
if
n
is
odd,
then
a
of 2
n = a3 = 1 + i. Thus,
7 2squares. Using the formula for the
x x = 3. Thus, 3 million coffees were
unit
a2015 =400
1+ i, and
2 we
2 have
2 22 2
sold in the summer.
area of a trapezoid,
2 2
(3 2.+ 7 2 )/2 = 20.
2
1 + i = 12 + 1 = 2 k = 2.
20. 5. Label the center of the circle O
2 2
3 22 2
400
3exactly
2
and label the vertex of the rectangle
10.
8.
To
have
three
positive
2 2 3 2.
on the circle V. Draw OV. Draw a line
factors, the number must be of the form
15. 19.
99For each of the four congruent
3 2
7 32 2
2
through O parallel to either of the two
2
p2 for some prime
rhombi,
let
s
denote
the
side
length
and
7 2p (so that the factors
1 + i = 1 + 1 = 2 k = 2.
2 p2). The prime must be less
2 2
perpendicular lines and draw a line
let denote the smaller interior angle.
are
1, p,2and
2
99.
2 : 2, 3, 5,
through V perpendicular to the line just
than or equal to 7400
Since
a
rhombus
is
a
parallelogram,
we
7 7,2 11, 13,
2
99
drawn. The added lines form a right
have
17,
and
19.
The
numbers
are
the
perfect
= s sin . Note that quadrilat3 2 2 2
squares from 4 to 361, inclusive:
4,
9,
100
2
1 + i 361.
= 12 + 1 = 2 kSolution
= 2.
13
25, 49, 121, 169, 289,
2 99.
7 2 3 2
1

a(12 ) + b(1) + c G
=1
11. 5. Complete the99squares: 4x2 + 9y2

1 1
E E
2
2
2
100
7 +2 18 = 4x 12x + 9 + 9y
(2 ) + b(2) + c = 5 .
a
12(x y)
1 2 1

O O O
2

+ 12y + 4 + 18 9 4 = (2x 3) +
(32 ) + b(3) + c = 13

1 3 3 1
a M M M M
2 99.
2
2
(3y + 2) + 5. Since any square is non a(1
) + b(1) + c = 1

1 4 6 4 1

E E E E E

negative, the minimum value of the

1 5 10 10 5 1
T T T T T T
a(22 ) + b(2) + c = 5 .
100
expression is 5, obtained
when (2x 3)
R R R R R

6 15 20 15 6

a(32 ) + b(3) + c = 13
= 0 x = 3/2 and (3y + 2) = 0

21 35 35 21

Y Y Y Y
y = 2/3.
a(12 ) + b(1) + c = 1

a(22 ) + b(2) + c = 5 .
Vol. 108, No. 9 May 2015 | MATHEMATICS TEACHER 683

2
a(3 ) + b(3) + c = 13

( )

( )

( )

r-2 O V
12. 19. The easiest way here1 is to
enu2
r-1
r list
merate the possibilities. We will
elements within each 1set inVincreasing
2
order:

( )

2
1 + i = 12 + 11+ i == 21
+k

400

( )

1 + i = 1 + 1
2

triangle. If OV = r, then one of the legs is

r 2, and the other is r 1. By the
Pythagorean theorem, (r 1)2 + (r 2)2
= r2 r2 6r + 5 = 0 r = 5 or r = 1.
Reject r = 1 since the circle with radius
1 passes through three points on the
rectangle.

V
2

21. 15. Find an expression to count the

number of squares in the nth figure. If
we count the squares in the rows (or
columns), we see that they increase
and then decrease. The nth figure has
2[1 + 3 + 5 + L + (2n 3)] + (2n 1)
small squares. Use the formula for the
sum of an arithmetic series and simplify:
2(1 + 2n 3)/2 (n 1) + (2n 1) =
2n2 2n + 1. This expression must equal
421: 2n2 2n 420 = 0 n2 n 210 =
0 (n 15)(n + 14) = 0 n = 15.
Alternate solution: The number of
small squares in figures 4, 5, and 6 are
25, 41, and 61, respectively. Use the
method of finite differences to determine
the degree of a polynomial model.
Figure No.
(n)

Number of
small squares

13 25 41 61

12 16 20

Second
differences

= 2 k = 2.

a(12 ) + b(1) + c = 1

a(22 ) + b(2) + c = 5

2
a(3 ) + b(3) + c = 13

Alternate solution: Use coordinate

geometry. Locate the intersection of the
perpendicular lines at the origin. If the
circle has radius r, then its equation is
(x r)2 + ( y r)2 = r2. The point (2, 1)
must satisfy the equation, so we have
(2 r)2 + (1 r)2 = r2. This is the same
equation we found in the first solution,
since (a b)2 = (b a)2. We obtain r = 5
or r = 1, and we reject r = 1. The circle
with radius 1 has center (1, 1) and
passes through three points of the rectangle: (1, 0), (2, 1), and (0, 1).

First
differences

15,

Since the second differences are con99

stant, the original
sequence is quadratic
and can be represented as an2 + bn + c.
Use any three
2 99.ordered pairs (n, number
of small squares) from the table to set up
a system to solve for the coefficients a, b,
100
and c; for example,

r-2 O
r-1

Solve the system to obtain a = 2, b = 2,

and c = 1. Thus, the explicit formula for
the nth figure is 2n2 2n + 1. Proceed as
before to find n = 15.
22. 6. First consider 2015 in base 2. The
highest power of 2 less than 2015 is 210 =
1024; subtract 1024 from 2015 to obtain
991. The highest power of 2 less than
991 is 29 = 512; subtract 512 from 991
to obtain 479. Continue in this fashion
to obtain 201510 = 111110111112, which
contains ten 1s. We could perform a
similar computation for base 4 or, since
22 = 4, look at the base 2 representation
in blocks of 2. This approach groups
the digits as follows: 1/11/11/01/11/11.
Since 112 = 34, the base 4 representa15 is 1331334, which contion of42015
tains four 3s. There are six more 1s
in 11111011111
2 than there are 3s in
15,
1331334.

15
area 6, for a total area of 12. Or use
Herons formula. The semiperimeter is
1 15 / 16
(5 + 5 + 8)/2 = 9; the area is
9(9 5)2 (9 8) = 12.
4 15

25. 12. If15,

we have
and 11
C
C 9 men
28 45
1
8 2 10 2
= to
. select
women, there are 9=
C3 11C3 ways
C
165
C
84
11
9 3 11 3
a committee
of 3 men and 3 women. If
15 is part of the committee,
Mr. Lebesgue
then there are 8C2 ways to select the
other 2 men.
if Mrs. Lebesgue
1 15Similarly,
/ 16
is part of the committee, then there are
the other 2 women.
10C2 ways to select
9(9 5)2 (9 8) = 12.
The desired probability is
8

C2 10 C2

C3 11 C3

28 45
1
= .
84 165 11

Thus, p = 1, q = 11, and p + q = 12.

26. 20. The domain of the natural log
function is (0, ), so the composition
(f o g)(x) = ln(6 |x2 10x + 15|)
requires that |x2 10x + 15| < 6. This
means that 6 < x2 10x + 15 < 6. If
x2 10x + 15 > 6, then (x 3)(x 7)
> 0; this is true for x < 3 or x > 7. If x2
10x + 15 < 6, then (x 9)(x 1) < 0; this
is true for 1 < x < 9. The intersection of
these intervals yields the domain as the
union (1, 3) (7, 9), so a + b + c + d =
1 + 3 + 7 + 9 = 20.

15
23. 1. Because
sect = 4 15 /15 =
4 15 , we have cost =4 15 /4 and
4/
sint = 1 15 / 16 = 1/4.15,
Thus,
log
cos
t
+
log
1/4
1/4
15,
15, tan t
=
log
2 1/4 (cos t tan t)
9(9 5) (9 8) =15
12.
= log1/4 sin t
15
= log1/4 (1/4)15= 1.
C
C
28 45
1
8 2 10 2
1 15
=
= / 16
.

C
C
84
165
11
24.
12.
By
the
rational
root
theorem,
1 159 /31611 3
1 15 / 16
there are twenty-four possible 2rational
9(9 5) (9 8) = 12.
roots, twelve
of which are positive
27. 8. The midpoint of the segment is
9(9 5)2 (9 8) = 12. 9(9 5)2 (9 8) = 12.
namely, the divisors of 200: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8,
(4, 5), and the slope of the segment is
C
200.
28
45
1 1)/(7 1) = 4/3. The slope of the

10, 20, 25, 40, 50, 100,8 C

and
Using
(9
2 10 2
=
= .
C
C
C
C division,

28
45
1
28
45
1

synthetic
we
find
that
x
=
5
is
a
perpendicular
bisector is then 3/4, and
C3 = 84 165 = 11 .
8 2 10 2
11 2
=
=89 C23 .210
root.
Then
f(x)
=
(x

5)(x
its
equation
is
y 5 = (3/4)(x 4)
+ 40)
165
C C
84 165 911
C3 11C13x
84
11
9 3 11 3
3
y = 3x/4 + 8. The y-intercept is 8.
= (x 5)(x 5)(x 8). The roots and,
therefore, the side lengths are 5, 5, and
28. 9. Let s represent the3 base edge of
8. Find the area by realizing that the
432volume of
the triangular pyramid. The
altitude of an isosceles triangle with
3
the cube is 432 units , so an edge of the
legs 5 and base 8 divides the triangle
into two 3-4-5 right triangles, each with
cube has length 3 432 = 6 3 2,, and a

684 MATHEMATICS TEACHER | Vol. 108, No. 9 May 2015

6 3 2,

3 3 2.

432
6 2, 432
3

6 3 2,
6 3 2,

3 3 2.
6 3 2,

3 3 2.
6 3 2,
3
3
2 x;
3
2.
6 2,
3 2.
3 3 2.has length
g = b 1 and 2( g 1) = b. Solve to find
lateral edge of the pyramid
432
2 x;
that g = 3 and b = 4; the sum is 7.
x = 3 33 2.. Use the 45-45-90
triangle
2 x;
s2 3 / 4
432 to find
2 x3; 3 2.
relationship
s = 2 x; the equi3
2,
Alternate solution: Let B represent a
lateral2 xtriangle
that
s 2 3forms
/ 4 the pyramids
;
2
2
3
2
s
3
/
4
x
3
/
2.
boy, let G represent a girl, and list the
base
has
area
=s 2 3 / 4 . The
s 3 26
/ x4;2,
3
possibilities. The first condition (that
centroid
of
the
base
lies
2/3
the
length
2.
x 2 altitude,
3 / 2. in this case)
s 2 median
3
/
4
each boy has an equal number of brothof2 the
(or
2
2 3 2.
/ 4 x 3 / 2. s2 3
x s3 3a/ 3
2.
3 / 2. of the
ers and sisters) implies that there is one
from
vertex. Since thexaltitude
2 x;
2
s
3
more boy than girl in the family. Test
basexhas
length
/2, the centroid lies
3 / 2.
2 2 x;
s
3
s
3
3
/
2.
s 3x/3
possibilities until the second condiunits from a vertex.
s 3 This length
tion (that each girl has twice as many
forms
one
leg
of
a
right
triangle,
for
3/4
s 3
s 3
2
2the pyramids altitude is the secbrothers
as sisters) 2is true: GBB (false),
which
2
s 3s s3 3 / 4 s 3
s 3x 2 s 3 = x 2 s = x 2 2 x = 3x .
GGBBB
(false),
GGGBBBB (true). Thus,
ond
leg
and
the
pyramids
lateral
edge
2
3
2
3 / 2.
3
3
3 2
2

s hypotenuse.
32
s
s
x
x
3
2
3
the
family
has
7
children;
3 girls and 4
is the
We
can
now
find
the
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
x

=
x

=
x

=
.
2
x
3
/
2.
2
2
xs 3boys.
s 3 sof3the
s s33
x
3
2 2x
2
2
2
2

x
2
altitude
pyramid:
3 2 x s 3 = 2 23x.
3x
x2
=x x2 x2
== sxx23 = =x=
.
= x 3
=
.
3
3 2 3 31 x22 33 x333 2 3x3 3 543
3
3
s 3
s
x = 9.
2x =
=3
sx 2 3 s 3 2 = x 2 3s 2 2 = x 2

2 31.
19.
The
notation
79/6
indicates
x3 =6 33x 6.
3 1 x 2 23 x3 3 x2 33 254
2
.
x

=
x

=
x

=
the
floor
functionthe
greatest
integer

x2 33 x 33 =x 3 =
3
3 =3 9.3
x2 154
1 x 2 3 x3 133
x 2 3 3= x6=354
6=x9.

54
functionwhich
in
this
case
has
the
s 3
=
= = 9.

=
= 9.
= 6value
3 2 2 2 33 26 336 3 2 6 3 6
13.
So
13
customers
received
a free
6
x
1 x 3 x 3
54
2
s 3 1 x 2 2 3 s 2x 3 =2x 3 2=x54
3
x
=
9.
2
drink;
79/8
=
9
customers
received
a
x

.
3= x2 3=2 x 6
6=
3x slice, and
3 3 22 s333 = 62 =3 6s 2 = 9.3 2 2 x 2free pizza
= x = x
=
x
.
3
3
3
3
The volume of the pyramid is
x 2 3 x 3 x 3 54
2 3 1=x 26 3= 6 x= 39. x 3 54

=
=
= 9.
3 2 3 6
6
3

Two interesting observations arise from

these rather tedious calculations. First,
the pyramid is 1/48 the volume of the
cube. Second, the altitude of the pyramid
is 1/6 the space diagonal of the cube.

79 79

= =3
lcm(6,8) 24

customers received a free drink and a

free pizza slice. Thus, 13 + 9 3 = 19
customers received at least one free
item.
CHRIS BOLOGNESE,
bolognesechris@gmail.com,
who previously taught high
school mathematics, serves
as an instructional leader and coach for
Upper Arlington City Schools in Ohio.
He is a co-editor of the MT department
Media Clips, writes mathematics contest
questions, and loves interactive geom
etry software.

I hyperbolic cosines.
MATHEMATICS
IS ALL AROUND US.

29. 14. Let the probability of rolling

a 1 be 2x. Then, the probabilities of
rolling 1 through 6 are 2x, x, 2x, x, 2x,
and x, respectively. The sum of these
probabilities must be 1, so x = 1/9.
There are five ways to roll a sum of 6:
1 + 5; 2 + 4; 3 + 3; 4 + 2; or 5 + 1. Since
the rolls are independent, we calculate
the probability as follows: p = 3(2/9)2 +
2(1/9)2 = 14/81. So 81p = 14.
30. 7. Let g be the number of girls in the
family and b be the number of boys. Use
the conditions to write two equations:
Vol. 108, No. 9 May 2015 | MATHEMATICS TEACHER 685