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Are you wondering how we could have possibly thought that a Mathlete would be able to
answer a particular Sprint Round problem without a calculator?
Are you wondering how we could have possibly thought that a Mathlete would be able to
answer a particular Target Round problem in less 3 minutes?
Are you wondering how we could have possibly thought that a Mathlete would be able to
answer a particular Team Round problem with less that 10 sheets of scratch paper?
The following pages provide solutions to the Sprint, Target and Team Rounds of the
2014 MATHCOUNTS State Competition. Though these solutions provide creative and
concise ways of solving the problems from the competition, there are certainly numerous
other solutions that also lead to the correct answer, and may even be more creative or more
concise! We encourage you to find numerous solutions and representations for these
MATHCOUNTS problems.
Special thanks to volunteer author Mady Bauer for sharing these solutions with us and the
rest of the MATHCOUNTS community!
5. () = 2
(2) = 4
Find the value of (10) (7)
From the first equation:
( + 1) = 2()
(3) = 2(2) = 8
(4) = 2(3) = 16
(5) = 2(4) = 32
Anyone see what the value of f(x) really is?
() = 2
Therefore, (7) = 27 = 128 and (10) =
210 = 1024
(10) (7) = 1024 128 = 896 Ans.
6. If n is the number of seconds in a day, find
the largest prime factor of n.
The number of seconds in the day is:
24 60 60 =
(2 2 2 3) (2 2 3 5)
(2 2 3 5)
Clearly, 5 is the largest prime.
5 Ans.
7. How many convex polygons with an even
number of sides are in the figure shown?
16
6 + 6 + 1 = 13 Ans.
8. Stage 1 has the number 1. Obviously the
sum is 1.
Stage 2 has the numbers 2, 3 and 1, 2.
The sum is 8.
Stage 3 has the numbers, 3, 4, 5 and 2, 3,
4 and 1, 2, 3. The sum is 12 + 9 + 6 =
27.
Stage 4 has the numbers 4, 5, 6, 7 and 3,
4, 5, 6 and 2, 3, 4, 5 and 1, 2, 3, 4 for a
sum of 22 + 18 + 14 + 10 = 64.
See the pattern? The sum of the numbers
in a stage? If the stage is n, then the sum
of the numbers is 3 .
The sum of the numbers for stage 7 is
73 = 343. Ans.
9. The sequence 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 18, 29 is
constructed by adding the two previous
terms (after the first two terms). How
many of the first 100 terms of this
5
5
40 = = 2 = 5
2
2
8 =
8
=
2 2
Finally, the ratio of the middle to the
largest pentagon is 5:7.
Therefore, the side of the largest is 7x.
The apothem of the largest pentagon is:
20 7 28
=
5
The area of the largest pentagon is:
28 5
5
7
= 7 28 = 5 7 14 =
2
2
490 Ans.
27
1
2
= 3, > 0
1 2
1
+ = 2 + 2 + 2
1 2
+ = 3 + 2 = 5
1
+ = 5 Ans.
=
2 2 1 5
2
1
=
2
4 2 5
5 2 5 = 4 2 2
2 3 = 0
( 3) = 0
x cannot be 0 since we have to have
some marbles here.
= 3
2x is the number of marbles or
6 Ans.
23. Triangles ABD and DEF are isosceles
right triangles. A, D, F and C are collinear
and B, E and C are collinear.
AB = BD = 4. ED = EF =2. Find the
length of AC.
76
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) =
4 3 ( + + + ) +
2 ( + + + + + )
( + + + ) +
4 = 1
3 = 7 = + + +
Note that this is the sum of the roots.
2 = 4 = + + + + +
Note that this is the sum of the product of
two of the roots.
1 = 7 = + + +
Note that this is the sum of the product of
three of the roots.
Finally, 0 = 4 =
This is the product of all 4 roots.
Now lets look at
1 1 1 1
+ + +
1 1 1 1 + +
+ + + =
+
=
+ + +
=
+++
7
= 1 = Ans.
() = if n is even
2
For how many integers from 1 to 100
does () = 1 for some
number of applications of f?
Lets start with 1.
(1) = 12 + 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
2
(1) = (2) = = 1
2
At this point, were going to repeat 2, 1, 2,
1, etc.
Now start with 2.
2
=1
2
((2) = (1) = 2
And again, well just repeat 1, 2.
Now start with 3.
(3) = 32 + 1 = 9 + 1 = 10
10
(3)) = (10) =
=5
2
(3) = (5) = 52 + 1 = 26
26
= 13
(3) = (26) =
2
Continued application of the function f will
only result in larger and larger values.
Therefore, 3 is not a part of this (and none
of the rest of the odd values).
Now start with 4.
4
(4) = = 2
2
2
(4) = (2) = = 1
2
So 4 works. We already know that 5 will
not so lets look at 6.
6
(6) = = 3
2
(6) = (3) = 10
We now have enough information. For
n=1, 2, 4, we can have the situation
where multiple applications of f will result
in the value 1. Odd values starting with 3
will never result in the value of the function
being 1 because the value just gets
bigger and bigger. That leaves multiples
of 4.
8
(8) = = 4
2
We already know that f(4) works so 8 is
also good.
12
(12) =
=6
2
And now we can see that any multiple of
3 (and, of course, 4) cannot be used.
Basically, what we are down to are
powers of 2. 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64
7 Ans.
(2) =
Target Round
1. A birthday present costs $94.94. Sales
tax is 5.5%. Find the cost of the present
before the tax was applied.
Let x = the cost of the present before tax
is applied.
Then $94.94 is 1.055 times the cost of
the present or 1.055x.
94.94 = 1.055
94.94
=
1.055
= $88.99 Ans.
43 1 1 1 4 4 4
=
56 5 5 5 5 5 5
So either p is 1/5 or p is 4/5. But we are
told that p < 1/2, so p must be 1/5 Ans.
7. An ant takes four steps each 1 unit in
length from the origin. Each step is either
forward or backward, right or left. Find
the probability that the ants fourth step
places the ant back at the origin.
Lets list the ways the ant can get back to
the origin.
First by returning to the origin after 2
steps.
- right, left, right, left
- left, right, left, right
- forward, backward, forward, backward
- backward, forward, backward, forward
- right, left, up, down
- right, left, down, up
- right, left, left, right
- left, right, up, down
- left, right, down, up
- left, right, right, left
and similarly for forward and backward.
Thats 16 movements.
The ant can also go around a one unit
square.
- right, backward, left, forward
- right, forward, left, backward
- forward, right, backward, left
- forward, left, backward, right
and similarly for left and backward.
Thats a total of 8 ways. Add that to the
16 we listed before and thats 24 ways.
The ant can go halfway around the square
and then come back.
- right, backward, forward, left
- right, forward, backward, left
etc. for another 8 ways for a total of 32
ways.
The ant can go 2 steps in one direction
and then come back the same way, e.g.,
- left, left, right, right etc. for a total of 36
more.
32 + 4 = 36
1
In moving each step, the ant has a 4
probability that he moves in a certain
direction. This means that choosing 4
specific movements is
1
1 1 1 1
=
4 4 4 4 256
36
9
=
Ans.
256
64
2 = 1 = = (1 )
2 = (1 0.87358) = (0.12642) 10
2 = 1.2642
2 = 1 = = (1 )
2 = (0.12642) 53 1.094829
1 = = 0.87358 5 4.3679
The surface area of a frustum is
[2 ( + 1 ) + 2 + 1 2 ] =
[1.2642(5 + 4.3679) + 52 + (4.3679)2 ]
= [1.2642(9.3679) + 25 + 19.07855] =
[11.84289 + 44.07855] =
55.92145 175.6822 176
Team Round
x
y
-5
8
-3
5
-1
4
1
5
3
8
Lets start by using the first set of values
of x and y in the equation.
8 = (5)2 + ( 5) +
8 = 25 5 + (Eq. 1)
Now do the same with the second set of
values.
5 = (3)2 + ( 3) +
5 = 9 3 + (Eq. 2)
Now do the same with the third set of
values.
4 = (1)2 + ( 1) +
4 = + (Eq. 3)
Subtract the second equation from the
first:
3 = 16 2 (Eq. 4)
Subtract the third equation from the
second.
1 = 8 2 (Eq. 5)
Subtract the fifth equation from the fourth
equation.
2 = 8
2
1
= = Ans.
8
3. () = + 2
() = 2
For what value of x does
() = ()?
() = ( 2 ) = 2 + 2
(() = ( + 2) = ( + 2)2
2 + 2 = ( + 2)2 = 2 + 4 + 4
2 = 4 + 4
4 = 2
2
1
= = Ans.
4
( 25)( 5) = 0
= 25 or = 5
r cant be 5 since FI = 5 and FI < JC.
25 Ans.
5. How many positive 3-digit integers are
palindromes and multiples of 11?
Lets look at the multiples of 11 between
100 and 200.
110, 121, 132, 143, 154, 165, 176, 187,
198
Only 121. Any other 3-digit integers that
are multiples of 11 (and palindromes) will
be such that if abc is the 3-digit integer, a
= c, and a + c = b
That would be 242, 363, 484.
Once we get to 500 that wont work.
Now the requirement is that
a = c and b = a + c 11
5 + 5 = 10 so we cant subtract 11 from
it. But continuing on:
616, 737, 858, 979
1 + 3 + 4 = 8 Ans.
6. When traffic is heavy you can average 30
mi/hour to arrive on time. If it is light, you
can average 55 mi/hour and arrive 1 hour
and 15 minutes early. Find the distance
to the football stadium.
Lets say that it takes x hours at 30 miles
an hour to get to the stadium. Thats a
total of 30x miles. At 55 mi/hour it takes 1
hour and 15 minutes less than x hours or
1
1
4
5
30 = 55
4
5 55
30 = 55
4
5 55
25 = 55
4
5 55
25 =
4
555
11
3
=
= = 2 hr
254
4
4
Therefore the distance is:
30 2.75 = 82.5 Ans.
6
3
6
6
So a can also be 6. So far, the sum is
3+6=9
Now lets look at b = 4.
1
1
1
6
2
4
1
1
1
= = =
4
6
24
24
24
4
12
6
So a can be 12. The sum is now
9 + 12 = 21.
Now lets look at b = 5.
1
1
1
6
1
1
1
1
1
= = =
5
6
30
30
6
5
30
6
So a can be 30. The sum is now
21 + 30 = 51.
Now lets look at b = 6.
1
Oops, thats 6,
We are done. 51. Ans.
10
3
10 20
=
3
3
10 20
So, point P is ,
3 3
Now for point Q. That is at the
intersection of lines APQF and DRQG.
1
= + 10
2
= 2
1
2 = + 10
2
1
2 + = 10
2
5
= 10
2
20
=
=4
5
= 2 = 2 4 = 8
The coordinates of point Q are (4,8)
Finally, point R is at the intersection of
lines HPRE and DRQG.
1
= + 10
2
1
= + 5
2
1
1
+ 10 = + 5
2
2
= 5
1
15
= 5 + 5 =
2
2
15
The coordinates of point R are 5, 2 .
Now that we have the coordinates, we
can get the lengths of PQ and QR.
= 2 = 2
= 4
10 2
+ 8
20 2
=
3
12 10 2
24 20 2
+
=
3
3
2
2 + 4 =
3
20 1
2
4 16
+
= = 20 = 5
9
3
3
9 9
2
15
2
(5
=
4) + 8 =
2
15 16 2
(1)2 +
=
2
1 2
1
5 1
1 + + 1 + = = 5
2
4
4 2
Finally:
= 22
1
2
2
3
1
2
3
2
= =
3
4
Ans.