First Round : March 28, 2009

Second Round: April 25, 2009 at The University of Alabama

DIVISION I COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

Construction of this test directed
by
Zhijian Wu, The University of Alabama

INSTRUCTIONS
This test consists of 50 multiple choice questions. The questions have not been arranged in order of difficulty.
For each question, choose the best of the five answer choices labeled A, B, C, D, and E.
The test will be scored as follows: 5 points for each correct answer, 1 point for each question left unanswered,
and 0 points for each wrong answer. (Thus a perfect paper with all questions answered correctly earns a
score of 250, a blank paper earns a score of 50, and a paper with all questions answered incorrectly earns a
score of 0.)
Random guessing will not, on average, either increase or decrease your score. However, if you can eliminate
one of more of the answer choices as wrong, then it is to your advantage to guess among the remaining
choices.
All variables and constants, except those indicated otherwise, represent real numbers.
Diagrams are not necessarily to scale.
We use the following geometric notation:
If A and B are points, then:
AB is the segment between A and B

AB is the line containing A and B

AB is the ray from A through B

AB is the distance between A and B

If A is an angle, then:
m A is the measure of angle A in degrees
If A and B are points on a circle, then:
_
AB is the arc between A and B
_
_
m AB is the measure of AB in degrees

Editing by Zhijian Wu, The University of Alabama

Printing by The University of Alabama

Doing the Math to Find the Good Jobs

Mathematicians Land Top Spot in New Ranking of Best and Worst Occupations in the U.S.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL January 6, 2009
The Best
1. Mathematician
2. Actuary
3. Statistician
4. Biologist
5. Software Engineer
6. Computer Systems Analyst
7. Historian
8. Sociologist
9. Industrial Designer
10. Accountant
11. Economist
12. Philosopher13. Physicist
14. Parole Officer
15. Meteorologist
16. Medical Laboratory Technician
17. Paralegal Assistant
18. Computer Programmer
19. Motion Picture Editor
20. Astronomer

The Worst
200. Lumberjack
199. Dairy Farmer
198. Taxi Driver
197. Seaman196. EMT
195. Roofer
194. Garbage Collector
193. Welder
192. Roustabout
191. Ironworker
190. Construction Worker
189. Mail Carrier
188. Sheet Metal Worker
187. Auto Mechanic
186. Butcher
185. Nuclear Decontamination Tech
184. Nurse (LN)
183. Painter
182. Child Care Worker
181. Firefighter

What You Can Do With A Mathematics Major

Occupational opportunities
Actuarial and Insurance
Computer & Information Sciences
Researcher
Demographers
Data Processor
Applications Programmer
Systems Analyst
Computer Applications Engineer
Control Systems Engineer
Numerical Analyst
Statistician
Technical Writer

Government
Investment Analyst
Benefits Specialist
Computer Programmer
Navigator
Ecologist
Biomedical Engineer
Operations Analyst
Control Systems Engineer
Teaching
Engineering Analyst
Homeland Security

Accountant
Financial Planner
Mathematician
Cartographer
Meteorologist
Health
Bio-mathematician
Operations Research
Systems Engineer
BusinessIndustry
Financial Analyst
Communications Engineer

Study in the field of mathematics offers an education with an emphasis on careful problem analysis, precision of thought and expression, and the mathematical skills needed for work in many other areas. Many
important problems in government, private industry, health and environmental fields, and the academic
world require sophisticated mathematical techniques for their solution. The study of mathematics provides
specific analytical and quantitative tools, as well as general problem-solving skills, for dealing with these
problems. The University of Alabama offers undergraduate and graduates degrees in Mathematics. Please
visit www.math.ua.edu and refer to the undergraduate and graduate programs for additional information.

1.

2.

In a triangle ABC, let a, b, c be the sides opposite those angles A, B, C. If cos A + sin A
2
a+b
= 0, then
=?
cos B + sin B
c

(A) 1
(B)
2
(C)
3
(D) 2
(E) Cannot be determined
1
1
1
1
1
Let x denote the following infinite series: x = 3 + 3 + 3 + . Express the series y = 3 + 3 +
1
3
5
1
2
1
+

in
terms
of
x.
33
(A)

3.

9x
7

(B)

6x
7

(E)

5x
7

(D) 6

(E) 8

(C) 34

(D)

35

(E) 36

6
5

(E) 3

2t + 1
If f ( 2t 3) =
, what is f (2) ?
2t 1
4
3

(B)

(D)

1
1

3+
1+
1
3

5
4

. Evaluate (2x 1)2 .

1
1+

(A)

(C)

Let x be 1 +
3+

7.

(C) 5

(B) 33

(A) 3

6.

(D)

In the Cartesian coordinate plane, ABCD is a parallelogram with A = (0, 0), B = (20, 10) and
D = (10, y). If the area of the parallelogram is 600, what is the value of y?
(A) 32

5.

(C) x

Two points A and B lie on a globe of radius 12. The length of the straight line segment joining A
and B is 12. What is the length of the shortest path from A to B if every point of the path lies on
the surface of the globe.
(A) 3

4.

8x
7

(B)

(B)

1
3 +

5
3

(C)

2
3

(D)

7
3

(E) 1

Let a and b be the coefficients of x3 in (1 + x + 2x2 + 3x3 )4 and (1 + x + 2x2 + 3x3 + 4x4 )4 , respectively.
Find the value of a b .
(A) 1

(B) 1

(C)

(D) 33 43

(E) 33 34

8.

What is the radius of a circle which circumscribes the triangle with vertices (2, 0), (0, 4), and (4, 6) ?

(A)
5
(B)
10
(C) 1
(D) 2 5
(E)
40

9.

Solve 2x + 4x = y for x.
(A) x = 2

(B) x =

ln y
2 ln 2

(C) x =

ln y ln 2
ln 4

(D) x =

ln y + 2
ln 4

(E)

None of these

10.

As shown in the diagram, two circles with radii 8 and 18 respectively, are tangent and two lines are tangent to both circles. The
distance from the intersection of these lines to the center of the
circle with radius 8 is
(A) 16.2

11.

(B) 18.5

14.

(B) 1

If 3x 9x 27x =
(A)

13.

(E) 24.4

(C) 0

(D) 1

(E)

1/4

(B) 1/6

(C) 1/8

(D) 1/10

If is an acute angle and sin = x then what is sin(/2)?

r
r

1 + 1 x2
1 1 + x2
(A)
(B)
2
2
r

1 1 x2
(D)
2
If x2 +

(C)
(E)

1+

1 + x2
2

None of these

(x + 1)2
1
= 3, what is the value of
?
2
x
x2
(B) 3

(C) 4

circle

(B) equilateral

(C) square

(D)

(E) 6

(D) ellipse

(E) regular pentagon

If the height of a cylinder is increased by 1/9, and the radius of the cylinder is decreased by 1/10,
what will happen to the volume of the cylinder ?

(C) Decreases by 1/9

(B) Increases by 1/9

(D) Increases by 1/10

(E)

Let the radii of the three semicircles all be R, their centers

A, B, C are in a common line, and the circle with center D
has only one point in common with the given semicircles respectively. Suppose the radius of the circle with center D is
r, then R : r =?
(A) 15 : 4 (B) 11 : 3 (C)

18.

(E) 1/12

(A) Same as the volume of the original cylinder

17.

Among the following shapes of equal perimeter, which one has the largest area ?
(A)

16.

20.8

3, then what is x?

(A) 2
15.

(D)

A line of slope 2/3 passes through the point (1, 2). What is its x-intercept?
(A) 2

12.

(C) 22.6

4:1

Decreases by 1/10

In the figure shown, find CD?

(A) 11

(B) 12

(C)

(D) 3 : 1 (E) 2 : 1
A

13

(D) 15

(E) 16

12

B
4

19.

Three circles of radius 1 are mutually tangent as shown. What is

the area of the gap they enclose?

1
1
3

(A)
3
(B)
(C)
(D)

(E)
2
6
3
2
6
6

20.

Find the difference of the maximum value and the minimum value of the function:
3 sin x + 4 cos x + 5.
(A) 12

(B)

10

(C) 8

(D) 6

(E) 4

21.

If real numbers x, y satisfy (x + 5)2 + (y 12)2 = 142 , then the minimum value of x2 + y 2 equals ?

(A) 1
(B) 2
(C)
2
(D)
3
(E) Cannot be determined

22.

Find the maximum value of k which ensures that the inequality

(A)
6 3
(B)
3
(C)
6+ 3

23.

How many of the solutions to the following equation are negative?

x4 6x2 + 9 = 3x3 + 5x
(A)

24.

40

(C) 2

(B)

8 mph

(D) 3

(C) 12 mph

(B) 43

(D) 16 mph

(C) 29

(B) 10

(D) 50

(C) 15

Let a and b be positive numbers not equal to 1,

the following inequalities is true?
(A) a > b > 1

28.

6 x k has a solution.

(D)
6
(E) 2 3

(E) 4

(E) 20 mph

(E) 60

For x2 + 2x + 5 to be a factor of x4 + px2 + q , the value of q must be

(A) 5

27.

From a group of boys and girls, 15 girls leave. There are then left two boys for each girl. After 45
boys leave, there are then 5 girls for each boy. The number of girls in the beginning was:
(A)

26.

x+

Jack and Jim start at the same time to ride from place A to place B, 60 miles away. Jack travels 4
miles an hour slower than Jim. Jim reaches B and at once turns back meeting Jack 12 miles from B.
The rate of Jack was:
(A) 4 mph

25.

(B) 1

(B)

a<b<1

(D) 20
3
2

(B) 4

(C) b < a < 1

(C)

25

, 2 . If atan > btan > 1, then which of

How many pairs of integers (x, y) satisfying the function y =

(A) 2

(E)

(D) b > a > 1

(E) a > 1 > b

x + 12
?
2x 1
(D) 8

(E) Infinite

29.

Let f (x) be a polynomial of degree 2007 satisfying

f (n) =

1
n

for n = 1, 2, 3, . . . , 2008.

What is the value of f (2009)?

(A)
30.

1
2

36.

3
2009

(E)

4
2009

(B) 19

(C)

20

(D) 21

(E) 22

(B)

2
3

3
4

(C)

(D)

4
5

(E) 1

(B) 140

(C) 175

(D)

210

(E) 245

(B) 30

(C)

45

(D) 60

(E) 75

Suppose is a complex number satisfying 2 + 2 + 4 = 0. Then 6 =?

(A) 1

35.

(D)

In a triangle ABC, a = 4 2, b = 4 3, mB = 60 , then mA =?

(A) 15

34.

2
2009

A right triangle with integer side lengths a, b and c satisfies a < b < c and a + c = 49. What is the
area of the right triangle?
(A) 105

33.

(C)

Let a, b, c, d be positive real numbers with a < b < c < d. Given that a, b, c, d are the first four
terms in an arithmetic sequence, and a, b, d are the first three terms in a geometric sequence, what
ad
is the value of
?
bc
(A)

32.

1
2009

It rained on exactly 11 days during Janes holiday trip. On each rainy day it rained either in the
morning or in the afternoon but not both. There are exactly 13 afternoons when it did not rain and
exactly 16 mornings when it did not rain. How many days did the trip last?
(A) 18

31.

(B)

(B) 2

(C) 8

(D) 32

(E)

64

If (x + iy)2 = cos + i sin , find the absolute value of y, given that x = sin and i = 1.
3

1
3
2
(A) 0
(B)
(C)
(D)
(E) 1
2
2
2
Let S be the sum of the first 10 terms of the sequence: 1 + a, x + 2a, x2 + 3a, . Then S =?
(A)
(D)

55a + x10 + x
x+1
x10 1
+ 55a
x1

(B) 55a

x + x10
x1

(C)

x10 1
+ 55a
x+1

(E)

x11 x
+ 55a
x1


37.

38.

Given f (x) + f

1 1
= where x 6= 0, 1, find the value of f (2).
1x
x

(A) 0

(B)

7
4

(D) 1

(E) Cannot be determined

(B) 1

(C) 2

(D)

(E) 4

Twelve points are arranged on a semicircle as shown in the diagram. How many
triangles can we draw from the given points?
(A)

40.

(C)

How many points do the graphs of 4x2 9y 2 = 36 and x2 2x + y 2 = 15 have in common?

(A) 0

39.

1
4

210

(B) 360

(C) 390

(D) 420

(E) 450

Suppose y is the determinant of the matrix

3
2

1
2

1
x1

Then what is the minimum value of y given x > 1?

(A) 0
41.

a2 2
2

(E)

(B)

3a2 2
2

(C)

5a2 2
2

(D)

7a2 2
2

9a2 2
2

(E)

(B) 3

(C) 4

(D)

(E) 6

If sin x = 2 cos x, then what is the value of sin x cos x ?

(A)

44.

(D) 3

Suppose that f (x) = ax + b where a and b are real numbers. Given that f (f (f (x))) = 8x + 21, what
is the value of a + b ?
(A) 2

43.

(C) 2

Suppose that a is a non-zero real number for which sin x + sin y = a and cos x + cos y = 2a. What is
the value of cos(x y) ?
(A)

42.

(B) 1

1
3

(B)

2
3

(C)

1
4

(D)

1
5

Which of the numbers below is a solution to the following equation?

3x+ 3+x=x
p

(A)
6
(B) 2 3 1
(C) 3 2 3
(D)
6+ 2

(E)

(E)

2
5

2 2

45.

What is the value of the following product?

(A)

46.

tan 5 tan 15 tan 25 tan 35 tan 45 tan 55 tan 65 tan 75 tan 85

(B) 33
(C) 1
(D)
3

1
2

How many positive real numbers x are solutions to the equation

(A) 0

47.

(B) 1

(C)

x =| x4 1 | ?
(D) 3

(B) sin 3 < sin 2 < sin 1

(C) sin 1 < sin 3 < sin 2

(D) sin 2 < sin 1 < sin 3

(B) 3

(C) 4

1
Given that a + = 3, what is the value of a
a
(A)

50.

(E)

sin 3 < sin 1 < sin 2

The line y = 3 x intersects the parabola y = 3x x2 in two points (x1 , y1 ) and (x2 , y2 ). What is
y1 + y 2 ?
(A)

49.

(E) 4

Order sin 1, sin 2, sin 3 from smallest to largest (the angles are measured in radians).
(A) sin 1 < sin 2 < sin 3

48.

(E) 2

52

(B) 2 2

(D) 6

(E) 7

(D) 3

(E) 3 2

1
?
a

(C) 1.5

A box of coins contains a total of 26.00 in nickels, dimes, and quarters. If there is the same number
of nickels as dimes, but twice as many quarters as nickels, how many dimes are in the box?
(A) 26

(B) 30

(C) 34

(D)

40

(E) 50