2008 Since we are asked to find the
MATHCOUNTS STATE COMPETITION
SPRINT ROUND
1. Tomato soup is selling for 24¢ a
can. At this price how many whole
cans can be bought for $1.00?
100 4 1
= 4 = 4 ≈ 4 Ans.
24 24 6 The sum of the four known scores is
2. The lowest price on a jacket tag was
$4. This is the sale price, calculated
by taking 75% off of the original
price. We are asked to find the
original price.
3
75% =
4 and 300 have both 11 and 8 as
The sale price of the jacket is
3 1
1− = of the original price.
4 4
Let x be the original price of the
jacket.
1
x= 4
4
x = 16
So the jacket originally cost $16 or
$16.00 Ans.
3. What is the greatest number of
interior right angles a convex
octagon can have?
What is the sum of the angles in a
convex octagon? The answer is
180 × (n – 2) where n is the number
of sides. So, the total number of
degrees in the octagon is
180 × (8 – 2) = 180 × 6 = 1080
degrees.
A convex polygon has all its interior
angles less than 180 degrees. Let
x = the largest number of 90 degree
angles we can have.
1080 − 90 x
Then < 180
8− x
This equation means that the
average length of the non-90 degree
angles is less than 180.
1080 – 90x < 1440 – 180x
90 x < 1440 – 1080 = 320
x<4
largest one, x = 3. 3 Ans.
4. The mean of 5 quiz scores is 95%.
The scores of four of them are
100%, 100%, 99% and 98%. So
what is the score on the last one?
If the mean is 95% then the sum of
the scores on all 5 exams is
95 × 5 = 475
100 + 100 + 99 + 98 = 400 – 3 =
397.
475 – 397 = 78
(No wonder Tamara, uh, happened
to, uh, lose that one!!!)
78 Ans.
5. How many integers between 100
factors? Only those that have 88 as
a factor.
Let’s count by 88s: 88, 176, 264,
352…
We quickly see that only 2 integers
fall between 100 and 300.
2 Ans.
6. One-half of a road construction
project is completed by 6 workers in
12 days. Working at the same rate,
what is the smallest number of
workers needed to finish the rest of
the project in exactly four days?
If 6 workers complete one-half of the
project in 12 days then the 6
1 1
workers complete = of
2 × 12 24
the project in 1 day and one worker
1 1
completes = of the
24 × 6 144
project in a single day.
Half of the project is done. That
1 72
means there is = of the
2 144
project to go and this must be
completed in 4 days.
18
Therefore, of the project must
144
be completed each day and we
need 18 workers. 18 Ans.
7. The trisectors of angles B and C of 600
scalene triangle ABC meet at points = 10 Ans.
60
P and Q, as shown.

10. A silo is a right circular cylinder

topped by a right circular cone.
Both the cylinder and the cone have
the same radius. The height of the
silo is 27 meters and the base of the
Angle A is 39º and angle QBP is silo is 10 meters. The height of the
14º. We are asked to find the cone is half the height of the
measure of angle BPC. cylinder. So what’s the volume of
A scalene triangle is one that has 3 the silo?
unequal sides. Since angle QBP is Since the height of the cone is half
14º and the trisectors of angles B the height of the cylinder, the height
and C meet at points P and Q, angle 1
1 of the cone is the height of the
QBP is of angle B. 3
3 silo or 9 meters making the height of
14 × 3 = 42 the cylinder 18 meters.
The sum of the three angles in 2
triangle ABC is 180 degrees.  10 
Vcyl = π r h = π   × 18 = 450π
2
Therefore, angle C =  2
180 – (39 + 42) = 2
180 – 81 = 99 1 2 1  10 
Again, knowing using our trisector
Vcone = πr h = π   × 9=
3 3  2
1
information, angle BCP must be 75π
3 75π + 450π = 525π Ans.
of 99 or 33 degrees.
Angle PBC is 14º.
Therefore, angle BPC = 11. How many non-negative real values
180 – (33 + 14) = of x result in 144 − 3
x being an
180 – 47 = 133 Ans.
integer? If x were 0, then 144
8. What non-zero, real value of x = 0. And if 3
x = 144 then
satisfies
( 5 x ) 4 = (10 x ) 3 ? 144 − 3
x = 0. There are 11 more
625x4 = 1000x3 values of 3 x , which when
25x4 = 40x3 subtracted from 144 will give us a
5x4 = 8x3 value that is a square.
5x = 8 11 + 1 + 1 = 13 Ans.
8
x= Ans.
5 1
12. Jim’s stride is 2 feet.
2
9. If a clock loses 5 seconds every 12 2
minutes, how many minutes will it Jeffrey’s stride is 2 feet. We are
lose in a 24 hour period? 3
There are 5 12-minute intervals in 1 asked to find the ratio of Jim’s
hour or 5 × 24 = 120 12-minute strides to Jeffrey’s if they both walk
intervals in a day. one mile. Jim takes
120 × 5 = 600 seconds 5280 5280 5280 × 2
But remember that we were asked
= = = 1056 × 2 =
1 5 5
for minutes. 2
2 2
 2112 strides. Jeffrey takes
5280 5280 5280 × 3
= = = 660 × 3 =
2 8 8
2 third number is removed until the
3 3
1980 strides.
2112 528 176 16
= = = Ans.
1980 495 165 15
13. Kelly drove north for 12 miles and
then east for 9 miles at an average
rate of 42 miles per hour. Brenda
left from the same location and went
directly to the same place at an
average of 45 miles per hour. That
looks like a right triangle!
And it’s a 9, 12, 15 right triangle at
that.
Kelly drove 9 + 12 = 21 miles at 42
mph which means it took her 30
minutes.
Brenda drove 15 miles at 45 mph
which means she spent 20 minutes
driving there. So how many minutes
earlier did Brenda get there?
30 – 20 = 10 Ans.
14. A bag contains 21 marbles that are
either blue or red. There are twice
as many red marbles as blue ones
and we are asked to find the
probability that if we pick two
marbles, with no replacement, that
one marble is red and one is blue.
There are 14 red marbles and 7
blue ones. The probability of
choosing the blue marble first and
then the red marble is:
7 14 1 7 7 square is trisected, as shown.
× = × =
21 20 3 10 30
The probability of choosing the red
marble first and then the blue
7
marble is also
.
30
7 7 14 7
+ = = Ans.
30 30 30 15
15. The integers from 1 through 15 are
written in numerical order going
clockwise around a circle. Every
only number left is 11. So what was
the number we started with?
First we can’t even consider starting
counting with 3, 6, 9, 12 or 15
because 11 would get removed
immediately (i.e., if we start at 3, we
then remove 5, 8, 11 and we’d be
done). That leaves starting with 1,
2, 4, 5, 7 8, 10, 11, 13 and 14. Let’s
try 1 as the start and see what
happens. (Removed numbers will
be in bold.)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 4 5 7 8 10 11 13 14
1 2 5 7 10 11 14
1 2 5 7 10 11 14
2 5 10 11
2 5 11 and we’re out. Now 2.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 5 6 8 9 11 12 14 15
2 3 6 8 11 No good. Now 4.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 7 8 10 11 No good. Now
5.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 11 12 14 15
2 3 5 6 9 11 14 15
3 5 9 11 15
3 9 11 Urf! No good. Now 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 13 14
1 2 4 5 7 8 11 13
1 2 5 7 11 13
2 5 11 13
5 11
5 11 Whew! 9 Ans.
16. Two sides of a square are divided
into fourths and another side of the
We are asked to find the ratio of the
area of the shaded triangle to the
area of the square.
Let s = the side of the square. By
turning the figure 90° clockwise, we
see that the base of the shaded
 triangle is s and the height is 34 s . asked to find how many isosceles
triangles there are in the figure
This makes the area of the shaded
triangle 1
2 s× 3
4 s = 83 s 2 . The area of
the square is s2.
So the ratio of the area of the
shaded triangle to the area of the
square is: shown.
Obviously triangle ABC. Our 1st
3 2 isosceles triangle. We know that
s
8 = 3 Ans. <ABD = <DBE = 36
s2 8 We also know that <BCA = 72
(since triangle ABC is isosceles).
This makes <BAC = 180 – 72 – 72 =
17. Lauren solved the equation: 36.
x− 5 = 2 So let’s look at triangle ABD. Is it
isosceles? < BAD = 36 and so is
The solutions for this equation also
<ABD. Yes it is. Now we have 2
satisfy an equation of the form
isosceles triangles. And this makes
x2 + bx + c = 0
<BDA = 180 – 72 = 108.
And we are asked to find b and c
Now look at triangle BDC.
and express them as an ordered
<DBC = 36. <BCD = 72 which
pair.
means <BDC = 72. Yes it is. This
The two solutions for x − 5 = 2 are brings us to 3 isosceles triangles.
as follows. If x – 5 is a positive Now look at triangle DEF.
value, then Because DE || AB and BD || EF and
x–5=2 rules on corresponding angles we
x=2+5=7 have <DEF = <ABD = 36 and we
If x – 5 is a negative value then have <<EFD = <BDA = 108, which
x – 5 = –2 makes <EDF = 36. So triangle DEF
x = –2 + 5 = 3 is also isosceles. This makes 4.
If x = 7 then How about BDE?
72 + 7b + c = 0 <BDE = 180 – (<BDA + <EDF) =
49 + 7b + c = 0 180 – 108 – 36 = 36. Since <DBE =
If x = 3 then 36, this triangle is also isosceles.
32 + 3b + c = 0 This makes 5.
9 + 3b + c = 0 How about EFC?
Subtracting 9 + 3b + c = 0 from 49 + <BCA = 72. <EFC = 180 – EFD =
7b + c = 0 we get 180 – 108 = 72. Yes it is. This
40 + 4b = 0 makes 6 isosceles triangles.
b = –10 Finally, how about DEC?
9 + (3 × –10) + c = 0 <EDC = 36 and < BCA = 72 so
9 – 30 + c = 0 <EFC = 72. Yes. 7 Ans.
–21 + c = 0
c = 21 19. Positive integers x and y have a
(–10, 21) Ans. product of 56 and x < y. 7 times the
reciprocal of the smaller integer plus
18. In triangle ABC, AB is congruent to 14 times the reciprocal of the larger
AC, the measure of < ABC is 72º integer equals 4. We are asked to
and segment BD bisects < ABC with find x.
point D on side AC. Point E is on xy = 56
side BC such that segment DE is 1 1
parallel to side AB. Point F is on
7× + 14 × = 4
x y
side AC such that segment EF is
parallel to segment BD. We are
 7 14 39
+ = 4 = 5R 4
x y 7
14 x 39
7+ = 4x = 4 R3
y 9
7y + 14x = 4xy 39 Ans.
Since xy = 56,
7y + 14x = 56 × 4 = 224 21. A circle with a radius of 2 units has
y + 2x = 32 its center at (0,0). A circle with a
y = 32 – 2x radius of 7 units has its center at
x × (32 – 2x) = 56 (15,0). A line tangent to both circles
32x – 2x2 = 56 intersects the x-axis at (x,0) to the
16x – x2 = 28 right of the origin. We are asked to
x2 – 16x + 28 = 0 find x.
(x – 14) × (x – 2) = 0
We need x < y so x = 2. Ans.

20. When a positive integer is divided

by 7, the remainder is 4. When the
same integer is divided by 9, the
remainder is 3. We are asked to find
the smallest possible value of this
integer.
Let x be the number.
Let y be the value when x is divided Draw a line perpendicular to the
by 7 and let z be the value when x is tangent from the center of each
divided by 9. Then, circle. We then get two triangles,
x the first whose hypotenuse is x and
= y+ 4 the second whose hypotenuse is 15
7 – x.
x These two triangles are similar.
= z+ 3 They both have right angles at the
9 tangent. The angles where they
x = 7y + 28
cross at (x,0) are the same as well.
x = 9z + 27
We can use a proportion here.
7y + 28 = 9z + 27
7y + 1 = 9z 2 x
=
So when is 7y + 1 a multiple of 9? 7 15 − x
Or what multiple of 9, when 30 – 2x = 7x
subtracted by 1 is a multiple of 7? 30 = 9x
Let’s just look at a few numbers… 30 10
9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54, 63, 72, 81, 90, x= = Ans.
99 9 3
Subtract 1 and we get:
8, 17, 26, 35, 44, 53, 62, 71, 80, 89, 22. The first term of an arithmetic
98. sequence is 1. Another term is 91.
Are any of these multiples of 7? All terms are integers. So how
Yes. 35 = 7 × 5 many distinct sequences meet these
Then y = 5 and z = 4 three conditions?
x An arithmetic sequence is a
= 5R 4 sequence of real numbers for which
7
each number is the previous term
x = 7 × 5 + 4 = 35 + 4 = 49
plus a constant.
Is this right?
91 – 1 = 90
Therefore, we need to find the
 number of factors of 90. They are 1,
2, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15, 18, 30, 45 and
90 for a total of 12 factors. For
example, using 10, we have the
sequence, 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61,
71, 81, 91 etc.
12 Ans.
23. A circular cylindrical post with a
circumference of 4 feet has a string
wrapped around it. It spirals from
the bottom to the top of the post. It
goes around the post exactly 4
times. The height of the post is 12
feet so what is the length of the
string?
If we opened up the cylinder, we’d
have a rectangle of the size 12 × 4.
And it would look like this.
Since it goes around 4 times, each
time it has “climbed” 3 feet up the
cylinder, so you can see we have
nice 3, 4, 5 right triangles.
4 × 5 = 20 Ans.
24. The areas of two squares differ by
100 square units. The perimeters of
the two squares differ by 10 units.
So what is the perimeter of the
smaller square.
Let x = the side of the first square.
Let y = the side of the second
square. Then
y2 – x2 = 100 and
4y – 4x = 10
10 5
y–x= =
4 2
5 The final sum is:
y=x+
2 x + 2y + z + y + 2z + w =
2 x + 3y + 3z + w
 5
 x +  − x = 100
2 So now, all we have to do is vary x
 2
5 5 25
x2 + x + x + − x 2 = 100
2 2 4 1 3
25 400 25 375
5 x = 100 −= − =
4 4 4 4
375 4
4x = × = 75 Ans.
4 5
25. How many integers between 1 and
200 are multiples of both 3 and 5
but not of either 4 or 7?
Integers between 1 and 200 that are
multiples of both 3 and 5 are
integers that are multiples of 15.
Let’s list them.
15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120,
135, 150, 165, 180, 195
Of these 60, 120, and 180 are
multiples of 4 leaving us with
15, 30, 45, 75, 90, 105, 135, 150,
165, 195
How many of these are multiples of
7? They all end in 5 or 0. I don’t
see 70 or 140 so we can forget that.
What multiples of 7 end in 5? 35 is
one but that’s not here. 105 is one
and I do see that. We remove it.
175 is the next and that is not here.
15, 30, 45, 75, 90, 135, 150, 165,
195 are the remaining numbers.
That’s a total of 9. 9 Ans.
26. Kevin starts with the integers 1, 2, 3
and 4 each used exactly once and
written in a row in any order. He
finds the sum of the adjacent pairs
of integers in each row to make a
new row until 1 integer is left. How
many possible final numbers are
there?
First, let x, y, z, and w represent 1
through 4 in no specific order. If we
put the 4 numbers together as
x y z w then the first set of sums
are:
x + y, y + z, and z + w
The second set of sums are:
x + y + y + z = x + 2y + z,
y + z + z + w = y + 2z + w
and w and we can compute the rest.
x w y z 3y 3z Total
1 2 3 4 9 12 24
2 4 6 12 22
 1 4 2 3 6 9 20 28. A right cylinder with a base radius of
2 3 1 4 3 12 20 3 units is inscribed in a sphere of
2 4 1 3 3 9 18 radius 5 units. What is the total
3 4 1 2 3 6 16 volume of the space inside the
Final combinations are 16, 18, 20, sphere and outside the cylinder?
22, 24. First thing we need to do is figure
5 Ans. out the height of the cylinder.
Let’s draw a picture of that cylinder.
27. A rectangular formation has m band
members in each of r rows where m
and r are integers. The band has
less than 100 band members. They
are arranged in a formation such
that 2 members are left over. If the
number of members in each row is
increased by 1 and the number of We know that the base radius is 3
rows are reduced by 2, then there so the diameter of the cylinder is 6.
are exactly enough places in the We also know that the diagonal
new formation. We are asked to drawn in the cylinder above is the
find the largest number of members diameter of the sphere or 10.
the band could have. That just leaves us with figuring out
We know the following things: the height and this is really looking
m like a 6, 8, 10 right triangle.
= xR 2 The height is 8.
r
Vcyl = π r 2 h = π × 3 2 × 8 = 72π
or
Vsphere =
m = rx + 2
4 3 4 500
m π r = × π × 53 = π
= x+ 1 3 3 3
r− 2 Vsphere – Vcyl =
m = (r – 2) × (x + 1) = rx + r -2x – 2
rx + 2 = rx + r -2x – 2 500 500 216
π − 72π = π − π =
2 = r – 2x – 2 3 3 3
4 = r – 2x 284
Since m is rx + 2 and m is less than π Ans.
100 rx must be less than 98. 3
Let’s just try something. Suppose r
= 20 and x = 8. Then 20 – 16 = 4. 29. Given that x2 – 5x + 8 = 1, what is
But 20 × 8 = 160. And that’s way the positive value of
too big. Let’s take this down a bit x4 – 10x3 + 25x2 – 9?
more. x2 – 5x = 1 – 8 = -7
Suppose r = 16 and 2x = 12. Then
x = 6 and we get 16 × 6 = 96. Could (x 2
− 5x ) 2
= x 4 − 10 x 3 + 25 x 2
it be any higher?
Suppose r = 18 and x = 7.
( − 7) 2 − 9 = 49 − 9 = 40 Ans.
18 × 7 > 100 (And you thought this was gonna be
So that would make m = 96 + 2 = hard?)
98. Does this work?
98 30. Celeste has 10 songs on her MP3
= 6R2 and her favorite is 3 minutes long.
16 The time length of each song is
98 different. If the songs are ordered
= 7 Yes it does! 98 Ans.
14 by length, the shortest song is 30
seconds long and each subsequent
song is 30 seconds longer than the
previous one. The MP3 plays the
 songs in random order and will play
all before repeating any song. We
are asked to find the probability that
she hears the first 4 minutes, 30
seconds of music without hearing
every second of her favorite song.
The 10 songs are 30, 60, 90, 120,
150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300
seconds long. Her favorite one is
210 long. 4 minutes and 30
seconds is 270 seconds.
Sometimes it’s easier to find the
opposite probability. In this case,
how is it possible that she will hear
all of her song.
The first possibility is that her song
plays first.
The second possibility is that her
song plays second after the 30
second song.
The third possibility is that her song
plays second after the 60 second
song.
Anything else will keep her from
hearing all of it.
The probability that her song is
1 get at least one of each kind, how
played first is .
10
The probability that the 30 second
song is played first followed by her
1 1 1
song is × = . pick 3 of one type of donuts and one
10 9 90
The probability that the 60 second
song is played first followed by her
1 1 1
song is × = . where we have 2 of each of 2 types
10 9 90
Then the total probability of hearing
all of her favorite song is
1 1 1 9 2 11
+ + = + =
10 90 90 90 90 90
Which means the probability of NOT
hearing all of her favorite song is
11 90 11 79
1− = − = Ans.
90 90 90 90
TARGET ROUND
1. We have a 100-acre ranch. Cows
require ten acres each of grazing
land. Sheep require three acres
each of grazing land. We are asked
to find how many ways there are to
stock the ranch so that it includes at
least one cow and one sheep.
We certainly can’t have 10 cows
because then we’d have no sheep.
If we had 9 cows they would use 90
acres but we couldn’t fully utilize the
rest of the land with sheep because
we could put 3 sheep in using 9
acres. But that would leave 1 acre
unutilized.
The same would be true with 8 cows
because they would use 80 acres
and 100 – 80 = 20 is not divisible by
3. 30 acres is so we could certainly
have 7 cows and 10 sheep.
Similarly, we can’t have 6 or 5 cows
but we could have 4 cows using 40
acres and that would leave 60 acres
for 20 sheep. That’s the second
way.
Similarly, we also can’t have 3 or 2
cows but we could have 1 cow and
30 sheep for the third way. 3 Ans.
2. Bill buys 6 donuts. If the shop has
four kinds of donuts and Bill must
many combinations will satisfy his
buying 6 donuts?
Let’s look at how we can have 3
donuts of one kind. We can first
of each of the other 3 types. We
can do that for all 4 types of donuts
so we have 4 combinations.
Now we look at having combinations
of donuts and one of each of the
other 2 types of donuts. There are
4× 3
= 6 combinations of those.
2
And that’s it. 4 + 6 = 10 Ans.
3. What is the shortest distance from
the point (6,0) to the line y = 2x – 2?
The shortest distance from (6,0) to
the line can be found by drawing a
line perpendicular to the line that
goes through (6,0).
The slope of y = 2x – 2 = 2. The
slope of the line perpendicular to y =
1 1
2x – 2 is − = −
m 2
The equation of the perpendicular
 1 equilateral triangles. We have 3:
line is y= − x+ b 2,2,2 4,4,4 and 6,6,6.
2 Now let’s look at isosceles triangles.
(6,0) goes through this line so If we have two sides of size 2, what
1 can the third side be? Nothing. 2 +
0= − × 6+ b 2 can’t be greater than 4 or 6 so we
2
0 = -3 + b don’t have either of those. How
b=3 about two sides of length 4? Then
Thus, the equation of the we can definitely choose 2 because
perpendicular line is 4 + 2 > 4 and 4 + 4 > 2. So we have
4,4,2 as another triangle we can
1
y= − x+ 3 choose. How about 4,4,6? Yes
2 because 4 + 4 > 6 and 6 + 4 > 4.
These two lines meet when So we’re up to 5 triangles. Now let’s
1 look triangles that have two sides of
− x + 3 = 2x − 2 length 6. 6,6,2 is okay because 6 +
2 6 > 2 and 6 + 2 > 6. And 6,6,4 is
-x + 6 = 4x – 4 okay as well so we’re up to 7
5x = 10 triangles. Now we consider a
x=2 triangle all of whose sides are
y=2 different values, i.e., 2, 4, 6.
This gives us the following figure: 2 + 4 > 6? No. So we’re done.
7 Ans.

5. How many ordered triples (a, b, c) of

The equation y = 2x – 2 crosses the
x-axis at (1,0). If we drop a
perpendicular from (2,2) to the x-
axis we can figure out the length of
(1,0) to (2,2).
Let x = the length of the line
connecting (1, 0) to (2,2). Let y =
the length of the line connecting
(2,2) to (6,0). The length of the line
connecting (1,0) to (6,0) is 6 – 1 = 5.
The length of the perpendicular
connecting (2,2) to (2,0) is 2.
12 + 22 = x2 = 1 + 4 = 5
x2 + y2 = 52 = 25
5 + y2 = 25
y2 = 25 – 5 = 20
y = 20 = 2 5 Ans.
4. We have an unlimited supply of
unbreakable sticks of length 2, 4
and 6 inches. Using these sticks,
how many non-congruent triangles
can be made?
The first thing we must remember is
that the sum of two sides of a
triangle must be greater than the
third side.
Now, let’s start by enumerating the
positive integers satisfy the equation
a + b + c = 6?
Enumerate the possibilities:
1 1 4 (there are 3 versions, ie., 141
and 411)
1 2 3 (there are 3! = 6 versions)
2 2 2 (just one version)
and that’s it.
3 + 6 + 1 = 10 Ans.
6. Each of 6 teams plays the other
teams exactly once during the
season. There were no ties and at
the end of the season, n teams had
the same best record. What’s the
maximum possible value of n?
So how many games do they play?
6× 5
= 15 games
2
How many wins and losses can
there be? Obviously 15 wins and 15
losses. So can 6 teams have the
same number of wins? No because
15 is not evenly divisible by 6. But 5
is. If 5 teams each win 3 and lose 2
and one team loses all 5 we have
our answer. 5 Ans.
7. A right pyramid has a square base 0×8+
that measures 10 cm on each side. 1×4+
Its peak is 12 cm above the center 1×2+
of the base. We are asked to find 1 × 1 or 11111001112
the sum of the lengths of the That’s 8 1’s. Could we have 9 1’s?
pyramid’s 8 edges. No. Not without making a larger
number. So what about 8 ones
using 10 binary digits? No, not
without creating a number larger
than 1000. So we should move to 9
binary digits.
1111111112 = 511
What is the largest number less
Four of those edges are just 10 cm than 511 whose integers sum to 8?
each. To find the other sides, draw 503. What is 503 in binary?
a “half” diagonal starting at where 503 =
the center of the base to an edge 1 × 256 +
(as I did in grey). That line is just 1 × 128 +
half the diagonal of the 10 × 10 1 × 64 +
square. If d is the diagonal, 1 × 32 +
d2 = 102 + 102 = 100 + 100 = 200 1 × 16 +
0×8+
d = 200 = 10 2 1×4+
d 10 1×2+
= 2= 5 2 1×1=
2 2 1111101112
Let x = the edge of the pyramid that 503 Ans.
is the hypotenuse of the triangle
consisting of the line connecting the
peak to the base and the half TEAM ROUND
diagonal. Then
2 1. Zip codes are of the form abcde-
12 2 + 5 2 = x 2 fghji where each letter represents a
144 + 50 = 194 = x2 digit. How many zip codes are
x ≈ 13.928388 possible where a is not 0?
13.928388 × 4 ≈ 55.713553 ≈ 56 There are 10 choices for each letter
56 + (4 × 10) = 56 + 40 = 96 Ans. except a where there are 9 choices.
9 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 ×
8. There are two options to transmit a 10 × 10 =
positive integer less than 1000. 9 × 108 Ans.
Option 1: Pay $d to send each digit
d. x 1 17
Option 2: Encode the integer into 2. = 1.0625 = 1 =
binary first and then pay $d to send y 16 16
each digit d. We are asked to find x and y are positive and
the largest integer less than 1000 x < 50 and y < 50.
that costs the same whether using 17 34 51
Option 1 or Option 2. = =
So what’s the maximum charge we
16 32 48
could have with option 2? 999 = Only the first two fractions work
1 × 512 + since 51 > 50>
1 × 256 + 17 + 16 + 34 + 32 =
1 × 128 + 33 + 66 = 99 Ans.
1 × 64 +
1 × 32 + 3. A jumbo jet can travel its own length
0 × 16 + in 20 seconds. At this same speed,
 the jet can taxi past a 710 foot long
hangar in 70 seconds. So what is
the length of the jumbo jet?
Let x be the length of the jet.
Let y be the speed of the jet in feet
per second. Remember that the jet
must completely pass the hangar! First, let’s find the radius of circle T.
Then C = 2πr
x 12π = 2πr
= 20 and r=6
y If we draw a line from T to Z we
710 + x have made an equilateral triangle
= 70 since both TX and TZ are radii of
y
the circle making the measure of
x = 20y angle TZX 60º which means that the
710 + x = 70y measure of angle XTZ is also 60º.
710 + 20y = 70y Therefore XZ = XT = r = 6. Ans.
710 = 50y
710 71 6. We are given a system of
y= =
50 5 inequalities:
20 × 71 2x > 3x – 3
x = 20y = = 71 × 4 = 284 3x – a > -6
5 How many positive integral values
Ans. of a are there for which x = 2 is the
only positive integer solution?
4. The 10 letters in the name Cybil and Substitute 2 for x in the second
Ronda are placed on identical cards equation.
so that each of the 10 cards 3 × 2 – a > -6
contains one letter. Without 6 – a > -6
replacement, two cards are selected 12 – a > 0
at random. What is the probability a < 12
that one letter is from each sister’s 2x > 3x – 3
name? 0>x–3
The probability that a letter from 3>x
Cybil’s name is picked first is x must be positive so x could be 1 or
5 5 1 5 5 2.
× = × = We must also look at what happens
10 9 2 9 18 when we choose a value for a
Similary, the probability that a letter between 1 and 11.
from Ronda’s name is picked first is If x = 1, then
5 3 – a > -6
. -a > -9
18
a<9
5 5 10 5 So a must be 9, 10 or 11.
+ = = Ans.
18 18 18 9 3 Ans.

5. Circle T has a circumference of 12π 7. We have two candles one of which

inches and segment XY is a
diameter. The measure of angle
TXZ is 60º. So what is the length of
segment XZ?
is 20 cm taller than the other. They
are both lit at the same time. 5
hours later they were both at the
same height. The taller one burned
all of its wax in six hours while the
shorter one burned all of its wax in
10 hours. So what is the ratio of the
original height of the shorter candle
 to the original height of the taller 5 5 7.1 NO
candle?
Let x be the height of the smaller If x < y,
candle. Then x + 20 is the height of
the larger candle. The taller one
x y x2 + y2 z
x + 20 2 3 3.6 4
burns at the rate of per 2 4 4.5 5
6 2 5 5.4 6
hour. The smaller one burns at the 3 4 5 6
x 3 5 5.8 6
rate of per hour. After 5 hours 4 5 6.4 NO
10
There are only 3 permutations for
x + 20 the first set and 6 permutations for
there was of the larger
6 the second set.
5x x 3 × 3 + 5 × 6 = 9 + 30 = 39 ways
candle left and = of the 39 13
10 2 = Ans.
smaller candle left. These two 6 × 6 × 6 72
values, i.e., the lengths of the
candles after 5 hours of burning, are 9. In the figure, m<A = 28º, m<B = 74º
equal. and m<C = 26º. We are asked to
x + 20 x find the value of x + y.
=
6 2
6x = 2x + 40
4x = 40
x = 10
x + 20 = 30 Since <C = 26 and the triangle that
shorter 10 1 contains it also contains a 90
= = Ans. degree angle, the third angle must
longer 30 3
be 180 – (90 + 26) = 180 – 116 = 64
If we now look at the triangle which
8. Each of three six-sided dice is rolled contains the angle of yº, the angle to
once. So what is the probability that the upper right of that is also 64 by
the three numbers rolled are the corresponding angles. That leaves
lengths of the sides of an obtuse the third angle in that triangle to be
triangle? 180 – (64 + y) = 116 – y.
In an obtuse triangle the length of By corresponding angles the
the side opposite the obtuse angle rightmost angle in the five-sided
must be larger than then length of polygon that contains angles A and
the hypotenuse if the triangle was a B must also be 116 – y.
right triangle. Now five-sided polygons must have
So, if x, y and z are the sides of the angles whose sum is (5 – 2) × 180 =
triangle where z is opposite the
obtuse angle and x <= y, then 3 × 180 = 540 degrees. We already
know the measures of angles A and
z> x + y and z < x + y.
2 2
B, the 90º angle (obviously!!!) and
So what values of the dice can give the one we got from corresponding
us an obtuse triangle? If x = y, then angles (116 – y). So what about the
let’s just make 3 columns for x, y one that has x as its exterior angle?
and z we can just list them Well that’s just 360 – x. So:
540 = 28 + 360 – x + 74 + 90 + 116
x y x2 + y2 z
–y
2 2 2.8 3 540 = 388 – x + 164 + 116 – y
3 3 4.3 5 540 = 668 – x – y
4 4 5.6 6
 x + y = 668 – 540 = 128 Ans.

10. A circular tabletop is divided into

four congruent sectors by two
diameters that are perpendicular to
each other. Each sector will be
painted with one of four colors. How
many distinct ways can the table be
painted?
Since we don’t have to use all 4
colors in painting the tabletop, let’s
start with just using one color.
Clearly we have four ways.
Now let’s look at two different
colors. There can either be 2
sections of each or there can be 3 of
one color and 1 of another. When
there are 2 of each, we have two
different ways we can do it. Either
the same colors are together or they
are opposite each other.
How many combinations are there?
4 × 3× 2
= 6 for each choice of
2× 2
color that will be used twice so a
total 6 × 4 = 24 for each type. Oh,
but wait, red, blue, red, green will
rotate to be the same as red, green,
red, blue. Thus when the color
chosen twice is in opposite sections,
there are only 12 possible
arrangements.
Giving us 24 + 12 = 36 ways for 3
colors.
36 + 28 = 64 so far.
Finally how about 4 colors?
Here are all the possibilities with red
in the upper left-hand corner.

How many combinations are there?

4× 3 Are these all distinct? Yes. But we
= 6 for each of the two will gain no new combinations by
2 putting another color in the top left
circles above or a total of 12 ways. corner since we can just rotate the
That’s 12 + 4 = 16 so far. Now let’s given circles around until we get the
look at having 3 of one color and 1 desired color in the top left corner.
of another. If we have 3 red, the Therefore, we have added only 6
other section can be blue, green or more.
yellow—that’s 3 options. The set of 64 + 6 = 70 Ans.
three same-colored sections can be
anyone of the 4 colors, thus there
are 4 × 3 = 12 possible
combinations. That’s 16 + 12 = 28
so far.
Now let’s look at 3 different colors.
We have 2 different ways we can do
it. For the one color that will be
chosen twice the two quadrants can
be together or opposite as before.