Categories

## Linear Equation Problem | AMC 10A, 2015 | Problem No.16

Try this beautiful Problem on Algebra from the Linear equation from AMC 10 A, 2015.

## Linear Equation Problem – AMC-10A, 2015- Problem 16

If $y+4=(x-2)^{2}, x+4=(y-2)^{2}$, and $x \neq y$, what is the value of $x^{2}+y^{2} ?$

,

• $11$
• $12$
• $15$
• $14$
• $6$

Algebra

Equation

## Suggested Book | Source | Answer

Pre College Mathematics

#### Source of the problem

AMC-10A, 2015 Problem-16

#### Check the answer here, but try the problem first

$15$

## Try with Hints

#### First Hint

Given that $y+4=(x-2)^{2}, x+4=(y-2)^{2}$ . we have to find out $x^{2}+y^{2} ?$. Now add two equations $x^{2}+y^{2}-4 x-4 y+8=x+y+8$

$\Rightarrow x^{2}+y^{2}=5(x+y)$

Can you find out the value $x+y$?

#### Second Hint

We can also subtract the two equations to yield the equation
$x^{2}-y^{2}-4 x+4 y=y-x$

$\Rightarrow x^{2}-y^{2}=(x+y)(x-y)=3 x-3 y=3(x-y)$

Therefore $(x+y)(x-y)=3 x-3 y=3(x-y)$

$\frac{(x+y)(x-y)}{(x-y)}=\frac{3(x-y)}{(x-y)}$ [ as$x \neq y$]

$\Rightarrow (x+y)=3$

#### Third Hint

Therefore $x^2+y^2=5(x+y)=5 \times 3=15$

Categories

## Least Possible Value Problem | AMC-10A, 2019 | Quesstion19

Try this beautiful problem from Algebra based on Least Possible Value.

## Least Possible Value – AMC-10A, 2019- Problem 19

What is the least possible value of $((x+1)(x+2)(x+3)(x+4)+2019)$

where (x) is a real number?

• $(2024)$
• $(2018)$
• $(2020)$

### Key Concepts

Algebra

least value

Answer: $(2018)$

AMC-10A (2019) Problem 19

Pre College Mathematics

## Try with Hints

To find out the least positive value of $(x+1)(x+2)(x+3)(x+4)+2019$, at first we have to expand the expression .$((x+1)(x+2)(x+3)(x+4)+2019)$ $\Rightarrow (x+1)(x+4)(x+2)(x+3)+2019=(x^2+5x+4)(x^2+5x+6)+2019)$

Let us take $((x^2+5x+5=m))$

then the above expression becomes $((m-1)(m+1)+2019)$ $\Rightarrow m^2-1+2019$ $\Rightarrow m^2+2018$

Can you now finish the problem ……….

Clearly in $(m^2+2018)…….(m^2)$ is positive ( squares of any number is non-negative) and least value is 0

can you finish the problem……..

Therefore minimum value of $m^2+2108$ is $2018$ since $m^2 \geq 0$ for all m belongs to real .

Categories

## Sequence and permutations | AIME II, 2015 | Question 10

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME II, 2015 based on Sequence and permutations.

## Sequence and permutations – AIME II, 2015

Call a permutation $a_1,a_2,….,a_n$ of the integers 1,2,…,n quasi increasing if $a_k \leq a_{k+1} +2$ for each $1 \leq k \leq n-1$, find the number of quasi increasing permutations of the integers 1,2,….,7.

• is 107
• is 486
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Sequence

Permutations

Integers

AIME II, 2015, Question 10

Elementary Number Theory by David Burton

## Try with Hints

While inserting n into a string with n-1 integers, integer n has 3 spots where it can be placed before n-1, before n-2, and at the end

Number of permutations with n elements is three times the number of permutations with n-1 elements

or, number of permutations for n elements=3 $\times$ number of permutations of (n-1) elements

or, number of permutations for n elements=$3^{2}$ number of permutations of (n-2) elements

……

or, number of permutations for n elements=$3^{n-2}$ number of permutations of {n-(n-2)} elements

or, number of permutations for n elements=2 $\times$ $3^{n-2}$

forming recurrence relation as the number of permutations =2 $\times$ $3^{n-2}$

for n=3 all six permutations taken and go up 18, 54, 162, 486

for n=7, here $2 \times 3^{5} =486.$

as

sds

Categories

## Numbers of positive integers | AIME I, 2012 | Question 1

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, AIME 2012 based on Numbers of positive integers.

## Numbers of positive integers – AIME 2012

Find the number of positive integers with three not necessarily distinct digits, $abc$, with $a \neq 0$ and $c \neq 0$ such that both $abc$ and $cba$ are multiples of $4$.

• is 107
• is 40
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Integers

Number Theory

Algebra

AIME, 2012, Question 1.

Elementary Number Theory by David Burton .

## Try with Hints

Here a number divisible by 4 if a units with tens place digit is divisible by 4

Then case 1 for 10b+a and for 10b+c gives 0(mod4) with a pair of a and c for every b

[ since abc and cba divisible by 4 only when the last two digits is divisible by 4 that is 10b+c and 10b+a is divisible by 4]

and case II 2(mod4) with a pair of a and c for every b

Then combining both cases we get for every b gives a pair of a s and a pair of c s

So for 10 b’s with 2 a’s and 2 c’s for every b gives $10 \times 2 \times 2$

Then number of ways $10 \times 2 \times 2$ = 40 ways.

Categories

## Number of points and planes | AIME I, 1999 | Question 10

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME I, 1999 based on Number of points and planes.

## Number of points and planes – AIME I, 1999

Ten points in the plane are given with no three collinear. Four distinct segments joining pairs of three points are chosen at random, all such segments being equally likely.The probability that some three of the segments form a triangle whose vertices are among the ten given points is $\frac{m}{n}$ where m and n are relatively prime positive integers, find m+n.

• is 107
• is 489
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Number of points

Plane

Probability

AIME I, 1999, Question 10

Geometry Vol I to IV by Hall and Stevens

## Try with Hints

$10 \choose 3$ sets of 3 points which form triangles,

fourth distinct segment excluding 3 segments of triangles=45-3=42

Required probability=$\frac{{10 \choose 3} \times 42}{45 \choose 4}$

where ${45 \choose 4}$ is choosing 4 segments from 45 segments

=$\frac{16}{473}$ then m+n=16+473=489.

Categories

## Arithmetic Sequence Problem | AIME I, 2012 | Question 2

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, AIME 2012 based on Arithmetic Sequence.

## Arithmetic Sequence Problem – AIME 2012

The terms of an arithmetic sequence add to $715$. The first term of the sequence is increased by $1$, the second term is increased by $3$, the third term is increased by $5$, and in general, the $k$th term is increased by the $k$th odd positive integer. The terms of the new sequence add to $836$. Find the sum of the first, last, and middle terms of the original sequence.

• is 107
• is 195
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Series

Number Theory

Algebra

AIME, 2012, Question 2.

Elementary Number Theory by David Burton .

## Try with Hints

After the adding of the odd numbers, the total of the sequence increases by $836 – 715 = 121 = 11^2$.

Since the sum of the first $n$ positive odd numbers is $n^2$, there must be $11$ terms in the sequence, so the mean of the sequence is $\frac{715}{11} = 65$.

Since the first, last, and middle terms are centered around the mean, then $65 \times 3 = 195$

Hence option B correct.

Categories

## Algebra and Positive Integer | AIME I, 1987 | Question 8

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination I, AIME I, 1987 based on Algebra and Positive Integer.

## Algebra and Positive Integer – AIME I, 1987

What is the largest positive integer n for which there is a unique integer k such that $\frac{8}{15} <\frac{n}{n+k}<\frac{7}{13}$?

• is 107
• is 112
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Digits

Algebra

Numbers

AIME I, 1987, Question 8

Elementary Number Theory by David Burton

## Try with Hints

Simplifying the inequality gives, 104(n+k)<195n<105(n+k)

or, 0<91n-104k<n+k

for 91n-104k<n+k, K>$\frac{6n}{7}$

and 0<91n-104k gives k<$\frac{7n}{8}$

so, 48n<56k<49n for 96<k<98 and k=97

thus largest value of n=112.

Categories

## Positive Integer | PRMO-2017 | Question 1

Try this beautiful Positive Integer Problem from Algebra from PRMO 2017, Question 1.

## Positive Integer – PRMO 2017, Question 1

How many positive integers less than 1000 have the property that the sum of the digits of each such number is divisible by 7 and the number itself is divisible by $3 ?$

• $9$
• $7$
• $28$

### Key Concepts

Algebra

Equation

multiplication

Answer:$28$

PRMO-2017, Problem 1

Pre College Mathematics

## Try with Hints

Let $n$ be the positive integer less than 1000 and $s$ be the sum of its digits, then $3 \mid n$ and $7 \mid s$
$3|n \Rightarrow 3| s$
therefore$21| s$

Can you now finish the problem ……….

Also $n<1000 \Rightarrow s \leq 27$
therefore $\mathrm{s}=21$
Clearly, n must be a 3 digit number Let $x_{1}, x_{2}, x_{3}$ be the digits, then $x_{1}+x_{2}+x_{3}=21$
where $1 \leq x_{1} \leq 9,0 \leq x_{2}, x_{3} \leq 9$
$\Rightarrow x_{2}+x_{3}=21-x_{1} \leq 18$
$\Rightarrow x_{1} \geq 3$

Can you finish the problem……..

For $x_{1}=3,4, \ldots ., 9,$ the equation (1) has $1,2,3, \ldots ., 7$ solutions
therefore total possible solution of equation (1)

=$1+2+\ldots+7=\frac{7 \times 8}{2}=28$

Categories

## Distance Time | AIME I, 2012 | Question 4

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, AIME, 2012 based on Distance Time.

## Distance Time – AIME 2012

When they meet at the milepost, Sparky has been ridden for n miles total. Assume Butch rides Sparky for a miles, and Sundance rides for n-a miles. Thus, we can set up an equation, given that Sparky takes $\frac{1}{6}$ hours per mile, Butch takes $\frac{1}{4}$ hours per mile, and Sundance takes $\frac{2}{5}$ hours per mile.

• is 107
• is 279
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Time

Distance

Speed

AIME, 2012, Question 4

Problem Solving Strategies by Arther Engel

## Try with Hints

After meeting at milepost, Sparky for n miles. Let Butch with Sparky for a miles Sundance with Sparky for n-a miles.

Then
$\frac{a}{6} + \frac{n-a}{4}$ = $\frac{n-a}{6} + \frac{2a}{5}$ implies that $a = \frac{5}{19}n$

Then integral value of n is 19 and a = 5 and $t = \frac{13}{3}$ hours that is 260 minutes. Then $19 + 260 = {279}$.

Categories

## Arithmetic Mean | AIME I, 2015 | Question 12

Try this beautiful problem from the American Invitational Mathematics Examination, AIME, 2015 based on Arithmetic Mean.

## Arithmetic Mean of Number Theory – AIME 2015

Consider all 1000-element subsets of the set {1, 2, 3, … , 2015}. From each such subset choose the least element. The arithmetic mean of all of these least elements is $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $p + q$.

• is 107
• is 431
• is 840
• cannot be determined from the given information

### Key Concepts

Inequalities

Algebra

Number Theory

AIME, 2015, Question 12

Elementary Number Theory by David Burton

## Try with Hints

Each 1000-element subset ${ a_1, a_2,a_3,…,a_{1000}}$ of ${1,2,3,…,2015}$ with $a_1<a_2<a_3<…<a_{1000}$ contributes $a_1$ to sum of least element of each subset and set ${a_1+1,a_2+1,a_3+1,…,a_{1000}+1}$. $a_1$ ways to choose a positive integer $k$ such that $k<a_1+1<a_2+1,a_3+1<…<a_{1000}+1$ ($k$ can be anything from $1$ to $a_1$ inclusive

Thus, the number of ways to choose the set ${k,a_1+1,a_2+1,a_3+1,…,a_{1000}+1}$ is equal to the sum. But choosing a set ${k,a_1+1,a_2+1,a_3+1,…,a_{1000}+1}$ is same as choosing a 1001-element subset from ${1,2,3,…,2016}$!

average =$\frac{2016}{1001}$=$\frac{288}{143}$. Then $p+q=288+143={431}$