Solutions 2015 AB Exam
Solutions 2015 AB Exam
1. For how many integers n in the set {1, 2, 3, ..., 150} is n3 − n2 the square of an integer?
ANSWER: 13
5
ANSWER: 6
Solution:
1 1
x + y =5
1 1
x − y = 1, adding gives
2 1
x = 6 and x = 3
Substitution gives
3 + y1 = 5
1 1
y = 2 and y = 2
x + y = 13 + 21 = 56
3. Daisy has a bag containing 6 distinct objects. She draws one object and replaces it. She does
this four times. What is the probability that she draws the same object exactly three times.
5
ANSWER: 54
Solution: There are 64 possible outcomes. We need to count the number of outcomes having
the same object exactly three times. There are 6 distinct objects, and the number of ways
that object A can be picked three times is 43 · 5 = 4 · 5 = 20. So the probability is
6·(4·5)
64
= 20
63
4·5
= 4·9·6 5
= 54
4. The sum of the first ten terms of a nonzero geometric series is 244 times the sum of the first
five terms. What is the common ratio of this series?
ANSWER: 3
Solution:
a + ar + ... + ar9 = a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 1 + r5 = 244(a + ar + ar2 + ar3 + ar4 )
ANSWER: 31030
Solution:
51 = 5 2015 = 3(625) + 140
52 = 25 140 = 1(125) + 15
53 = 125 15 = 3(5)
54 = 625
ANSWER: 7
K
Solution: Suppose 7 is an integer multiple of 25 . Then K
7 = n 25 for some integer n.
5K = 14n
Solution:
8. Find the value of the number A such that the three solutions to x3 − 8x2 + Ax − 12 = 0 are
positive integers.
ANSWER: 19
A = αβ + βγ + αγ
= 3 + 12 + 4 = 19
9. Let P (x) be a monic polynomial of degree 3. (So the coefficient of x3 is 1.) Suppose that the
remainder when P (x) is divided by x2 − 5x + 6 equals 2 times the remainder when P (x) is
divided by x2 − 5x + 4. If P (0) = 100, find P (5).
ANSWER: 110
So
and
Hence
130 + 10A = 120 + 5A =⇒ 5A = −10 =⇒ A = −2 .
Thus, P (5) = 120 − 10 = 110.
10. How many positive integers less than 1400 have no repeating digits, i.e. no digit occurs more
than once. (For example 103 is such an integer, but 131 is not.)
ANSWER: 906
Solution:
(a) Every single digit (positive) integer is allowed. There are 9 of these.
(b) Two digits: 9 × 9 = 81
(c) Three digits: 9 × 9 × 8 = 648
(d) Four digits: 1 × 3 × 8 × 7 = 168
Adding gives
9 + 81 + 648 + 168 = 906
11. Find all possible ordered pairs (A, B) of digits such that the integer 7A8B is divisible by 45.
12. Among all real numbers x and y such that |x + y| + |x − y| = 10, what is the largest value of
x2 + y 2 − 8y?
ANSWER: 90
Solution: The graph of |x + y| + |x − y| = 10 is the square with vertices (±5, ±5). We have
x2 + y 2 − 8y = x2 + y 2 − 8y + 16 − 16 = x2 + (y − 4)2 − 16. So the maximum value occurs
when x2 and (y − 4)2 are maximal. This occurs (on the square) when x = 5 and y = −5. The
maximum value is
52 + (−9)2 − 16 = 25 + 81 − 16
= 106 − 16 = 90
13. How many ways can one list 1, 2, 3, 4 so that no integer is followed by its successor, i.e. n, n+1
never occurs? For example 2, 1, 4, 3 is one such listing but 2, 1, 3, 4 is not (4 is the successor
of 3).
ANSWER: 11.
1324, 1432
2143, 2413, 2431
3142, 3214, 3241
4132, 4213, 4321
14. Exactly one of the five integers listed below is a prime. Which one is the prime number?
(a) 999, 991 (b) 999, 973 (c) 999, 983 (d) 1, 000, 001 (e) 7, 999, 973
Solution: A difference of two squares and the sum or difference of two cubes always factors.
15. The set of integers {1, 2, ..., 20} is divided into k disjoint subsets S1 , S2 , ..., Sk such that no
two different integers whose sum is divisible by 5 are in the same subset. For example 7 and
8 are not in the same subset since 5 divides 7 + 8. What is the least possible value of k?
ANSWER: 4
Solution: The integers 5, 10, 15, 20 must each be in a different subset. So k ≥ 4. In fact, k = 4
using
16. A number system with base 26 uses as its symbols for digits
A = 0, B = 1, C = 2, ..., Y = 24, Z = 25. Express P + Q in this system.
ANSWER: BF
ANSWER: 12
Solution:
x2 + 6x + y 2 = 16 =⇒ (x + 3)2 + y 2 = 25
So 25 is the sum of two squares. The possible solutions of z 2 + w2 = 25 are:
18. Recall that if S is a set then |S| denotes the number of elements in S. Now let S =
{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. How many different nonempty subsets T of S do not contain |T |? For
example T = {3, 5} is one such subset since |T | = 2 is not in T .
ANSWER: 31
Solution: The number of subsets of size 1 that do not contain 1 is 51 . The number of subsets
of size 2 that do not contain 2 is 52 . The number of subsets of size k that do not contain k
is k5 . So we have
5 5 5 5 5
+ + + + = 25 − 1 = 32 − 1 = 31
1 2 3 4 5
19. Find all positive integers n of the form n = p2 q with p and q distinct primes and such that
the sum of the reciprocals of all of the divisors of n is 2.
ANSWER: 28
i.e.
p2 q + pq + q + p2 + p + 1 = 2p2 q
(q + 1)(p2 + p + 1) = 2p2 q.
ANSWER: 73
Solution: We may assume there are 20 juniors with scores A1 , ..., A20 and 80 seniors with
scores B1 , ..., B80 . We have
B1 + ... + B80
= 88, so B1 + ... + B80 = (88)(80)
80
and
A1 + ... + A20 + B1 + · · · + B80
= 85
100
so
21. Let f1 be the function defined by f1 (x) = 1 − x1 . Let f2 be defined by f2 (x) = f1 (f1 (x)).
Let f3 be defined by f3 (x) = f1 (f2 (x)). Continue in this fashion to define the sequence of
functions f1 , f2 , ..., fn , .... Find the value of f50 (50).
1
ANSWER: − 49
Solution:
1 49
f1 (50) = 1 − =
50 50
49 50 1
f2 (50) = f1 ( ) = 1 − =−
50 49 49
1 1
f3 (50) = f1 (− ) = 1 − 1 = 50
49 − 49
49
From here on the values repeat: f4 (50) = f1 (50) = 50 etc. So
f50 (50) ∈ { 49 1
50 , − 49 , 50}.