ST.

DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING

Edited by Brady Han
PROBLEM SET I
Feb. 2016

OUTLINE

• Algebra
Algebraic Expressions (Introductory)
Algebra with Radicals (Intermediate)
Advanced Factorization Techniques (Intermediate)
Complex Numbers (Introductory)
Equations (Introductory)
Linear Equations (1 or 2 variables)
System of Equations
Factorization (Introductory)
Functions (Introductory)
Exponential Functions
Basic Transformations
Logarithm
Square Root Function
Polynomials
Functions (Intermediate)
Absolute Functions
Ceiling and Floor Functions
Polynomials – Factor Theorem, Remainder Theorem, Symmetry, Newton’s Sums
Functional Equations
Inequality (Introductory)
Trivial Inequality
AM-GM Inequality (for 2 variables)
Inequality (Intermediate)
Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality
Triangle Inequality
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
Sequences and Series
Arithmetic
Geometric
Harmonic
Recursion
Trigonometry (Intermediate)
DeMoivre’s Theorem
Roots of Unity
Continued Fractions (Intermediate)
• Number Theory
Primes (Introductory)
Sieve of Eratosthenes
Prime Factorization
Composite Numbers (Introductory)
Divisibility (Introductory)
Divisors – GCD, Number of Divisors
Multiples – LCM
Division Algorithm (Introductory)
Base Numbers (Introductory)
Diophantine Equations (Introductory)
Modular Arithmetic (Introductory)
Linear Congruence
Pick’s Theorem / Lattice Points (Introductory)
Diophantine Equations (Intermediate)
Pell Equations
Euclidean Algorithm (Intermediate)
Modular Arithmetic (Intermediate)
Chinese Remainder Theorem
Euler’s Toitent Theorem
Fermat’s Little Theorem
Wilson’s Theorem
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han

INSTRUCTION

Here are some practice problems for solidifying your knowledge and improving your
problem-solving skills. Though not every problem is covered by the “curriculum” above,
for each problem, try to identify the topic that it tests on.
Pick 30 out of the 50 questions.

Alcumus: http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/alcumus

• NCMC: North Carolina Math Contest

• AIME: American Invitational Mathematics Examination
• PCMM: Purple Comet! Math Meet
• NIMO: National Internet Mathematics Olympiad
• USAMO: USA Mathematics Olympiad

1. (2001 NCMC Comp.) A driver travels from New York to Los Angeles and averages 40
mph. Since the driver has seen the sights she averages 60 mph on the way back from Los
Angeles to New York. What was her average speed for the round trip?

2. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Suppose the number 𝑁 = 𝑥539984𝑦 is a positive integer with two
unknown digits 𝑥 and 𝑦 and 𝑁 is a multiple of 198. Find the units digit of 𝑁/198.

3. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Solve the following pair of equations for 𝑥 and 𝑦.
𝑥 ! + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 ! = 84
𝑥 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 = 6
Find 𝑥𝑦.

! !
4. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Given − ! ≤ sin!! 𝑥 ≤ ! , what is tan sin!! 𝑥   in terms of 𝑥?
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
5. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Find the sum of the digits of the smallest prime factor of
1,111,111.

6. (2001 NCMC Comp.) If all possible solutions to log ! 3 − 𝑥 + log ! 3 + 𝑥 =

!

log ! 1 − 𝑥 + log ! 2𝑥 + 1 are found, which of the following statements is true?

!

A. There will be 2 positive solutions.

B. There will be 2 negative solutions.
C. There will be only 1 positive solution.
D. There will be 1 positive and 1 negative solution.
E. None of the above.

7. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Given that 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive integers, find the smallest value of
𝑏 so that
5 𝑎 7
< <
31 𝑏 43

8. (2001 NCMC Comp.) In our present calendar, leap years occur every 4 years except for
centuries that are not divisible by 400. For example 2000 was a leap year and 1900 was
not. If we continue on the present calendar, which of the following statements is true
about the first day of the century for the next 10,000 years given that the first day of 2001
(21st century) was a Monday. On which day(s) will no new centuries begin?

9. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Solve the following system of symmetric equations.

𝑥 ! + 3𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 ! + 2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 8
2𝑥 ! + 2𝑦 ! + 3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 14
Find the sum of the four 𝑥 values in the solution set correct to three decimal places.

10. (2001 NCMC Comp.) The number 5857 has the property that the first two digits is one
greater than the second two digits. Find a four-digit number with this property, which is a
perfect square. Find the sum of the digits of this number.
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
11. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Evaluate tan 1° tan 3° tan 5° … tan 179°.

12. (2001 NCMC Comp.) If 𝑆 = 1! − 2! + 3! − 4! + ⋯ + 199! − 200! , find the absolute

value of 𝑆.

13. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Given a function 𝑓 𝑥 such that 𝑓 0 = 2 and

𝑓 𝑥 ! + 1 = 𝑓 𝑥 ! + 1 for all 𝑥. Find 𝑓 5 .

14. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Two tugboats leave from opposite sides of a river and meet 700
yards from the east side. The boats continue traveling until they reach opposite banks of
the river, reverse directions, and continue until they meet 300 yards from the west bank.
The boats travel at constant but unequal rates of speed and the time reversing is
negligible. How wide is the river?

15. (2001 NCMC Comp.) If cos 5𝑥 = 𝐴 cos ! 𝑥 + 𝐵 cos ! 𝑥 + 𝐶 cos ! 𝑥 + 𝐷 cos ! 𝑥 +

𝐸 cos 𝑥 + 𝐹, find 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 + 𝐷 + 𝐸 + 𝐹.

16. (2001 NCMC Comp.) If

𝑥−𝑦+𝑧 =1
𝑦−𝑧+𝑢 =2
𝑧−𝑢+𝑣 =3
𝑢−𝑣+𝑥 =4
𝑣−𝑥+𝑦 =5
Find 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 + 𝑢 + 𝑣.

17. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Suppose all the points on the curve 𝑥 ! + 𝑦 ! − 10𝑥 = 0 are
reflected about the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 3. Find the locus of points. Write the locus in the form
𝑥 ! + 𝑦 ! + 𝐶𝑥 + 𝐷𝑦 + 𝐹 = 0. Find the sum 𝐶 + 𝐷 + 𝐹.

18. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Find the sum of all positive integers 𝑛 so that 2001 + 𝑛! will be a
perfect square.
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han

19. (2001 NCMC Comp.) How many digits are in the smallest number with the property that
if the first digit is moved to the right so as to become the last digit, the new number will
be 3/2 times the original?

20. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Destination: Tombstone

An English tourist in the wild and woolly West was informed at the hotel that there were
four different ways he could travel to Tombstone.
1. He could ride the stagecoach all the way. This included one stopover of thirty minutes
at a certain way-house along the road.
2. He could walk all the way. If he started walking at the same time the coach left the
hotel, the coach would beat him to Tombstone by one mile.
3. He could walk to the way-house and then take the coach. If he and the coach left the
hotel at the same time, he would arrive at the way-house just in time to catch the coach.
4. He could take the coach to the way-house, then walk the rest of the way. This was the
fastest procedure, getting him to Tombstone fifteen minutes ahead of the coach. How fast
does he walk? Answer should be in miles per hour.

21. (2001 NCMC Comp.) In base ten the following three rules for divisibility hold.
1. A number that ends with an even number is exactly divisible by 2.
2. A number that ends in 0 or 5 is exactly divisible by 5.
3. If the sum of the digits is divisible by 3, then the number is exactly divisible by 3.
What is the next base for which all 3 of these rules work?

22. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Solve the equation 𝑥 ! + 𝑦 ! + 𝑧 ! = 12 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧 where 𝑥, 𝑦, and

𝑧 are integers with 𝑥 ≥ 𝑦 ≥ 𝑧. How many solutions does the equation have?

23. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Let 𝑎, 𝑏, and 𝑐 denote any three integers. Define  𝑎 ∗ 𝑏 in such a
way that
1∗1=1
𝑎∗𝑏 +𝑐 = 𝑏∗𝑐 +𝑎
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
𝑎∗𝑏 =𝑏∗𝑎
Find the inverse of 5 under ∗. Record the absolute value of your answer.

24. (2001 NCMC Comp.) Find the remainder when 𝑥 !"" − 4𝑥 !" + 5𝑥 + 6 is divided by
𝑥 ! − 2𝑥 ! − 𝑥 + 2. Record the product of the coefficients.

25. (2003 PCMM) In eight years Henry will be three times the age that Sally was last year.
Twenty-five years ago their ages added to 83. How old is Henry now?

26. (2003 PCMM) What is the smallest number that could be the date of the first Saturday
after the second Monday following the second Thursday of a month?

27. (2003 PCMM) What is the largest integer whose prime factors add to 14?

28. (2003 PCMM) Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 be nonzero real numbers such that

1 1 1
𝑎+ = 5, 𝑏 + = 12, 𝑐 + = 13
𝑏 𝑐 𝑎
!
Find the value of 𝑎𝑏𝑐 + !"#.

29. (2003 PCMM) Evaluate

1 1 1
− −
1 1 1
log ! 6 log ! 6 log ! 6

30. (2003 PCMM) Find the smallest 𝑛 such that every subset of 1, 2, 3, … 2004 with 𝑛
elements contains at least two elements that are relatively prime.

31. (2003 PCMM) How many gallons of a solution which is 15% alcohol do we have to mix
with a solution that is 35% alcohol to make 250 gallons of a solution that is 21% alcohol?

32. (2003 PCMM) If

ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
1 1 1 𝑚
+ + ⋯+ =
1+2 1+2+3 1 + 2 + ⋯ + 20 𝑛
Find 𝑚 + 𝑛, where 𝑚, 𝑛 are positive integers with no common divisor.

33. (2003 PCMM) Let 𝑃 𝑥 be a polynomial such that, when divided by 𝑥 − 2, the
remainder is 3 and, when divided by 𝑥 − 3, the remainder is 2. If, when divided by
𝑥 − 2 𝑥 − 3 , the remainder is 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, find 𝑎! + 𝑏 ! .

34. (2003 PCMM) Let 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 be real numbers such that 𝑎! − 2 = 3𝑏 − 𝑐, 𝑏 ! + 4 = 3 + 𝑎,

and 𝑐 ! + 4 = 3𝑎 − 𝑏, Find 𝑎! + 𝑏 ! + 𝑐 ! .

35. (2003 PCMM) Let 𝑟 be a real number such that

! 1
𝑟−! =2
𝑟
!
Find 𝑟 ! − ! ! .

36. (2003 PCMM) Find the largest number 𝑥 such that

𝑥 ! 𝑥 ! 325
+ =
𝑥−1 𝑥+1 144

!
37. (2003 PCMM) Given that 3 sin 𝑥 + 4 cos 𝑥 = 5, where 𝑥 is in 0, ! , find

2 sin 𝑥 + cos 𝑥 + 4 tan 𝑥.

38. (2003 PCMM) For 𝑛 ≥ 1, let

! !
1 1
𝑎! = 1+ 1− + 1+ 1+
𝑛 𝑛
Evaluate
1 1 1 1
+ + + ⋯+
𝑎! 𝑎! 𝑎! 𝑎!"
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
39. (2003 PCMM) For each positive integer 𝑚 and 𝑛 define function 𝑓 𝑚, 𝑛 by 𝑓 1, 1 =
1, 𝑓 𝑚 + 1, 𝑛 = 𝑓 𝑚, 𝑛 + 𝑚 and 𝑓 𝑚, 𝑛 + 1 = 𝑓 𝑚, 𝑛 − 𝑛. Find the sum of all the
values of 𝑝 such that 𝑓 𝑝, 𝑞 = 2004 for some 𝑞.

40. (2003 PCMM) Given that 1 + tan 1° 1 + tan 2° … 1 + tan 45° = 2! , find 𝑛.

41. (1983 AIME) Let 𝑥, 𝑦, and 𝑧 all exceed 1 and let 𝑤 be a positive number such that
log ! 𝑤 = 24, log ! 𝑤 = 24, log !"# 𝑤 = 12
Find log ! 𝑤.

42. (1983 AIME) Let 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑝 + 𝑥 − 15 + 𝑥 − 𝑝 − 15 , where 0 < 𝑝 < 15.

Determine the minimum value taken by 𝑓 𝑥 for 𝑥 in the interval 𝑝, 15 .

43. (1983 AIME) What is the product of the real roots of the equation

𝑥 ! + 18𝑥 + 30 = 2 𝑥 ! + 18𝑥 + 45

44. (1983 AIME) Suppose that the sum of the squares of two complex numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦 is 7
and the sum of the cubes is 10. What is the largest real value that 𝑥 + 𝑦 can have?

45. (1983 AIME) Let 𝑎! = 6! + 8! . Determine the remainder on dividing 𝑎!" by 49.

46. (1983 AIME) The numbers 1447, 1005, and 1231 have something in common: each is a
four-digit number beginning with 1 that has exactly two identical digits. How many such
numbers are there?

47. (NIMO 8) A positive integer N has 20 digits when written in base 9 and 13 digits when
written in base 27. How many digits does N have when written in base 3?

48. (NIMO 8) Let 𝑥, 𝑦, 𝑧 be complex numbers satisfying

𝑧 ! + 5𝑥 + 10𝑧
𝑦 ! + 5𝑧 = 10𝑦
ST. DAVID’ SCHOOL MATH TEAM TRAINING
Edited by Brady Han
𝑥 ! + 5𝑦 = 10𝑥
Find the sum of all possible values of 𝑧.

49. (NIMO 8) Let 𝑓 𝑛 = 𝜑 𝑛! !!

, where  𝜑 𝑛 denotes the number of positive integers not
greater than 𝑛 that are relatively prime to 𝑛. Suppose
𝑓 1 +𝑓 3 +𝑓 5 +⋯ 𝑚
=
𝑓 2 +𝑓 4 +𝑓 6 +⋯ 𝑛
Compute 100𝑚 + 𝑛, where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are relatively prime positive integers.

50. (1980 USAMO) Prove that for numbers where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are relatively prime positive
integers 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 in the interval [0, 1],
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
+ + + 1−𝑎 1−𝑏 1−𝑐 ≤1
𝑏+𝑐+1 𝑐+𝑎+1 𝑎+𝑏+1