Amc8 V3

American Mathematics Competitions
(AMC 8)
Preparation
Volume 3
The American Mathematics Competitions 8 is a 25-question multiple-choice
contest for students in the sixth through eighth grade. Accelerated fourth and fifth
graders can also take part. The AMC 8 is administered in schools in November.
The American Mathematics Competitions (AMC) publishes the Achievement
Roll list recognizing students in 6th grade and below who scored 15 or above, and
the Honor Roll list recognizing students who score in the top 5%, and the
Distinguished Honor Roll list recognizing students who score in the top 1%.
This book can be used by 5th to 8th grade students preparing for AMC 8. Each
chapter consists of (1) basic skill and knowledge section with plenty of examples,
(2) about 30 exercise problems, and (3) detailed solutions to all problems.
We would like to thank the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8 and 10)
for their mathematical ideas. Many problems (marked by ☆) in this book are
inspired from these tests. We only cited very few problems directly from these
tests for the purpose of comparison with our own solutions.
We wish to thank the following reviewers for their invaluable solutions, insightful
comments, and suggestions for improvements to this book:
Alex Cheng (UT), Jin Cheng (CA), Felix Cui (NE), Albert Hao (CA), Sameer
Khan (VA), Kathy Liu (VA), Priyo Majumdar (LA), Aadith Menon,
Kalyanasundaram Seshadri (CA), Huili Shao (MA), Stephan Xie (TX), Cindy Ye
(AR), Samuel Yoon (VA) and Sophia Zhang (CO).
__________________________________________________________________
Copyright © 2014 by mymathcounts.com

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America
Reproduction of any portion of this book without the written permission of the
authors is strictly prohibited, except as may be expressly permitted by the U.S.
Copyright Act.
ISBN-13: 978-1501040559
ISBN-10: 1501040553
Please contact [email protected] for suggestions, corrections, or
clarifications.
Table of Contents
Chapter 13 Geometric visualization 1
Chapter 14 Factors 29
Chapter 15 Prime numbers 45
Chapter 16 Ratio, rate and proportion 61
Chapter 17 Least common multiple and greatest common factor 82
Chapter 18 Solving equations 101
Index 129
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AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 13 Geometric Visualization
1. THREE-DIMENSIONAL FIGURE
Draw the three views of a three-dimensional figure
A three-dimensional figure can be represented by its three views: the front view,
side view, and top view.
To draw a top view, imagine flying like a bird above the three-dimensional figure
and looking straight down on it. If you flew above the pyramid and looked down,
you would see more than just the top point. You would see the outline of the base
of the figure as well as the four edges that lead to the corners of the base. For a
bottom view, imagine lying below the three-dimensional figure and looking
straight up. For side views, imagine floating around the figure and taking a picture
of what you see when you face each side directly.
Example 1. Draw the figure shown in front, top, and side views.
Solution:
From the top and side views, there appears to be 3 cubes on the top
level. The front view shows that the figure has six cubes.
Example 2. Draw the front, top, and side views of the figure.
Solution:
Front: The figure looks like a row of 3 squares on
the bottom with 2 squares on top of the right side
and 1 square on top of the left side.
1
Top: The figure looks like a row of 3 squares.

Side: The figure looks like a column of 3 squares.
Example 3. Draw the front, top, and side views of the following solid.
Solution:
Draw the three-dimensional figure giving three views
Different views of a solid figure are shown. A point of view is called a

perspective. You can draw a three-dimensional figure using three different
perspectives.
Example 4. The front, top, and side views of a stack of cubes are shown below.
Draw the three-dimensional figure.
Solution:
Step 1. Use the front view to build the front side
of the figure. The front view shows that
the front side is a 2-by-2 square.
Step 2. Use the top view to draft the

figure. The top view shows that the
length of the solid is 3 units.
Step 3. Use the side view to complete the figure. The side view shows that the
base layer has three cubes and the top layer has only one cube in the middle. So
we remove four cubes from the second layer.
2
Example 5. A figure made up of unit cubes appears from the different views.
What is the minimum number of cubes which could be used to build this figure?
(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 11 (E) 12
Solution: B.
☆Example 6. (2003 AMC 8) A figure is constructed from unit cubes. Each cube
shares at least one face with another cube. What is the
minimum number of cubes needed to build a figure with
the front and side views shown?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7
Solution: (B).
There are only two ways to construct a solid from three cubes so that each cube
shares a face with at least one other:
Neither of these configurations has both the front and side views shown. The four-
cube configuration has the required front and side views. Thus at least four cubes
are necessary.
3
Example 7. The outside of this set of four cubic blocks with no space between
blocks is painted. What is the number of painted square faces?
(A) 12 (B) 14 (C) 16 (D) 18 (E) 24
Solution: D.
We view this solid from three sides:
Top (and bottom): we see 3 squares. 3  2 = 6.
Front (and back): we see 3 squares. 3  2 = 6.
Left side (and right): we see 3 squares. 3  2 = 6.
The number of painted square faces is 6  3 = 18.
☆Example 8. (2002 AMC 8 problem 22) Six cubes, each an inch on an edge, are
fastened together, as shown. Find the total surface area in square inches. Include
the top, bottom and sides.
(A) 18 (B) 24 (C) 26 (D) 30 (E) 36
Solution: C.
Method 1: When viewed from the top and bottom, there are 4
faces exposed; from the left and right sides, there are 4 faces
exposed and from the front and back, there are 5 faces exposed. The total is 4 + 4
+ 4 + 4 + 5 + 5 = 26 exposed faces.
Method 2:
Before the cubes were glued together, there were 6 × 6 = 36 faces exposed. Five
pairs of faces were glued together, so 5 × 2 = 10 faces were no longer exposed.
This leaves 36  10 = 26 exposed faces.
4
Drawing a base plan
A base plan shows the shape of the base when viewed from above. The base plan
indicates the height of each part of the base, usually with numbers. Base plans are
particularly useful for figures with rectangular faces.
Example 9. Draw a base plan for the following solid object:
Solution:
Step 1. Draw the base as it looks from above. Since the solid
object is made of cubes,
draw one square for each stack.
Step 2. Write the number of cubes in each stack inside the correct
squares.
Example 10. The drawing below is a base plan of a solid figure made of stacked
cubes.
Which of the following solid figures is represented by the base plan above?
5
Solution: B.
☆Example 11. (1999 AMC 8 problem 20) Figure 1 is called a "stack map." The
numbers tell how many cubes are stacked in each position. Fig. 2 shows these
cubes, and Fig. 3 shows the view of the stacked cubes as seen from the front.
Which of the following is the front view for the stack map in Figure 4?
Solution: B.
The front view shows the larger of the numbers of cubes in the front or back stack
in each column. Therefore the desired front view will have, from left to right, 2, 3,
and 4 cubes. This is choice B.
6
2. NET OF A CUBE (11 TOTAL)
Figure (b) is a topological transformation of the edges of the cube in figure (a).
7
Find the other vertices that meet with a given vertex when the net is folded
Which vertices meet with vertex 1 when the net below is folded?
Step 1. Draw a line across two square faces, that is, draw a line from the given
vertex 1 to point O.
Step 2. Find other points that are the same distance to point O. In this case find
the points 2 and 3.
Step 3. Conclusion: Vertices 1, 2 and 3 will meet when the

net is folded.
Note that for a cube, three faces share one vertex.
☆Example 12. (1999 AMC 8) Six squares are colored, front and back, (R=red,
B=blue, O=orange, Y=yellow, G=green, and W=white).
They are hinged together as shown, then folded to form a
cube. The face opposite the white face is
(A) B (B) G (C) O (D) R (E) Y
Solution: A.
8
Method 1 (official solution):

When G is arranged to be the base, B is the back face and W is
the front face. Thus, B is opposite W.
Method 2 (our solution):

We know that faces G, Y, and O are adjacent to face W. So
we only need to examine faces R and B. We draw two line
segments as shown in the figure below.
We then know that vertex 2 will meet with vertex 1 when
the net is folded. So B must be the face opposite to W.
☆Example 13. (2003 Mathcounts Chapter) When this net of six squares is cut
out and folded to form a cube, what is the product of the numbers on
the four faces adjacent to the one labeled with a “1” ?
Solution: 144.
With our visualizing skills, we imagine the cube folding back up. The
“1” will touch 2, 3, 4, and 6. The product of the numbers on the four faces
adjacent to the one labeled with a “1” is 2 × 3 × 4 × 6 = 144.

We know that face 2 is adjacent to face 1. We draw three black line segments as
shown in the figure below.
From these line segments, we know that vertices A, B, and C will

meet when the cube is formed, so we have three faces (2, 4 and 6)
of the four faces.
We also know that the face marked 3 is adjacent to the one labeled
with “1” since E and D will meet when folded.
9
Therefore the product of the numbers on the four faces adjacent to the one labeled
with a “1” is 2 × 3 × 4 × 6 = 144. (Can you see which face is opposite to face 1?)
☆Example 14. (1995 AMC 12, 2003 Mathcounts School) The figure shown can
be folded into the shape of a cube. In the resulting cube, which of
the lettered faces is opposite the face marked x?
(A) A (B) B (C) C (D) D (E) E
Solution: C.
Think of A as the bottom. Fold B up to be the back. Then x folds upward to
become the left side and C folds forward to become the right side, so C is
opposite x.

We select a point P and draw a line segment PO across
two faces. We find another point which is Q as shown in
the figure. We then know that P and Q will meet when
folded. The face x will share the same vertex with the
faces D and E, so D and E are not opposite to x. We also know that face x shares
the same vertex with faces B and A. The only face left is face C, which must be
opposite x.
3. NET OF AN OCTAHEDRON
An octahedron is the solid with six polyhedron vertices, twelve polyhedron

edges, and eight equivalent equilateral triangular faces.
There are 11 distinct nets for the octahedron.
10
one – six – one
one – five – two
one – four – three four – four
Figure (b) is a topological transformation of the edges of the octahedron in figure

(a).
(a) (b)
11
Find the other vertices that meet with a given vertex when the net is folded
Which vertices meet with vertex 1 when the net below is folded?
Step 1. Draw a line across two triangular faces, i.e. draw a line from the vertex 1
to point O.
Step 2. Find other points that are the same distance to point O
(in this case, find the points 2 and 3).
Step 3. Conclusion: Vertices 1, 2, and 3 will meet when the net is folded.
Note that for an octahedron, four faces share one vertex.
Example 15. Find the other vertices that meet with Vertex 1 when the resulting
net is folded.
Solution: Vertices 2 and 3.

Step 1: Draw a line that crosses two triangular faces, i.e. draw a
line from the vertex 1 to point O.
12
Step 2: Find other points that are the same distance to point O, in this case, points
2 and 3.
Note for an octahedron, four faces share one vertex.
Example 16. (2004 Mathcounts State Sprint #21) This net is folded into a regular
octahedron. What is the sum of the numbers on the triangular
faces sharing an edge with the face with a “1” on it?
Solution: 14.
The net is folded into a regular octahedron, and each triangle
is equilateral.
Once folded, it looks like two square pyramids connected at their square bases.
The sides around the top are 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the sides around the bottom are 5, 6,
7 and 8. Side 1 is connected to 2 and 4 on the top and 8 on the bottom. 4 + 8 + 2 =
14 Ans.

From the figure, it is easy to see that face 2 shares an edge with face 1. Now we
just need to find the other two faces.
As shown in the figure and from our method, the faces are 8 and 4. (When
folded, four faces 1, 4, 5, and 8 share one vertex. Note face 5 shares a vertex with
face 1 but not an edge).
The sum of the three faces is 8 + 4 + 2 = 14.
13
Example 17. The net below can be folded up to form an octahedron. When it is
folded up, which two vertices are glued to vertex V?
Solution: H, I.
The two vertices are H and I.
Example 18. If the strip of triangles, as shown below, is folded to form an

octahedron, and each vertex is assigned the value of the sum of the four triangular
faces to which it belongs, find the minimum value of a vertex.
Solution: 12.
The minimum value is on the vertex with 1, 2, 4, and 5 and the sum is 12.
14
4. IMPORTANT FORMULAS
(1) Euler’s formula: F + V = E + 2

F: number of faces, V: number of vertices, and E: number of edges of a
polyhedron.
Polyhedron Faces Vertices Edges

Tetrahedron 4 4 6
Cube 6 8 12
Octahedron 8 6 12
Icosahedron 20 12 30
Dodecahedron 12 20 30
FS
(2) Edges and faces formula: E 
2
E is the number of edges of the solid, F is the number of faces of the solid or net,
and S is the number of sides of the faces.
☆Example 19. (2007 Mathcounts Chapter Team #6) The diagram shown is the
net of a regular dodecahedron. In a regular dodecahedron,
three edges come together at each vertex. When the net of
this dodecahedron is put together, the solid has x vertices
and y edges. What is the value of x + y?
(A) 25 (B) 30 (C) 35 (D) 40 (E) 50
Solution: E.
A dodecahedron, which is made up of 12 pentagons, looks like this
when the net is put together.
Clearly you can see 5 vertices on the pentagon in front and,
similarly, there are 5 vertices on the pentagon in the back. The
other 10 pentagons are split into 5 which abut the front pentagon
15
and 5 which abut the rear pentagon. Each of the first 5 shares their vertices with
the second 5.
While each of the first 5 pentagons touch the second 5 pentagons at 3 vertices,
one of them is shared with a neighbor. Thus, each of the 5 pentagons shares 2
vertices with the 5 × 2 = 10. 10 + 10 = 20 vertices. For the edges, we have the 5
on the front pentagon and 5 on the rear pentagon. Then, there are 5 edges
emanating from the vertices of the front pentagon and 5 emanating from the rear
pentagon.
Finally, there are 10 more where the two sets of 5 vertices meet each other. 10 +
10 + 10 = 30. 20 + 30 = 50.

We know that F + V = E +2, which can be rearranged to: V + E = 2E +2 – F
FS
We also know that E  (two sides of the net will become one edge when
2
folded), so E = 12 5  2 = 30. F = 12
x + y = V + E = 2E + 2 – F = 2  30 + 2 – 12 = 50.
Example 20. A convex polyhedron has twelve faces and 8 vertices. There are
two vertices with six edges coming together at each vertex. The rest of vertices
with n edges come together at each vertex. Find n.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Solution: D.
We know that F + V = E + 2  V+F–E= 2  8 + 12 – E = 2.
E = 18.
By the Edges and Faces formula, we have:
F  S 26  6 N
E   18  n = 4.
2 2
16
PROBLEMS
Problem 1. Draw the figure shown in front, top, and side views.
Problem 2. Draw the front, top, and side views of the following solid.
Problem 3. Draw the front, top, and side views of the following solid.
Problem 4. How many unit cubes are needed to build a stack of cubes which has
the following views?
(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14
Problem 5. The front, bottom and side views of a three-dimensional figure are
shown. Individual unit cubes are stacked to form
the figure. What is the least possible number of
cubes needed to build this figure?
(A) 15 (B) 20 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14
17
Problem 6. Using the following pictures, find the volume of the 3-dimensional
figure.
(A) 208.3 in3 (B) 312.5 in3 (C) 350 in3 (D) 416.7 in3 (E) 625 in3
Problem 7. The length of an edge of each of the six cubes in the solid is 2
centimeters. In square centimeters, what is the total surface area
of the solid?
(A) 80 (B) 88 (C) 90 (D) 92 (E) 94
Problem 8. The following polyhedron with dimensions as given has a volume of

7 cubic units. How many faces does the figure contain?
(Three edges and one vertex of the polyhedron are not
shown in the diagram.)
(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14
Problem 9. The drawing shows a solid made of stacked cubes. Which of the
following best represents the base plan for the solid?
18
Problem 10. Draw a solid object that corresponds to the following base plan.
Problem 11. Draw a base plan for the following solid object.
Problem 12. The piece of paper can be folded up to form a cube. What numbered
face will be opposite the number 6 face?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 13. The figure may be folded along the lines shown to form a number
cube. Three number faces come together at each corner of
the cube. What is the largest sum of three numbers whose
faces come together at a corner?
(A) 11 (B) 12 (C) 13 (D) 14 (E) 15
19
Problem 14. When folded up, find all the other vertices that meet with vertex 1 in
the following nets.
Problem 15. When folded to form a cube, what is the value in the square opposite
the one marked x?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 16. Find the sum of the numbers on the triangular faces that share the
same vertex as A.
(A) 14 (B) 15 (C) 16 (D) 17 (E) 18
Problem 17. If the strip of triangles, as shown, is folded to form an octahedron,

and each vertex is assigned the value of the sum of the four
triangular faces to which it belongs, find the maximum value
of a vertex.
(A) 18 (B) 19 (C) 20 (D) 22 (E) 24
20
Problem 18. When the strip of triangles is folded to form an octahedron, which
face is opposite the shaded one?
(A) F (B) B (C) C (D) D (E) E
Problem 19. An octahedral net is a collection of adjoining triangles that can be

folded into a regular octahedron. When the net below is
folded to form an octahedron, what is the sum of the
numbers on the faces adjacent to one marked with a 3?
A. 13 B. 15 C. 17 D. 18 E. 19
Problem 20. An octahedral net is a collection of adjoining triangles that can be

folded into a regular octahedron. When the net below is
folded to form an octahedron, what is the sum of the
numbers on the faces adjacent to one marked with a 4?
A. 13 B. 15 C. 17 D. 18 E. 12
☆Problem 21. (2004 Mathcounts State Team) This net with 5 square faces and
10 equilateral triangular faces is folded into a 15-faced
polyhedron. How many edges does the polyhedron have?
(A) 28 (B) 25 (C) 20 (D) 18 (E) 14
21
Problem 22. A convex polyhedron has 36 faces, 24 of which are triangular, and
12 of which are quadrilaterals. Find the number of space diagonals the polyhedron
has. (A space diagonal is a line segment connecting two vertices which do not
belong to the same face).
(A) 325 (B) 301 (C) 265 (D) 241 (E) 214
22
SOLUTIONS
Problem 1. Solution:
From the front and top views, there appears to be 1 cube on the bottom level. The
side view shows that the bottom layer has cubes.
Front: Treat the front face as a 2-dimensional figure.
Top: Treat the top face as a 2-dimensional figure.
Side: Treat the side face as a 2-dimensional figure.
Problem 4. Solution: A.
23
Problem 6. Solution: B.
We draw the three-dimensional figure as shown in the
figure.
The volume is the sum of volume of the right prism with a

trapezoid for a base with a height of 5 inches and the
volume of right triangular prism with a height of 10 inches:
(10  5)  5 (5  5)
5   10  312.5 .
2 2
Top (and bottom): we see 4 squares. 4  2 = 8.
Front (and back): we see 3 squares. 3  2 = 6.
Left side (and right): we see 4 squares. 4  2 = 8.
The number of faces is 8 + 6 + 8 = 22.
The area of each face is 2  2 = 4 (cm2).
The answer is 22  4 = 88 (cm2).
Problem 8. Solution: C.
Top (and bottom): 3 + 1 = 4.
Front (and back): 1 + 1 = 2.
Left side (and right): 3 + 1 = 4.
The number of faces is 4 + 2 + 4 = 10.
24

When we fold the paper, number 1 face will be opposite the number 5 face,
number 2 face will be opposite the number 4 face, and the number 3 face will be
opposite the number 6 face.
Problem 13. Solution: D.

When we fold the figure, faces 6, 5, and 3 will come together
at a corner. The sum is the largest: 6 + 5 + 3 = 14.
25

Face 1 will touch face x and faces 3, 4, and 5 are adjacent to face x, so face 2 is
opposite to face x in the folded cube.

We know that one of the numbers is 7.
We see that A will meet with C and D.
So faces 7, 5, 1 and 3 share one vertex. The sum
of the values is 7 + 5 + 1 + 3 = 16.
Problem 17. Solution: E.

We already know three faces that meet at vertex A: 8,
7, 6, so we only need to find one more face. Vertex B
will meet Vertex A when folded, so the other face is
the face marked “3”. The faces marked with the
numbers 8, 7, 6, and 3 form the maximum vertex. 8 +
7 + 6 + 3 = 24.

The face that is opposite the shaded one should not share any vertices or edges
with the shaded triangle.
We name the three vertices of the shaded triangle in

the net H, J, and K. We draw line 1 from K to P.
From this line, we draw line 2 based on our method
in the chapter discussion. From line 2, we see that
faces D and E share the same vertices with the
shaded triangle.
26
Next, we draw line 3 from H to Q and we get line 4. From here, we know that
face F shares a vertex with the shaded triangle.
Looking at vertex J, we know that faces A, G, and B all share vertices with the
shaded triangle. Therefore the only face not sharing any vertices or edges with the
shaded triangle is the face C.

From the figure below we see that vertices A, B, and C will
meet. When they meet, the faces 1 and 8 will be adjacent to
one marked with a 3. Since face1 is adjacent to face 7, face 4,
and face 3, it must not be adjacent to face 6. Since face 3 is
adjacent to face 1, it must be adjacent to face 6 (not face 4).
So the sum is 8 + 6 + 1 = 15.
Or :
We see that the face 8 is adjacent to face 3. We also see that the red lines going
through faces 3, 1, and 6. So face 1 and face 6 will be adjacent to face 3. So the
sum is 8 + 6 + 1 = 15.

From the figure below we see that vertices A and B will meet. So the faces
marked 2, 5, 6, and 4 will share the same vertex.
We know that face 1 is adjacent to face 4. Two faces

out of three faces 2, 5, and 6 will be adjacent to face 4.
We see that the red lines going through both faces 4

and 5. So face 4 and face 5 will be adjacent.
Since face 2 is adjacent to face 5, it must not be

adjacent to face 4. So face 6 is adjacent to face 4. So the sum is 1 + 5 + 6 = 12.
27

The net with 5 square faces and 10 equilateral triangles is folded
into a 15-faced polyhedron as shown below.
Since there are five squares with four sides each, they contribute 20
sides. There are also 10 triangles with three sides each, which
contribute 30 more sides. Notice that every side of a square or
triangle hooks up with a side of another square or triangle to form an edge.
Therefore, the 50 sides we have will form 50 ÷ 2 = 25 edges.

By the Edges and Faces formula, we have:
F  S 5  4  10  3
E   25 edges.
2 2

F = 24 + 12 = 36.
By the Edges and Faces formula, the number of edges of the polyhedron is
F  S 24  3  12  4
E   60 .
2 2
We know that F + V = E + 2. The number of vertices is V = E + 2 − F = 60 + 2
– 36 = 26.
Each quadrilateral has two face diagonals so we get 2  12 = 24 diagonals for 12

quadrilaterals.
 26 
The number of segments of the convex polyhedron is    325 .
2 
The answer is 325  60  24 = 241.
28
AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 14 Factors
1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE
1.1. Terms
FACTORS: Factors are the numbers you multiply together to get the product.
1× 12 = 2 × 6 = 3 × 4 = 12  1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 12 are factors of 12.
DIVISOR: A divisor is a number which divides the given number without

leaving any remainder.
6 6 6 6
6 3 2 1
1 2 3 6
The denominators 1, 2, 3, and 6 are called the divisors of the numerator 6.
Note: A factor of the number is the same as a divisor of the number.
MULTIPLE: Multiples are the products when you multiply two or more
numbers.
24 = 1 × 24 = 2 × 12 = 3 × 8 = 4 × 6  24 is a multiple of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and

24.
PRIME FACTORIZATIONS: Prime factorization of a number is to express the

number as a product of factors that are all prime.
12 = 2 × 6 = 2 × 2 × 3 = 22 × 3. 1001 = 7  11  13.
1.2. Fundamental theorem of arithmetic:
Any composite number, besides 0 and 1, can be written as a product of prime

numbers.
And this expression is unique.
36 = 6 × 6 = (2 × 3) × (2 × 3) = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 32
36 = 4 × 9 = (2 × 2) × (3 × 3) = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 32
36 = 3 ×12 = 3 × (2 × 6) = 3 × (2 × 2 × 3) = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 32
29
36 = 2 ×18 = 2 × (2 × 9) = 2 × (2 × 3 × 3) = 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 22 × 32
36 = 1 × 36 = 1 × (2 × 3)2 = 22 × 32
1.3. Methods of prime factorization
The divisibility rules and the square root rule can be used to find the prime
factorization of a number.
Example 1: What is the largest prime factor of 189?

(A) 63 (B) 3 (C) 7 (D) 13 (E) 21
Solution: C.
Method 1: Since the sum of the digits is divisible by 3, 189 is divisible by 3.
189 = 3 × 63 = 3 × 3 × 21 = = 3 × 3 × 3 × 7 = 33× 7.
Note that 189 is also divisible by 7.
Method 2: Since 132 = 169 < 189 and 142 = 196 > 189, the square root of 189 is
between 13 and 14.
So we use the prime numbers 13, 11, 7, and 3 to test and we get: 189 = 7 × 27.
Note that we do not use the prime number 5 in our test because we know that 189
is not divisible by 5.
1.4. Number of divisors
For an integer n greater than 1, let the prime factorization of n be

n  p1a p2b p3c  pkm
Where a, b, c,…, and m are nonnegative integers, p1, p2, …, pk are prime numbers.
The number of divisors is: d (n)  (a  1)(b  1)(c  1)(m  1)
Example 2: How many factors does 23 · 36 · 5 have?

(A) 56 (B) 18 (C) 12 (D) 6 (E) 46
30
Solution: A.
The number of factors is (3 + 1)(6 + 1)(1 + 1) = 56.
Example 3. How many distinct positive integral factors would the following
product have: (12)(15)(17)?
(A) 9 (B) 6 (C) 18 (D) 36 (E) 56
Solution: D.
We do prime factorization of (12)(15)(17):
(12)(15)(17) = 189 = 3 × 22 × 3 × 5 × 17 = 22 × 32 × 51 × 171
The number of divisors d = (2 + 1)(2 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 +1) = 36.
Example 4: How many positive integral factors does N have if N = 62 · 15?

(A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 24 (E) 21
Solution: D.
We do prime factorization first: N = 62 · 15 = (2 · 3)2 · 3 · 5 = 22 · 33 · 5
The number of divisors d = (2 + 1)(3 + 1)(1 + 1) = 24.
2. PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
2.1 Find the number of even divisors
Skill: (1) Prime factorization of the given number. (2) Take out one 2. (3)
Calculate the number of factors of the remaining number.
Theorem: The number of factors of a prime number is even (2).
Example 5: How many positive integer factors of 72 are even?

(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 9 (D) 12 (E) 18
Solution: C.
72 = 32  23 = 2(32  22)
Any factors of 32  2 will be a multiple of 2.
The number of positive integer factors of 72 are also multiples of 2 is: (2 + 1)(2 +
1) = 9.
31
Example 6: How many positive integer factors of 72 are also multiples of 4?

(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 4 (D) 5 (E) 6
Solution: E.
72 = 32  23 = 4(32  2).
The number of positive integer factors of 72 that are also multiples of 3 is: (2 +
1)(1 + 1) = 6.
2.2 Find the number of odd divisors
Skill: (1) Prime factorization of the given number. (2) Take out all 2’s. (3)
Theorem: The number of factors of a square number is odd.
Example 7: How many odd positive integers are factors of 100?

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
Solution: D.
100 = 52  22 = 22(52)
The number of odd factors of 22(52) is the same as the number of factors of (52)
which is 3.
Example 8: How many of the positive integers from 1 to 10000 do not have an
odd number of factors?
(A) 100 (B) 300 (C) 1000 (D) 9900 (E) 5000
Solution: D.
Any square number will have an odd number of factors. There are 10000  100
square numbers from 1 to 10000. So the answer is 10000 – 100 = 9900.
2.3 Find the number of divisors that are the multiple of m
Steps: (1) Prime factorization of the given number. (2) Take out one m. (3)
32

(A) 6 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
Solution: E.
56 = 7  23 = 4(7  2).
The number of factors of 7  23 which are also multiples of 4 is the same as the
number of factors of (7  2) which is 4.
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 14 (E) 4
Solution: C.
56 = 7  23 = 14(22).
The number of factors of 22 is 3.
2.4 Find the number of divisors that are square numbers
Steps: (1) Prime factorization of the given number. (2) Group all integers with an
even exponent and write them in the form of N 2. (3) Take out all integers left
over. (4) Calculate the number of factors of N.
Example 11: The prime factorization of a certain number is 22 · 32 · 5. How

many of its positive integral factors are perfect squares?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Solution: D.
22 · 32 · 5 = (2 · 3)2 · 5.
Any factors of (2 · 3) will be a factor of perfect square.
The answer is (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 4.
Example 12: How many of the positive integer factors of 432 are perfect
squares?
(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) 20 (E) 2
Solution: B.
432 = 24 · 33 = (22 · 3)2 · 3.
33
Any factors of (22 · 3) will be a factor of perfect square.

The answer is (2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 6.
Example 13: How many odd perfect square factors does 24  36  510  79 have?
(A) 60 (B) 120 (C) 30 (D) 115 (E) 20
Solution: B.
We just look at the number of perfect square factors for 36  510  79 .
36  510  79  (33  55  7 4 ) 2  7 .
There are (3 + 1)(5 + 1)(4 + 1) = 120 odd perfect square factors.
Example 14: How many of the positive integers from 1 to 100 have an odd
number of factors?
(A) 90 (B) 10 (C) 50 (D) 20 (E) 11
Solution: B.
square numbers from 1 to 100. So the answer is 10.
2.5 Find the number of divisors that are cubic numbers
Steps: (1) Prime factorization of the given number. (2) Group all integers with an
odd exponent that is a multiple of 3 and write them in the form of N 3. (3) Take
out all integers left over. (4) Calculate the number of factors of N.
Example 15: How many perfect cube factors does 24  36  510  79 have?
(A) 30 (B) 110 (C) 24 (D) 36 (E) 96
Solution: E.
24  36  510  79  (23  36  59  79 )  21  51 = (21  32  53  73 )3  21  51
 (21  32  53  73 )3  N  21  32  53  73
d(N) = (1 + 1) (2 + 1)(3 + 1)(3 + 1) = 2 × 3 × 4 × 4 = 96.
Example 16: What is the least positive integer by which you could multiply 180
to get a product that is a perfect cube?
(A) 50 (B) 75 (C) 150 (D) 180 (E) 5
34
Solution: C.
Let m3 be the perfect cube and n be the smallest positive integer.
180 = 22 · 32 · 5.
180  n = 22 · 32 · 5  n = m3.
n = 2 · 3 · 52 = 150.
3. MORE EXAMPLES
Example 17. If p, r, and s are three different prime numbers greater than 2, and n
= p2  r  s, how many positive factors, including 1 and n, does n have?
(A) 3 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) 2 (E) 20
Solution: C.
The number of positive factors is (2 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 12.
Example 18. If one of the positive factors of 80 is to be chosen at random, what is

the probability that the chosen factor will be a multiple of 10?
3 5 1 2 7
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
5 7 5 5 8
Solution: D.
80 = 24  5 which has (4 + 1)(1 + 1) = 10 factors.
We also know that 80 = 24  5 = 10(23) has (3 + 1) = 4 factors each is a multiple
of 10.
So the probability is 4/10 = 2/5.
Example 19. A positive integer is said to be “quadruple-factorable” if it is the

product of four consecutive integers. How many positive integers less than 10,
000 are quadruple -factorable?
(A) 24 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 6 (E) 8
Solution: E.
We know that 9  10  11  12 = 11800 and 8  9  10  11 = 7920. We also
know that 1  2  3  4 = 24.
We see that the first number in the product changes from 1 to 8. So there are 8 of
them that are quadruple -factorable.
35
Example 20. How many even positive integral factors does 6006 have?
(A) 3 (B) 7 (C) 11 (D) 13 (E) 16
Solution: E.
6006 = 2 × 3 × 1001 = 2 × (3 × 7 × 11 × 13).
The number of factors equals (1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 16.
Example 21. How many even positive integral factors does N have if N = 62 ×15?
(A) 24 (B) 6 (C) 12 (D) 16 (E) 8
Solution: D.
N = 62 × 15 = (2 × 3)2 × 3 × 5 = 22 × 33 × 5 = = 2(2 × 33 × 5).
The number of even positive integral factors of N is the same as the number of
factors of 2 × 33 × 5.
So the answer is (1 + 1)(3 + 1)( 1 + 1) = 16.
Example 22. If n  23  32  5 , how many odd positive factors does n have?

(A) 12 (B) 6 (C) 4 (D) 8 (E) 9
Solution: B.
n  23  32  5  23  (32  5) . We only need to calculate the number of factors for
(32  5) , which is (2 + 1)(1 + 1) = 6. So the number of even factors is 6.
Example 23. How many perfect cube factors does 24  36  510 have?
(A) 24 (B) 20 (C) 16 (D) 14 (E) 12
Solution: A.
24 × 36 × 510 = 23 ×( 32 )3 × (53 )3 × 2 × 5 = (21 × 32 × 53 )3 × 2 × 5.
We only need to calculate the number of factors for (21 × 32 × 53 ), which is (1 +
1)(2 + 1)(3 + 1) = 24. So the number of perfect cube factors is 24.
36
Example 24. How many natural numbers n will make a natural number?
n 1
36
(A) 2 (B) 4 (C) 6 (D) 8 (E) 9
Solution. D.
36 = 62 = (2  3)2 = 22  32 has 3  3 = 9 factors. n – 1 must be one of the 9
36
factors in order for to be a natural number. Note that since n is positive
n 1
integer, so n + 1 > 1. Among these 9 factors, the factor 1 should not be counted.
So the answer is 9 – 1 = 8.
Example 25. In the equation xy = 8192, x and y are positive integers. What is the
greatest possible value of x – y?
(A) 81 (B) 92 (C) 8190 (D) 8191 (E) 13
Solution: D.
xy = 8192 = 213 = (213 )1.
So x = 213 = 8192 and y = 1. x – y = 8192 – 1 = 8191.
37
4. PROBLEMS
Problem 1. What is the greatest three-digit integer that has a factor of 19?
(A) 999 (B) 998 (C) 989 (D) 988 (E) 969
Problem 2. Let a “prd” number be defined as one in which the product of the
positive divisors of the number, not including the number itself, is greater than the
number. Which of the following is NOT a prd number?
(A) 12 (B) 18 (C) 27 (D) 45 (E) 20
Problem 3. If one of the positive factors of 120 is to be chosen at random, what is

the probability that the chosen factor will not be a multiple of 5?
1 1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
2 3 4 5 6
Problem 4. In the equation xy = 8192, x and y are positive integers. What is the
smallest possible value of x – y?
(A) 11 (B) – 11 (C) 9 (D) – 9 (E) – 13
Problem 5. How many positive integers less than 100 have an odd number of
factors?
(A) 90 (B) 50 (C) 10 (D) 9 (E) 5
Problem 6. What is the sum of all of the prime factors of 71,400?

(A) 32 (B) 34 (C) 24 (D) 27 (E) 29
Problem 7. How many odd positive integers are factors of 480?

(A) 24 (B) 12 (C) 8 (D) 6 (E) 4
Problem 8. How many positive factors of 36 are also multiples of 4?

(A) 5 (B) 1 (C) 3 (D) 2 (E) 4
Problem 9. What is the smallest positive integer by which 120 can be multiplied
so that the product will be a perfect square?
(A) 120 (B) 30 (C) 50 (D) 20 (E) 40
38
Problem 10. Find the largest prime factor of 493.

(A) 17 (B) 19 (C) 23 (D) 29 (E) 31
Problem 11. Find the number of even factors of 14014.

(A) 18 (B) 12 (C) 6 (D) 4 (E) 2
Problem 12. What is the largest prime factor of 1463?

(A) 7 (B) 11 (C) 17 (D) 19 (E) 23
Problem 13. How many positive integral factors does 28 · 34 · 76 · 11 have?

(A) 192 (B) 630 (C) 63 (D) 540 (E) 504
Problem 14. How many positive divisors does the number 2 × 62 × 53 have?
(A) 48 (B) 24 (C) 15 (D) 12 (E) 6
Problem 15. If 2k is a divisor of 2304, what is the largest possible value for k?
(A) 12 (B) 11 (C) 8 (D) 6 (E) 4
Problem 16. If 2N is a factor of 20!, what is the largest possible value of N?

(A) 17 (B) 19 (C) 18 (D) 12 (E) 13
Problem 17. The number 596,505 can be expressed as a product n · m · p, where

each of n, m, and p are two-digit numbers. Find n + m + p.
(A) 255 (B) 91 (C) 164 (D) 70 (E) 95
Problem 18. How many odd perfect square factors does 2 4  36  510  7 9 have?
(A) 24 (B) 60 (C) 120 (D) 124 (E) 128
Problem 19. How many perfect cube factors does 2 4  36  510 have?
(A) 20 (B) 24 (C) 48 (D) 12 (E) 6
Problem 20. A rectangular quilt has 42 squares. How many shapes are there in
which the quilt can be arranged?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 5 (E) 4
so that the product will be a perfect cube?
39
(A) 4 (B) 25 (C) 8 (D) 10 (E) 100
60
Problem 22. For how many positive integers n will also be an integer?
n
(A) 16 (B) 12 (C) 8 (D) 4 (E) 3
36
Problem 23. How many positive integer values of x are there such that is
x3
an integer?
(A) 9 (B) 8 (C) 6 (D) 4 (E) 3
Problem 24. In the equation xy = 8192, x and y are positive integers. What is the
greatest possible value of x – y?
(A) 81 (B) 92 (C) 8190 (D) 8191 (E) 13
Problem 25. How many positive integers less than 20 have exactly 2 factors?
(A) 20 (B) 10 (C) 9 (D) 8 (E) 7
Problem 26. How many of the positive integers from 1 to 100 have an odd
number of factors?
(A) 10 (B) 9 (C) 8 (D) 5 (E) 3
so that result would be a perfect cube?
(A) 8 (B) 125 (C) 294 (D) 216 (E) 343
Problem 28. How many factors of 21,600 are perfect squares?

(A) 24 (B) 20 (C) 16 (D) 14 (E) 12
40
5. SOLUTIONS
We know that 1000/19  52. So 52  19 = 988. 988 is the greatest three-digit
integer that has a factor of 19.
The divisors of 27 are 1, 3, and 9 (not including 27). 1 + 3 + 9 = 13 < 27.
120 = 23  3  5 which has (3 + 1)(1 + 1) (1 + 1) = 16 factors.
We also know that 120 = 5  (23  3) has (3 + 1) (1 + 1) = 8 factors each is a
multiple of 5.
So the probability is 8/16 = 1/2.
xy = 8192 = 213 = (2)13.
So x = 2 and y = 13. x – y = 2 – 13 = – 11.
All the square numbers have an odd number of factors. There are 9 square
numbers from 1 to 99. The answer is then 9.
71400 = 100 × 7 × 102 = 100 × 7 × 3 × 34 = 100 × 7 × 3 × 34 = (2 × 5)2 × 7 × 3 ×
2 × 17.
The prime factors are 2, 3, 5, 7, and 17 and their sum is 34.
480 = 25 × 3 × 5 = 25 × (31 × 51)
The number of odd factors equals (1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 4.
Since 36 = 22  (32), the number of positive factors of 36 that are also multiples of
4 is (2 + 1) = 3.
41

120 = 12 × 10 = 3 × 4 × 2× 5 = 23 × 3  5.
80  n = 23 × 3  5  n = m2.
n = 2 × 3 × 5 = 30.

Since 222 = 484 < 4939 and 232 = 529 > 4939, the square root of 493 is between
22 and 23.
So we use the prime number 19, 17, 13, 11, 7, and 3 to test and we get:
493 = 17 × 29.

14014 = 2  7007 = 2  7  1001 = 2  7  7  11  13 = 2  (72  11  13).
There are (2 + 1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 12 even factors.

1463 is divisible by both 7 and 11 so it is divisible by 77.
1463 = 77 × 19 = 11 × 7 × 19

The number of divisors d = (8 + 1)(4 + 1)(6 + 1)(1 + 1) = 630.

Note that 2 × 62 × 53 = 2 × 22 × 32 × 53 = 23 × 32 × 53.
The number of divisors d = (3 + 1)(2 + 1)(3 + 1) = 48.

2304 = 16 × 144 = 24 × (12)2 = 24 × (3  22)2 = 24 × 32  24 = 28 ×32. k = 8.

 20   20   20   20 
N =     2    3    4   10  5  2  1  18.
 2  2  2  2 

596,505 = 5 × 119301 = 5 × 3 × 39767 = 5 × 3 × 7  5681 = 5 × 3 × 7  13 × 437
= 5 × 3 × 7  13 × 19  23 = (3  23) × (5 × 19)  (7  13) = 69  95  91
The sum is 69 + 95 + 91 = 255.
42

2 4  36  510  7 9  36  510  7 9  (33  55  7 4 ) 2  7
The number of odd perfect square divisors is the same as the number of divisors
for 33  55  7 4 which can be calculated as (3 + 1)(5 + 1)(4 + 1) = 120.

24  36  510  (2  32  53 )3  2  5
The number of factors is (1 + 1)(2 + 1)(3 + 1) = 24.

This is the same way of asking how many ways can 42 be expressed as a multiple
of two numbers. 42 = 1 × 42 = 2 × 21 = 3 × 14 = 6 × 7.

80 = 24  5.
The smallest positive integer is 22  52 = 100.

60
60 = 6  10 = 22  3  5 has 12 factors. n must be one of them in order for
n
to be an integer. So the answer is 12.

36 = 62 = (2  3)2 = 22  32 has 3  3 = 9 factors. x + 3 must be one of the 9
36
factors in order for to be an integer. Note that since x is positive integer, so
x3
x + 3  4. Among these 9 factors, three of them are less than 4. So the answer is 9
– 3 = 6.

xy = 8192 = 213 = (213 )1.
So x = 213 = 8192 and y = 1. x – y = 8192 – 1 = 8191.

Theorem: The number of factors of a prime number is 2. There are 8 prime
number from 1 to 20 (2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19). So the answer is 8.
43

square numbers from 1 to 100. So the answer is 10.

252 = 22 × 7× 32
252  n = 22 × 7× 32  n = m3.
n = 2 × 3  72 = 294.

21600 = 216 × 100 = (2 × 3)3 × 102 = 23 × 33 × 22 × 52 = 24 × 32 × 52 × 2 × 3 = (22
× 3 × 5)2 × 2 × 3.
We only need to calculate the number of factors for (22 × 3 × 5), which is (2 +
1)(1 + 1)(1 + 1) = 12. So the number of perfect squares factors is 12.
44
AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 15 Prime Numbers
1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE
1. 1. TERMS
Prime number: A prime number is a positive integer greater than 1 and only
divisible by 1 and itself. Another way of saying this is that a prime number is a
positive integer with exactly two factors (1 and itself).
The smallest prime number: 2, which is an even number and the only even
prime number.
Theorem 1: There are infinite many prime numbers.
Theorem 2: There is no greatest prime number.
Composite number: When a number has more than two factors, the number is
called a composite number.
Relatively prime: If two positive integers have no common factor except 1, the
two positive integers are said to be relatively prime, for example, 4 and 9 are
relatively prime.
1.2. METHOD TO DETERMINE A PRIME NUMBER
Theorem 3 (The square root rule): If a is not divisible by all the prime numbers
less than or equal to a , then a is a prime number.
Example 1. How many prime numbers are there between 51 and 600 ?
(A) 5 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 2 (E) 1
Solution: A.
Let the prime number be p.
51  p  600 .
Since 72 = 49 < 51 , p is greater than 7.
45
Since 252 = 625 > 600 , p is smaller than 25.

We look at all prime number between 8 to 24: 11, 13, 17, 19, and 23. There are 5
of them.
Example 2. What is the smallest prime number greater than 120?

(A) 121 (B) 123 (C) 125 (D) 127 (E) 131
Solution: D.
121 (11  11), 123 (divisible by 3), 125 (multiple of 5). The next is 127.
We know that 112 = 121 < 127 < 144 = 122. We only need to test if 127 is
divisible by 11, 7, 5, 3, and 2. We are sure that 127 is neither divisible by 2, nor 3
nor 5. We only need to divide 127 by 7 and 11, respectively.
127 =7  17 + 1
127 = 11  11 + 6
So 127 is the smallest prime number greater than 120.
1.3. TWENTY FIVE PRIME NUMBERS (UP TO 100)
There are 25 prime numbers from 1 to 100.
2 3 5 7
11 13 17 19
23 29
31 37
41 43 47
53 59
61 67
71 73 79
83 89
97
46
Example 3. Two prime numbers that differ by two are called twin primes. Find
the sum of a pair of twin primes between 60 and 75.
(A) 135 (B) 138 (C) 141 (D) 144 (E) 148
Solution: D.
71 + 73 = 144.
Example 4. What is the sum of the two-digit prime numbers between 10 and 20?
(A) 33 (B) 34 (C) 56 (D) 58 (E) 60
Solution: E.
11 + 13 + 17 + 19 = 60.
2.1. Property 1: A prime number p can only be written as p  1.
In other words, a prime number p can only be divided, without a remainder, by

itself and 1.
If p is a prime number and p = mn, then one of the two numbers m and n must be
1 and another one must be p.
Example 5. Find the value of a positive integer x such that, when 64 is taken
away from it, the results is a square number, and when 25 is added to it, the result
is also a square number.
(A) 1400 (B) 1600 (C) 1980 (D) 2000 (E) 1125
Solution: D.
x  64  n 2
 m2  n2  89  (m  n)(m  n)  89
x  25  m 2
Since 89 is a prime number and m + n > m – n,
47
m  n  89
 m = 45, n = 44.
m  n 1
x = 452 – 25 = 2000.
Example 6. Find the value of b – c if a3  b2 , c 2  d , and d  a  5 , where a, b,

c, and d are positive integers.
(A) 5 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 24 (E) 25
Solution: A.
Since a and b are positive integers, let a3  b2  t 32  t 6 , we get: a  t 2 and
b  t3 .
Therefore, d  a  5 can be written as c 2  t 2  5 or (c  t )(c  t )  5
Since 5 is a prime number and c + t > c – t, we have:
ct 5
 c = 3, t = 2.
c t 1
b – c = 23 – 3 = 5.
2.2. PROPERTY 2: If the sum of two prime numbers is an odd number, then
one of the two prime numbers must be 2.
Example 7. The sum of two prime numbers is 39. What is their product?
(A) 37 (B) 74 (C) 121 (D) 169 (E) 40
Solution: B.
Since the sum is an odd number, one prime number must be 2. The other one is
then 39 − 2 = 37. The product is 2  37 = 74.
Example 8. The sum of two prime numbers is 49. What is the sum of the
reciprocals of the two prime numbers?
49 1 1
(A) 47 (B) (C) (D) (E) 49
94 47 2
Solution: B.
48
Let the two prime numbers be x and y and x < y.

Since y + x = 49, x must be 2 and y = 47.
1 1 49
  .
47 2 94
Example 9. Three prime numbers p, q, and r satisfy the following conditions: p +

q = r and 1 < p < q. Find the value for p.
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 5 (D) 7 (E) 23
Solution: A.
Since p, q, and r are all prime numbers, r must be an odd number and one of the
two numbers p and q must be 2.
Since 1 < p < q, p = 2.
Example 10. If a + b + c = 66 and ab + bc + ca = 1071, where a, b, and c are all

prime numbers, find the value of abc.
(A) 1071 (B) 944 (C) 1886 (D) 958 (E) 1024
Solution: C.
Since the sum of three prime numbers is an odd number, one of the prime
numbers must be 2. Let a  b  c , we get a = 2 and b + c = 64.
ab + bc + ca = 1071  2b + bc + 2c = 1071 or 2(b + c) + bc = 1071.
bc = 943. Thus abc = 2  943 = 1886.
2.3. How Many Prime Numbers
Example 11. For how many positive integers n is n2 − 3n + 2 a prime number?

(A) none (B) one (C) two (D) more than two, but finitely many
(E) infinitely many.
Solution: B.
We factor n2 − 3n + 2 = (n − 1)(n − 2).
When (n − 1) = 1, n = 2. n2 − 3n + 2 = 0 which is not a prime.
When n − 1 = −1, n = 0 which is not a positive integer.
When (n − 2) = 1, n = 3. n2 − 3n + 2 = 2 which is a prime.
When (n − 2) = −1, n = 1. n2 − 3n + 2 = 0 which is not a prime.
49
Therefore, n2 − 3n + 2 is prime only when n = 3.
Example 12. The positive integers A, B, A − B, and A + B are all prime numbers.
The sum of these four primes is
(A) even (B) divisible by 3 (C) divisible by 5 (D) divisible by 7
(E) prime
Solution: E.
The numbers A − B and A + B are both odd or both even. However, they are also
both prime, so they must both be odd. Therefore, one of A and B is odd and the
other even. Because A is a prime between A − B and A + B, A must be the odd
prime. Therefore, B = 2, the only even prime. So A − 2, A, and A + 2 are
consecutive odd primes and thus must be 3, 5, and 7. The sum of the four primes
2, 3, 5, and 7 is the prime number 17.
Example 13. The product of three prime numbers is five times the sum of these
prime numbers and it is also divisible by 5. Find the remainder when the sum of
these prime numbers is divided by 11.
(A) 9 (B) 7 (C) 6 (D) 3 (E) 1
Solution: D.
Since the product is divisible by 5, one of these prime numbers must be 5.
Let p and q be the other two prime numbers, we have: 5pq = 5(p + q + 5)
 pq – p – q + 1 = 6.  (p – 1)(q – 1) = 6 = 2  3 = 1  6.
If p – 1 = 2 and q – 1 = 3, q = 4 is not a prime number which is not possible.
If p – 1 = 1 and q – 1 = 6, p = 2 and q = 7.
Three prime numbers are (2, 5, 7). The sum is 14 and the answer is 3.
p
Example 14. Find if both p and q are prime numbers and 3 p  5q  31.
3q  1
1 1 1 1
(A) or 1 (B) or 2 (C) or 11 (D) or 17 (E) 5
8 7 5 13
Solution: A.
50
Since 3p + 5q = 31, 3p or 5q must be even since two odd numbers do not sum to
an odd integer.
Case I: If 3p is even, p must be 2. We then have 5q = 31 – 3  2 = 25  q = 5.

p 2 1
  .
3q  1 3  5  1 8
Case II: If 5q is even, q must be 2. We then have 3p = 31 – 5  2 = 21  p = 7.

p 7
 1.
3q  1 3  2  1
3. MORE EXAMPLES
Example 15. If m is the greatest prime factor of 57 and n is the greatest prime
factor of 120, what is the value of m + n?
(A) 7 (B) 12 (C) 24 (D) 29 (E) 44
Solution: C.
Since 5 + 7 = 12, 57 is divisible by 3. 57 = 3  19.
120 = 12  10 = 3  4  2  5. The greatest prime factor of 120 is 5.
m + n = 19 + 5 = 24.
Example 16. Jerry chose a four-digit number to be the personal identification

number for his bank account. The first digit (leftmost digit) is prime, the greatest
common factor of the middle two digits is 2, and the last digit is a divisor of 20.
Which of the following numbers could be his personal identification number?
(A) 2463 (B) 3475 (C) 3864 (D) 5467 (E) 6216
Solution: C.
We eliminate (E) since 6 is not a prime. We eliminate (B) since the greatest
common factor of 4 and 7 is not 2. Since the last digit is a divisor of 20, we
eliminate (A) and (D).
51
Example 17. For three positive prime numbers a, b, and c, ab = 55 and bc = 35.
What is the value of abc?
(A) 175 (B) 605 (C) 165 (D) 385 (E) 1925
Solution: D.
ab = 55 = 5  11. bc = 35 = 5  7.
So a = 11, b = 5, and c = 7  abc = 35  11 = 385.
Example 18. How many of the prime factors of 210 are greater than 2?
(A) One (B) Two (C) Three (D) Four (E) Five
Solution: C.
210 = 2  3  5  7. Only 3, 5, and 7 are greater than 2.
Example 19. What is the product of the prime numbers between 30 and 40?
(A) 1023 (B) 1108 (C) 1147 (D) 1221 (E) 1143
Solution: C.
31  37 = 1147.
Example 20. The difference of two prime numbers is 101. What is the value of
the larger prime number?
(A) 101 (B) 103 (C) 107 (D) 109 (E) 191
Solution: B.
Let the two prime numbers be x and y and x < y.
Since y – x = 101. x must be 2 and y = 103.
Example 21. Two prime numbers p and q satisfy the following conditions: p = m
+ n and q = mn, where both m and n are positive integers. Find the value of pq +
qp.
(A) 11 (B) 13 (C) 15 (D) 17 (E) 19
Solution: D.
Since q is a prime number and q = mn, m or n must be 1.
52
Let m = 1, we have q = n and p = 1 + n = 1 + q

Since both p and q are prime number, q = 2 and p = 3.
pq + qp = 32 + 23 = 17.
Example 22. If a + b + c = 68 and ab + bc + ca = 1121, where a, b, and c are all

prime numbers, find the value of abc.
(A) 989 (B) 1978 (C) 1292 (D) 323 (E) 1003
Solution: B.
numbers must be 2. Let a  b  c , we get a = 2 and b + c = 66.
ab + bc + ca = 1121  2b + bc + 2c = 1121 or 2(b + c) + bc = 1121.
bc = 989. abc = 2  989 = 1978.
Example 23. For how many positive integers a is a2 – 3a + 2 a prime number?

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
Solution: B.
We factor: a2 – 3a + 2 = (a – 2)(a – 1).
When (a – 2) = 1, a = 3, a2 – 3a + 2 = 2 (a prime number).
When (a – 2) = –1, a = 1, a2 – 3a + 2 = 6, (not a prime number).
When (a – 1) = 1, a = 2, a2 – 3a + 2 = 0 (not a prime number).
When (a – 1) = –1, a = 0 which is not a positive number.
So there is one positive integer a such that a2 – 3a + 2 is a prime number.
Example 24. Find a positive integer such that the sum of the positive integer and
72 is a square number, and the sum of the positive integer and 55 is also a square
number.
(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 7 (D) 5 (E) 17
Solution: B.
Let x be the positive integer.
x  72  y 2 (1)
x  55  z 2
(2)
53
(2) – (1):
z 2  y 2  17  ( z  y)(z  y)  17
Since z – y < z + y, we have:
z – y =1
z  y  17
Solving we get: z = 9, y = 8, and x = 9.
Example 25. For how many integers n is n2 − 8n + 15 a prime number?

(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
Solution: C.
We factor: n2 − 8n + 15 = (n − 3)(n − 5).
When (n − 3) = 1, n = 4. n2 − 8n + 15 = −1 (not a prime).
When (n − 3) = − 1, n = 2. n2 − 8n + 15 = 3 (a prime).
When (n − 5) = 1, n = 6. n2 − 8n + 15 = 3 ( a prime).
When (n −5) = − 1, n = 4. n2 − 8n + 15 = −1 (not a prime).
54
4. PROBLEMS
Problem 1. The prime number p is a factor of 70 and is also a factor of 105. How
many possible values are there for p ?
(A) One (B) Two (C) Three (D) Four (E) Five
Problem 2. Which of the following is NOT an element of both the set of positive
odd integers and the set of prime numbers?
(A) 7 (B) 17 (C) 37 (D) 47 (E) 57
Problem 3. How many integers greater than 20 and less than 30 are each the
product of exactly two prime numbers?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7
Problem 4. What is the sum of the first ten prime numbers?

(A) 129 (B) 137 (C) 127 (D) 133 (E) 141
Problem 5. The sum of three consecutive primes is 159. What is the largest of the
three primes?
(A) 53 (B) 57 (C) 59 (D) 61 (E) 47
Problem 6. How many pairs of distinct prime numbers have a sum of 22?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 7. The sum of three prime numbers is 38. Find the largest of the primes.
(A) 17 (B) 19 (C) 37 (D) 31 (E) 41
Problem 8. The Goldbach Conjecture, which has not been proven, states that
every even integer greater than 2 is expressible as the sum of two prime numbers.
In how many ways can the number 36 be expressed as the sum of two primes?
(A) 4 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 1 (E) 5
Problem 9. How many prime numbers satisfy 300  x  700 ?

(A) 2 (B) 0 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
55
Problem 10. How many ordered triples of primes (a, b, c) exist such that a + b +
c = 7?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 11. How many ordered pairs of primes (a, b) satisfy a + b = 20?
(A) 1 (B) 4 (C) 3 (D) 2 (E) 5
Problem 12. How many ordered triples of primes (a, b, c) exist such that
a  b  c and a + b + c = 26?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 13. If a + b + c = 28 and ab + bc + ca = 185, where a, b, and c are all

prime numbers, find the greatest of the three prime numbers.
(A) 21 (B) 12 (C) 17 (D) 19 (E) 26
Problem 14. The sum of three prime numbers is 40. Find the largest possible
product of the two of the three prime numbers.
(A) 144 (B) 221 (C) 323 (D) 217 (E) 361
Problem 15. How many ordered triples of three prime numbers exist for which
the sum of the members of the triple is 24?
(A) 6 (B) 15 (C) 12 (D) 3 (E) 5
Problem 16. If the sum of the square of a prime number and an odd positive
integer is 125, find the odd positive integer.
(A) 121 (B) 131 (C) 161 (D) 125 (E) 177
Problem 17. For how many positive integers n is n2 − 4n − 21 a prime number?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Problem 18. A group of 25 pennies is arranged into three piles such that each pile
contains a different prime number of pennies. What is the greatest number of
pennies possible in any of the three piles?
(A) 13 (B) 15 (C) 11 (D) 17 (E) 19
56
Problem 19. Find the sum of all integral values of x such that 8x2 + 2x − 55 is
prime.
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 14 (E) 51
57
5. SOLUTIONS
70 = 7  5  2. 105 = 7  5  3. There are two values: 7 and 5,
The sum of the digits of 57 is 5 + 7 = 12. So 57 is divisible by 3. 57 = 3  17.
21 = 3  7; 22 = 2  11; 25 = 5  5; and 26 = 2  13.
2 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 + 17 + 19 + 23 + 29 = 129.
159/3 = 53 which is a prime number. So we know that the other two prime
numbers are 47 and 59.
22 = 2 + 20 = 3 + 19 = 5 + 17 = 7 + 15 = 11 + 11
Only (3, 19) and (5, 17) are pairs of distinct prime.
Since the sum is even, there must be a 2 in them. The sum of the other two prime
numbers is 36.
36 = 3+ 33 = 5 + 31 = 7 + 29 = 11 + 25 = 13 + 23 = 17 + 19.
The pairs of prime numbers are ( 5, 31), (7, 29), (13, 23), and (17, 19). The largest
one is 31.
36 = 5 + 31 = 7 + 29 = 13 + 23 = 17 + 19.
58
300  x  700  18  x  26 . We have two prime numbers: 19 and 23.

We see that 2 + 2 + 3 = 7. So we have 3 ordered triplets: (2, 2, 3), (2, 3, 2), and (3,
2, 2).

Since 20 = 3 + 17 = 7 + 13, we have 4 ordered pair: (3, 17), (17, 3), (7, 13), and
(13, 7).

numbers is 24.
Since 24 = 3 + 21 (not a prime) = 5 + 19 = 7 + 17 = 11 + 13, we have 3 ordered

triplets: (2, 5, 19), (2, 7, 17), and (2, 11, 13).

numbers must be 2. Let a  b  c , we get a = 2 and b + c = 26. ab + bc + ca =
2b + bc + 2c = 185 or 2(b + c) + bc = 185. bc = 133 which is divisible by 7. bc
= 7  19. The greatest of a, b, c is 19.

numbers is 38.
Since 38 = 3 + 35 (not a prime) = 5 + 33 (not a prime) = 7 + 31 = 11 + 27 (not a

prime) = 13 + 25 (not a prime) = 17 + 21 (not a prime) = 19 + 19, we have 2
ordered triplets: (2, 7, 31), and (2, 19, 19). 7  31 = 217. 19  19 = 361.
59

numbers is 22.
Since 22 = 3 + 19 = 5 + 17 = 7 + 15 (not a prime) = 11 + 11, we have 15 ordered

triplets:
6 triplets (2, 3, 19), 3 triplets (2, 11, 11), and 6 triplets (2, 5, 17).

Let the prime number be p and the odd number be 2n + 1. p2 + 2n + 1 = 125.
Since 125 is an odd number, p must be 2. Thus the odd number is 2n + 1 = 125 −
4 = 121.

We factor: n2 − 4n − 21 = (n + 3)(n − 7).
When (n + 3) = 1, n = −2 (not positive, thus ignored).
When (n + 3) = − 1, n = −4. (not positive, thus ignored).
When (n − 7) = 1, n = 8. (n + 3)(n − 7) = 11 (a prime).
When (n − 7) = − 1, n = 6. (n + 3)(n − 7) = −9 (not a prime).
Problem 18. D.
25 = 3 + 5 + 17 = 5 + 7 + 13 = 3 + 11 + 11 (not all different) = 3 + 3 + 19 (not all
different) = 7 + 7 + 11 (not all different). The greatest number is 17.

We factor: 8x2 + 2x − 55 = (2x − 5)(4x + 11).
When (2x − 5 ) = 1, x = 3. (2x − 5)(4x + 11) = 23 (a prime).
When (2x − 5) = − 1, x = 2. (2x − 5)(4x + 11) is negative.
When (4x + 11) = 1, x = −10/4 = −5/2 (not an integer).
When (4x + 11) = − 1, x = −3. (2x − 5)(4x + 11) = 11 (a prime).
3 – 3 = 0.
60
AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 16 Ratios, Rates, and Proportions
1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE
(1). RATIOS
Ratios are used to compare two or more numbers.

a
For any two numbers a and b (b ≠ 0), the ratio is written as a : b  a  b  =a/
b
b.
Example 1. There are 16 girls in a class of 30 students. Find the ratio of girls to
boys. Express your answer as a common fraction.
(A) 8/15 (B) 7/15 (C) 7/8 (D) 8/7 (E) 15/8.
Solution: D.
The number of boys in the class is 30 – 16 = 14  16/14 = 8/7.
(2) RATES
A rate is a ratio used to compare two numbers of different units. If the second
term of the ratio is 1, the rate is called a unit rate.
Example 2. Sam drove 100 miles in 2 hours. What are his rate and the unit rate?
(A) 50/1 (B) 100/1 (C) 1/50 (D) 25/2 (E) 200/1.
Solution: A.
The rate is 100 miles/2 hours and the unit rate is 50/1 or 50 miles per hour.
(3). PROPORTIONS
A proportion is an equation of two ratios. For example, a  c . We can find a if

b d
we know b, c, and d or we know b and the value of c/d.
Example 3. If refreshments cost $45 for 18 people, at the same rate how much
would refreshments cost for 52 people?
(A) $90 (B) $100 (C) $120 (D) $130 (E) $150
61
Solution: D.
Let x be the cost of refreshment for 52 people.
45 x 45
  x  52  130
18 52 18
2. IMPORTANT PROPERTIES
2.1. Properties of Ratios:
Property 1：The first term of a ratio can be any number. The second term can
also be any number except zero.
Property 2: If the two terms are multiplied by the same number d, the ratio does
not change.
a : b  (a  d ) : (b  d )  3 : 7  (3  5) : (7  5)  15 : 35
Property 3: If the two terms are divided by the same number c (c ≠ 0) , the ratio
does not change.
a : b  (a  c) : (b  c)  10 : 15  (10  5) : (15  5)  2 : 3
5 10
:  (1 6) : (2  13)  13 : 12
6 13
Property 4: If the total number of parts is m = A + B, and A : B = a :b, then

a b
the fractional part of a is , and the fractional part of b is .
ab ab
a b
A  m , and B  m.
ab ab
Property 5: If the total number of parts is m = A + B +C, and A : B : C = a :b :

c, then
a
the fractional part of a is ,
abc
62
b
the fractional part of b is , and
abc
c
the fractional part of c is
.
abc
a b c
A m , B   m , and C  m.
abc abc abc
Example 4. A certain paint color is created by mixing 3 parts of red with every 5
parts of blue. How many gallons of red paint are needed to mix 40 gallons of this
color?
(A) 13 (B) 15 (C) 19 (D) 17 (E) 19
Solution: B
a 3
A m=  40  15 .
ab 35
Example 5. In a group of 72 students if the ratio of boys to girls is 5: 3, how

many boys are in the group?
(A) 36 (B) 40 (C) 45 (D) 21 (E) 90
Solution: C.
a 5
A m=  72  45 .
ab 53
Example 6. Keith bought paper for making origami figure. He bought 2 packages
of orange paper, 3 packages of yellow paper, and 5 packages of blue paper. What
fraction of the papers was blue?
(A) 1/3 (B) 1/5 (C) 1/9 (D) 1/7 (E) 1/2
Solution: E.
a 5 5 1
=  
a  b  c 2  3  5 10 2
63
Example 7. Keith bought 10 packages of paper for making origami figure. The
ratio of orange paper, yellow paper, and blue paper is 2 : 3 : 5. How many
packages of blue paper did he buy?
(A) 1 (B) 5 (C) 3 (D) 7 (E) 9
Solution: B.
a 5
A m =  10  5
abc 235
Example 8. Michael types 250 words in 20 minutes. How many hours will it take
him to type a 7500 word paper?
(A) 10 (B) 12 (C) 14 (D) 17 (E) 15
Solution: A.
The unit rate is 250  20 = 12.5 words per minute.
The time to type 7500 words is 7500  12.5 = 600 minutes = 10 hours.
Example 9. A car gets 27 miles per gallon. How many miles will it go on 9
gallons of gas?
(A) 213 (B) 215 (C) 229 (D) 243 (E) 279
Solution: D.
The number of miles will the car go is 27  9 = 243.
Example 10. A basketball player makes 80% of the shots he attempts in each
game. In a certain game, he made 20 of his shots. How many shots did he attempt
in the game?
(A) 13 (B) 15 (C) 19 (D) 17 (E) 25
Solution: E.
Let x be the total number of shots he made.
0.8  x = 20  x = 25.
Example 11. A pork roast should be cooked 50 minutes per pound. How many
hours should a 6-pound roast be cooked?
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 9 (D) 7 (E) 4
64
Solution: B.
The number of hours it takes is 50  6 = 5  60 minutes = 5 hours.
2.2. Properties of Proportion:
a c
Property 6:  is equivalent to:
b d
a b d c b d
ad  bc ,  ,  ,  .
c d b a a c
8 4 8 6 3 4 6 3
  8 3  4 6      
6 3 4 3 6 8 8 4
4
Example 12. The ratio of length to width of a rectangular room is and the
3
7
width is 8 . What is the length?
10
(A) 23/2 (B) 35/3 (C) 49/4 (D) 58/5 (E) 11
Solution: D.
L 4 4 4 7 4 87 58
  L  W  8    .
W 3 3 3 10 3 10 5
a c ab cd a b c d
Property 7: If  , then  and 
b d b d b d
21 30 21  7 30  10 21  7 30  10
   (= 4) and  (= 2).
7 10 7 10 7 10
a c ab cd
Property 8: If  , then  .
b d a b cd
21 30 21  7 30  10 28 40
   (  =2).
7 10 21  7 30  10 14 20
65
a1 a2 a3 a
Property 9: If    ...  n , then
b1 b2 b3 bn
a1 a1  a2 a1  a2  a3 a1  a2  a3  ...  an
  
b1 b1  b2 b1  b2  b3 b1  b2  b3  ...  bn
2x  y x  y 3
Example 13. Find x if   .
5 10 5
(A) 1 (B) 3 (C) 9 (D) 7 (E) 5
Solution: B.
2 x  y x  y (2 x  y )  ( x  y ) 3x 3
     x = 3.
5 10 15 15 5
y x y x
Example 14. If   for three positive numbers x, y, and z, all
xz z y
x
different, then what is the value of ?
y
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 1 (D) 2 (E) 6
Solution: D.
x y x y x x  y  ( x  y) 2 x  2 y 2( x  y)
       2.
y xz z y y  ( x  z)  z x y x y
3. CONTINUED RATIO
The ratio of three or more quantities is called the continued ratio. For example,
a:b:c is a combinations of three separated ratios  a:b, a:c, and b:c.
Property 10: If a : b : c = m : n : t, then a: b = m : n, b : c = n : t, and c : a = t :

m.
If a : b : c = 2 : 3 : 4, then a : b = 2 : 3, b : c = 3 : 4, and c : a = 4 : 2.
Property 11: If a : b = m : n, b : c = n : t, and c : a = t : m, then a : b : c = m : n

: t.
66
If a : b, = 2 : 3, b : c = 3 : 4, and c : a = 4 : 2, then a : b : c = 2 : 3 : 4,
Property 12: If a : b = m : n, and b : c = s : t (note n  s), then a : b : c = (m  s)

: (n  s) : (n  t).
If a : b = 2 : 3, and b : c = 5 : 4 (note 3  5), then a : b : c = (2  5) : (3  5) : (3 

4) = 10 : 15 : 12.
Example 15. Three numbers a, b, and c in the ratios of a : b = 3 : 4 and b : c = 5 :

6 have a sum of 118. What are the values of a, b, and c?
(A) (3, 4, 111) (B) (30, 40, 48) (C) (25, 45, 48) (D) (15, 20, 83)
(E) (27, 36, 55)
Solution: B.
Method 1:
a : b  3 : 4  15 : 20 and b : c  5 : 6  20 : 24 . By the property of the continued
ratio, we get: a : b : c  15 : 20 : 24 .
15
We also know that a  b  c  118 , so a  118  30 ,
15  20  24
Similarly, b = 40, and c = 48.
Method 2:
a : b  3 : 4 and b : c  5 : 6
By the property of the continued ratio, we get: a : b : c =15 : 20 : 24.
15
so a  118  30 , and b = 40, and c = 48.
15  20  24
67
Example 16. Machine A can fill 1 box of nails in 6 minutes. Machine B can fill 1
box of nails in 9 minutes. They started to work at the same time and they stopped
also at the same time. In total they filled 100 boxes. How many were filled by
machine A?
(A) 30 (B) 45 (C) 50 (D) 60 (E) 120
Solution: D.
Method 1:
Machine A would fill 3 boxes of nails in 18 minutes. Machine B would fill 2
boxes of nails in 18 minutes. So the ratio of their work is 3 : 2.
3
The number of boxes filled by machine A is: 100  60 .
3 2
Method 2:
Since the ratio of their work is 3 : 2, let the number of boxes filled by machines A
be 3x, and the number of boxes filled by machines B be 2x.
3x + 2x = 100  x = 20  3x = 60.
Example 17. Alex paid $945 to transport his animals by ferry. The costs are $3,
$2 and $1 for each cats, dog, and squirrel, respectively. The ratios of cats to dogs
is 2 : 9, and dog to squirrel 3 : 7. How many cats were there?
(A) 43 (B) 45 (C) 49 (D) 47 (E) 42.
Solution: E.
The ratio of the number of animals can be obtained as follows:
c : d = 2 : 9 and d : s = 3 : 7  c : d : s = 6 : 27 : 63 = 2 : 9 : 21.
Then the ratio of the cost is then: (3  2) : (2  9) : (1  27) = 2 : 6 : 7.

2
So the cost for cats is calculated as follows:  945  126 .
267
The number of cats is 126  3 = 42.
Example 18. If the degree measures of the angles of a convex quadrilateral are in
the ratio 3:4:5:6, by how many degrees does the measure of the largest angle
exceed the measure of the smallest angle?
(A) 30 (B) 45 (C) 60 (D) 75 (E) 90.
68
Solution: C.
By the property 5:
6 3 360
 360   360  (6  3)  20  3  60 .
3 45 6 3 45 6 18
4. MORE EXAMPLES
Example 19. If the degree measures of the angles of a triangle are in the ratio
3:4:5, by how many degrees does the measure of the largest angle exceed the
measure of the smallest angle?
(A) 25 (B) 30 (C) 35 (D) 40 (E) 45
Solution: B.
5 3 180
By the property 5: 180  180  (5  3)  15  2  30 .
3 45 3 45 12
x z x yz
Example 20. If  2 and  5 , what is the value of ?
y x x
1 1 1
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 7
2 2 2
Solution: D:
x x z
2  y ; 5  z  5x .
y 2 x
x
x  5x
x yz 2 1 1
 1  5  6 .
x x 2 2
Example 21. The ratio of x to y is 7 to 2, and the ratio of y to z is 5 to 3. If x, y,

and z are positive numbers, what is the ratio of x to (y + z)?
(A) 25 to 7 (B) 35 to 16 (C) 65 to 27 (D) 7 to 2 (E) 7 to 5
Solution: B.
69
x 7 7 y 5 3y
  x y;   z .
y 2 2 z 3 5
7 7 7
y
x 2 2 35
  2 .
y  z y  3 y 1  3 8 16
5 5 5
Example 22. Flour, water, and salt are mixed by weight in the ratio of 7:6:1,
respectively, to produce a certain type of dough. In order to make 10 pounds of
this dough, what weight of salt, in pounds, is required?
(A) 1/4 (B) 2/3 (C) 3/4 (D) 1 (E) 2
Solution: B.
1 2
By the property 5:  10  .
762 3
Example 23. The ratio of the perimeter of a rectangle to the length of one of its
sides is 14 : 3. If the area is 27 square inches, how many inches long is one of the
longer sides?
(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 7 (E) 6
Solution: E.
Let x be the length and y be the width.
2( x  y ) 14 x y 7 y 4 y 4
    1 1  
x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
y y 4
 
x y 3
y y 4
The area is x  y = 27    y  y = 36  y = 6.
27 3
Example 24. A jar contains 15 red marbles and 15 black marbles. What is the
least number of marbles in the jar when the ratio of red marbles to black marbles
in the jar will be 4 to 3 after removing black marble(s) from the jar and adding red
marble(s) to the jar?
(A) 40 (B) 36 (C) 34 (D) 28 (E) 24
70
Solution: D.
Let the red marbles be x and black marbles be y (removed or added).
15  x 4
  3x  4 y  15 .
15  y 3
Case I: The greatest value of y is 3. It works when y = 3 and x = 1 (removing 4
black marbles and adding one red marble). The number of marbles in the jar: 30 
3 + 1 = 28.
Case II: The smallest value of y is 0. It works when y = 0 and x = 5 (removing 0
black marble and adding 5 red marbles). The number of marbles in the jar: 30 + 5
= 35. The answer is 28.
Example 25. If the cost of a pizza is directly proportional to its area and the cost
of a pizza 15 inches in diameter is $6.00, what should a pizza 9 inches in diameter
cost?
(A) $3 (B) $2.62 (C) $2.16 (D) $1.32 (E) $1.52
Solution: C.
1 2 1
Method 1: The area of a pizza of 15 inches in diameter = d    152 .
4 4
1 1
  152   92 152
4  4 x  6  2.16
6 x 92
A1 d
Method 2: The ratio of the areas A1 and A2 of two similar figures is  ( 1 )2
A2 d2
Since the costs C1 and C2 are directly proportional to the areas, so we have
2
C1 A1 d d 9
  ( 1 )2  C1  C2 ( 1 ) 2  6     2.16
C2 A2 d2 d2  15 
Example 26. If the ratio of a to b is 2:3 and the ratio of b to c is 4:7 find the ratio
of a : c.
(A) 15 : 8 (B) 8:15 (C) 2: 3 (D) 8 : 21 (E) 4 : 7
Solution: D.
Since a : b = 2 : 3 and b : c = 4 : 7, a : b : c = 8 : 12 : 21  a : c = 8 : 21.
71
Example 27. The ratio of cats to dogs to squirrels in Dogpatch is 4:5:12, while
the ratio of squirrels to raccoons to opossums is 10:3:6. What is the ratio of dogs
to opossums?
(A) 15 : 18 (B) 25: 36 (C) 25 : 30 (D) 18 : 30 (E) 40 : 50
Solution: B.
We are given that c : d : s = 4 : 5 : 12.
s :r : p = 10 : 3 : 6.
We can get: d : s = 5 : 12 and s : p = 10 : 6 = 5 : 3.
d : s : p = 25 : 60 : 36.
So d : p = 25 : 36.
Example 28. Three numbers in the ratio of 7:3:2 have a sum of 228. What is the
difference between the smallest and the largest numbers?
(A) 114 (B) 95 (C) 84 (D) 98 (E) 124
Solution: B.
The largest number is A and the smallest number is B.
a 7
A  m=  228
abc 73 2
b 2
B  m=  228
abc 73 2
7 2 5  228
A– B=  228 –  228 =  95
73 2 73 2 73 2
72
5. PROBLEMS
Problem 1. The measures of the three angles of a triangle are 8w, 5w, and 2w.
The measure of the largest angle of the triangle is how much greater than the
measure of the next largest angle?
(A) 26 (B) 36 (C) 46 (D) 56 (E) 66
x x
Problem 2. If  k and k > 0, what is in terms of k?
y x  y
k 1 k 1 1 k k
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
k k k k 1 k 1
Problem 3. A fruit salad is made from pineapples, pears, and peaches mixed in
the ratio of 2 to 3 to 5, respectively, by weight. What fraction of the mixture by
weight is pineapple?
(A) 1/5 (B) 3/10 (C) 2/5 (D) 1/2 (E) 2/3
11 11  a
Problem 4. If a  0 and  , what is the value of x?
x xa
(A) 5 (B) 11 (C) 11 (D) 12 (E) 15
Problem 5. Bill made 21 out of 25 shots in a recent basketball game. What was
his shooting percentage for that game? .
(A) 21% (B) 25% (C) 84% (D) 16% (E) 75%
Problem 6. The temperature in Boston is now 50F. If it drops at a steady rate of

4 F every 3 hours, in how many hours will the temperature drop to 38F?
(A) 12 (B) 3 (C) 14 (D) 9 (E) 6
Problem 7. The scale of a map is 1 centimeter to 50 kilometers. How many

centimeters represent 225 kilometers?
(A) 3.5 (B) 4.5 (C) 5.5 (D) 2.5 (E) 6.5
Problem 8. Potatoes cost $1.75 per pound. How many dollars do four pounds
cost?
(A) $3 (B) $5 (C) $7 (D) $2 (E) $6
73
Problem 9. The amount of water in a container triples every minute. The

container is completely filled at 1:20 p.m. What fractional part of the container is
filled at 1:19 p.m.?
(A) 1/3 (B) 1/5 (C) 1/34 (D) 1/2 (E) 1/6
Problem 10. A typical one-hour television program devotes 15% of each hour to
commercials. At this rate, how many minutes of commercials would a 3-hour
program have?
(A) 13 (B) 15 (C) 17 (D) 27 (E) 16
Problem 11. In a college of education, the ratio of math majors to English majors
is 5 to 3. If there are 56 math and English majors in all (and no one majors in both
math and English), how many math majors are there?
(A) 35 (B) 45 (C) 55 (D) 65 (E) 56
Problem 12. If an eight-inch square cake serves four people, how many twelve-
inch square cakes are needed to provide equivalent servings to eighteen people?
(A) 3 (B) 2 (C) 1 (D) 5 (E) 6
Problem 13. The ratio of chocolate cones to vanilla cones sold at an ice cream
shop is 5:4. If 63 cones were sold, how many were chocolate?
(A) 53 (B) 55 (C) 31 (D) 35 (E) 36
Problem 14. A teacher has to read 30 essays by his students. He reads five of
them in the first 45 minutes. Assuming that he continues to read at the same rate,
how many hours will it take him to read all 30 papers?
(A) 9/2 (B) 21/5 (C) 2 (D) 16/3 (E) 6
Problem 15. If one gram of gold can be hammered into a square sheet 10 cm by
10 cm, how many grams of gold are needed to make a sheet that is 2.25 square
meters?
(A) 223 (B) 225 (C) 221 (D) 202 (E) 206
Problem 16. Of 100 citizens surveyed in a certain town, only 45% were in favor
of the city council’s proposition. 40% were opposed and 15% undecided. If the
survey holds and 40,000 citizens vote, what percent of the undecided voters must
vote in favor of the proposition in order for it to pass with 51% of the votes?
74
(A) 25% (B) 35% (C) 40% (D) 45% (E) 50%
Problem 17. If 2 cats can catch 3 mice in 5 days, how many mice can 20 cats
catch in 10 days?
(A) 50 (B) 55 (C) 60 (D) 65 (E) 76
Problem 18. A log is cut into 4 pieces in 12 seconds using parallel slices. At this
same rate, how many seconds will it take to cut the log into 6 pieces?
(A) 15 (B) 20 (C) 25 (D) 30 (E) 35
Problem 19. If a cat and a half eat a fish and a half in a day and a half, how many
days will it take 14 cats to eat 14 fish?
(A) 3/2 (B) 5/3 (C) 7/3 (D) 2 (E) 3
Problem 20. A watch, set accurately at 12 noon, at 5 p.m. indicates 10 minutes to

5. How many minutes past 5 is it actually when the watch indicates 5 p.m.?
10 10 10
(A) 310 (B) 10 (C) 10 (D) (E) 29
29 29 29
Problem 21. 270 students attend a school dance. The ratio of girls to boys is 5 to
4. If twenty boys and ten girls leave, what is the new ratio of girls to boys that
remain at the dance?
9 5 5 7 9
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
5 9 4 5 2
Problem 22. The sum of three numbers is 81 and their ratio is 3:7:17. What is the
value of the smallest number?
(A) 5 (B) 7 (C) 9 (D) 17 (E) 16
Problem 23. The ratio of the length to width of a rectangular block is 2:1 and the
ratio of the width to height is 3:2. Find the ration of the length to height.
1 3 6 5 8
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
3 1 5 4 3
Problem 24. Bob bought three kinds of meat: pork, beef, and chicken with the
total cost of $152. The ratio of the weight of pork, beef, and chicken is 2 : 4 : 3.
75
The ratio of the price per pound of pork, beef, and chicken is 6 : 5 : 2. What is the
sum of the last digits of the cost of each kind in dollars?
(A) 8 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 15 (E) 16
Problem 25. In a mixture of peanuts and cashews, the ratio by weight of peanuts
to cashews is 5 to 3. How many pounds of cashews will there be in 64 pounds of
this mixture?
(A) 15 (B) 20 (C) 24 (D) 26 (E) 27
Problem 26. If a recipe for a two-pound cake uses 1.5 cups of flour, at the same
rate how many cups of flour are needed for a five-pound cake?
3 2 10 3
(A) 3 (B) 3 (C) 3 (D) (E) 2
4 5 3 4
Problem 27. Marbles are to be removed from a jar that contains 16 red marbles
and 16 black marbles. What is the least number of marbles that could be removed
so that the ratio of red marbles to black marbles left in the jar will be 4 to 3 ?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 4 (D) 6 (E) 7
1
Problem 28. George earned $7.65 for the 4 hours he baby-sat. At the same rate,
2
how many dollars should he charge for 3 hours of baby-sitting?
(A) $5.10 (B) $6.10 (C) $7.10 (D) $5.60 (E) $8.10
Problem 29. Seven black cows and 4 yellow cows give in 6 days exactly as much
milk as 5 black cows and 8 yellow cows give in 5 days. Which color cow gives
more milk?
(A) black (B) yellow (C) equal (D) red (E) none of the above
76
6. SOLUTIONS
8 5 180
By the property 5: 180  180  (8  5)  12  3  36 .
85 2 85 2 15
x 1 1 1 1 1 k
      .
x  y x  y 1 y 1 1 1 1 k 1 k 1
x x x k k
y
2 2 1
By the property 5:   .
2  3  5 10 5
11 11  a 11  a  11 a
By the property 9:    1  x = 11.
x xa xax a
Let x be the shooting percentage for that game.
21 x
  x  84%
25 100
The total number of degrees it drops is 50 – 38 = 12.
The number of 3 hours is 12  4 = 3.
The answer is: 3  3 = 9 hours.
Let x be the centimeters representing 225 kilometers.
1 x
  x  4.5
50 225
77
Since one pound costs $1.75, 4 pounds will cost 1.75  4 = $7.
Let x be the fractional part of the container that is filled at 1:19 p.m.
3x = 1  x = 1/3.

3 hours can be converted to 180 minutes.
Let x be the minutes of commercials would a 3-hour program have.
15 x
  x  27
100 180

The ratio of the number of members in two majors is 5 : 3.
a 5
The number of math major students is A and A  m=  56  35 .
ab 53

The area of a 8-inches square is 64. Let x be the area of the cake needed to serve
18 people.
64 x
  x  288
4 18
The area of the 12-inches square is 144. The answer is 288  144 = 2.

The ratio of the number of cones in two kinds is 5 : 4. The number of chocolate
a 5
cones is A and A  m =  63  35 .
ab 54

Let x be the minutes of hours needed to read all 30 papers.
5 30 270 27 9
  x  270 minutes =   hours.
45 x 60 6 2

Since 1 m = 100 cm, 10 cm = 0.1 m.
78
Let x be the minutes of grams of gold needed to make a sheet that is 2.5 square
1 x
meters.   x  225 .
0.1  0.1 2.25

51% of the votes are 51%  40000 = 20400 votes.
45% in favor means there are 45%  40000 = 18000 votes already.
The number of votes needed is 20400 – 18000 = 2400.
15% undecided means there are 15%  40000 = 6000 people undecided.
The ratio is 2400  6000 = 0.4 = 40%.

Let x be the number of mice 20 cats can catch in 10 days.
3 x
  x = 60.
2  5 20  10

Three cuts are needed to cut the log in 4 pieces. Each cut takes 12  3 = 4
seconds. Five cuts are needed to cut the log in 6 pieces. The time needed is 5  4
= 20 seconds.

Let x be the number of days needed.
1
1
2 14 3
  x .
1 1 14  x 2
(1  )  (1  )
2 2

Since the watch is 10 minutes late in 5 hours, it is 2 minutes slow each hour.
When the standard watch goes 60 minutes, it goes 58 minutes.
Let x be the minutes it actually takes for the watch to go 5 hours (300 minutes).
60 x 10 10
  x  310 . That is 10 minutes past 5.
58 300 29 29
79
g
There are G   m = 5  270  150 girls and 270 – 150 = 120 boys.
b g 54
If twenty boys and ten girls leave, the number of girls is 150 – 10 = 140 and the
number of boys is 120 – 20 = 100.
140 14 7
The new ratio =   .
100 10 5

The smallest number is A.
a 3
A  m=  81  9 .
abc 3  7  17

Let the length be L, width be W and height be H.
We are given: L : W = 2 : 1, W : H = 3 : 2.
By the property of the proportion, we get:
L:W:H=6:3:2  L : H = 6 : 2 = 3 : 1.
Problem 24. Solution: C

Pork: $48, beef: $80, and chicken: $24.
Let x , y, and z be the weight of pork, beef, and chicken, respectively.
x:y:z=2:4:3 (1)
The ratio of the price will be (6x) : (5y) : (2z)
The costs of pork, beef, and chicken are A, B, and C, respectively.
6x
A  152 (2)
6x  5 y  2z
3
From (1), we get: y = 2x, and z = x . (3)
2
6x 6x
(2) becomes: A  3
152  152  48
6 x  5(2 x)  2  x 19 x
2
5y 5y 10x
Similarly, B   152   152   152  80
6x  5 y  2z 19x 19x
80
2z 2z 3x
And C  152   152   152  24 .
6x  5 y  2z 19x 19x
The answer is 8 + 0 + 4 = 12.

3
By the property 5:  64  24 .
53

Let x be the number of cups of flour are needed for a five-pound cake.
2 5 5 1.5 7.5 3
  x  3
1.5 x 2 2 4

Let the number of black marbles removed be x.
16 4
  x  4.
16  x 3

Let x be the dollars should he charge for 3 hours of baby-sitting.
7.65 x
  x  5.10 .
1 3
4
2

Let x be the milk given by a black cow and y be the milk given by a yellow cow in
a day. 6(7x + 4y) = 5(5x + 8y)  42x + 24y = 25x + 40y  17x = 15y
x 15
 1  x is less than y.
y 17
81
AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 17 LCM GCF
1. BASIC KNOWLEDGE
Notation: Given two positive integers a and b, the greatest common factor of a
and b is written as (a, b) and the least common multiple of a and b is written as [a,
b].
The Greatest Common Factor (abbreviated GCF) of a group of natural numbers

is the greatest natural number that is a factor of every number in the group.
Example 1. Bob has 45 football cards and 36 baseball cards. He wants to place
them in stacks on a table so that each stack has the same number of cards, and no
stack has different types of cards within it. Find the largest number of cards that
he can have in each stack.
(A) 12 (B) 3 (C) 5 (D) 7 (E) 9
Solution: E.
Factors of 45: 1 3, 5, 9, 15, 45
Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36
The common factors of 45 and 36 are: 1, 3, and 9. GCF is the largest one of them
and GCF (45, 36) = 9.
Properties of the Greatest Common Factor:
If (a, b) = d, and n is positive integer, then (na, nb) = nd.

(a, 1) = 1; (a, a) = a; (a, 0) = a; (a, b) = (b, a); (a, b) = (b, a – b).
The Least Common Multiple (abbreviated LCM) of a group of natural numbers

is the smallest natural number that is a multiple of every number in the group.
Example 2. Both Alex Chan and Betty Chan work at a fast-food restaurant. Alex
has every sixth day off and Betty has every fourth day off. If they are both off on
Wednesday of this week, what will be the day of the week that they are next off
together?
(A) Monday (B) Tuesday (C) Wednesday (D) Thursday (E) Friday
Solution: A.
82
Alex: 0 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48
Betty: 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36
The common multiples of 6 and 4 are: 12, 24, 36, .... LCM is the smallest one of
them and LCM (6, 4) = 12.
12 days from Wednesday of this week is Monday.
The LCM of Two Fractions
a c ac LCM (ad , bc)

LCM ( , )   (1.1)
b d GCF (ad , bc) bd
10 8
Example 3. Find LCM of two fractions and .
3 5
(A) 10 (B) 20 (C) 30 (D) 40 (E) 59
Solution: D.
10 8 10  8 80
LCM ( , ) =   40 .
3 5 (50,24) 2
2.1. Finding The Greatest Common Factor
(2.1.1). Prime factorization method
Step 1: Prime factorization of each number

Step 2: Find all primes common to all numbers
Step 3: Find all terms with the smallest exponent common to all
factorizations
Step 4: Multiply all terms in step 3 and the product is the greatest common
factor
Example 4. Find the GCF of 18, 27, and 36.

(A) 18 (B) 9 (C) 6 (D) 3 (E) 1
83
Solution: B.
Step 1: Prime factorization of each number:
18 = 2 × 9 = 2 × 32
27 = 33
36 = 6 = (2×3) = 22 × 32
2 2
Step 2: Find all primes common to all numbers:
18 = 2 × 9 = 2 × 32
27 = 33
36 = 62 = (2×3)2 = 22 × 32
Step 3: Find all terms with the smallest exponent common to all numbers:
18 = 2 × 9 = 2 × 32
27 = 33
36 = 62 = (2×3)2 = 22 × 32
Step 4: Multiply all terms in step 3 and the product is the greatest common factor
32 = 9.
(2.1.2) Euclidean Algorithm
If a = bq + r, (0  r  b), then (a, b) = (b, r) = (b, a – bq) (2.1)
Example 5. Find the greatest common factor of 48 and 80.

(A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 15 (D) 16 (E) 19
Solution: D.
80 = 48 ×1 + 32  (48, 80) = (48, 32)
48 = 32 × 1 + 16  (48, 32) = (16, 32)
32 = 16 × 1 + 16  (16, 32) = (16, 16) = 16.
2.2. Finding the Least Common Multiple (Prime factorization method)
Step 1: Prime factorization of each number
84
Step 2: Find all primes belonging to any factorization

Step 3: Find all terms with the largest exponent in any factorization
Step 4: Multiply all terms in step 3 and the product is the least common
multiple.
Example 6. Find the least common multiple of 21, 24, and 48.
(A) 336 (B) 326 (C) 325 (D) 441 (E) 419
Solution: A.
Step 1: Prime factorization of each number:
21 = 3 × 7
24 = 3 × 8 = 3 × 23
48 = 6 × 8 = 2 × 3 × 23= 3 × 24
Step 2: Find all primes belonging to any factorization
21 = 3×7
24 = 3 × 8 = 3 × 23
48 = 6 × 8 = 2 × 3 × 2 = 3 × 24
3
Step 3: Find all terms with the largest exponent in any factorization
21 = 3×7
24 = 3 × 8 = 3 × 23
48 = 6 × 8 = 2 × 3 × 23= 3 × 24
Step 4: Multiply all terms in step 3 and the product is the least common multiple.
The answer is 3 × 7 × 24 = 336.
2.3. Finding the LCM/GCF of Algebra Expressions
The use of methods to find LCM/GCF can also serves as a bridge to algebra,
where the primes will be replaced with variables x and y.
Example 7. Find the GCF and LCM of (1). 7x4y5, 14x3y6 and (2). 10a8b5, 6a10b3.
Solutions:
85
(1). 7x4y5 = 7×x ×x × x×x ×y×y ×y ×y×y
14x3y6 = 2 × 7 ×x × x × x × y × y × y × y × y × y
The common factors are 7, x3, and y5, so the GCF is 7x3y5.
7x4y5 = 7 × x4 × y5
14x3y6 = 14 × x3 × y6
The smallest multiple must contain 14, x4, and y6, so the LCM is 14x4y6 .
(2). The common factors are 2, a8, and b3, so the GCF is 2a8b3 .
The smallest multiple must contain 30 (the LCM of 10 and 6), a10, and b5, so the
LCM is 30a10b5.
2.4. Relationship of LCM and GCF
(Least common multiple of a and b) × (Greatest common factor of a and b) = a ×

b.
(a, b) × a, b = ab (2.2)
Example 8. The greatest common factor of two numbers is 7 and their least
common multiple is 70. One of the numbers is 14. What is the other number?
(A) 14 (B) 7 (C) 15 (D) 35 (E) 9
Solution: D.
Let the other number be a.
By the formula (a, b) × a, b = ab, we have: 7 × 70 = a × 14  a = 35.
Example 9. The least common multiple (LCM) of two positive integers is 1260. If
one of the numbers is 60, what is the smallest possible value of the other number?
(A) 32 (B) 63 (C) 65 (D) 67 (E) 69
Solution: B.
Let the other number be a.
86
1260 = 22 × 32 × 5 × 7 = 60 × 21. So we know that a is a multiple 21.

60 = 22 × 3 × 5.
a = 21 × 3 = 32 × 7 = 63. So the smallest value for a is 63.
2.5. What we are looking for, LCM or GCF?
When we try to decide that we need to find the LCM or GCF, we have the
following general rules to guide us:
Rule 1. For two distinct natural numbers m and n, LCM (m, n) > GCF (m,n)
For example, LCM (3, 6) = 6 > GCF (3, 6) = 3.
Rule 2. The GCF (a, b) is a factor of a and b, so generally The GCF  a and the
GCF  b.
Rule 3. The LCM (a, b) is a multiple of a and b, so generally The LCM  a and
the LCM  b.
Rule 4. When we are looking for a number that is bigger than a or b, we are
looking for the least common multiple of a and b.
Rule 5. When we are looking for a number that is smaller than a or b, we are
looking for the greatest common factor of a and b.
Example 10. Alex and Bob are training for the Chicago Marathon. Alex can go
around the park in his wheelchair in 3 minutes; Bob can go the same distance in 4
minutes. If they start at the same time side-by-side, when will they be side-by-side
again?
(A) 12 (B) 13 (C) 15 (D) 17 (E) 19
Solution: A.
We are looking for a number that is bigger than 3 or 4. So we are looking for the
least common multiple.
LCM( 3, 4) = 12. They will be side-by-side again in 12 minutes.
87
Example 11. Betsy wants to create snack bags for a trip she is going on. She has
36 granola bars and 63 pieces of dried fruit. If the snack bags should be identical
without any food left over, what is the greatest number of snack bags Betsy can
make?
(A) 12 (B) 13 (C) 11 (D) 7 (E) 9
Solution: E.
We are looking for a number that is smaller than 36 or 63. So we are looking for
the greatest common factor.
By the formula (2.1), we have GCF(36, 63) = GCF(36, 27) = GCF(9, 27) =
GCF(9, 9) = 9. The greatest number of snack bags Betsy can make is 9.
3. MORE EXAMPLES
Example 12. What is the difference of the least common multiple of 60 and 102
and the greatest common factor of 12 and 30?
(A) 60 (B) 6120 (C) 1020 (D) 1014 (E) 720
Solution: D.
60 = 22  3  5
102 = 2  3  17
LCM (30, 102) = 22  3  5  17 = 1020.
12 = 22  3
30 = 2  3  5
GCF (12, 30) = 2  3 = 6.
1020  6 = 1014.
Example 13. If k is divisible by 3, 4, and 15, which of the following is also

divisible by these numbers?
(A) 12 (B) 15 (C) 65 (D) 120 (E) 245
Solution: D.
Since k is divisible by 3, 4, and 15, k must be a multiple of 60, as 60 is the least
common multiple of 3, 4, and 15. Some multiples of 60 are 0, 60, 120, and 180.
Example 14. What is the largest three-digit number divisible by 3, 4 and 5?
88
(A) 660 (B) 760 (C) 860 (D) 960 (E) 916
Solution: D.
The three-digit should be divisible by the LCM of 3, 4, and 5. LCM (3, 4, 5) = 3 ×
4 × 5 = 60.
60 × 16 = 960. So 960 is the answer.
Example 15. The least common multiple of 12, 15, 20 and k is 420. What is the
least possible value of k?
(A) 2 (B) 3 (C) 5 (D) 7 (E) 9
Solution: D.
12 = 22  3
15 = 3  5
20 = 22  5
420 = 22  3  5  7. We miss a 7. So k = 7.
Example 16. A crate contains 62 oranges, 46 apples, and 94 pears. If 2 more of

each type of fruit were added to the crate, each of the three types of fruit could be
divided equally among a group of people. What is the greatest possible number of
fruit in such a group?
(A) 8 (B) 12 (C) 15 (D) 16 (E) 32
Solution: D.
(Rule 5).
Let the greatest possible number of people in such a group be n. n divides evenly
62 + 2 = 64 , 46 + 2 = 48, and 94 + 2 = 96.
48 = 3  16
64 = 4  16
96 = 5  16
The greatest common factor of 64, 48, and 96 is 16.
Example 17. The figure shows parts of two circular gears

whose teeth interlock when the gears turn. Gear A has 72
teeth and gear B has 48 teeth. What is the least positive
number of rotations gear B must make before the arrows will
again be aligned in the same way?
89
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 7 (E) 5
Solution: C.
(Rule 4).
72 = 23  32
48 = 24  3
The LCM = 24  32 = 144
The least positive number of rotations gear B must make is 144 / 48 = 3.
Example 18. The least common multiple of two integers is 36, and 6 is their
greatest common divisor. What is the product of the two numbers?
(A) 216 (B) 108 (C) 72 (D) 16 (E) 6
Solution: (A).
By (2.2), we know that LCM (a, b) × GCF (a, b) = a × b = 36 × 6 = 216.
Example 19. The greatest common divisor of 21 and some number between 50
and 60 is 7. What is the number?
(A) 51 (B) 53 (C) 56 (D) 58 (E) 59
Solution: C.
The number between 50 and 60 that has a factor of 7 is 56.
Example 20. Two traffic lights turn red together at exactly 5:00 p.m. One light is
on a 36-second cycle from red back to red while the other is on a 48-second cycle.
At what time will they again turn red together? Give the exact time, including
seconds.
Solution: 5:02:24.
(Rule 4).
36 = 22  32, and 48 = 24  3.
LCM (36, 48) = 24  32 = 144. The Least Common Multiple tells us that every 144
seconds, the two lights both turn red.
144 seconds is equivalent to 2 minutes and 24 seconds.
The first time that both lights are red is 2 minutes and 24 seconds after 5, or
5:02:24.
90
Example 21. The lengths in feet of three pieces of timber are 48, 72, and 40. The
sawmill operator needs to cut the timber into logs of equal length with no waste.
How many feet long is the greatest possible length she can cut?
(A) 9 (B) 6 (C) 5 (D) 16 (E) 8
Solution: E.
(Rule 5).
We need to find the greatest number that will divide 48, 72, 40 evenly, that is the
GCF(48,72,40).
72 = 23  32, 40 = 23  5 and 48 = 24  3.
GCF (9  8, 5  8, 6 8) = 8.
Example 22. Alex can jog 120 meters in 1 minute, Bob can jog 80 meters in 1
minute, and Charlie can jog 70 meters in 1 minute. The circular path has a
perimeter of 400 meters. They start running together at 9:00 a.m. at point A. At
what time will they first all be together again at point A?
Solution: 9:40.
(Rule 4).
Time needed for Alex to catch Bob is 400  (120 – 80) = 10 minutes
Time needed for Alex to catch Charlie is 400  (120 –70) = 8 minutes
Time needed for Bob to catch Charlie is 400  (80 –70) = 40 minutes
LCM (10, 8, 40) = 40.
So at 9:40 they will first all be together again at point A.
Example 23. Two circles, one of radius 5 inches, the other of radius 2 inches, are
tangent at point P. Two bugs start crawling at the same time from point P, one
crawling along the larger circle at 3π inches per minute, the other crawling along
the smaller circle at 2.5π inches per minute. How many minutes is it before their
next meeting at point P?
(A) 42 (B) 43 (C) 40 (D) 47 (E) 49
Solution: C.
(Rule 4).
91
At 3π inches per minute, the time needed for one rotation for the first bug to crawl
2  5 10
along the larger circle is  .
3 3
At 2.5π inches per minute, the time needed for one rotation for the bug to crawl
2  2 8
along the smaller circle is  .
2.5 5
10 8 10  8 80
By the formula (1.1), LCM ( , ) =   40 .
3 5 (50,24) 2
It takes 40 minutes before their next meeting at point P.
92
4. PROBLEMS
Problem 1. What is the greatest common factor (GCF) of 90, 135 and 270?
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 9 (D) 15 (E) 45
Problem 2. A group of people is dividing fruits in a crate containing 64 oranges,

48 apples, and 96 pears. If 2 more people were added to the group, each of the
three types of fruit could be divided equally among them. What is the greatest
possible number of people in such a group?
(A) 8 (B) 12 (C) 15 (D) 14 (E) 30
Problem 3. The eggs in a certain basket are either white or brown. If the ratio of
the number of white eggs to the number of brown eggs is 3/4, each of the
following could be the number of eggs in the basket except
(A) 7 (B) 12 (C) 14 (D) 28 (E) 63
Problem 4. What is the greatest 2-digit number that is divisible by both 2 and 3,
but not by 4?
(A) 96 (B) 90 (C) 84 (D) 78 (E) 72
Problem 5. A bag of candy can be divided in equal shares among 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6

friends. What is the least number of pieces of candy that the bag could contain?
(A) 60 (B) 30 (C) 24 (D) 20 (E) 36
Problem 6. What is the smallest positive integer greater than 1 such that division
by each of 4, 5, 6, 9 and 10 gives a remainder of 1?
(A) 180 (B) 181 (C) 124 (D) 120 (E) 136
Problem 7. What is the product of the greatest common factor and the least
common multiple of 10 and 35?
(A) 310 (B) 320 (C) 340 (D) 350 (E) 400
Problem 8. The LCM of a pair of whole numbers is 450, and the GCF of the
numbers is 6. One of the numbers is 18. What is the other number?
(A) 150 (B) 160 (C) 170 (D) 180 (E) 116
93
Problem 9. Two natural numbers have a GCF of 6 and an LCM of 36. If the sum
of the two numbers is 30, what is the value of the smaller of the numbers?
(A) 8 (B) 16 (C) 14 (D) 10 (E) 12
Problem 10. Find the result if the greatest common factor (GCF) of 40 and 24 is
subtracted from the least common multiple (LCM) of 15 and 6.
(A) 18 (B) 24 (C) 20 (D) 22 (E) 64
Problem 11. Find the result when the least common multiple (LCM) of 12 and 15
is multiplied by the greatest common factor (GCF) of 18 and 45.
(A) 470 (B) 412 (C) 540 (D) 528 (E) 560
Problem 12. Ioana has three ropes whose lengths are 39 inches, 52 inches and 65
inches. She wants to cut the ropes into equal length pieces for magic tricks. No
rope is to be wasted. What is the greatest number of inches possible in the length
of each piece?
(A) 13 (B) 12 (C) 14 (D) 17 (E) 15
Problem 13. A school band found they could arrange themselves in rows of 6, 7,
or 8 with no one left over. What is the minimum number of students in the band?
(A) 167 (B) 162 (C) 164 (D) 168 (E) 163
Problem 14. A neon sign display has three sets of flashing light. At 1:00, all
lights are off. Set A remaining on for 15 seconds, then off for one second. Set B
remaining on for 20 seconds, then off for one second. Set C remaining on for 6
seconds, then off for one second. How many seconds after 1:00 will all 3 sets be
off again for the first time?
(A) 336 (B) 313 (C) 314 (D) 328 (E) 363
Problem 15. Two natural numbers have a GCF of 6 and an LCM of 36. If the sum
of two numbers is 30, what is the value of the smaller of the numbers?
(A) 17 (B) 12 (C) 15 (D) 23 (E) 62
94
Problem 16. Susan can run a lap in 1 minute, 15 seconds; George can run a lap in
1 minute, 30 seconds; and Jennifer can run a lap in 1
minute, 40 seconds. They start running together at 9:00
a.m. at point A. At what time will they first all be
together again at point A?
(A) 9:15 a.m. (B) 9:14 a.m. (C) 9:13 a.m. (D) 9:13 p.m.
(E) 9:15 p.m.
Problem 17. Gears are aligned as shown, and each gear has the number of teeth
indicated. What is the least positive number of rotations gear C must make before
the arrows will again be aligned in the same way?
(A) 11 (B) 12 (C) 17 (D) 22 (E) 15
Problem 18. Three boats are circling a small island of circumference of 15 km.
Boat A has a speed 6 km/h; boat B 5 km/h; boat C 3 km/h. They start at the same
time and same point. How long does it take for them to have their first meeting all
together at the starting point?
(A) 15 (B) 17 (C) 900 (D) 20 (E) 11
Problem 19. The sum of two numbers is 70 and their greatest common factor is 7.
What is the greatest difference between these two numbers?
(A) 52 (B) 56 (C) 27 (D) 63 (E) 55
Problem 20. The positive difference of two odd natural numbers is 2 and the
positive difference of the greatest common factor and the least common multiple
is 142. Find the larger of the two numbers.
(A) 10 (B) 9 (C) 11 (D) 13 (E) 15
Problem 21. One gear turns 33 1/3 times in a minute. Another gear turns 45 times
in a minute. Initially, a mark on each gear is pointing due north. After how many
seconds will the two gears next have both their marks pointing due north?
(A) 36 (B) 18 (C) 9 (D) 22 (E) 16
95
141
Problem 22. Alice can run a lap in seconds; Betsy can run a lap in
10
235 94
seconds; and Casey can run a lap in seconds. They start running together
14 7
at the same time at point A. When Alice, Betsy, and Casey meet for the first time
at point A, how many laps would Alice have ran?
(A) 110 (B) 122 (C) 112 (D) 200 (E) 100
96
5. SOLUTIONS
Use prime factorization to rewrite 45, 135 and 270 as follows
90 = 32  5  2
135 = 33  5
270 = 2  33  5
The GCF = 5  32 = 45
(Rule 5).
Let the the greatest possible number of people in such a group be n. n + 2 divides
evenly 64 , 48, and 96.
48 = 3  16
64 = 4  16
96 = 6  16
The greatest common factor of 64, 48, and 96 is 16. That is, n + 2 = 16 
n = 14.
Let the number of white eggs be 3a and the number of brown eggs be 4a. The
total number of eggs in the basket will be 7a, that is a multiple of 7. So the answer
is (B).
The greatest 2-digit number that is divisible by 2  3 = 6 is 96. Since 96 is also
divisible by 4, so we look at next number 96 – 6 = 90, which is not divisible by 4.
So it is the answer.
(Rule 5).
The least number should be divisible by LCM (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) = 60.
When 1 is subtracted from the number, the result should be divisible by LCM (4,
5, 6, 9) = 180. So the smallest resulting number is 180 and the answer is 180 + 1 =
181.
97
By the formula (2.2), the product is the same as the product of two numbers. 35 
10 = 350.
By the formula (2.2), the other number is 450  6/18 = 150.
Let two numbers be a and b with a > b. We have a + b = 30.
By the formula (2.2), a  b = 6  36 = 216 = 18  12. So the smaller number is
12.

By the Euclidean Algorithm (3.1), GCF (40, 24) = GCF (16, 24) = GCF (16, 8) =
GCF (8, 8) = 8.
LCM (15, 6) = 30. Therefore 30 – 8 = 22.

By the Euclidean Algorithm (2.1), GCF (18, 45) = GCF (18, 9) = GCF (9, 9) = 9.
LCM (15, 12) = 60. Therefore 60  9 = 540.

(Rule 5).
Method 1: 39 = 3  13; 52 = 4  13; 65 = 5  13. GCF (39, 52, 65) = 13.
Method 2: By the Euclidean Algorithm (2.1), GCF (39, 52, 65) = GCF (39, 13,
13) = GCF (13, 13, 13) = 13.

(Rule 4).
The minimum number of students is divisible by the LCM (6, 7, 8) = 3  7  8 =
168.

(Rule 4).
Set A has a cycle of 15 + 1 = 16 seconds; Set B has a cycle of 20 + 1 = 21
seconds; and Set C has a cycle of 6 + 1 = 7 seconds.
98
Factor 16 and 21: 16 = 24, and 21 = 3  7. The LCM (16, 21, 7) = 24  7  3 =

336.

Let two numbers be a and b. By the formula (2.2), we can write a  b = 36  6.
We know that a + b = 30, so it is easy to see that a = 12 and b = 18. The smaller
number of the two is 12.

(Rule 4).
We know that we need to find a number (time in seconds) that is the smallest
common multiple of 75 seconds, 90 seconds, and 100 second, so in other words,
LCM (75, 90, 100).
75 = 52  3, and 90 = 32  2  5, and 100 = 22  52.
LCM (75, 90, 100) = 32  22  52 = 900 seconds = 15 minutes.
So the answer is 9:15 A.M.

(Rule 4).
We find the number of teeth needed for three gears to align as shown again.
LCM (15, 18, 24) = 360.
Gear C must make 360/24 = 15 rotations.

(Rule 4).
Time needed for Boat A to circle the island: 15/6 = 2.5 h = 150 min.
Time needed for Boat B to circle the island: 15/5 = 3 h = 180 min.
Time needed for Boat C to circle the island: 15/3 = 5 h = 300 min.
Time needed for three boats to meet again: LCM (150,180,300) = 900 min. = 15
hours.

Since two numbers have the GCF of 7, both of them can be expressed as a
multiple of 7. Let two numbers be a and b. We have a = 7x and b = 7y . Thus a +
b = 7(x + y) = 70. So x + y = 10. Since we want to have the greatest difference of
two numbers, so we let x = 9 and y = 1. The greatest difference: 7(x – y) = 7  8 =
56.
99

Let one number be x and the other number be x + 2. It is seen that x and x + 2 are
two consecutive odd numbers so they have no common factors. That is, GCF (x, x
+ 2) = 1. therefore LCM (x, x + 2) – 1 = 142. LCM (x, x + 2) = 143. By the
formula (2.2), 1143  x( x  2) or x( x  2)  1113 . The two numbers are 11 and 13
and the answer is 13.

(Rule 4).
60 60 9
The first gear has its mark face north every   seconds.
1 100 5
33
3 3
60 4
The second gear has its mark face north every  seconds.
45 3
9 4 9 4 36
The answer will then be: [ , ]    36 seconds.
5 3 gcf (9  3, 4  5) 1

(Rule 4).
This is a problem of finding the LCM of 141/10, 235/14, and 94/7.
a c ac
From the formula: [ , ]  ,and [ a, b, c] = [ [a, b], c],we have:
b d gcf (ad , bc)
[141/10, 235/14] = 705/2 and [705/2, 94/7] = 1410
So after 1410 seconds they will meet the first time at point A again.
The number of laps Alice will have run will then be: 1410/ (141/10) = 100.
100
AMC 8 Preparation Chapter 18 Solving Equations
1. TERMS
Equation: An equation is a mathematical sentence in which the equal sign “=”

connects two algebraic expressions.
The following are equations:

1
210 = 1024;  0.142857 ; 3 = 5x – 6; A   r2
7
Open sentence: An equation that contains one or more variables is called an open
sentence. For example: 2x + 2 = 8. The sentence is neither true nor false.
Solution: A solution is a value of the variable that makes the equation true (Other
names: root, and zero).
For the equation x  5  9 , x = 4 is the solution since 4 + 5 = 9.
When the variable in the equation is replaced with a constant so that the equation
becomes true, the equation has been solved.
We will learn the following skills:
(1) get rid of the denominators
(2) add parentheses
(3) remove the parentheses
(4) isolate the variable
(5) combine like terms.
We will learn how to solve the following equations:

(1) one-variable linear equations
(2) literal equations
(3) quadratic equations
(4) system of linear equations
(5) system of nonlinear equations
101
2. SOLVING ONE-VARIABLE LINEAR EQUATIONS
One-variable: one unknown in the equation, such as in 3x = 9. x is the only

unknown.
Linear: the variable has the power of 1, such as in 3x = 9. x has the power of 1 (x
= x1).
The simplest form of this kind of equations: ax = b (a  0), where both a and b
are constant. x is the variable (unknown).
b
The solution is x  (divide both sides of the equation by a).
a
Basic skills to solving one-variable linear equations
1
Example 1. Solve equation: x  35
11
(A) 11 (B) 35 (C) 35/11 (D) 11/35 (E) 385
Solution: E.
Get rid of the denominators:
1
Multiply each side by 11: x  11  35  11  x  385 .
11
5 x x2
Example 2. Solve equation: x   1
3 6
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 5 (D) 4 (E) 6
Solution: B.
5 x x2
Multiplying each side by 6: 6( x  )  6(1  ) 
3 6
5 x x2
6x  6   6  6
3 6
102
Why must we multiply each side by 6? Because we want to get rid of the
denominator. There are a lot of numbers you could multiply in order to get rid of
the denominator, and in this case, 6 is the smallest one.
Add parentheses:
5 x x2
6x  6   6  6  6 x  2  (5  x)  6  ( x  2)
3 6
5 x
Notice that the fraction line in acts as the parentheses. 5 – x is one unit and
3
should be treated as (5 – x).
Remove the parentheses:

6x  2  5  2x  6  x  2
Note that the x on the left hand side changed its sign and the x on the right hand
side does not change signs.
Note also 6x 10  2x  6  x  2 is incorrect.
Isolate the variable:

6x  2  5  2x  6  x  2  6x  2x  x  6  2  10
Move all the unknowns to the left hand side and all numbers to the right hand
side. When you do so, remember to change the sign of each term to the opposite
sign.
For example, when you move – 10 to the right hand side, it is changed from – 10
to + 10.
When “– x” is moved from the right hand side to the left hand side, it changed
from “– x” to “+ x”.
103
Notice that the purpose of moving the terms is to isolate the variable. Terms that
do not move to other side do not change their sign.
Combine like terms:

 6x  2x  x  6  2  10  9 x  18
Divide both sides by 9: x  2
1 3 1 2
Example 3. Solve for x: ( x  1)  ( x  1)  ( x  1)  ( x  1)
3 4 2 3
(A) 4 (B) 5 (C) 3 (D) 6 (E) 10
Solution: C.
1 1 2 3
( x  1)  ( x  1)  ( x  1)  ( x  1)
3 2 3 4
1 1
( x  1)  ( x  1)  2( x  1)  x  1  x  3.
6 12
☆Example 4. In a far-off land five fish can be traded for three loaves of bread
and a loaf of bread can be traded for three bags of rice. How many bags of rice is
one fish worth?
4 5
(A) 1/5 (B) 1/2 (C) 3/4 (D) 1 (E)
5 9
Solution: D.
5F = 3B (1)
B = 3R (2)
9 4
Substituting (2) into (1): 5F = 3 × 3R  F= B 1 B .
5 5
☆Example 5. Before district play, the Unicorns had won 45% of their basketball
games. During district play, they won six more games and lost two, to finish the
104
season having won half their games. How many games did the Unicorns play in
all?
(A) 48 (B) 50 (C) 52 (D) 54 (E) 60
Solution: A.
Let n be the number of Unicorn games before district play. Then 0.45n + 6 =
0.5(n + 8). Solving for n yields
0.45n + 6 = 0.5n + 4.
2 = 0.05n
40 = n
So the total number of games is 40 + 8 = 48.
3. SOLVING LITERAL EQUATIONS
A literal equation is an equation that contains one or more letters. These letters are
constants but are not fixed values.
General case: x is the variable in the equation.
b
Case I. When a  0, the equation has a unique solution: x  .
a
Case II. When a = b = 0, the equation has infinite many solutions.
Case III. When a = 0 and b  0, the equation has no solutions.
Examples 6. In the metric system, temperature is measured in degree Celsius (C)

5( F  32)
in stead of degree Fahrenheit (F). The formula is as follows: C  .
9
Solve for F.
Solution:
Multiply both sides by 9: 9C  5( F  32)
Remove the parentheses: 9C  5F  5  32
Isolate the variable: 5F  9C  5  32
9
Divide both sides by 5: F  C  32
5
105
Example 7. Solve for x: a 2  ax  1  x
Solution:
Isolate the variable by moving terms: ax  x  1  a 2
Combine the like terms: (a  1) x  1  a 2
1  a2
Case I. When (a + 1)  0, the equation has the unique solution: x  .
a 1
Case II. When (a + 1) = 0, a = – 1 and 1  a 2  1  1  0 , the equation has infinite
many solutions.
a b c
Example 8. If x    , find the value for x.
bc ca ab
Solution:
Case I. If a + b + c = 0
b+c= –a
a a
x   1
bc a
Case II. If a + b + c  0
a b c abc abc 1
x     
b  c c  a a  b b  c  c  a  a  b 2(a  b  c) 2
4. SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
The following equation is called quadratic equation:

ax2 + bx + c = 0
where a, b, and c are real numbers with a  0.
Square root property: The solution to x2 = k is x  k and x   k .
Example 9. Solve the equation x2 = 11.
106
Solution:
The solutions are x  11 and x   11 .
Example 10. Solve the equation (x – 4) 2 = 12.
Solution:
The solutions are x  4  12  x  4  12  4  2 3
and x  4   12  x  4  12  4  2 3
or x  4  2 3 .
QUADRATIC FORMULA:
We will derive the quadratic formula below. The method used is called
“completing the square” method. The method works for all quadratic equations.
ax2 + bx + c = 0
Since a  0, we can divide both sides by a:
b c
x2  x   0
a a
Now we complete the square:
b b b c
x2  2  x   ( )2  ( )2   0
2a 2a 2a a
x2 + 2 x y + y2 = (x + y)2.
b b b c
x2  2  x   ( )2  ( )2 
2a 2a 2a a
We can write the left side as a perfect square, and the right side as a single
fraction:
2
 b  b 2  4ac
x   
 2a  4a 2
107
b b 2  4ac
Take the square root of each side: x  
2a 4a 2
b b 2  4ac  b  b 2  4ac
Solve for x: x1, 2   
2a 4a 2 2a
 b  b 2  4ac
Simplify: x1, 2  .
2a
Example 11. Solve x2 + 6x = 40
Solution:
x2 + 6x = 40  x2 + 6x – 40 = 0
a = 1, b = 6, and c = – 40.
 b  b 2  4ac  6  62  4  1 (40)  6  14
x1, 2     3  7
2a 25 2
x1 = – 3 + 7 = 4 and x2 = –3 –7 = –10.
Example 12. Solve 5x2 = 10x – 4 using the quadratic formula.
Solution:
5x2 = 10x – 4  5x2 – 10x + 4 =0
a = 5, b = – 10, and c = 4.
 b  b 2  4ac  (10)  (10) 2  4  5  4 10  100  80 5  5
x1, 2     .
2a 25 10 5
5. SOLVING SYSTEM OF LINEAR EQUATIONS
A group (two or more) of equations is called a system of equations. The solutions

of a system of equations should satisfy all the equations. The most commonly
used methods are (1) substitution method, and (2) elimination method.
108
Example 13. If x + y = 12 and x – y = 8, what is the value of 2x – xy?

(A) 4 (B) 0 (C) 2 (D) 5 (E) 6
Solution: B.
Method 1 (Substitution method):
x + y = 12 (1)
x–y=8 (2)
From (2), we get: x = 8 + y (3)
Substitute (3) into (1): 8 + y + y = 12  2y = 12 – 8 = 4  y = 2.
Then from (1) we have x + 2 = 12  x = 12 – 2 = 10.
2x – xy = 2 × 10 – 10 × 2 = 20 – 20 = 0.
Method 2 (Elimination method):

x + y = 12 (1)
x–y=8 (2)
(1) + (2): 2x = 20  x = 10
Substitute x = 10 into (1): y = 2
2x – xy = 2 × 10 – 10 × 2 = 20 – 20 = 0.
Example 14. If 3a + b = 17 and a + 1 = b what is the value of a · b?

(A) 40 (B) 50 (C) 20 (D) 18 (E) 16
Solution: C.
3a + b = 17 (1)
a+1=b (2)
(1) + (2): 4a + b + 1 = 17 + b  4a = 17 – 1 = 16  a =4
So b =a + 1 =4 + 1 = 5
a × b = 4 × 5 = 20
Example 15. If x + y = 10 and 2x – y = 11, find the value of x2 + y2.

(A) 49 (B) 9 (C) 20 (D) 58 (E) 16
109
Solution: D.
x + y = 10 (1)
2x – y = 11 (2)
(1) × 2 – (2):
3y = 9  y=3
From (1) we get x + 3 = 10  x = 7.
x2 + y2 = 72 + 32 = 49 + 9 = 58.
Example 16. Solve the system of equations and find the value of z – y.
x y

2 3
y z

2 3
x + y + z = 38
(A) 10 (B) 20 (C) 24 (D) 18 (E) 19
Solution: D.
From the given equations, we have
x y z x  y  z 38
     2.
4 6 9 4  6  9 19
x
2  x = 8.
4
Similarly, we get y = 12 and z = 18. z – y = 18 – 12 =6.
5 5
Example 17. If  , what is the value of x?
x 1 2x 1
(A)  2 (B)  1 (C) 0 (D) 1 (E) 2
Solution: E.
5(2 x  1)  5( x  1)  2x  1  x  1  x  2.
110
Example 18. If a > 0 in the equations x = 4a and y = 4a2 + 1, find y in terms of x.

1 1 1
(A) x 2  1 (B) x 2  4 (C) x 2  1 (D) x2 + 1 (E) x2 + 4
4 4 2
Solution: A.
Squaring both sides of the equation x = 4a: x2 = 16a2  x2 /4 = 4a2
1
y = 4a2 + 1 = x 2  1 .
4
Example 19. In the equation 6(x 7)(x  2) = k, k is a constant. If the roots of the
equation are 7 and 2, what is the value of k ?
(A) 0 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 7 (E) 14
Solution: A.
If 7 is the root of the equation 6(x 7)(x  2) = k, 6(7  7)(x  2) = k  k = 0.
Example 20. Find the value of y + z if 5x + 2y + 2z = 21 and 5x + y + z = 11.

(A) 10 (B) 12 (C) 3 (D) 7 (E) 11
Solution: A.
5x + 2y + 2z = 21 (1)
5x + y + z = 11 (2)
(1)  (2): y + z = 10.
Example 21.Solve:
1 1
 1 (1)
x y
1 1
 2 (2)
x z
1 1 3
  (3)
y z 2
111
4 4
Solution: x  , y  4, z  .
3 5
1 1 1 9
(1) + (2) + (3): 2(   ) 
x y z 2
1 1 1 9
or     (4)
x y z 4
1 3 4
(4) – (3):   x
x 4 3
1 1
(4) – (2):   y4
y 4
1 5 4
(4) – (1):   z
z 4 5
☆Example 22. In a jar of red, green, and blue marbles, all but 12 are red marbles,
all but 16 are green, and all but 8 are blue. How many marbles are in the jar?
(A) 12 (B) 16 (C) 18 (D) 20 (E) 36
Solution: C.
Let g, b, and r be the number of green, blue, and red marbles respectively.
g + b = 12 (1)
r + b = 16 (2)
r+g=8 (3)
(1) + (2 + (3): 2g + 2r + 2b = 36  g + r + b = 18.
Example 23. Find the sum of the x-coordinates of the points of intersection of the
graphs of the equations y  2 x –2 and y =  2 x + 2.
(A) 1 (B) 6 (C) 8 (D) 0 (E) 3
Solution: D.
y  2 x –2 (1)
112
y =  2x + 2 (2)
Let (1) = (2):
2x – 2 =  2x + 2  2 2x = 4  4x =4  x =1
x = 1 or x = – 1
So the sum of the x-coordinates is 1 – 1 = 0.
Example 24. In the following system of equations, x can be expressed as m/n,

where m and n are positive integers relatively prime. What is the value of m + n?
xy
3 (1)
x y
yz
4 (2)
yz
zx
5 (3)
xz
(A) 130 (B) 143 (C) 127 (D) 120 (E) 167
Solution: A.
xy x y 1 1 1 1
3      (1)
x y xy 3 x y 3
yz yz 1 1 1 1
4      (2)
yz yz 4 y z 4
zx xz 1 1 1 1
5      (3)
xz xz 5 x z 5
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 47
(1) + ( 2) + (3):    (   )  (4)
x y z 2 3 4 5 120
1 47 1 17 120
(4) – (2):     x .
x 120 4 210 17
The answer is 120 + 17 = 130.
113
6. SOLVING SYSTEM OF NONLINEAR EQUATIONS
A system of equations is called nonlinear system of equations if at least one

equation is nonlinear.
Example 25. Solve the system:

x+ y = 5
xy = 4
Solution:
Method 1:
First solve either equation for one variable. Let’s solve x + y = 5 for x:
x 5 y (1)
Now substitute the result for x in equation xy = 4.
(5 – y)y = 4  5y – y2 = 4  y2 – 5y – 4 = 0  (y – 1)(y – 4)
=0
y = 1 or y = 4.
The solutions are
x=1 x=4
y=4 y=1
Method 2:
In the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the sum of the root is –b/a, and the
product of the roots is c/a. Therefore, x and y are two roots of the quadratic
equation:
t2 – 5t + 4 = 0  (t – 1)(t – 4) = 0 t = 1 or t = 4.
The solutions are

x=1 x=4
y=4 y=1
114

2x  3 y = 11
xy =  5
Solution:
Write the equations as:
2x + ( 3y) = 11
2x  ( 3y) = 30
In the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the sum of the root is –b/a, and the
product of the roots is c/a.
So 2x and  3y are the roots of the quadratic equation:

t2 – 11t + 30 = 0  (t – 5)(t – 6) = 0  t = 5 or t = 6.
2x = 5 and  3y = 6 or 2x = 6 and  3y = 5.
The solutions of (x, y) are (5/2, – 2) or (3, – 5/3).

x 2+ y2 = 25 (1)
x+y=7 (2)
Solution:
(2)2  (1):
xy = 12 (3)
We know from (2) and (3) that x and y are the roots of the quadratic equation:
t2 – 7t + 12 = 0  (t – 3)(t – 4) = 0  t = 3 or t = 4.
The solutions of (x, y) are (3, 4) or (4, 3).
☆Example 28. Find x2 + y2 if (x, y) is a solution to the system xy = 6 and x2y +

y2x + x + y = 63.
(A) 81 (B) 140 (C) 69 (D) 63 (E) 67
115
Solution: C.
x2y + y2x + x + y = xy(x + y) + (x + y) = (x + y)( xy + 1) = 63
or (x + y)( 6 + 1) = 63  x + y = 9  (x + y)2 = 81  x2 + y2 + 2xy = 81
x2 + y2 = 81 – 2xy = 81 – 12 =69.
☆Example 29. How many distinct points common to the curve 3x2 + y2 = 13 and
x2 + 3y2 = 115?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 0 (E) 4
Solution: B.
3x2 + y2 = 12 (1)
x2 + 3y2 = 4 (2)
(1) + (2):
4x2 + 4y2 = 16  x2 + y2 = 4 (3)
(2) – (3): 2y2 = 0
So equation (2) becomes: x2 = 4  x =  2.

There are 2 points common: (2, 0) and (– 2, 0).
☆Example 30. Find x2 + y2 if x and y are positive integers such that

xy + x + y = 19 and x2 y+xy2 =84.
(A) 193 (B) 25 (C) 153 (D) 103 (E) 74
Solution: B.
xy + x + y = 19
x2 y+xy2 = xy (x + y) = 84.
Let xy = m, x + y = n.
m + n = 19
mn = 84
So m = 12 and n = 7.
Then x = 3 and y = 4. x2 + y2 = 25.
116
PROBLEMS
Problem 1. Find n, the root of the equation: n  (n  1)  (n  2)  75 .

(A) –3 (B) – 25 (C) –75 (D) – 26 (E) 26
3(6  8 y )
Problem 2. Find the value of y which makes the following true: 9.
10
(A) 3 (B) 5 (C) 7 (D) 6 (E) 2
Problem 3. For what value(s) of x is the equation 11x  4(2 x  3)  24 true?

(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 11
x 1 2x 1
Problem 4. What is the value of x ? 1   1.
3 5
(A) –32 (B) – 23 (C) –27 (D) – 45 (E) 32
3d  1 2
Problem 5. Solve for d :  .
4d  4 3
(A) –3 (B) – 2 (C) –7 (D) –5 (E) 3
Problem 6. Solve the equation a  3( x  5b) for x.
1 1
Problem 7. Solve for x: m( x  n)  ( x  2m) .
3 4
Problem 8. Find the greatest positive integer n such that n 2  26n  30 is at most
30.
(A) 19 (B) 25 (C) 26 (D) 13 (E) 27
117
Problem 9. One root of the equation 5x 2  kx  4 is 2. What is the other?

4 2 2 2
(A) 10 (B)  (C)  (D) (E) 
5 5 5 10
Problem 10. Given that a and b are positive numbers such that a2 + b2 = 52 and
a2 – b2 = 20, what is the value of b ?
(A)  4 (B) 6 (C) 6 (D) 16 (E) 4
Problem 11. How many different points of intersection are there for x + y = 7 and
y = x2 – 7?
(A) 0 (B) 1 (C) 2 (D) 3 (E) 4
Problem 12. Four distinct integers a, b, c, and d have the property that when
added in pairs the sums 16, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 25 are obtained. What is the sum of
four integers?
(A) 36 (B) 39 (C) 41 (D) 43 (E) 47
Problem 13. Given that 7x + 3y = 54 and 3x + 7y = 46, what is the value of x + y?

(A) 14 (B) 16 (C) 27 (D) 23 (E) 10
Problem 14. The sum of two numbers is 22. Their product is 72. What is the
greater of the two numbers?
(A) 20 (B) 18 (C) 16 (D) 14 (E) 12
Problem 15. The product of two whole numbers is 60. If the difference between
the two numbers is 11, what is the greater of the two numbers?
(A) 4 (B) 18 (C) 15 (D) 4 (E) 15
Problem 16. The difference between two positive integers is 45, and their product
is 196. What is their sum?
(A) 49 (B) 53 (C) 784 (D) 53 (E) 49
118
Problem 17. The difference between two numbers is 1, and the sum of their
squares is 141. What is the product of the numbers?
(A) 4970 (B) 4899 (C) 4830 (D) 994 (E) 2485
Problem 18. The sum of two numbers is 24. Their difference is 16. What is the
larger number?
(A) 16 (B) 18 (C) 20 (D) 24 (E) 22
Problem 19. If 4x + y = 24 and x – y = 1, what is the value of x + y?

(A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 14 (E) 22
Problem 20. Four dogs and 3 puppies weigh 74 pounds while 3 dogs and 4
puppies weigh 66 pounds. How many pounds does a dog plus a puppy weigh?
(A) 33 (B) 37 (C) 20 (D) 24 (E) 22
Problem 21. If x + y = 5, x + z = 8, and y + z = 11, what is the value of x + y + z?

(A) 8 (B) 10 (C) 12 (D) 14 (E) 20
Problem 22. If x + y = 5 and xy = 3, what is the value of x2 + y2?

(A) 25 (B) 19 (C) 12 (D) 14 (E) 6
Problem 23. Find xy such that x + y = 10 and x2 + y2 = 178.

(A) 39 (B) 33 (C) 78 (D) 39 (E) 49
1 1 7
Problem 24. Given that   and a  b  14 , what is the product of a and
a b 24
b?
(A) 24 (B) 31 (C) 48 (D) 39 (E) 49
Problem 25. Given 3 positive integers a, b, and c such that a  b  10, b  c  6,

c  a  15. Find a  b  c.
(A) 25 (B) 16 (C) 21 (D) 30 (E) 49
119
Problem 26. Three pencils and two erasers cost $0.60. Two pencils and three
erasers cost $0.55. How much will it cost to buy seven pencils and seven erasers?
(A) $1.15 (B) $1.61 (C) $1.48 (D) $1.39 (E) $1.49
Problem 27. Suppose a, b, and c are positive integers such that ab  18, bc  24
and ac  48. Find a  b  c to the nearest integer.
(A) 12 (B) 24 (C) 21 (D) 17 (E) 18
Problem 28. Three friends arrange to rent a summer cabin. Harry pays twice as
much as Mary, and Mary pays twice as much as Larry. If the total rent is $350,
how many dollars does Harry pay?
(A) 350 (B) 300 (C) 250 (D) 200 (E) 175
Problem 29. Several boys bought a canoe, each paying an equal amount. If there
had been two fewer boys, each would have paid $3.00 more. If there had been one
boy more, each would have paid $1.00 less. How many boys were there?
(A) 12 (B) 14 (C) 10 (D) 8 (E) 11
☆Problem 30. If the line y = mx + 1 intersects the ellipse x2 + 4y2 = 3 exactly

once, what is the value of m2?
(A) 1/12 (B) 3/4 (C) 2/5 (D) 1/6 (E) 1/7
Problem 31. Find the real solutions of the equation:

x+ y= 2 (1)
2
xy – z = 1 (2)
(A) (1, 1, 0) (B) (1, 0, 1) (C) (2, 1, −1) (D) (0,1, 1) (E) (−1, −1, 0)
120
SOLUTIONS
n  (n  1)  (n  2)  75  3n  3  75  3n  76  3 
3n  78  n  26
3(6  8 y )
9  3(6  8 y)  9  10  18  24 y  90 
10
72
24 y  90  18  24 y  72  y  3.
24
11x  4(2 x  3)  24  11x  8x  12  24  3x  24  12 
12
3x  12  x  4.
3
x 1 2x  1 x  1 2x  1 x  1 2x  9
1  1   2  
3 5 3 5 3 5
 5( x  1)  3(2 x  9)  5x  5  6x  27 
 27  5  6x  5x  x  32 .
3d  1 2 3d  1 2
    3(3d  1)  2(4d  1)
4d  4 3 4d  4 3
 9d  3  8d  8  9d  8d  8  3  d  5 .
Remove the parentheses: a  3x  15b
Isolate the variable: 3x  15b  a
121
15b  a
Divide both sides by 3: x 
3
m(4n  6)
Case I: when m  3/4, the equation has one solution. x 
4m  3
Case II: when m = 3/4 and n = – 3/2, the equation has infinite many solutions.
Case III: when m = 3/4 and n  – 3/2, the equation has no solutions.
n2  26n  30  30  n2  26n  0  n(n  26)  0
 0  n  26 .
The greatest value of n is 26.
Since one root of the equation 5x 2  kx  4 is 2, we have 5  (2)2  k (2)  4
 20  2k  4  2k  4  20  2k  16 
k  8 .
The original equation can be written as 5x 2  8x  4 

5x  8x  4  0
2
 (8)  (8)2  4  5  (4)  (8)  122 8  12

 x   .
25 10 10
8  12 2
The root is x   .
10 5

a2 + b2 = 52 (1)
a2 – b2 = 20 (2)
122
(1) – (2): 2b2 = 32  b2 = 16  b = 4 or b =  4 (ignored).

x+y=7 (1)
2
y=x –7 (2)
2 2
(2) – (1): x + x – 14 = 0  x + x – 14 = 0 (3)
Since  = 12 – 4 × 1 × (14) > 0, quadratic equation 3 has two solutions.
So the answer is 2.

Let a < b < c < d.
a + b = 16 (1)
c + d = 25 (2)
(1) + (2): a + b + c + d =  16 + 25 = 41.

7x + 3y = 54 (1)
3x + 7y = 46 (2)
(1) + (2): 10x + 10y = 100  x + y = 10.

Let two numbers be x and y.
x + y = 22 (1)
xy = 72   4xy =  288 (2)
Squaring both sides of (1): (x + y)2 = 222  x2 + 2xy + y2 = 222 (3)
(3) + (2): x2  2xy + y2 = 142  (x  y)2 = 142
 x  y = 14 (4)
or  x  y = 14 (5)
Solve the system of equations (1) and (4): x = 18, y = 4.
The greater of the two numbers is 18.
123

x  y = 11 (1)
xy = 60  4xy = 240 (2)
Squaring both sides of (1): (x  y)2 = 112  x2  2xy + y2 = 112 (3)
(3) + (2): x2 + 2xy + y2 = 192  (x + y)2 = 192
 x + y = 19 (4)
or  x + y = 19 (5)
Solve the system of equations (1) and (5): x =  4, y =  15.
The greater of the two numbers is 15.

x  y = 45 (1)
xy = 196  4xy = 784 (2)
Squaring both sides of (1): (x  y) = 452
2
 x2  2xy + y2 = 452 (3)
(3) + (2): x2 + 2xy + y2 = 532  (x + y)2 = 532
 x + y = 53 (4)
or  x + y = 53 (ignored)

xy=1 (1)
x + y = 141 (2)
(1) + (2): 2x = 142  x = 71
So y = 71 – 1 = 70.
xy = 71 × 70 = 4970.

124
x  y = 16 (1)
x + y = 24 (2)
(1) + (2): 2x = 40  x = 20
So y = 20 – 4 = 16.
The answer is 20.

4x + y = 24 (1)
x–y=1 (2)
(1) + (2): 5x = 25  x = 5.
So y = 5 – 1 = 4.
The answer is 5 + 4 = 9.

4d + 3p = 74 (1)
3d + 4p = 66 (2)
(1) + ( 2):
7d + 7p = 140  d + p = 20
Problem 21. Solution: C

x+y=5 (1)
x+z=8 (2)
y + z = 11 (3)
(1) + (2) + (3): 2(x + y + z) = 24  x + y + z = 12.

x+y=5 (1)
xy = 3   2xy =  6 (2)
(3) + (2): x2 + y2 = 19.
125
x + y = 10 (1)
x2 + y2 = 178 (2)
(3) − (2): 2xy = − 78  xy = − 39.

1 1 7 ab 7 14 7
      
a b 24 ab 24 ab 24
2 1
  ab  48 .
ab 24

a  b  10 (1)
bc  6 (2)
c  a  15 (3)
(1)  (2)  (3): (a  b  c)2  10  6  15  a  b  c  10  6  15  30 .

3P + 2E = 60 (1)
2P + 3E = 55 (2)
(1) + (2): 5P + 5E = 115  P + E = 23  7(P + E) = 23  7 = 161 = $1.61.

ab  18 (1)
bc  24 (2)
ac  48 (3)
(1)  (2)  (3): (a  b  c)2  18  24  48  a  b  c  18  24  48  144 (4)
(4)  (1): c = 8
(4)  (2): a = 6
(4)  (3): b = 3
a + b + c = 6 + 3 + 8 = 17.
126

H
H = 2M  M (1)
2
M H
M = 2L  L  (2)
2 4
M + H + L = 350 (3)
H H 7H
Substituting (1) and (2) into (3):  H   350   350
2 4 4
 H = 200.

Let x be the number of boys and c be the cost of the canoe.
Each person pays $ c/x.
c c 1 1
 3  c(  )3 (1)
x2 x x2 x
c c 1 1
 1  c(  )  1 (2)
x 1 x x 1 x
1 1

3 1 1 1 1
(1)  (2): x  2 x   (  )  3(  ) 
1 1 1 x2 x x 1 x

x 1 x
1 1 3 3 4 3 1
       
x  2 x x 1 x x x 1 x  2
3 1 4 3x( x  2)  x( x  1)  4( x  1)( x  2)
  0  0
x 1 x  2 x ( x  1)( x  2) x
 3x( x  2)  x( x  1)  4( x  1)( x  2)  0 
3x  6 x  x  x  4 x  4 x  8  0 
2 2 2
 x 8  0  x = 8.
☆Problem 30. Solution: A.

y = mx + 1 (1)
x2 + 4y2 = 3 (2)
127
Substitute (1) into (2):

x2 + 4(mx + 1)2 = 3  x2 + 4(m2x2 +2 mx + 1) = 3  x2 + 4m2x2 +8mx + 4 = 3
 x2 (4m2 + 1) + 8mx + 1 = 0 (3)
Since these two lines intersect only once, (3) should have double roots, meaning
that the discriminant equals 0.
 = 0  (8m)2 – 4  (4m2 + 1)  1 = 0  16m2 – 4m2 – 1 = 0
 12m2 – 1 = 0  m2 = 1/12.

Write (2) as xy = 1 – z2 (3)
We se that from (1) and (3) that x and y are the roots of the quadratic equation:
t2 – 2t + (1 + z2) = 0 (4)
2 2
The discriminant  = 4 – 4(1 + z ) = – 4z  0
Only when z2 = 0 or z = 0 does the equations have real roots.
(4) becomes t2 – 2t + 1 = 0  (t – 1)2 = 0  t = 1.
The solution of (x, y, z) is (1, 1, 0).
128
AMC 8 Preparation Index
A E
angle, 68, 69, 73 edge, 4, 13, 16, 18, 28
area, 24, 70, 71, 78 ellipse, 120
equation, 37, 38, 40, 61, 101, 102, 105, 106, 107,
B 111, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 120, 122, 123,
128
base, 1, 2, 5, 9, 18, 19, 24 equilateral, 10, 13, 21, 28
equilateral triangle, 28
C even number, 45, 46
exponent, 33, 34, 83, 84, 85
circle, 91, 92, 99 expression, 29
circumference, 95
common divisor, 90
common factor, 45, 51, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89,
F
93, 95, 97, 100 face, 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 13, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
common fraction, 61 27, 28, 100
common multiple, 83, 86, 99 factor, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 49, 51,
composite number, 29, 45 53, 54, 55, 60, 82, 87, 90
constant, 101, 102, 111 formula, 15, 16, 28, 86, 88, 92, 98, 99, 100, 105,
convex, 16, 22, 28, 68 107, 108
cube, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20, 23, 26, 34, 35, 36, fraction, 63, 73, 103, 107
39, 40, 42, 44
G
D
GCF, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 90, 91, 93, 94, 97,
degree, 68, 69, 105 98, 99, 100
degree measure, 68, 69 greatest common factor (GCF), 93, 94
denominator, 103
diagonal, 22
I
diameter, 71
difference, 52, 72, 95, 99, 118, 119 integer, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41,
digit, 38, 39, 41, 47, 51, 88, 89, 93, 97 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 56, 60, 82,
divisible, 30, 42, 45, 46, 50, 51, 58, 59, 88, 89, 93, 117, 120
93, 97, 98 integers, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 40, 45, 48, 49,
divisor, 29, 39, 51 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 82, 86, 90, 113, 116,
118, 119, 120
intersection, 112, 118
129
L probability, 35, 38, 41

product, 9, 10, 29, 31, 34, 35, 38, 39, 48, 50, 52,
LCM, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 55, 56, 83, 84, 85, 90, 93, 98, 114, 115, 118,
94, 97, 98, 99, 100 119
least common multiple, 82, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, proportion, 61, 80
93, 94, 95 pyramid, 1
line, 8, 9, 10, 12, 22, 26, 27, 103, 120
line segment, 9, 10, 22 Q
linear equation, 101, 102
quadrilateral, 28, 68
M
R
multiple, 2, 29, 31, 32, 34, 35, 38, 41, 43, 46, 82,
86, 87, 88, 97, 99 radius, 91
random, 35, 38
N rate, 61, 64, 73, 74, 75, 76
ratio, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72,
natural number, 36, 37, 82, 87, 94, 95 73, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 93
natural numbers, 36, 82, 87, 94, 95 real number, 106
numerator, 29 real numbers, 106
rectangle, 70
O relatively prime, 45, 113
remainder, 29, 47, 93
octahedron, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21 root, 106, 111, 114, 115, 117, 118, 122
odd number, 32, 34, 38, 40, 41, 44, 48, 49, 51, 53, rotation, 92
59, 60, 100
ordered pair, 56, 59
S
P set, 4, 55, 75
similar, 71
parallel, 75 similar figures, 71
pentagon, 15, 16 solution, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 28, 50, 101, 102, 105,
percent, 73, 74 106, 115, 122, 128
perimeter, 70, 91 square, 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 13, 18, 20, 21, 28, 30, 32, 33,
point, 1, 2, 8, 10, 12, 13, 91, 92, 95, 96, 100 34, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 53, 56, 70,
polyhedron, 10, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 28 74, 78, 79, 107, 108
positive number, 53, 66, 69, 89, 90, 95, 118 square root, 30, 42, 45, 108
power, 102 sum, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 38, 41,
prime factorization, 30, 31, 33, 97 42, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 53, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59,
prime number, 29, 30, 31, 35, 42, 43, 45, 46, 47, 60, 67, 72, 75, 94, 95, 112, 113, 114, 115,
48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, 60 118, 119
prism, 24
130
T W
term, 61, 62, 103 whole number, 93, 118
total surface area, 4, 18 whole numbers, 93, 118
transformation, 7, 11
triangle, 13, 26, 27, 28, 69, 73 X
x-coordinate, 112, 113
V
variable, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 114, 121 Z
vertex, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20, 26, 27
volume, 18, 24 zero, 62
131
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American Mathematics Competitions

Copyright © 2014 by mymathcounts.com

Chapter 13 Geometric visualization 1

Chapter 15 Prime numbers 45

Chapter 16 Ratio, rate and proportion 61

Chapter 17 Least common multiple and greatest common factor 82

Chapter 18 Solving equations 101

Draw the three views of a three-dimensional figure

Top: The figure looks like a row of 3 squares.

Draw the three-dimensional figure giving three views

Different views of a solid figure are shown. A point of view is called a

Step 2. Use the top view to draft the

(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 11 (E) 12

Drawing a base plan

Example 9. Draw a base plan for the following solid object:

2. NET OF A CUBE (11 TOTAL)

Step 3. Conclusion: Vertices 1, 2 and 3 will meet when the

Note that for a cube, three faces share one vertex.

Method 1 (official solution):

Method 2 (our solution):

Method 2 (our solution):

From these line segments, we know that vertices A, B, and C will

Method 2 (our solution):

An octahedron is the solid with six polyhedron vertices, twelve polyhedron

There are 11 distinct nets for the octahedron.

one – six – one

one – five – two

one – four – three four – four

Figure (b) is a topological transformation of the edges of the octahedron in figure

Note that for an octahedron, four faces share one vertex.

Solution: Vertices 2 and 3.

Note for an octahedron, four faces share one vertex.

Method 2 (our solution):

The sum of the three faces is 8 + 4 + 2 = 14.

Example 18. If the strip of triangles, as shown below, is folded to form an

(1) Euler’s formula: F + V = E + 2

Polyhedron Faces Vertices Edges

Method 2 (our solution):

(A) 8 (B) 9 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14

(A) 15 (B) 20 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14

Problem 8. The following polyhedron with dimensions as given has a volume of

Problem 17. If the strip of triangles, as shown, is folded to form an octahedron,

Problem 19. An octahedral net is a collection of adjoining triangles that can be

Problem 20. An octahedral net is a collection of adjoining triangles that can be

The volume is the sum of volume of the right prism with a

Problem 10. Solution:

Problem 11. Solution:

Problem 12. Solution: C.

Problem 13. Solution: D.

Problem 14. Solution:

Problem 15. Solution: B.

Problem 16. Solution: C.

Problem 17. Solution: E.

Problem 18. Solution: C.

We name the three vertices of the shaded triangle in

Problem 19. Solution: B.

Problem 20. Solution: E.

We know that face 1 is adjacent to face 4. Two faces

We see that the red lines going through both faces 4