SENIOR SECONDARY

SET 2
LOGICAL THINKING
1. Marlou goes 58 km north, then 38 km east, then 34 km south, then 108 km west and finally 42√2
km northwest. How far is he now from his original position?
2. Use hexadecimal number system (base 16) to represent quaternary number 10012224 .
3. Find the average of the following number sequence:
258,161,56,265,168,63,272,175,70, … ,2106,2009,1904,2113,2016,1911.
4. 30th September 2024 is Monday. Which day of the week will 25th October 2033 be?
5. Find the units digit of ⏟
35 × 35 × 35 × … × 35 × ⏟
39 × 39 × 39 × … × 39.
99`𝑠 99`𝑠

ALGEBRA
6. Factorize 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 − 16𝑦 2 − 48𝑦.
7. If 𝑚 and 𝑛 are the distinct roots of 𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 36 = 0, find the value of 𝑚3 + 𝑛3 .
8. Find the value of 3𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 3𝑑 + 3𝑒 in the system of equations
2𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 4𝑐 + 5𝑑 + 6𝑒 = 84
3𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 5𝑐 + 6𝑑 + 2𝑒 = 90
4𝑎 + 5𝑏 + 6𝑐 + 2𝑑 + 3𝑒 = 96 .
5𝑎 + 6𝑏 + 2𝑐 + 3𝑑 + 4𝑒 = 102
{6𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 4𝑑 + 5𝑒 = 108
9. Solve the equation log 5 (𝑥 2 + 72) + log 5 25 − 2 log 5 𝑥 = 3. (Answer in simplest surd form)
10. Given that 𝑥 is a 3-digit number, find the smallest possible value of 𝑥 such that 𝑥 = 27√𝑥 − 162.

NUMBER THEORY
11. Given it is Monday tomorrow, which day of the week will it be 265223 days after today?

12. It is known that 𝑥 > 0 and 𝑥 = 12√12 + 7√12 + 7√12 + 7√12 …. Find the value of 𝑥. (Answer in
terms of simplest surd form)
3 27
13. Given 𝑥 > 0 and 𝑥 + 𝑥 = 13, find the value of 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 3 .
14. Given that ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
50463𝐴72𝐵733 is a 12-digit number which is divisible by 63, find the minimum value
of 𝐴𝐵.
𝑥 ≡ 13 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 21)
15. If 𝑥 > 0, 𝑥 is a 3-digit positive integer and { , find the maximum value of 𝑥.
𝑥 ≡ 13 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 27)
GEOMETRY
3
16. Given straight line 𝐿 passes through 𝐴(−21,17) and the slope of 𝐿 is 7, find the 𝑦-intercept of 𝐿.
cos 𝐵
17. In ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝐴𝐵 = 24, 𝐴𝐶 = 45, and 𝐵𝐶 = 51. Find the value of cos 𝐶 .
18. The side lengths of a triangle are 22, 27, and 35. Find the area of this triangle. (Answer in terms of
simplest surd form)
19. Given that an exterior angle of an 𝑛-sided regular polygon is 3.75°, find the value of 𝑛.
2
20. Given that tan 𝑥 = , find the value of 3 + sin 2𝑥. (Answer in terms of simplest surd form)
√5

COMBINATORICS
21. Determine the number of positive integer(s) 𝑥 such that 𝑥 2 < 41𝑥 − 238.
22. Three fair six-sided dice are thrown. Find the probability that the sum of the numbers obtained is
6 or 15.
23. Find the number of different way(s) of arranging 5 identical red balls and 9 identical white balls in
a row.
24. It is known that 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, and 𝑒 are integers and all of them are greater than 4. Find the number of
solution sets of 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑒 = 37.
25. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are positive integers such that 11𝑥 + 14𝑦 = 1259, find the maximum value of 𝑥 − 𝑦.
 SENIOR SECONDARY
SET 2
SOLUTION MANUAL

LOGICAL THINKING
1. Marlou goes 58 km north, then 38 km east, then 34 km south, then 108 km west and finally 42√2
km northwest. How far is he now from his original position?
Answer: 130
Solution:

Note that the triangle having hypotenuse 42√2 is a 45° − 45° − 90° triangle, hence giving us the
lengths of the legs as 42.
We have
2 2
𝑑𝑂 𝑡𝑜 𝐶 = √(42 + (58 − 34)) + (42 + (108 − 38))
𝑑𝑂 𝑡𝑜 𝐶 = √662 + 1122
𝑑𝑂 𝑡𝑜 𝐶 = √1302
𝑑𝑂 𝑡𝑜 𝐶 = 130.

2. Use hexadecimal number system (base 16) to represent quaternary number 10012224 .
Answer: 106𝑎 𝑜𝑟 106𝐴
Solution:
Converting 10012224 to decimal (base 10) first, we have
2 × 40 = 2
2 × 41 = 8
2 × 42 = 32
1 × 43 = 64
0 × 44 = 0
0 × 45 = 0
1 × 46 = 4096
 which when added altogether becomes
2 + 8 + 32 + 64 + 4096 = 4202.
We now have 420210 .
Note that for hexadecimal (base 16), we have 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9, 𝐴, 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐷, 𝐸, and 𝐹 where
𝐴 = 10, 𝐵 = 11, 𝐶 = 12, 𝐷 = 13, 𝐸 = 14, 𝐹 = 15.
Converting 420210 to base 16, we have
4202
= 262 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 10
16
262
= 16 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 6
16
16
= 1 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 0
16
1
= 0 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 1.
16
Taking note of the remainders in reverse order, we have
1,0,6,10.
Since 𝐴 = 10, we now have
10012224 = 420210 = 106𝐴16 .

3. Find the average of the following number sequence:

258,161,56,265,168,63,272,175,70, … ,2106,2009,1904,2113,2016,1911.
6515 5
Answer: 6 𝑜𝑟 1085 6 𝑜𝑟 1085.83
Solution:
We group the sequence into three arithmetic sequences, that is
258,265,272, … ,2106,2113
258+2113
which has an average of = 1185.5,
2
161,168,175, … ,2009,2016
161+2016
which has an average of = 1088.5,
2
and
56,63,70, … ,1904,1911
56+1911
which has an average of = 983.5.
2
Hence, the average of the whole sequence is
1185.5 + 1088.5 + 983.5 6515 5
= 𝑜𝑟 1085 𝑜𝑟 1085.83.
3 6 6

4. 30th September 2024 is Monday. Which day of the week will 25th October 2033 be?
Answer: Tuesday
Solution:
Note that for a normal year, we have 365 ≡ 1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7 and for a leap year, we have 366 ≡ 2 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7.
We have 2033 − 2024 = 9 years from 1st October 2024 to 30th September 2033, two of which are
leap years.
Now,
7(1) + 2(2) + 25 ≡ 0 + 4 + 4 ≡ 8 ≡ 1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7.
Hence, it is Tuesday, 1 day after Monday.
 5. Find the units digit of ⏟
35 × 35 × 35 × … × 35 × ⏟
39 × 39 × 39 × … × 39.
99`𝑠 99`𝑠
Answer: 5
Solution:
3599 (3999 )
99
= (35(39))
= 136599
Note that every number with units digit 5 multiplied by itself 𝑛 times will always have a product
that has 5 as its units digit.
Hence, we have 5.
OR
99
3599 (3999 ) ≡ 599 (999 ) ≡ (5(9)) ≡ 599 ≡ 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10.

ALGEBRA
6. Factorize 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 − 16𝑦 2 − 48𝑦.
Answer: (𝑥 + 4𝑦)(𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 12) 𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 12)(𝑥 + 4𝑦)
Solution:
(𝑥 2 − 16𝑦 2 ) − (12𝑥 + 48𝑦)
= (𝑥 + 4𝑦)(𝑥 − 4𝑦) − 12(𝑥 + 4𝑦)
= (𝑥 + 4𝑦)(𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 12) 𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 12)(𝑥 + 4𝑦)

7. If 𝑚 and 𝑛 are the distinct roots of 𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 36 = 0, find the value of 𝑚3 + 𝑛3 .

Answer: 143
Solution:
Using Vieta’s formulas, we have
−11 36
𝑚+𝑛 =− = 11 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑛 = = 36.
1 1
Hence,
(𝑚 + 𝑛)3 = 𝑚3 + 3𝑚2 𝑛 + 3𝑚𝑛2 + 𝑛3
(𝑚 + 𝑛)3 = 𝑚3 + 𝑛3 + 3𝑚𝑛(𝑚 + 𝑛)
113 = 𝑚3 + 𝑛3 + 3(36)(11)
𝑚3 + 𝑛3 = 113 − 3(36)(11)
𝑚3 + 𝑛3 = 1331 − 1188
𝑚3 + 𝑛3 = 143.

8. Find the value of 3𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 3𝑑 + 3𝑒 in the system of equations

2𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 4𝑐 + 5𝑑 + 6𝑒 = 84
3𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 5𝑐 + 6𝑑 + 2𝑒 = 90
4𝑎 + 5𝑏 + 6𝑐 + 2𝑑 + 3𝑒 = 96 .
5𝑎 + 6𝑏 + 2𝑐 + 3𝑑 + 4𝑒 = 102
{6𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 4𝑑 + 5𝑒 = 108
Answer: 72
Solution:
Add all equations.
20𝑎 + 20𝑏 + 20𝑐 + 20𝑑 + 20𝑒 = 480
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑒 = 24
3(𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑒) = 3(24)
3𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 3𝑐 + 3𝑑 + 3𝑒 = 72
 9. Solve the equation log 5 (𝑥 2 + 72) + log 5 25 − 2 log 5 𝑥 = 3. (Answer in simplest surd form)
Answer: 3√2
Solution:
log 5 (𝑥 2 + 72) + 2 − 2 log 5 𝑥 = 3
𝑥 2 + 72
log 5 =1
𝑥2
𝑥 2 + 72
= 51
𝑥2
𝑥 2 + 72 = 5𝑥 2
4𝑥 2 = 72
𝑥 2 = 18
𝑥 = 3√2

10. Given that 𝑥 is a 3-digit number, find the smallest possible value of 𝑥 such that 𝑥 = 27√𝑥 − 162.
Answer: 324
Solution:
2
(√𝑥) − 27√𝑥 + 162 = 0
(√𝑥 − 9)(√𝑥 − 18) = 0
√𝑥 − 9 = 0, √𝑥 − 18 = 0
√𝑥 = 9
𝑥 = 92
𝑥 = 81
Since 𝑥 must be a 3-digit number, we have
√𝑥 = 18
𝑥 = 182
𝑥 = 324.

NUMBER THEORY
11. Given it is Monday tomorrow, which day of the week will it be 265223 days after today?
Answer: Saturday
Solution:
Since it is Monday tomorrow, then it’s Sunday today.
265 ≡ 6 ≡ −1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
223
265 ≡ (−1)223 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7 ≡ −1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
Hence, we have Saturday, one day before Sunday.

12. It is known that 𝑥 > 0 and 𝑥 = 12√12 + 7√12 + 7√12 + 7√12 …. Find the value of 𝑥. (Answer in
terms of simplest surd form)
Answer: 42 + 6√97
Solution:

𝑥
= √12 + 7√12 + 7√12 + 7√12 …
12
 𝑥 𝑥
= √12 + 7 ( )
12 12
𝑥2 7𝑥
= 12 +
144 12
𝑥 2 = 12(144) + 12(7𝑥)
𝑥 2 − 84𝑥 = 12(144)
𝑥 2 − 84𝑥 + 422 = 12(144) + 422
(𝑥 − 42)2 = 62 (12(4) + 72 )
𝑥 − 42 = ±√62 (97)
𝑥 = 42 ± 6√97
Note that 𝑥 > 0.
Hence, we have 𝑥 = 42 + 6√97.
3 27
13. Given 𝑥 > 0 and 𝑥 + 𝑥 = 13, find the value of 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 3 .
Answer: 2080
Solution:
3 3
(𝑥 + ) = 133
𝑥
3 3 2 27
𝑥 3 + 3(𝑥)2 ( ) + 3(𝑥) ( ) + 3 = 2197
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
27 27
𝑥 3 + 9𝑥 + + 3 = 2197
𝑥 𝑥
27 3
𝑥 3 + 3 = 2197 − 9 (𝑥 + )
𝑥 𝑥
27
𝑥 3 + 3 = 2197 − 9(13)
𝑥
3
27
𝑥 + 3 = 2197 − 117
𝑥
27
𝑥 3 + 3 = 2080
𝑥

14. Given that ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅

50463𝐴72𝐵733 is a 12-digit number which is divisible by 63, find the minimum value
of 𝐴𝐵.
Answer: 6
Solution:
Since ̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
50463𝐴72𝐵733 is divisible by 63, then it must be divisible by 7 and 9.
Hence, we have
5 + 0 + 4 + 6 + 3 + 𝐴 + 7 + 2 + 𝐵 + 7 + 3 + 3 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9
𝐴 + 𝐵 + 40 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9
𝐴 + 𝐵 ≡ −40 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9
𝐴 + 𝐵 ≡ 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9.
̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅̅
Since 50463𝐴72𝐵733 is divisible by 7, we have
733 − 72𝐵 + 63𝐴 − 504 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
733 − (720 + 𝐵) + (630 + 𝐴) − 504 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
𝐴 − 𝐵 + 139 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
𝐴 − 𝐵 + 6 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
𝐴 − 𝐵 ≡ −6 ≡ 1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7.
 If 𝐴 = 3, 𝐵 = 2.
Therefore, we have min(𝐴𝐵) = 3(2) = 6.

𝑥 ≡ 13 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 21)
15. If 𝑥 > 0, 𝑥 is a 3-digit positive integer and { , find the maximum value of 𝑥.
𝑥 ≡ 13 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 27)
Answer: 958
Solution:
Since they have equal remainders, we have
𝑥 ≡ 13 𝑚𝑜𝑑 (𝐿𝐶𝑀(21,27))
𝑥 ≡ 13 𝑚𝑜𝑑 189
𝑥 = 189𝑘 + 13
where 𝑘 is an integer.
Now,
𝑥 = 189𝑘 + 13 ≤ 999
189𝑘 ≤ 986
986 41
𝑘≤ 𝑜𝑟 5 .
189 189
When 𝑘 = 5, we have 𝑥 = 189(5) + 13 = 958.

GEOMETRY
3
16. Given straight line 𝐿 passes through 𝐴(−21,17) and the slope of 𝐿 is 7, find the 𝑦-intercept of 𝐿.
Answer: 26 or (0,26)
Solution:
Note that the slope-intercept form of the equation of a line is
𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏,
where 𝑚 is the slope and 𝑏 is the 𝑦-intercept.
We have
3
17 = (−21) + 𝑏
7
17 = 3(−3) + 𝑏
𝑏 = 17 + 9 = 26.
Hence, the 𝑦-intercept is 26 or (0,26).
cos 𝐵
17. In ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶, 𝐴𝐵 = 24, 𝐴𝐶 = 45, and 𝐵𝐶 = 51. Find the value of .
cos 𝐶
8
Answer: 15
Solution:
Note that this is a right triangle.
𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒
Also, we have cos 𝜃 = .
ℎ𝑦𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑠𝑒
Hence, we have
𝐴𝐵 24
cos 𝐵 𝐵𝐶 24 8
= = 51 = = .
cos 𝐶 𝐴𝐶 45 45 15
𝐵𝐶 51
18. The side lengths of a triangle are 22, 27, and 35. Find the area of this triangle. (Answer in terms of
simplest surd form)
Answer: 210√2
Solution:
Getting the semiperimeter, we have
22 + 27 + 35
𝑠= = 42.
2
Using Heron’s formula, we have
𝐴 = √42(42 − 22)(42 − 27)(42 − 35)
𝐴 = √42(20)(15)(7)
𝐴 = √2(3)(7)(4)(5)(3)(5)(7)
𝐴 = 2(3)(5)(7)√2
𝐴 = 210√2.

19. Given that an exterior angle of an 𝑛-sided regular polygon is 3.75°, find the value of 𝑛.
Answer: 96
Solution:
360
𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒 =
𝑛
360
= 3.75
𝑛
3.75𝑛 = 360
360
𝑛=
3.75
𝑛 = 96
2
20. Given that tan 𝑥 = , find the value of 3 + sin 2𝑥. (Answer in terms of simplest surd form)
√5
4√5 27+4√5
Answer: 3 + 9 𝑜𝑟 9
Solution:
2 tan 𝑥
Note that sin 2𝑥 = 1+tan2 𝑥.
We have
3 + sin 2𝑥
2 tan 𝑥
=3+
1 + tan2 𝑥
2
2( )
=3+ √5
2 2
1+( )
√5
4
= 3 + √5
4
1+
5
4√5
= 3+ 5
9
5
4√5 27 + 4√5
=3+ 𝑜𝑟 .
9 9
COMBINATORICS
21. Determine the number of positive integer(s) 𝑥 such that 𝑥 2 < 41𝑥 − 238.
Answer: 26
Solution:
𝑥 2 − 41𝑥 + 238 < 0
(𝑥 − 7)(𝑥 − 34) < 0
Hence, the solution set is
7 < 𝑥 < 34.
Therefore, we have 26 integer solutions.

22. Three fair six-sided dice are thrown. Find the probability that the sum of the numbers obtained is
6 or 15.
5
Answer: 54
Solution:
For the sum to be 6, we have
3!
(1,1,4) => = 3 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
2!
(1,2,3) => 3! = 6 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
3!
(2,2,2) => = 1 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
3!
for a total of 10 combinations.
For the sum to be 15, we have
3!
(3,6,6) => = 3 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
2!
(4,5,6) => 3! = 6 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
3!
(5,5,5) => = 1 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
3!
for a total of 10 combinations.
Hence, we have
10 + 10 20 5
3
= = .
6 216 54

23. Find the number of different way(s) of arranging 5 identical red balls and 9 identical white balls in
a row.
Answer: 2002
Solution:
(5 + 9)!
5! 9!
14!
=
5! 9!
14 × 13 × 12 × 11 × 10 × 9!
=
5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 9!
14 × 13 × 12 × 11 × 10
=
5×4×3×2
= 2002
24. It is known that 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, and 𝑒 are integers and all of them are greater than 4. Find the number of
solution sets of 𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 + 𝑑 + 𝑒 = 37.
Answer: 1820
Solution:
Note that 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒 > 4 is the same as saying 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒 ≥ 5 when 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐, 𝑑, 𝑒 are integers.
We have
(37 − 5(5)) + 5 − 1
( )
5−1
17 − 1
=( )
5−1
16
=( )
4
= 1820.

25. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are positive integers such that 11𝑥 + 14𝑦 = 1259, find the maximum value of 𝑥 − 𝑦.
Answer: 94
Solution:
11𝑥 = 1259 − 14𝑦
1259 − 14𝑦
𝑥=
11
14𝑦 − 5
𝑥 = 114 −
11
Notice that as 𝑦 decreases, the difference 𝑥 − 𝑦 increases.
Hence, we need to have 𝑦 as minimum as possible.
14𝑦 − 5 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
3𝑦 ≡ 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
3𝑦 ≡ 27 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
𝑦 ≡ 9 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
We have 𝑦 = 9.
14(9) − 5
𝑥 = 114 −
11
𝑥 = 114 − 11
𝑥 = 103
Therefore, the maximum value of 𝑥 − 𝑦 is 103 − 9 = 94.