Fifth Annual Columbus State Calculus Contest-Precalculus Test

Sponsored by
The Columbus State University
Department of Mathematics
April 21th , 2017

*************************

The Columbus State University Mathematics faculty welcome you to this year’s Pre-
Calculus/Calculus contest. We wish you success on this test and in your future studies.

Instructions

This is a 120-minute, 10-problem, multiple choice examination. There are five possible
responses to each question. You should select the one “best” answer for each problem. In
some instances this may be the closest approximation rather than an exact answer. You
may mark on the test booklet and on the paper provided to you. If you need more paper
or an extra pencil, let one of the monitors know. When you are sure of an answer circle the
choice you have made on the test booklet. Carefully transfer your answers to the score sheet.
Completely darken the blank corresponding to the letter of your response to each question.
Mark your answer boldly with a No. 2 pencil. If you must change an answer, completely
erase the previous choice and then record the new answer. Incomplete erasures and multiple
marks for any question will be scored as an incorrect response.
Throughout the exam, AB will denote the line segment from point A to point B and
AB will denote the length of AB. Pre-drawn geometric figures are not necessarily drawn to
scale. The measure of the angle ∠ABC is denoted by m∠ABC.
The examination will be scored on the basis of +23 for each correct answer, −3 for each
incorrect selection, and 0 for each omitted item.
No phones or any communication devices can be used. Calculators with CAS such as
the TI-89 are not allowed. In fact, the test is designed in such a way that you do not
really need a calculator. The problems denoted with [⋆n ] are tie-breaker problems, so more
attention should be given to them. Possibly, include written justification for your answers,
on the pages provided at the end of the test, especially for the tie-breaker problems. It is
not necessary, but you may find useful reading the “Theoretical facts” part.

Do not open your test until instructed to do so!

I
 Theoretical facts that you may find useful.
Theorem 1: (Factor Theorem) Given a polynomial P , then P is divisible by x − a if and
only if P (a) = 0. The remainder of the division of P (x) by x − a is P (a).
Trigonometric formulae:

sin(α ± β) = sin α cos β ± cos α sin β, cos(α ± β) = cos α cos β ∓ sin α sin β

b−a a+b a−b a+b

cos a − cos b = 2 sin sin and cos a + cos b = 2 cos cos
2 2 2 2
Double Angle Formulae: sin 2α = 2 sin α cos α, cos 2α = 2 cos2 α − 1 = 1 − 2 sin2 α.
Theorem 3: A polynomial P (x) = a0 + a1 x + · · · an xn has a rational zero, p/q (reduced
form), if p divides an and q divides a0 .
Theorem 4: Quadratic formula and Viete’s relations: the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 has
two zeros (x1 , x2 , real or complex) given by
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x1,2 = .
2a
These zeros satisfy Viete’s relations:

b c
x1 + x2 = − , x1 x2 = .
a a

Theorem 5: Heron’s formula: The area of a triangle is given by the formulae

√ 1√ 2 2
A= s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c) = 2(a b + b2 c2 + c2 a2 ) − (a4 + b4 + c4 )
4
where s = a+b+c
2
and a, b and c are the sides of the triangle.
Theorem 6: The Law of Sines in a triangle states that
a b c
= =
sin A sin B sin A
where A, B and C are the measurement of the interior angles of the triangle.
Theorem 7: (Pythagorean Theorem:) In a right triangle with legs b, c and hypothenuse
a, we have b2 + c2 = a2 .
Theorem 8: Properties of logarithms:

loga u = v ⇔ u = av
loga u + loga v = loga uv, loga uv = v loga u

II
 Pre-calculus Problems

1. For two unique positive integers a and b, we have 2017 = a2 + b4 . Also, a can be
written as
c0 + c1 b + c2 b2 + c3 b3 + c4 b4
where c0 , c1 , c2 , c3 and c4 are either 1, 0 or −1. What is the value of

c4 − c3 − c2 − c1 − c0 ?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

√
2. For a and b positive integers, with a not a perfect square,
√ it is given that a − b is a
root of the quadratic equation x + ax − b = 0 and a + b is a root of the quadratic
2

equation x2 − ax − b = 0, what is a + b?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

3. [∗1 ] Three angles α, β and γ satisfy the equalities tan α = x1 , tan β = x2 and tan γ = x3 ,
where x1 , x2 and x3 are the roots of the cubic equation 5x3 − 14x2 + 2x + 1 = 0. What
is the value of
tan(α + β + γ)?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

4. It is known that 2017 is the 306th prime and it can be written as a sum of two triangular
numbers (numbers of the form 1, 1 + 2, 1 + 2 + 3, etc.) in a unique way. For positive
integers m, n, and k, with n > m, we have
∑
n
j 3 = (m + 1)3 + (m + 2)3 + ... + n3 = 2017(2017 − k).
j=m+1

Knowing that m + n is the smallest number with this property, find k.

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

III
 5. In the triangle ABC, AB = 51, BC = 52,
AC = 53. Let D denote the midpoint of
BC and let E denote the intersection of
BC with the bisector of angle ∠BAC.
If the area of the triangle AED (in
square units) is equal to 15x
4
what is x?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3

(D) 4 (E) 5

6. From the interior of an equilateral triangle

ABC one takes a random point P . The
probability that the angle ∠AP B has √ mea-
sure more than 120◦ is equal to m n
π 3 − 13 ,
where the m n
is a positive rational number
written in reduced form. What is the value
of
7m − n ?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3

(D) 4 (E) 5

7. [∗2 ] The number of ordered pairs of positive real numbers (u, v) such that
(u + iv)2017 = u − iv
is a number of three digits abc (written in base 10). What is a − b ?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

8. [∗3 ] Positive integers a, b, and c are chosen so that a < b < c, and the system of
equations

2x + y = 2017 and y = |x − a| + |x − b| + |x − c|
has exactly one solution (x, y). The minimum value of c possible is a number of four
digits d1 d2 d3 d4 (written in base 10). What is d4 + 2d3 + 3d2 − 5d1 ?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

IV
 9. [∗4 ] Two circles of radii R and r (R > r)
are tangent to one another in such a
way their common tangent lines are
perpendicular (see the accompanying
figure). Another circle of radius x is
tangent to one of these tangent lines and
tangent to both of the circles.√ The ratio
R
2x
can be written as m + n 2 for two
positive integers m and n. What is m + n?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3

(D) 4 (E) 5

10. [∗5 ] Three real numbers x, y, and z satisfy



log2 (x + y) = z

log (x2 + y 2 ) = z + 1
2
.

2x +y =6


xy > 4
What is the closest value to z?

(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5