Senior Mathematical Challenge

Tuesday 1 October 2024

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For reasons of space, these solutions are necessarily brief.

More in-depth, extended solutions, including exercises for further investigation, are available on the UKMT website.
A version of this document including each of the questions alongside its solution is also available on the UKMT website:
www.ukmt.org.uk

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1. E Written as a fraction, 0.2¤ 5¤ is 25

99 . One-fifth of the number is 5
99 so two-fifths = 10
99 = 0.1¤ 0.
¤

4800 m 4.8 × 103 8

2. A The number of twips in a league is = −5
= × 108 = 2.6¤ × 108 ≈
0.000018 m 1.8 × 10 3
270000000.
3. B The numbers on opposite faces of a standard dice sum to 7. On the bottom dice, there are
two pairs of opposite faces which are visible. On the top dice, there are again two pairs of
opposite faces which are visible along with the number on the top of that dice, 𝑛 say. Therefore,
(2 + 2) × 7 + 𝑛 = 33 and so 𝑛 = 5. The number on the touching faces is then 7 − 5 = 2.
4. C As the angle sum of a triangle is 180°, 𝑥 + 7𝑥 + 𝑥 2 = 180. Therefore, 𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 180 = 0 which
factorises to (𝑥 + 18)(𝑥 − 10) = 0. As 𝑥 > 0, 𝑥 = 10. The angles are then 10°, 70° and 100°, so
the largest angle is 100°.
5. B 45 × 54 = 210 × 54 = 26 × 24 × 54 = 26 × 104 = 640000. Hence the answer has six digits.
6. D The solid with the minimum number of edges must contain an octagonal ‘base’. This has 8 edges
and 8 vertices. Including one extra edge from each of these vertices, all of which meet at a single
vertex that is not on the base, creates an octagonal pyramid. There are 8 + 8 = 16 edges.
7. A In order to write the expression 38 −1 as the product of its primes without first calculating its value,
we can use the difference of two squares: 38 − 1 = (34 + 1)(34 − 1) = 82 × 80 = 41 × 2 × 24 × 5.
Hence the largest prime factor is 41.
8. D The mean of four terms is 11𝑥 so the sum of those four terms is 44𝑥. As the total of the five
options is 4𝑥 + 8𝑥 + 12𝑥 + 16𝑥 + 20𝑥 = 60𝑥, the term to exclude from the sum is 60𝑥 − 44𝑥 = 16𝑥.
9. E For the number we seek to be divisible by 18, it must be divisible by both 2 and 9. To be even, it
must have a last digit of 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8. This last digit is also the first digit of the palindromic
number, so we choose it to be an 8. To be divisible by 9, the sum of all six digits must be a
multiple of 9. As we already have two 8s, the remaining four middle digits, with a maximum
sum of 4 × 9 = 36, could sum to 2, 11, 20 or 29. The sum of these four digits must itself be even
as there are two repeated pairs. So we require the second and third numbers from the left to sum
to 20
2 = 10 at the same time as maximising the second digit due to its place value. Hence the
number we seek is 891198 and the hundreds digit is a 1.
10. D As 2024 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 11 × 23, the two-digit numbers which are factors of 2024 are either suitable
multiples of 11: 11, 11 × 2 = 22, 11 × 2 × 2 = 44, 11 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 88 or multiples of 23: 23,
23 × 2 = 46, 23 × 2 × 2 = 92. In total, this gives seven two-digit factors.
11. D Choosing 𝑛 to be 1, say, eliminates options 𝐴, 𝐵 and 𝐶 as the resulting values 2, 3 and 7 are not
square. Similarly, choosing 𝑛 to be 2 eliminates option 𝐸 as 721 is not square. Now considering
option 𝐷, we can see that 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 + 2)(𝑛 + 3) + 1 = 𝑛4 + 6𝑛3 + 11𝑛2 + 6𝑛 + 1 which can be
written as (𝑛2 + 3𝑛 + 1) 2 and is therefore a square for each positive integer 𝑛.
12. A In order to create two-digit primes, the units digits must be 1, 3, 7 and 9 in some order. Therefore
the tens digits must be 2, 4, 6 and 8 in some order. We can add together all the tens and all
the units without being concerned which combines with which to create the actual primes, so
𝑝 + 𝑞 + 𝑟 + 𝑠 = (20 + 40 + 60 + 80) + (1 + 3 + 7 + 9) = 220. There are in fact four possible ways
to assign the digits to create 𝑝, 𝑞, 𝑟 and 𝑠.
13. C Labelling the missing numbers in the bottom row
as 𝑎 and 𝑏, the pyramid can be filled as shown. 3𝑎+3𝑏+11
Therefore 3𝑎 + 3𝑏 + 11 = 2024, and so subtracting 1+2𝑎+𝑏 𝑎+2𝑏+10
11 and dividing by 3 gives 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 671. Hence 1+𝑎 𝑎+𝑏 𝑏+10
671 appears on the brick marked 𝑧.
1 𝑎 𝑏 10

14. B In order to be primes, the three-digit numbers cannot end in 2, 4 or 5. 𝑆 and 𝑇 must therefore be
1 and 3 in either order. We may assume that 𝑆 = 3 so that 𝑇 = 1. Now 𝑄 and 𝑅 cannot be 2 and
4 in either order nor 4 and 5 in either order as then 𝑄𝑅𝑆 would be a multiple of 3. Therefore 𝑄
and 𝑅 must be 2 and 5 in some order. However 253 = 23 × 11. So 𝑄𝑅𝑆 = 523 which is (and in
the context of the SMC, must be) a prime. Therefore 𝑅 = 2 and then 𝑃𝑅𝑇 = 421 which is also a
prime.
15. C Let 𝐾 𝐿 = 𝑥 cm and 𝐾 𝑁 = 𝑦 cm. As the shaded area is 62, 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = 62. Applying Pythagoras’
Theorem to triangle 𝑁𝐾 𝐿 gives 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 =√102 . Subtracting the first equation from the second
gives 2𝑦 2 = 38 so 𝑦 2 = 19 and hence 𝑦 = 19.
16. B Let the doors be labelled 𝐴 to 𝐻 as shown. If all three red doors are
corners, the one which remains blue can be 𝐴, 𝐷, 𝐸 or 𝐻. This gives 4 A B C D
ways. Now suppose that just two corners are red. If those two corners
are in different rows, (that is 𝐴𝐸, 𝐴𝐻, 𝐷𝐸 or 𝐷𝐻) then the third red E F G H
door is any one of 𝐵, 𝐶, 𝐹 or 𝐺 giving four ways for each of the four
cases. This gives another 16 ways.

Finally, suppose the two red corner doors are in the same row. If they are 𝐴𝐷 then the third door
must be 𝐹 or 𝐺 and if they are 𝐸 𝐻 the third must be 𝐵 or 𝐶. This gives a further 4 ways. So the
total number of ways is 4 + 16 + 4 = 24.
17. E We start by finding how many red balls are in the bag. Let this number be 𝑛. Therefore the
probability of two reds is 𝑛4 × (𝑛−1) 1 2
3 = 2 . This rearranges to give 𝑛 − 𝑛 − 6 = 0, which factorises
to (𝑛 − 3)(𝑛 + 2) = 0. As 𝑛 ≥ 0, 𝑛 = 3. So there are three red balls and only one white. Hence
the probability that both balls are white is 0.
18. C The area of each of the four central quadrants is 14 × 𝜋 × 12 = 𝜋4 . Therefore the area enclosed by
the outer circle is 14𝜋 2 14𝜋
4 . The radius of the outer circle is 1 + 𝑥, therefore 𝜋 × (1 + 𝑥) = 4 , which
√
14
rearranges to 2𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 5 = 0. As 𝑥 > 0, the quadratic formula leads us to 𝑥 = 2 − 1.
19. C In order to find the correct option, we will try to determine which cards are held by which friend.
Here is a list of pairs of cards that are feasible for each friend, given their declared totals.
Pablo (4) Quinn (11) Romy (16) Stephen (19) Thomas (20)
3, 1 10, 1 12, 4 12, 7 12, 8
9, 2 11, 5 11, 8 11, 9
8, 3 10, 6 10, 9
7, 4 9, 7
6, 5
The total of all the cards 1 to 12 is 78. The cards held by the friends sum to 4+11+16+19+20 = 70
so the unused cards sum to 8. Paolo’s total is 4 so he has 1 and 3. The unused cards must then be
2 and 6.The only possibilities for Thomas to have 20 are 12, 8 or 11, 9. Suppose that Thomas
has 11, 9. Then Stephen must have 12, 7. However, then there is no way for Romy to have 16.
Hence Thomas must have 12, 8. Then Stephen has 10, 9, Romy has 11, 5 and Quinn has 7, 4.
Pablo (4) Quinn (11) Romy (16) Stephen (19) Thomas (20)
3, 1 7, 4 11, 5 10, 9 12, 8
Of the options given, only 𝐶 is true.
20. D Rearranging 1𝑥 + 1𝑦 = 20
1 20𝑥
gives 𝑦 = 𝑥−20 400
= 20 + 𝑥−20 . In order to maximise 𝑦, we require 𝑥 − 20 to
400
be as small as possible. As 𝑥 is an integer, 𝑥 = 21. Then 𝑦 = 20 + 21−20 = 420.
21. B We begin where we have least choice. Here that is ‘2 Down’. The smallest multiple of both 13
and 19 is 13 × 19 = 247. The list of all such three-digit multiples is 247, 494, 741 and 988. As
digits may not be repeated we have only 247 and 741. The units digit of ‘2 Down’ is also the units
digit of ‘3 Across’, ‘A square’. As squares do not end in 7, ‘2 Down’ must be 741. Considering
‘3 Across’, three-digit squares which end in 1 come from 112 , 212 , 312 , 192 or 292 . However,
without repeated digits or use of 4 or 7, our only possibilities are 312 = 961 or 192 = 361. Now
considering ‘1 Down’ we look for multiples of 11 which end in either 3 or 9. Multiples ending
in 3 come from the answers to 11 × 13, 11 × 23, . . . , 11 × 83. Given the remaining available
digits, this is either 11 × 23 = 253 or 11 × 53 = 583. Multiples ending in 9 come from the
answers to 11 × 19, 11 × 29, . . . , 11 × 89. Given the remaining available digits, this can only be
11 × 49 = 539. At this stage we have three cases under consideration.
To complete the crossnumber with a multiple of 9 in ‘1 Across’, we require 1 2
the digits in the top row to sum to a multiple of 9. If ‘1 Down’ were to be 2 9 7
either 539 or 583 the middle digit would need to be a 6 so that 5 + 6 + 7 = 18.
5 4
However the 6 has already been used. ‘1 Down’ must therefore be the only
3
remaining possibility, 253, and ‘1 Across’ must be 297.The completed grid 3 6 1
is as shown. The digit which is not used is 8.

22. A 𝐹 𝐹 𝐹

𝐾 12 𝐾
24 𝐼 𝐼 𝐼
8 12
𝐻 𝐻 𝐻
𝐺 𝐺 𝐺
Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3
 Using ‘area of a triangle = 12 base × perpendicular height’ with 𝐹𝐻 as the base, triangles 𝐹𝐺 𝐼
and 𝐹𝐺𝐻 have the same perpendicular height. Their areas are therefore in the same proportions
as the lengths of their bases and so 𝐼𝐻 = 14 𝐹𝐻.
Now viewing 𝐹 𝐼 as the base of both triangles 𝐹𝐺 𝐼 and 𝐹𝐾 𝐼, we can deduce that the perpendicular
height from 𝐹 𝐼 to 𝐾 is half the perpendicular height from 𝐹 𝐼 to 𝐺.
The area of triangle 𝐼𝐾 𝐻 = 12 𝐼𝐻 × the perpendicular height from 𝐼𝐻 to 𝐾 = 21 × 14 𝐹𝐻 × 21 the
perpendicular distance from 𝐼𝐻 to 𝐺 = 18 × the area of triangle 𝐹𝐺𝐻 = 81 × 32 = 4.
23. E On the diagram shown in the question, we can see that each kite has a
line of symmetry. Therefore ∠𝑏 = ∠𝑑. Also, where three kites meet 𝑑
at a point with no gaps, ∠𝑎 = 120°. Where four kites meet at a point 𝑎 𝑐
with no gaps, ∠𝑏 = ∠𝑑 = 90°. As the angle sum of a quadrilateral is 𝑏
360°, ∠𝑐 = 60°. Each half-kite
√ is therefore a 30°, 60°, 90° triangle, with
lengths in the ratio 1 : 3 : 2.
√
Let the perpendicular lengths√be 𝑥 and 𝑦 as shown. So 𝑦 = √ 3𝑥. As the
√
𝑥 𝑦 = 3𝑥
area of the
√ whole √ hat2 tile√is 8 3, the area of each kite√is 3. Therefore
2 × 𝑥𝑦 = 3, so 3𝑥 = 3 and 𝑥 = 1. Therefore 𝑦 = 3. The perimeter 60◦ 30◦
2 √ √
of the hat tile is 8𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 8 × 1 + 6 × 3 = 8 + 6 3.
1
24. E First let 𝑥 = 3, then 𝑓 (3) + 𝑓 ( 1−3 ) = 24 × 3. Therefore 𝑓 (3) + 𝑓 (− 21 ) = 72 (a). Now let 𝑥 = − 12 ,
then 𝑓 (− 21 ) + 𝑓 ( 1−1−1 ) = 24 × − 12 . So 𝑓 (− 21 ) + 𝑓 ( 32 ) = −12 and thus − 𝑓 (− 12 ) − 𝑓 ( 32 ) = 12 (b).
2
Finally, let 𝑥 = 32 , then 𝑓 ( 23 ) + 𝑓 ( 1−1 2 ) = 24 × 23 . This simplifies to 𝑓 ( 23 ) + 𝑓 (3) = 16 (c). Adding
3
equations (a), (b) and (c) leads to 2 × 𝑓 (3) = 72 + 12 + 16. Therefore 𝑓 (3) = 50.
25. A The diagram shows regions 𝑃, 𝑄, 𝑅, 𝑆 and 𝑇. As ∠𝑍 𝑋𝑌 = 30°, area of
𝑃 = 16 of the area of a semicircle = 16 × 24 = 4. Regions (𝑃 + 𝑄) and 𝑅 𝑆
(𝑄 + 𝑅) are congruent therefore area of (𝑃 + 𝑄) = area of (𝑄 + 𝑅) and 𝑄
𝑇
so area of 𝑅 = area of 𝑃 = 4. We can also show that the area of (𝑃 + 𝑄) 𝑃
is the same as that of (𝑄 + 𝑆) as follows:

Region (𝑃 + 𝑄) can be deconstructed

into two overlapping, congruent 60° 𝑄 −
= +
sectors minus an equilateral triangle. 𝑃 60° 60°

Region (𝑄 + 𝑆) can be decon-

structed into a 120° sector, minus 𝑆
𝑄
two 30°, 60°, 90° triangles whose total = 120° −
area is that of the equilateral triangle 30°
shown in the deconstruction of the
region (𝑃 + 𝑄).

Therefore area of (𝑃 + 𝑄) = area of (𝑄 + 𝑆) and so area of 𝑃 = area of 𝑆 = 4. Hence the total

area of the shaded region = 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.