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2. Let S be a set which is closed under the binary operation ◦, with the follow-
ing properties:
Prove or disprove:
(a) ◦ is associative on S
(b) ◦ is commutative on S
verges, where Sn = a1 + a2 + · · · + an .
(w ∗ x) ∗ (y ∗ z) = w ∗ z for all w, x, y, z ∈ S.
Show
(a) If a ∗ b = c, then c ∗ c = c.
(b) If a ∗ b = c, then a ∗ x = c ∗ x for all x ∈ S.
4. Let P(x) be any polynomial of degree at most 3. It can be shown that there
1
are numbers x1 and x2 such that −1 P(x) dx = P(x1 ) + P(x2 ), where x1 and
x2 are independent of the polynomial P.
6. Given the linear fractional transformation of x into f 1 (x) = (2x −1)/(x +1),
define fn+1 (x) = f1 ( fn (x)) for n = 1, 2, 3, . . .. It can be shown that f 35 = f5 .
Determine A, B,C, and D so that f 28 (x) = (Ax + B)/(Cx + D).
7. Let S be the set of all ordered pairs of integers (m, n) satisfying m > 0 and
n < 0. Let be a partial ordering on S defined by the statement: (m, n)
(m , n ) if and only if m ≤ m and n ≤ n . An example is (5, −10) (8, −2).
Now let O be a completely ordered subset of S, i.e. if (a, b) ∈ O and (c, d) ∈
O, then (a, b) (c, d) or (c, d) (a, b). Also let O denote the collection of
all such completely ordered sets.
2. For which real numbers b does the function f (x), defined by the conditions
f (0) = b and f = 2 f − x, satisfy f (x) > 0 for all x ≥ 0?
(a) a1 , a2 , a3 and a4
(b) a1981
(c) A simple general algorithm for evaluating a n , for n = 0, 1, . . ..
8. Let
(i) 0 < a < 1,
(ii) 0 < Mk+1 < Mk , for k = 0, 1, . . .,
(iii) limk→∞ Mk = 0.
∞
If bn = ∑ an−k Mk , prove that n→∞
lim bn = 0.
k=0
4th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, November 6, 1982
Fill out the individual registration form
1. What is the remainder when X 1982 + 1 is divided by X − 1? Verify your
answer.
2. A box contains marbles, each of which is red, white or blue. The number
of blue marbles is a least half the number of white marbles and at most on-
third the number of red marbles. The number which are white or blue is at
least 55. Find the minimum possible number of red marbles.
4. Prove that t n−1 +t 1−n < t n +t −n when t = 1, t > 0 and n is a positive integer.
x2 x3
(∗) f (x) = f (x) + x f (x) + f (x) + f (x) + · · · .
2! 3!
(a) State Maclaurin’s Series for f (x) correctly.
(b) Replace the left-hand side of (*) by a simple closed form expression in
f in such a way that the statement becomes valid (in general).
6. Let S be a set of positive integers and let E be the operation on the set of
subsets of S defined by EA = {x ∈ A | x is even}, where A ⊆ S. Let C A
denote the complement of A in S. E C EA will denote E(C (EA)) etc.
3. Let a triangle have vertices at O(0, 0), A(a, 0), and B(b, c) in the (x, y)-plane.
(a) Find the coordinates of a point P(x, y) in the exterior of OAB satisfy-
ing area(OAP) = area(OBP) = area(ABP).
(b) Find a point Q(x, y) in the interior of OAQ satisfying area(OAQ) =
area(OBQ) = area(ABQ).
5. Find the function f (x) such that for all L ≥ 0, the area under the graph of
y = f (x) and above the x-axis from x = 0 to x = L equals the arc√length of
d
the graph from x = 0 to x = L. (Hint: recall that dx cosh−1 x = 1/ x2 − 1.)
6. Let f (x) = 1/x and g(x) = 1 − x for x ∈ (0, 1). List all distinct functions
that can be written in the form f ◦ g ◦ f ◦ g ◦ · · · ◦ f ◦ g ◦ f where ◦ represents
ax + b
composition. Write each function in the form , and prove that your
cx + d
list is exhaustive.
7. If a and b are real, prove that x4 + ax + b = 0 cannot have only real roots.
2. Consider any three consecutive positive integers. Prove that the cube of the
largest cannot be the sum of the cubes of the other two.
4. Let the (x, y)-plane be divided into regions by n lines, any two of which may
or may not intersect. Describe a procedure whereby these regions may be
colored using only two colors so that regions with a common line segment
as part of their boundaries have different colors.
5. Let f (x) satisfy the conditions for Rolle’s theorem on [a, b] with f (a) =
f (b) = 0. Prove that for each real number k the function g(x) = f (x) +
k f (x) has at least one zero in (a, b).
(a) Show that Vn is a vector space under addition and scalar multiplication
(by real numbers).
(b) Find the dimensions of V2 , V3 , and V4 .
(c) If A ∈ Vn and B ∈ Vn , show that AB ∈ Vn .
7. Find the greatest real r such that some normal line to the graph of y = x3 +rx
passes through the origin, where the point of normality is not the origin.
1 n
xn+1 = ∑ xi
n + 1 i=1
for n = 2, 3, . . ..
2. Given that a > 0 and c > 0, find a necessary and sufficient condition on b
so that ax2 + bx + c > 0 for all x > 0.
7. A function f from the positive integers to the positive integers has the prop-
erties:
• f (1) = 1,
• f (n) = 2 if n ≥ 100,
• f (n) = f (n/2) if n is even and n < 100,
• f (n) = f (n2 + 7) if n is odd and n > 1.
(a) Find all positive integers n for which the stated properties require that
f (n) = 1.
(b) Find all positive integers n for which the stated properties do not deter-
mine f (n).
where z(n) is the number of 0’s in the binary representation of n (each rep-
resentation should have a leading digit of 1 except for zero which has the
representation 0). An example, with n1 = 9, is {9, 2, 3, 3, 3, . . .}, or in bi-
nary, {1001, 10, 11, 11, 11, . . .}.
8. On Halloween, a black cat and a witch encounter each other near a large
mirror positioned along the y-axis. The witch is invisible except by reflection
in the mirror. At t = 0, the cat is at (10, 10) and the witch is at (10, 0). For
t ≥ 0, the witch moves toward the cat at a speed numerically equal to their
distance of separation and the cat moves toward the apparent position of the
witch, as seen by reflection, at a speed numerically equal to their reflected
distance of separation. Denote by (u(t), v(t)) the position of the cat and by
(x(t), y(t)) the position of the witch.
(a) Set up the equations of motion of the cat and the witch for t ≥ 0.
(b) Solve for x(t) and u(t) and find the time when the cat strikes the mirror.
(Recall that the mirror is a perpendicular bisector of the line joining an
object with its apparent position as seen by reflection.)
10th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, October 22, 1988
Fill out the individual registration form
1. A circle C of radius r is circumscribed by a parallelogram S. Let θ denote
one of the interior angles of S, with 0 < θ ≤ π/2. Calculate the area of S as
a function of r and θ.
2. A man goes into a bank to cash a check. The teller mistakenly reverses the
amounts and gives the man cents for dollars and dollars for cents. (Example:
if the check was for $5.10, the man was given $10.05.). After spending five
cents, the man finds that he still has twice as much as the original check
amount. What was the original check amount? Find all possible solutions.
x
3. Find the general solution of y(x) + y(t) dt = x2 .
1
6. Let g be defined on (1, ∞) by g(x) = x/(x − 1), and let f k (x) be defined by
∞
f 0 (x) = x and for k > 0, f k (x) = g( f k−1 (x)). Evaluate ∑ 2−k f k (x) in the
k=0
ax2 + bx + c
form .
dx + e
7. Three farmers sell chickens at a market. One has 10 chickens, another has
16, and the third has 26. Each farmer sells at least one, but not all, of
his chickens before noon, all farmers selling at the same price per chicken.
Later in the day each sells his remaining chickens, all again selling at the
same reduced price. If each farmer received a total of $35 from the sale of
his chickens, what was the selling price before noon and the selling price
after noon? (From “Math Can Be Fun” by Ya. Perelman.)
Hint: show that the sum of all the terms is n, and that there are n − a0 − 1
nonzero terms other than a0 which sum to n − a0 − 1. (This problem is
slightly modified from one on the Cambridge Men’s Colleges Joint Awards
and Entrance Examination, 24 November 1970.)
12th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, October 20, 1990
Fill out the individual registration form
1. Three pasture fields have areas of 7/3, 10 and 24 acres, respectively. The
fields initially are covered with grass of the same thickness and new grass
grows on each at the same rate per acre. If 12 cows eat the first field bare
in 4 weeks and 212 cows eat the second field bare in 9 weeks, how many
cows will eat the third field bare in 18 weeks? Assume that all cows eat at
the same rate. (From Math Can be Fun by Ya. Perelman.)
3. Let f be defined on the natural numbers as follows: f (1) = 1 and for n > 1,
f (n) = f ( f (n − 1)) + f (n − f (n − 1)). Find, with proof, a simple explicit
expression for f (n) which is valid for all n = 1, 2, . . ..
5. Determine all real values of p for which the following series converge.
∞ ∞
1
(a) ∑ (sin n ) p (b) ∑ | sin n| p
n=1 n=1
yn+1 = yn (2 − yn ) for n = 0, 1, 2, . . .,
Ag(x)
Find constants A and B such that F(x) = is a continuous function
f (x) + B
on [0, 1] satisfying max F(x) = u, and prove that your function has the
0≤x≤1
required properties.
8. Ten points in space, no three of which are collinear, are connected, each one
to all the others, by a total of 45 line segments. The resulting framework
F will be “disconnected” into two disjoint nonempty parts by the removal
of one point from the interior of each of the 9 segments emanating from
any one vertex of f . Prove that F cannot be similarly disconnected by the
removal of only 8 points from the interiors of the 45 segments.
13th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, October 19, 1991
Fill out the individual registration form
1. An isosceles triangle with an inscribed circle is labeled as shown in the
figure. Find an expression, in terms of the angle α and the length a, for the
area of the curvilinear triangle bounded by sides AB and AC and the arc BC.
C ....
....
........
............
...............................
........
.....
....
....
.. ... ...
.. . ...
... ..
..
..
.... ..
..
.. .
..
.. ..
...
.. .
.
.. ..
...
...
α
...
.... ....
.....
..... .....
...
A
........ .....
............................................
a B a
1
2. Find all differentiable functions f which satisfy f (x) 3 = f (t)2 dt for all
0
real x.
4. Prove that if x > 0 and n > 0, where x is real and n is an integer, then
xn nn
≤ .
(x + 1)n+1 (n + 1)n+1
5. Let f (x) = x5 − 5x3 + 4x. In each part (i)–(iv), prove or disprove that there
exists a real number c for which f (x) − c = 0 has a root of multiplicity
(i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four.
(i) Each segment is covered exactly once in one hike h ∈ C and never in
any of the other hikes of C .
(ii) Each h ∈ C has a base campsite that is its beginning and end, but which
is never passed in the middle of the hike. (Different hikes of C may
have different base campsites.)
(iii) Except for its base campsite at beginning and end, no hike in C passes
any campsite more than once.
14th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, October 31, 1992
Fill out the individual registration form
x3
2
1. Find the inflection point of the graph of F(x) = et dt, for x ∈ R .
0
2. Assume that x1 > y1 > 0 and y2 > x2 > 0. Find a formula for the shortest
length l of a planar path that goes from (x1 , y1 ) to (x2 , y2 ) and that touches
both the x-axis and the y-axis. Justify your answer.
4. Let {tn }∞ 2
n=1 be a sequence of positive numbers such that t 1 = 1 and tn+1 =
1 + tn, for n ≥ 1. Show that tn is increasing in n and find limn→∞ tn.
0 −2
5. Let A = . Find A100 . You have to find all four entries.
1 3
3. Let f1 (x) = x and fn+1 (x) = x fn (x) , for n = 1, 2 . . .. Prove that f n (1) = 1 and
fn (1) = 2, for all n ≥ 2.
4. Prove that a triangle in the plane whose vertices have integer coordinates
cannot be equilateral.
∞
3−n
5. Find ∑ .
n=1 n
7. On a small square billiard table with sides of length 2 ft., a ball is played
from the center and after rebounding off the sides several times, goes into a
cup at one of the corners. Prove that the total distance travelled by the ball
is not an integer number of feet.
center
If bending is allowed, but no re-welding, show clearly how to cut the max-
imum possible number of ready-made copies of such a logo from the piece
of welded wire mesh shown. Also, prove that no larger number is possible.
16th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., October 29, 1994
Fill out the individual registration form
1 x 1−x2
2
1. Evaluate e(1−z) dzdydx.
0 0 0
f (m, n) + f (m + 1, n) + f (m, n + 1) + f (m + 1, n + 1) = 0
for all m, n ∈ Z (where Z and R denote the set of all integers and all real
numbers, respectively). Prove that | f (m, n)| ≥ 1/3, for infinitely many pairs
of integers (m, n).
2. For each rational number r, define f (r) to be the smallest positive integer
n such that r = m/n for some integer m, and denote by P(r) the point in
the (x, y) plane with coordinates P(r) = (r, 1/ f (r)). Find a necessary and
sufficient condition that, given two rational numbers r 1 and r2 such that
0 < r1 < r2 < 1,
r f (r ) + r f (r )
1 1 2 2
P
f (r1 ) + f (r2 )
will be the point of intersection of the line joining (r 1 , 0) and P(r2) with the
line joining P(r1 ) and (r2 , 0).
find limx→∞ f (x) and limx→∞ x f (x). Do not assume any special form of
f (x). Hint: use l’Hôpital’s rule.
5. Let ai , i = 1, 2, 3, 4, be real numbers such that a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 = 0. Show
that for arbitrary real numbers bi , i = 1, 2, 3, the equation
a1 + b1 x + 3a2 x2 + b2 x3 + 5a3 x4 + b3 x5 + 7a4 x6 = 0
has at least one real root which is on the interval −1 ≤ x ≤ 1.
6. There are 2n balls in the plane such that no three balls are on the same line
and such that no two balls touch each other. n balls are red and the other n
balls are green. Show that there is at least one way to draw n line segments
by connecting each ball to a unique different colored ball so that no two line
segments intersect.
7. Let us define
√
x
fn,0 (x) = x + for x > 0, n ≥ 1,
n
fn, j+1 (x) = fn,0 ( fn, j (x)), j = 0, 1, . . ., n − 1.
x4 − x3 + ax2 − 8x − 8 = 0,
find r1 , r2 and a. (Do not assume that they are real numbers.)
3. Suppose that you are in charge of taking ice cream orders for a class of 100
students. If each student orders exactly one flavor from Vanilla, Strawberry,
Chocolate and Pecan, how many different combinations of flavors are pos-
sible for the 100 orders you are taking. Here are some examples of possible
combinations. You do not distinguish between individual students.
5. The VTRC bus company serves cities in the USA. A subset S of the cities
is called well-served if it has at least three cities and from every city A in S ,
one can take a nonstop VTRC bus to at least two different other cities B and
C in S (though there is not necessarily a nonstop VTRC bus from B to A or
from C to A ). Suppose there is a well-served subset S . Prove that there is a
well-served subset T such that for any two cities A , B in T , one can travel
by VTRC bus from A to B , stopping only at cities in T .
6. A disk of radius 1 cm. has a small hole at a point half way between the center
and the circumference. The disk is lying inside a circle of radius 2 cm. A
pen is put through the hole in the disk, and then the disk is moved once
round the inside of the circle, keeping the disk in contact with the circle
without slipping, so the pen draws a curve. What is the area enclosed by the
curve?
7. Let J be the set of all sequences of real numbers, and let A, L and P be three
mappings from J to J defined as follows. If x = {xn } = {x0 , x1 , x2 , . . . } ∈ J ,
then
Ax = {xn + 1} = {x0 + 1, x1 + 1, x2 + 1, . . . },
Lx = {1, x0 , x1 , x2 , . . . },
n
Px = { ∑ xk }.
k=0
(a) Write down T 2 y, giving the first eight terms of the sequence and a
closed formula for the n-th term.
(b) Assuming that z = {zn } = lim T i y exists, conjecture the general form
i→∞
for zn , and prove your conjecture.
20th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 31, 1998
Fill out the individual registration form
1
1. Let f (x, y) = ln(1−x2 −y2 )− with domain D = {(x, y) | x = y, x2 +
(y − x)2
y2 < 1}. Find the maximum value M of f (x, y) over D . You have to show
that M ≥ f (x, y) for every (x, y) ∈ D . Here ln(·) is the natural logarithm
function.
2. The radius of the base of a right circular cone is 1. The vertex of the cone is
V , and P is a point on the circumference of the base. The length of PV is 6
and the midpoint of PV is M. A piece of string is attached to M and wound
tightly twice round the cone finishing at P. What is the length of the string?
3. Find the volume of the region which is common to the interiors of the three
circular cylinders y2 + z2 = 1, z2 + x2 = 1 and x2 + y2 = 1.
◦
√ and let P be a point on AB. Suppose ∠BAC = 70 ,
4. Let ABC be a triangle
◦
∠APC = 60 , AC = 3 and PB = 1. Prove that ABC is an isosceles triangle.
6. Ten cats are sitting on ten fence posts, numbered 1 through 10 in clockwise
order and encircling a pumpkin patch. The cat on post #1 is white and the
other nine cats are black. At 9:45 p.m. the cats begin a strange sort of dance.
They jump from post to post according to the following two rules, applied
in alternation at one second intervals. Rule 1: each cat jumps clockwise to
the next post. Rule 2: all pairs of cats whose post numbers have a product
that is 1 greater than a multiple of 11 exchange places. At 10 p.m., just as
the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch, the dance stops abruptly
and the cats look on in awe. If the first jump takes place according to Rule 1
at 9:45:01, and the last jump occurs at 10:00:00, on which post is the white
cat sitting when the dance stops? (The first few jumps take the white cat
from post 1 to posts 2,6,7, . . . )
21st Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 30, 1999
Fill out the individual registration form
1. Let G be the set of all continuous functions f : R → R , satisfying the fol-
lowing properties.
(i) f (1) = 2,
(ii) If α, β are real numbers satisfying α2 + β2 = 1, then f (αx) f (βx) =
f (x) for all x.
If δ is a positive real number, let en (δ) denote the number of nonzero eigen-
values of An which have absolute value less that δ. (Some eigenvalues can
be complex numbers.) Prove that one can choose δ > 0 so that en (δ)/n < ε
for all n.
4. A rectangular box has sides of length 3, 4, 5. Find the volume of the region
consisting of all points that are within distance 1 of at least one of the sides.
5. Let f : R + → R + be a function from the set of positive real numbers to the
same set satisfying f ( f (x)) = x for all positive x. Suppose that f is infinitely
differentiable for all positive X , and that f (a) = a for some positive a. Prove
that lim f (x) = 0.
x→∞
(i) Find the smallest positive integer n such that {3, 4, n} has property
ND.
(ii) If n is the number found in (i), prove that no set S with property ND
has {3, 4, n} as a proper subset.
22nd Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 28, 2000
Fill out the individual registration form
α
dθ
1. Evaluate (your answer will involve inverse trig functions;
0 5 − 4 cos θ
you may assume that 0 ≤ α < π). Use your answer to show that
π/3
dθ 2π
= .
0 5 − 4 cos θ 9
2. Let n be a positive integer and let A be an n × n matrix with real numbers
as entries. Suppose 4A4 + I = 0, where I denotes the identity matrix. Prove
that the trace of A (i.e. the sum of the entries on the main diagonal) is an
integer.
4. A
l1 l2
B θ ..........
...
. .
C
..
x P
In the above diagram, l1 = AB, l2 = AC, x = BP, and l = BC, where AB
l
indicates the length of AB. Prove that l2 − l1 = cos(θ(x)) dx.
0
2. Two circles with radii 1 and 2 are placed so that they are tangent to each
other and a straight line. A third circle is nestled between them so that it
is tangent to the first two circles and the line. Find the radius of the third
circle. ...........
..............................................
. .. ........
........ .......
....... ......
...... .....
....... ....
. ...
..... ...
...
... ...
... ..
... ..
..
... ...
... ...
........................... ... .
. ...
.
.. .......... .
. ...... .. . ...
... ..
.. ... ......
..... ..
.. . ... ...
.. ..... ..
.. ..
..... ... ...
.. ...
... .. ......
. ......
.. .
... ........................... ....
... .......... ......
....
...... ... .......
...... ...... ... ... ................. ........
........
................................ .................... ....................................................
3. For each positive integer n, let Sn denote the total number of squares in an
n × n square grid. Thus S1 = 1 and S2 = 5, because a 2 × 2 square grid
has four 1 × 1 squares and one 2 × 2 square. Find a recurrence relation for
Sn , and use it to calculate the total number of squares on a chess board (i.e.
determine S8 ).
4. Let √
an be the nth positive integer k such that the greatest integer not exceed-
ing k divides k, so the first few terms of {an } are {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 12, . . .}.
Find a10000 and give reasons to substantiate your answer.
∞
nn xn
∑
5. Determine the interval of convergence of the power series . (That is,
n=1 n!
determine the real numbers x for which the above power series converges;
you must determine correctly whether the series is convergent at the end
points of the interval.)
3x + 1
6. Find a function f : R+ → R+ such that f ( f (x)) = for all positive
x+3
real numbers x (here R+ denotes the positive (nonzero) real numbers).
7. Let {an }n≥1 be an infinite sequence with an ≥ 0 for all n. For n ≥ 1, let
bn denote the geometric mean of a1 , . . . , an , that is (a1 . . . an )1/n . Suppose
∑∞ ∞
n=1 an is convergent. Prove that ∑n=1 bn is also convergent.
2
25th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., November 1, 2003
Fill out the individual registration form
1. An investor buys stock worth $10,000 and holds it for n business days. Each
day he has an equal chance of either gaining 20% or losing 10%. However
in the case he gains every day (i.e. n gains of 20%), he is deemed to have
lost all his money, because he must have been involved with insider trading.
Find a (simple) formula, with proof, of the amount of money he will have
on average at the end of the n days.
∞
xn x x2 x3
2. Find ∑ n(n + 1) = 1 · 2 + 2 · 3 + 3 · 4 + · · · for |x| < 1.
n=1
.....
...
Z .. .......
.........
.............
...
....
.
.
.
Y
...........
.......
........
...........
... ......
..
...
........ ... .
.
. ... .......
.
...
....... .. ...
.
... .......
...
..
...
.. .
.......
..
.
. ..
. ... .............
...
...
....... ..
. ...
.
...
...
.......
.......
B .
.........
..
...
.......
..
... ..
.
.
..
...
...
.
.......
....... C
Q X R
7. Let T be a solid tetrahedron whose edges all have length 1. Determine the
volume of the region consisting of points which are
√ at√distance at most 1
from some point in T (your answer should involve 2, 3, π).
26th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 23, 2004
Fill out the individual registration form
1 0
1. Let I denote the 2 × 2 identity matrix and let
0 1
I A I B
M= , N= .
B C A C
where A, B,C are arbitrary 2 × 2 matrices which entries in R, the real num-
bers. Thus M and N are 4 × 4 matrices with entries in R. Is it true that M is
invertible (i.e. there is a 4 × 4 matrix X such that MX = XM = the identity
matrix) implies N is invertible? Justify your answer.
2. A sequence of integers { f (n)} for n = 0, 1, 2, . . . is defined as follows:
f (0) = 0 and for n > 0,
f (n − 1) + 3, if n = 0 or 1 (mod 6),
f (n) = f (n − 1) + 1, if n = 2 or 5 (mod 6),
f (n − 1) + 2, if n = 3 or 4 (mod 6).
Derive an explicit formula for f (n) when n = 0 (mod 6), showing all neces-
sary details in your derivation.
3. A computer is programmed to randomly generate a string of six symbols
using only the letters A, B,C. What is the probability that the string will not
contain three consecutive A’s?
4. A 9 × 9 chess board has two squares from opposite corners and its central
square removed (so 3 squares on the same diagonal are removed, leaving
78 squares). Is it possible to cover the remaining squares using dominoes,
where each domino covers two adjacent squares? Justify your answer.
x
5. Let f (x) = sin(t 2 − t + x) dt. Compute f (x) + f (x) and deduce that
0
f (12) (0) + f (10) (0) = 0 ( f (10) indicates 10 th derivative).
7. Let {an } be a sequence of positive real numbers such that lim an = 0. Prove
n→∞
∞
an+1
that ∑ 1 − is divergent.
n=1 an
27th Annual
Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., October 29, 2005
Fill out the individual registration form
1. Find the largest positive integer n with the property that n + 6(p3 + 1) is
prime whenever p is a prime number such that 2 ≤ p < n. Justify your
answer.
2. Find, and write out explicitly, a permutation (p(1), p(2), . . . , p(20)) of
(1, 2, . . . , 20) such that k + p(k) is a power of 2 for k = 1, 2, . . . , 20, and
prove that only one such permutation exists. (To illustrate, a permutation of
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) such that k + p(k) is a power of 2 for k = 1, 2, . . . , 5 is clearly
(1, 2, 5, 4, 3), because 1 + 1 = 2, 2 + 2 = 4, 3 + 5 = 8, 4 + 4 = 8, and 5 + 3 =
8.)
3. We wish to tile a strip of n 1-inch by 1-inch squares. We can use dominos
which are made up of two tiles which cover two adjacent squares, or 1-inch
square tiles which cover one square. We may cover each square with one
or two tiles and a tile can be above or below a domino on a square, but no
part of a domino can be placed on any part of a different domino. We do
not distinguish whether a domino is above or below a tile on a given square.
Let t(n) denote the number of ways the strip can be tiled according to the
above rules. Thus for example, t(1) = 2 and t(2) = 8. Find a recurrence
relation for t(n), and use it to compute t(6).
4. A cubical box with sides of length 7 has vertices at (0, 0, 0), (7, 0, 0), (0, 7, 0),
(7, 7, 0), (0, 0, 7), (7, 0, 7), (0, 7, 7), (7, 7, 7). The inside of the box is lined
with mirrors and from the point (0, 1, 2), a beam of light is directed to the
point (1, 3, 4). The light then reflects repeatedly off the mirrors on the inside
of the box. Determine how far the beam of light travels before it first returns
to its starting point at (0, 1, 2).
xy
5. Define f (x, y) = 2 if x = 0, and f (0, y) = 0 if y = 0. Deter-
x + (y ln(x2 ))2
mine whether lim(x,y)→(0,0) f (x, y) exists, and what its value is if the limit
does exist.
7. Let A be a 5 × 10 matrix with real entries, and let A denote its transpose (so
A is a 10 × 5 matrix, and the i jth entry of A is the jith entry of A). Suppose
every 5 × 1 matrix with real entries (i.e. column vector in 5 dimensions) can
be written in the form Au where u is a 10 × 1 matrix with real entries. Prove
that every 5 × 1 matrix with real entries can be written in the form AA v
where v is a 5 × 1 matrix with real entries.
28th Annual Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., October 28, 2006
Fill out the individual registration form
1. Find, and give a proof of your answer, all positive integers n such that nei-
ther n nor n2 contain a 1 when written in base 3.
2. Let S(n) denote the number of sequences of length n formed by the three
letters A,B,C with the restriction that the C’s (if any) all occur in a single
block immediately following the first B (if any). For example ABCCAA,
AAABAA, and ABCCCC are counted in, but ACACCB and CAAAAA are
not. Derive a simple formula for S(n) and use it to calculate S(10).
3. Recall that the Fibonacci numbers F(n) are defined by F(0) = 0, F(1) = 1,
and F(n) = F(n − 1) + F(n − 2) for n ≥ 2. Determine the last digit of
F(2006) (e.g. the last digit of 2006 is 6).
(a) p and q are continuous functions on the open interval (0, π).
(b) f is an infinitely differentiable nonzero function on the whole real line
(−∞, ∞) such that f (0) = f (0) = f (0).
(c) y = sint and y = f (t) are solutions of the differential equation y +
p(t)y + q(t)y = 0 on (0, π).
Is this possible? Either prove this is not possible, or show this is possible by
providing an explicit example of such f , p, q.
is convergent.
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7. Three spheres each of unit radius have centers P, Q, R with the property that
the center of each sphere lies on the surface of the other two spheres. Let
C denote the cylinder with cross-section PQR (the triangular lamina with
vertices P, Q, R) and axis perpendicular to PQR. Let M denote the space
which is common to the three spheres and the cylinder C, and suppose the
mass density of M at a given point is the distance of the point from PQR.
Determine the mass of M.
29th Annual Virginia Tech Regional Mathematics Contest
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., October 27, 2007
Fill out the individual registration form
x
dθ
1. Evaluate , where 0 ≤ x ≤ π/2. Use your result to show that
π/4 0 2 + tan θ
dθ π + ln(9/8)
= .
0 2 + tan θ 10
2. Given that ex = 1/0! + x/1! + x2 /2! + · · · + xn /n! + · · · find, in terms of e,
the exact values of
1 2 3 n
(a) + + +···+ + · · · and
1! 3! 5! (2n − 1)!
1 2 3 n
(b) + + +···+ +···
3! 5! 7! (2n + 1)!
dy
3. Solve the initial value problem = y ln y + yex , y(0) = 1 (i.e. find y in
dx
terms of x).
4. In the diagram below, P, Q, R are points on BC, CA, AB respectively such
that the lines AP, BQ, CR are concurrent at X. Also PR bisects ∠BRC, i.e.
∠BRP = ∠PRC. Prove that ∠PRQ = 90◦ .
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(Please turn over)
5. Find the third digit after the decimal point of
√ √ √
(2 + 5)100 (1 + 2)100 + (1 + 2)−100 .
For example, the third digit after the decimal point of π = 3.14159 . . . is 1.
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7. Let f1 (x) = x and fn+1 (x) = x fn (x) for n a positive integer. Thus f2 (x) =
xx and f3 (x) = x(x ) . Now define g(x) = limn→∞ 1/ fn (x) for x > 1. Is g
x