EASY:

1.) Find () so that ((())) = 1 1 1 .

Answer: 1

2.) In isosceles triangle ABC, A is the vertex angle. Find the measure of A if B = (2x +
40)and C = (3x + 20).

Solution: A

B C

3 + 20 2 + 40

3 + 20 = 2 + 40

= 20

B = 3(20) + 20 =80

C = 2(20) + 40 = 80

mA= 180-(80+80)=180-160=20.

Answer: 20 degrees

+4 +3
3.) If and are functions such that (()) = 1and () = +1, find ().

Solution:

Let = ()

+3 +4
() = =
+1 1
 +3 +4
( + 1)( 1) [ = ]
+1 1

( + 3)( 1) = ( + 4)( + 1)

+ 3 3 = + + 4 + 4

4 = 3 + + 3 + 4

5 = 2 + 7
27
= = ().
5

27
Answer: () = 5

4.) Four circles with 1 foot diameters are tangent as shown. Find the area of the shaded region in
square feet.

Solution:

: 1

90
: () =
360 4
= 1

Answer: 1

5.) In the diagram, the smaller circles touch the larger circle and touch each other at the center of
the larger circle. The radius of the larger circle is 6. What is the area of the shaded region?
Solution:

= 62 = 36

= 32 (2) = 18

= 36 18

Answer: 36 18

2 2
6.) Find the inverse function of f(x) = 2 4

Solution:

2 2
x = 2 4

2 ( ) =

=

() =

Answer:
7.) Find the roots of the equation 10x^2+9x-7=0

Solution:

(5x+7)(2x-1) =0

x = x =

SS: [-7/5,1/2]

Answer: SS: [-7/5,1/2]

8.) If f(x) = and g(x) = + find the domain of fog(x)

Solution:

++
f(g(x)) = = =
( )
+ ++

{| ; , }

Answer: {| ; , }

9.) How many diagonals are there in a convex heptadecagon?

Solution:
() ()
= = 119 diagonals

Answer: 119 diagonals

10.) What value/s of x will make A = {(1,2),(3,4),(5,6),(x,8)} a function?

Answer: {| ; , , }

11.) Find the term containing x4 in the expansion (x + 2y)10.

Solution:

Let a = x

b = 2y
 n = 10

r=4

(

) = ()

Answer:

12.) The semicircle of area 1250pi cm is inscribed inside a rectangle. The diameter of the
semicircle coincides with the length of the rectangle. Find the area of the rectangle.

Solution: 1250pi=(1/2)pi(r2)

r=50 cm

l=2(r) = 100cm

w=r = 50cm

A = l*w

= (100cm)*(50cm)

= 5000 cm2

Answer: 5000 cm2

13.) Find the coefficient of x5 in the expansion of( + ) .

Solution:

Let a = x2

b=

n = 10

()( ) () = () ( )

= ()

3r 10 = 5

3r = 15

r=5

( ) = ( ) =

Answer:

14.) Determine the partial fraction decomposition of ()(+)(+)

Solution:

= + +
( )( + )( + ) + +
(+)(+)+()(+)+()(+)
= ()(+)(+)

= ( + )( + ) + ( )( + ) + ( )( + )

When x = -4

-35 = 5C

C = -7

When x = -3

32 = -4B

B = -8

When x = 1

120 = 20A

A=6

= + +
()(+)(+)

Answer: + +

15.) If an object is dropped from a tall building, then the distance it has fallen after t seconds is
given by the function d(t) = 16t2. Find the average speed (average rate of change) between 1s
and 5s.

Solution:
()()
=

() ()
=

= 96

*The average speed is 96 ft/s.

Answer: 96 ft/s

16.) In with , if and , what is ?

Solution:

3x + 10 = 5x 30

x=20

= 180-2

=180 -2(3(20) +10) = 40

Answer: [40 degrees]

17.) If , what is in terms of a?

Solution:
Let x =

5 =

x= = 5

Answer: [2a/3]

18.) A demographer predicts that the population of a country t years from now can be modelled
by the function . Using this model, after how many years will the
current population double?

Solution: () = + , ,

P(0) = 8,000,000

2P(0) = 2(8,000,000) = 16,000,000

16,000,000 = + , ,

8,000,000 =

800,000 =

( )( ) = t

()() = t

Answer: [ 30]

19.) What is the remainder when is divided by ?

Solution:

/ 2x 1

R () = () () =

Answer: [7/4]
20.) Factor completely the expression over the set of real numbers.

Solution:

( + + + )

[( + )( ) + + ]

Answer: [x (2x+1)(2x^2+1)]
AVERAGE:

1.) A 25 foot ladder is placed against the wall of a building. The foot of the ladder is 7 feet from
the base of the building. If the top of the ladder slips 4 feet, then the foot of the ladder will slide
________.

Solution:

b c

= +

= +

= ( ) +

= +

= =

Answer: 8 feet

2.) Function satisfies () ( ) = for all real numbers x. What is ()?

Solution:

(() () = )

() + () =
 () () =

-----------------------------------

() =

() =


Answer:-

3.) If () = + and () = , find b such that (()) = (()).

Solution:

( ) + = ( + )


+ = +


+ =

+
=

=


=


Answer:

4.) A group of 10 women and 7 men are to be arranged at a random in a row. What is the
probability that all women will be beside each other?
!!
Answer: !
5.) Two circles 10 are tangent to each other. A tangent line is drawn from the center of one of the
circles to the second circle. What is the area of the shaded region?

Solution:

20

()()
= =


() = ( ) =


() = ( ) =


= ( + ) = .

Answer: square units

6.) Find the minimum value of 1 x y + 1 y z + 1 x z for reals x > y > z given (x y)(y
z)(x z) = 17.

Solution:
Note: we use the notation O(x n ) to denote an arbitrary polynomial whose degree is at most n.
We first try to find a Q with degree < 48. It turns out this is feasible. Let d be the degree of P.
P(P(x)) has degree d 2 , and P(x) 16 + x 48 + Q(x) has degree max(16d, 48). Since 48 is not a
perfect square, the degree must be 16d, which implies d = 16. Now let R(x) = P(x) x 16, so
R(P(x)) = x 48 + Q(x). Since R applied to a degree-16 polynomial yields a degree-48
polynomial, the degree of R must be 3. So, we have P(x) = x 16 + ax3 + O(x 2 ) for some a 6= 0;
we can also show from here that in fact a = 1. Therefore, P(P(x)) = P(x) 16 + P(x) 3 + O(P(x) 2 )
= P(x) 16 + x 48 + 3x 35 + O(x 34). Hence, if the degree of Q is < 48, it must be exactly 35 .

Answer: 35

( +) + [()]
7.)Perform the indicated operations [ () (+) +(+)] 1

Solution:

( +) + ++
=[ () ] -1

(+)() ()() (+)(+)

=[()(+) (+)() ()(+)]-1= 1 =

Answer:

+

+
8.) Simplify +
+
+

Solution:
(+) ()
(+)() (+) () ++( +)
= (+) +()
= = = = +
(+) +() +++( +) +
(+)()

Answer: +

9.) Given ( ) + ( ) = Find the value of

( ) () =

 Solution: eq. 1

( ) + ( ) = () + ( ) =

) ) )
+ ( ( = + ( =


_____________________ 4( )=
( ) = = 27

= y=3

= 22(3) (2)(3)=

Answer:

10.) 5 points are on the coordinate of plane, no three of which are collinear. How many polygons
can be drawn with these points as vertices?

Solution:

No. of Polygons = + + 5
! ! !
= !! + + =
!! !!

Answer: [16]

11.) Find the product of (12x2-5x3-6x-5)(x3-4x2-9)

Solution: Using the lattice rule, the answer is: -5x6+32x5-54x4+64x3-88x2+54x+45

Answer: -5x6+32x5-54x4+64x3-88x2+54x+45

12.) Solve the systems of linear equations: 2x+5y+2z = -38

3x-2y+4z = 17

-6x+y-7z = -12

Solution:

+5y+2z = -38 6x+15y+6z = -114

3x-2y+4z = 17 6x-4y+8z = 34
 -6x+y-7z = -12 -6x+y-7z = -12

= , = , =

Answer: = , = , =

13.) Most cars get their best gas mileage when traveling at a relatively modest speed. The gas

mileage M for a certain new car is modeled by the function: () = + ,
. Where s is the speed in mi/h and M is measured in mi/gal. What is the cars best gas
mileage, and at what speed is it attained?

Solution:

= , =

= = =
( )

() = () + ()

*Best gas mileage is 32 mi/gal at 42mi/h.

Answer: 32 mi/gal at 42mi/h

14.) Find the middle term in the expansion of (x2+1)18

Solution:

(

) = ( )

Answer:

15.) Solve for the values of x.
+ =


Solution: =

+ =

( )( ) =

= ; =

= =

() = () () = ()

= =

Answer: ,

16.) Factor completely: 3x-7x-40+12y-12xy+14y

Solution:

(3x-12xy+12y)+(-7x+14y)-40

(3x-12xy+12y)-(7x-14y)-40

3(x-4xy+4y)-7(x-2y)-40

3(x-2y)-7(x-2y)-40

Let A= (x-2y)

3A-7A-40

(3A+8)(A-5)

Answer: [3 (x-2y) + 8] [x-2y-5]

17.) If , what is ?

Solution: =

=
 =

tanx = 4 =

= +

= + =

= =

Answer: [17]

+
18.) If a, b, and c are numbers for which = +()+ ()
()

Solution:

+ = ( ) + ( )() +

+ = ( + ) + ( ) +

1 = a +b

10 = - 6a - 3b + c

-36 = 9a => a = -4

Answer: [ a = -4, b = 5, c = 1]

19.) The first three terms of an arithmetic sequence are , , and . What is the
fifth term of the sequence?

Solution:

= =

= + =

= + =

( + ) ( ) = ( + ) ( + )
-y + 10 = 4y 5

15 = 5y

y=3

= + ()( )

Answer: [30]
DIFFICULT:

1.) Let p be a real number and c 6= 0 an integer such that c 0.1 <xp 1 (1 + x) 10 1 + (1 + x)
10 < c + 0.1 for all (positive) real numbers x with 0 < x < 10100. (The exact value 10100 is
not important. You could replace it with any sufficiently small number.) Find the ordered pair
(p,c).

Solution:

This is essentially a problem about limits, but phrased concretely in terms of small numbers
(like 0.1 and 10100). We are essentially studying the rational function f(x) := 1(1+x) 10
1+(1+x) 10 = 10x+O(x 2 ) 2+O(x) , where the big-O notation simply make precise the notion
of error terms.2 Intuitively, f(x) 10x 2 = 5x for small nonzero x. (We could easily make
this more precise if we wanted to, by specifying the error terms more carefully, but its not so
important.) So g(x) := x pf(x) 5x p+1 for small nonzero x.

If p + 1 > 0, g will approach 0 (get very small) as x approaches 0 (often denoted x 0), so
theres no way it can stay above the lower bound c 0.1 for all small nonzero x.

If p + 1 < 0, g will approach (get very large in the negative direction) as x 0, so theres
no way it can stay below the upper bound c + 0.1 for all small nonzero x.

If p + 1 = 0, g 5 becomes approximately constant as x 0. Since c is an integer, we must

have c = 5 (as 5 is the only integer within 0.1 of 5).

Remark. Why does (p, c) = (1, 5) actually satisfy the inequality? This is where the 10100
kicks in: for such small values of x, the error |g(x) (5)| of the approximation g 5 does
actually lie within the permitted threshold of 0.1. (You can easily work out the details yourself,
if youre interested. Its something you might want to work out once or twice in your life, but
rational functions are well-behaved enough that we can usually rely on our intuition in these
kinds of scenarios.)

Answer: (-1,-5)

2.) A tent in the shape of the pyramid with a square base is to be constructed from a square piece
of material of side 5 m. In the base of the pyramid, let x meters be the distance from the center to
a side. Find a mathematical model expressing the volume of the tent as a function of x.
 5m

Solution:

= ( ) = + =

() = () =


Answer:

3.) Let v(X) be the sum of elements of a nonempty finite set X, where X is a set of numbers.
Calculate the sum of all numbers v(X) where X ranges over all nonempty subsets of the set {1, 2,
3, ..., 16}.

Solution:

We note that each k {1, 2, 3, ..., 16} belongs to subsets of {1, 2, 3, ..., 16}. We reason as
follows: we can assign 0 or 1 to k according to whether it is not or in a subset of {1, 2, 3,..., 16}.
As there are 2 choices for a fixed k, k belongs to half of the total number of subsets, which is
216. Hence the sum is = () = ( + + + + ) = =

Answer: 8 17 = 4456448
4.) My friend and I are playing a game with the following rules: If one of us says an integer n,
the opponent then says an integer of their choice between 2n and 3n, inclusive. Whoever first
says 2007 or greater loses the game, and their opponent wins. I must begin the game by saying a
positive integer less than 10. With how many of them can I guarantee a win?

Solution:

We assume optimal play and begin working backward. I win if I say any number between 1004
and 2006. Thus, by saying such a number, my friend can force a win for himself if I ever say a
number between 335 and 1003. Then I win if I say any number between 168 and 334, because
my friend must then say one of the losing numbers just considered. Similarly, I lose by saying 56
through 167, win by saying 28 through 55, lose with 10 through 17, win with 5 through 9, lose
with 2 through 4, and win with 1.

Answer: 6

5.) Six mountain climbers divide themselves into three teams for the final assault on a peak. One
team has 3 climbers; the others have 1 and 2 climbers. All manners of different team
deployments are considered, which team goes first, second, and third, and two deployments are
considered different if the composition of any of the teams is different. (Disregard deployments
within each team.) What is the total number of possible team deployments?

Solution:

There are six ways to choose which team goes first, which goes second and which goes third.
Also, there are () = 20 ways to select three climbers out of the six for the three man team, and 3
ways to pick a climber out of the remaining three for the one man team. So, the total number of
ways is 6 20 3 = 360 ways.

Answer: 360

6.) For any 4-tuple (a1, a2, a3, a4) where each entry is either 0 or 1, call it
quadraticallysatisfiable if there exist real numbers x1, . . . , x4 such that x1x 2 4 +x2x4 +x3 = 0
and for each i = 1, . . . , 4, xi is positive if ai = 1 and negative if ai = 0. Find the number of
quadraticallysatisfiable 4-tuples.

Solution: First, we may assume a1 = 1 without loss of generality and multiply our answer by 2 at
the end, since ax2 + bx + c = 0 ax2 bx c = 0. We can furthermore assume x1 = 1, since
we can always divide the whole equation by x1 (since x1 > 0). Hence, we now consider
equations of the form x 2 4 + bx4 + c = 0 in which b and c are constrained to be either positive or
negative. This yields four cases: Case 6.) If b and c are both positive, the two roots have positive
product but negative sum, so they must both be negative i.e. x4 < 0. Furthermore, x4 < 0 is
possible, e.g. x 2 4 + 2x4 + 1 = 0 = x4 = 1. SMT 2014 General Test Solutions February 15,
2014 Case 2: If b is positive and c is negative, x4 may be positive or negative e.g. x 2 4 + x4 2
= x4 {2, 1}. Case 3: If b is negative and c is positive, the two roots have positive product
and positive sum, so they must both be positive i.e. x4 > 0. Furthermore, x4 > 0 is possible e.g. x
2 4 2x4 + 1 = x4 = 1. Case 4: If b and c are both negative, x4 may be positive or negative
e.g. x 2 4 x4 2 = x4 {1, 2}. Putting these cases together, we conclude that the answer is
12 .

Answer: 12

7.) : +
/

Solution:

=( ) + ( )

= ( ) + ( )

=( )( )

=( + )( )( + )( )

=( + )( + ) ( ) ( + )( + )( + )( )

Answer: ( + )( + ) ( ) ( + )( + )( + )( )

8.)Two concentric circles have their center at point A. If the radius of the inner circle is 8cm
and the chord of the outer circle that is tangent to the inner circle is 16 cm, How long is the
longest chord of the outer circle?

Solution:

x = + ()2

x = + =16
 16*2 = 32 cm

Answer: 32 cm

+ ( )+( )

9.) Evaluate:
()+ ()

Solution:

()( )+()+() +

= = ++ = -2= 1 -2 = -1
()( )+()( )

Answer: -1

10.) Write the binomial expansion of ( + )8

Solution:
! ! ! ! ! !
= + + !! + !! + !! + !! + !! +
!!

= + + + + + + + +

Answer: + + + + + + + +

11.) Nick is a runner, and his goal is to complete four laps around a circuit at an average speed of

10 mph. If he completes the first three laps at a constant speed of only 9 mph, what speed does

he need to maintain in miles per hour on the fourth lap to achieve his goal?

Solution.

=

Nick need to complete hours. Nick completed hours. So = =

 Therefore, Nick needs to maintain 15 mph on the fourth lap.

Answer: 15 mph

12.) Andrew and Jordan play until one of them wins 5 games. The winner is the one that will win

5 games. The probability that Andrew will win each game is and the probability that Jordan will

win each game is .What is the probability that the overall winner is determined in exactly 7
games?

Solution: If Andrew is the overall winner, then he needs to win the seventh game, and in the first
six he must win four and loose two games. The probability that this will happen is =

()() () () = .It is also the same instance for Jordan = ()() () () =


.Therefore, the probability that the overall winner is + = .

Answer:.

13.) A tree has 10 pounds of apples at dawn. Every afternoon, a bird comes and eats x pounds of
apples. Overnight, the amount of food on the tree increases by 10%. What is the maximum value
of x such that the bird can sustain itself indefinitely on the tree without the tree running out of
food?

Solution:

( + ) ( ) = ,

Solving for x we get =

The explanation for the above equation is that after removing x from 10, and then
increasing that amount by 10%, we must end up with at least the amount we started with, 10
pounds.

Answer:

Source:https://sumo.stanford.edu/pdfs/smt2013/algebra-solutions.pdf
14.) Find the sum 1002-992+982-972++22-12.

Solution:
()()
1002-992+982-972++22-12 = 100+99+98+97++2+1 = =

Answer:

Source: NC STATE MATHEMATICS CONTEST 2012

15.) Compute the largest root of x4-x3-5x2+2x+6.

Solution.

x4-x3-5x2+2x+6 = (x4-5x2+6) x(x2-2) = (x2-3)(x2-2) x(x2-2) = (x2-2)(x2-x-3).

+ +
. .

+
Answer: .

Source: https://sumo.stanford.edu/pdfs/smt2013/algebra-solutions.pdf

16.) The capacity of a cars radiator is nine litres. The mixture of antifreeze and water is 30%
antifreeze. The temperature is predicted to drop rapidly requiring the mixture to be 65%
antifreeze. How much of the mixture in the radiator must be drawn off and replaced with pure
antifreeze?

Solution:

V= 9L

30% antifreeze, 70% H

65% antifreeze

Let x= amount of removed mixture from radiator

Antifreeze balance: 0.3(9)-0.3(x)+x=9(0.65)

Answer:[ x=4.5L]

17.) Three vertices of a parallelogram are (0,0), (4,0), and (1,3). Find the coordinates of the
fourth vertex so that the resulting parallelogram has the largest possible perimeter.
Solution:

(0,0), (4,0), (1,3), (x,y)- largest possible perimeter

= =

Answer: [(-3,3)]

18.) A triangle is formed by the area bounded by the x- axis, y = x, and the line y = b 3x. What
is a value of b such that the area of the triangle is 10?

Solution: A= (b)(h)

A= ( ) =

/ +
10= ( )

/
10= + ]

( )+

10= ( )-(0)

10=.

240=b

b= 4

Answer: 4

19.) Find all x between 0 degrees and 90 degrees such that

Solution:

2sinx+cosx=sinx+sin2x

sinx+cosx=sinx+2sinxcosx

sinx(2sinx-1)=(2sinx-1)cosx

(sinx-cosx)(2sinx-1)=0
sinx=cosx

tanx=1
x= 1=45
sinx=1/2

x= =30

Answer: [30 degrees, 45 degrees]

20.) Find the unique polynomial P(x) with coefficients taken from the set {1, 0, 1} and with
least possible degree such that P(2010) 1 (mod 3), P(2011) 0 (mod 3), and P(2012) 0 (mod
3).

Solution:

First suppose P(x) is constant or linear. Then we have P(2010) + P(2012) = 2P(2011), which is a
contradiction because the left side is congruent to 1 (mod 3) and the right is congruent to 0 (mod
3). So P must be at least quadratic. The space of quadratic polynomials in x is spanned by the
polynomials f(x) = 1, g(x) = x, and h(x) = . Applying each of these to 2010, 2011, and 2012,
we have the mod 3 equivalences:

f(2010, 2011, 2012) (1, 1, 1)

g(2010, 2011, 2012) (0, 1, 2)

h(2010, 2011, 2012) (0, 1, 1)

Subtracting the third row from the first, we have P(x) = f(x)h(x)= , giving P(2010,
2011, 2012) (1, 0, 0) (mod 3), as desired. Uniqueness follows from the observation that the
three vectors above form a basis for (Z/3Z) 3 .

Answer: () =