Solutions

Math Tournament Ciphering

1. If (x + 1)(x - 1) = 8, determine the numerical value of (x
2
+ x)(x
2
- x).
Solution:
Since(x + 1)(x -1) = 8, then x
2
- 1 = 8 and x
2
= 9.
Thus (x
2
+ x)(x
2
- x) = x
2
(x + 1)(x -1) = 8x
2

= 72
Answer: 72




2. The function g(x) satisfies the equation g(x) = g(x + 1) + g(x - 1) for all values of x.
If g(1) = 1 and g(2) = S, what is the value ofg(7)?

Solution:
g(x + 1) = g(x) - g(x - 1)
So g(S) = g(2) -g(1) = S - 1 = 2
g(4) = g(S) - g(2) = 2 - S = -1
g(S) = g(4) -g(S) = -1 - 2 = -S
g(6) = g(S) - g(4) = -S - (-1) = -2
g(7) = g(6) - g(S) = -2 -(-S) = 1.


Answer: g(7) = 1


3. A carpenter wishes to construct a ladder with nine rungs whose lengths decrease
uniformly from 24 inches at the base to 18 inches at the top. What is the length of
the rung fourth from the top?

Solution:
18 + 8J = 24 Where J is the common difference. Solving for J yields;
J =
3
4
, So the length of each rung is increasing by
3
4
of an inch.
The length of the fourth rung is given by 18 + SJ = 2u
1
4
inches.

Answer: 2u
1
4






4. A triangle has side-lengths equal to 8SS , 1SSS and17SS. What is its area?

Solution:
The triangle is a right triangle since(8SS)
2
+ (1SSS)
2
= (17SS)
2
. Hence area is
given by
1
2
(bosc)(bcigbt). Thus

Area=
1
2
(8SS)(1SSS) = (6u)(SS) = 198u sq. units.

Answer: 198u







5. Find the value of log
2
S log
3
4 log
2012
2u1S log
2013
2 .

Solution:
Using change of base formula, rewrite in base c to obtain,
log
b
o =
Inu
Inb
for each of the log factors. We obtain

lnS
ln2

ln4
lnS

lnS
ln4

ln2u12
ln2u11

ln2u1S
ln2u12

ln2
ln2u1S
= 1

Answer: 1


6. Compute the exact value of (sin22.S

- cos 22.S

)
2
.


Solution:
Expansion gives (sin22.S

)
2
- 2 sin22.S

cos 22.S

+ (cos 22.S

)
2

Using trigonometric identities sin
2
0 + cos
2
0 = 1 and sin20 =2 sin0 cos 0, we obtain
(sin22.S

)
2
- 2 sin22.S

cos 22.S

+ (cos 22.S

)
2

= (sin22.S

)
2
+(cos 22.S

)
2
- sin4S

= 1 -
2
2

Answer: 1 -
2
2









7. Suppose the functions (x) and g(x) satisfy the system of equations
(x) + Sg(x) = x
2
+ x + 6
2(x) + 4g(x) = 2x
2
+4
for all x. Find g(x).

Solution:
The second equation has a common factor 2, so the system reduces to

(x) + Sg(x) = x
2
+ x + 6
(x) + 2g(x) = x
2
+ 2

Subtracting the second equation from the first yields g(x) = x + 4 .


Answer: g(x) = x + 4



8. If oc + oJ + bc + bJ = 1u2 and c + J = 6, what is the value of o + b + c + J?

Solution: Factoring gives
oc + oJ + bc + bJ = o(c + J) + b(c + J) = (c + J)(o +b) = 1u2.
Since c + J = 6, then o + b = 17 and o + b + c + J = 2S.

Answer: 23
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Answer


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Answer:




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Answer



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4. Given angles A and B such that,
sin
2
A + cos
2
B =
S
2
x
cos
2
A + sin
2
B =
1
2
x
Determine the value of x.

Solution:
Adding the two equations, and using the trigonometric identity sin
2
0 +cos
2
0 = 1, we obtain
2x = 2, x = 1


Answer: x = 1






5. Evaluate
1
8
+ log
2
2

22.

Solution:
Using properties of logarithms
log
2
2

22 = log
2
2 +
1
2
(log
2
2 +
1
2
log
2
2).
Noting log
2
2 = 1,
1
8
+ log
2
2

22 =
1
8
+
7
4
=
15
8



Answer:
15
8








6. Let o be a solution of x
2
+ x + 1 = u. What is the value of
o
6
+o
5
+ o
4
+o
3
+ o
2
+ o + 1.

Solution: Factoring by grouping three terms from the left yields
o
4
(o
2
+o +1) + o(o
2
+o +1) + 1 = 1. Since o
2
+ o + 1 = u.
Answer: 1



7. Rectangle ABCD is made up of six squares. The areas of two of the squares are shown.
Find the perimeter of rectangle ABCD, in centimeters.

Solution: The lengths of the squares with area S6 cm
2
and 2S cm
2
are 6 cm and S cm
respectively. The smallest of the six squares has length1cm, the larges square has
length7cm. The two other squares have equal lengths4cm, thus the rectangle has length
1Scm and width11 cm. Perimeter is48 cm.

Answer: 48 cm





8. If S = S
2013
+ S
-2012
and I = S
2013
- S
-2012
, what is the exact value of S
2
- I
2
?

Solution: S
2
- I
2
= (S + I)(S -I) = (2 S
2013
)(2. S
-2012
) = 12


Answer: 12