PURPLE COMET!

MATH MEET April 2015

HIGH SCHOOL - SOLUTIONS

Copyright Titu
c Andreescu and Jonathan Kane

Problem 1
The five numbers 17, 98, 39, 54, and n have a mean equal to n. Find n.

Answer: 52
17+98+39+54+n 208+n
The given condition is that n = 5 = 5 . Thus, 5n = 208 + n, so 4n = 208 and n = 52.
17+98+39+54
Alternatively, n must be the mean of the other four numbers, so n = 4 = 52.

Problem 2
How many sets of two positive prime numbers {p, q} have the property that p + q = 100?

Answer: 6
A review of the list of prime numbers less than 100 shows the following pairs of primes with the needed
property: {3, 97}, {11, 89}, {17, 83}, {29, 71}, {41, 59}, and {47, 53}. Thus, there are 6 pairs of primes
whose sum is 100.

Problem 3
9
The Fahrenheit temperature (F ) is related to the Celsius temperature (C) by F = 5 · C + 32. What is the
temperature in Fahrenheit degrees that is one-fifth as large if measured in Celsius degrees?

Answer: 50
9 F
The requested temperature satisfies F = 5C giving F = 5 · 5 + 32. Thus, 25F = 9F + 25 · 32 and
16F = 25 · 32. Thus, F = 25 · 2 = 50.

Problem 4
Six boxes are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Suppose that there are N balls distributed among these six
boxes. Find the least N for which it is guaranteed that for at least one k, box number k contains at least
k 2 balls.

Answer: 86
If no box k contains k 2 balls, then for each k, box k can contain at most k 2 − 1 balls, and the total number
of balls cannot exceed (12 − 1) + (22 − 1) + (32 − 1) + (42 − 1) + (52 − 1) + (62 − 1) =

1
0 + 3 + 8 + 15 + 24 + 35 = 85. It follows that if N = 86, then for at least one k, box k will contain at least
k 2 balls and that this is the smallest such N .

Problem 5
The two diagonals of a quadrilateral have lengths 12 and 9, and the two diagonals are perpendicular to
each other. Find the area of the quadrilateral.

Answer: 54
Label the vertices of the quadrilateral ABCD with AC = 12 and BD = 9. Let E be the intersection point
of line AC and line BD. Then AC divides the quadrilateral into 4ACD and 4ACB. The area of the
AC·ED AC·EB AC(ED+EB)
quadrilateral is the sum of the areas of the two triangles which is 2 + 2 = 2 =
AC·BD 12·9
2 = 2 = 54.

Problem 6
There are digits a and b so that the 15-digit number 7 a 7 b a 7 a b 7 b a 7 b 7 7 is divisible by 99.
Find 10a + b.

Answer: 53
For the 15-digit number to be divisible by 99, it must be divisible by both 9 and 11. To be divisible by 9,
the sum of its digits must be divisible by 9, that is, 9 must divide
7 + a + 7 + b + a + 7 + a + b + 7 + b + a + 7 + b + 7 + 7 = 49 + 4(a + b). Thus, 9 must divide
(49 − 45) + 4(a + b) = 4 + 4(a + b) = 4(1 + a + b), and 9 must divide 1 + a + b. Because a and b are digits,
it follows that a + b = 8 or a + b = 17. To be divisible by 11, the alternating sum of the digits of the
15-digit number much be divisible by 11, that is, 11 must divide
7 − a + 7 − b + a − 7 + a − b + 7 − b + a − 7 + b − 7 + 7 = 7 + 2a − 2b. This can happen for digits a and b
only if a − b = 2 or a − b = −9. Either a + b is even so that a + b = 8 with a − b = 2, or a + b is odd so that
a + b = 17 with a − b = −9. The first set of equations has solution a = 5 and b = 3, and the second set of
equations has solutions a = 4 and b = 13. Because a and b must be digits, a = 5 and b = 3. The requested
value is 10a + b = 53.

Problem 7
Talya went for a 6 kilometer run. She ran 2 kilometers at 12 kilometers per hour followed by 2 kilometers
at 10 kilometers per hour followed by 2 kilometers at 8 kilometers per hour. Talya’s average speed for the
m
6 kilometer run was n kilometers per hour, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers.
Find m + n.

Answer: 397

2
 2 2 2
It took Talya 12 hours to run the first 2 kilometers, 10 hours to run the middle 2 kilometers, and 8 hours
to run the last 2 kilometers. Thus, her rate in kilometers per hour is
6 6 6 · 60 360
2 2 2 = 10 12 15 = = .
12 + 10 + 8 60 + 60 + 60
10 + 12 + 15 37
The requested sum is 360 + 37 = 397.

Problem 8
In the figure below ∠LAM = ∠LBM = ∠LCM = ∠LDM , and ∠AEB = ∠BF C = ∠CGD = 34◦ . Given
that ∠KLM = ∠KM L, find the degree measure of ∠AEF .

Answer: 107
Note that because ∠LAM = ∠LBM = ∠LCM = ∠LDM , the six points A, B, C, D, L, and M lie on a
common circle R. Also, because ∠AEB = ∠BF C = ∠CGD, the five points E, F, G, L, and M lie on a
common circle S. Let ∠LAM = α, so the fact that A, B, C, D, E, L, and M lie on circle R, implies that
z{ z{ z{
LM = 2α. Because ∠LEM = ∠AEB = 34◦ is the average of LM and AB, it follows that
z{ z{ z{ z{ z{
AB = BC = CD = 68◦ − 2α, and ∠AM B = 34◦ − α. Then in circle S, EF = F G = 68◦ − 2α,
z{ z{ z { z{ z{
LM = 2∠LEM = 68◦ . It then follows that in circle S, EL = GM = 12 (360◦ − EG − LM ) =
= 12 (360◦ − 2(68◦ − 2α) − 68◦ ) = 78◦ + 2α. From this one concludes that ∠AEF = 180◦ − ∠M EF =
z{ z {
180◦ − (∠F EG + ∠GEM ) = 180◦ − 12 (F G + GM ) = 180◦ − 21 (68◦ − 2α + 78◦ + 2α) = 107◦ .

Problem 9
Find the sum of all positive integers n with the property that the digits of n add up to 2015 − n.

Answer: 4004
For the digits of n to add to 2015 − n, it must be that n ≡ 2015 − n (mod 9) implying 2n ≡ 2015 ≡ 8
(mod 9) , so n ≡ 4 (mod 9). Since n < 2015, the sum of the digits of n are at most 2 + 9 + 9 + 9 = 29, so
2015 − n ≤ 29 implying that n ≥ 1986. The values of n with 1986 ≤ n < 2015 where n ≡ 4 (mod 9) are
1993, 2002, and 2011. Only 1993 and 2011 satisfy the needed condition. The requested sum is
1993 + 2011 = 4004.
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Problem 10
Find the sum of all the real values of x satisfying
 2
1 1
x + − 17 = x + + 17.
x x

Answer: 35
1
Suppose x satisfies the given equation. Let y = x + x − 17. Then y 2 = y + 34 so y 2 − y − 34 = 0. This
1
equation has two real solutions, α and β, with α + β = 1. This means that x + x − 17 = α or
1
x+ = β. If x + x1 − 17 =
x − 17√ α, then x2 − (17 + α)x + 1 = 0, and the quadratic formula gives
17+α± (17+α)2 −4
x= 2 . The sum of the two solutions is 17 + α. Similarly, there are two solutions with sum
17 + β, so the sum of all the solutions is (17 + α) + (17 + β) = 34 + (α + β) = 34 + 1 = 35. Note that α and
√
1± 1+136
β have values y = 2 which are close to 6 and −6. All four solutions for x satisfy the original
equation.

Problem 11
Suppose that the vertices of a polygon all lie on a rectangular lattice of points where adjacent points on
the lattice are a distance 1 apart. Then the area of the polygon can be found using Pick’s Formula:
B
I+ 2 − 1, where I is the number of lattice points inside the polygon, and B is the number of lattice points
on the boundary of the polygon. Pat applied Pick’s Formula to find the area of a polygon but mistakenly
interchanged the values of I and B. As a result, Pat’s calculation of the area was too small by 35. Using
I
the correct values for I and B, the ratio n = B is an integer. Find the greatest possible value of n.

Answer: 15
B I
The correct area is I + 2 − 1, but Pat calculated B + 2 − 1. The difference between these two calculations
I−B 1 70 I
is 35 = (I − B) − 2 = 2 (I − B). Then B = B − 1 = n − 1 is an integer. Thus, B must be a divisor of
70 : 1, 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, 35, 70, but because B is the number of lattice points on the boundary of the polygon,
B must be at least 3. Therefore, the least value for B is 5 giving a maximum value of n equal to
70
5 + 1 = 15. Note that this is possible if the polygon is a pentagon with vertices at (0, 0), (6, 1), (5, 7),
(0, 8), (−5, 7), and (−6, 1) which has B = 5 and I = 75.

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Problem 12
The product 20! · 21! · 22! · · · 28! can be expressed in the form m · n3 , where m and n are positive integers,
and m is not divisible by the cube of any prime. Find m.

Answer: 825
Write the given product as
20! · (20! · 21) · (20! · 21 · 22) · 23! · (23! · 24) · (23! · 24 · 25) · 26! · (26! · 27) · (26! · 27 · 28) =
(20! · 23! · 26!)3 (21 · 21 · 22)(24 · 24 · 25)(27 · 27 · 28) = (20! · 23! · 26!)3 · (29 · 310 · 52 · 73 · 11). It follows that
m = 3 · 52 · 11 = 825.

Problem 13
The diagram below shows a parallelogram ABCD with AB = 36 and AD = 60. Diagonal BD is
perpendicular to side AB. Points E and F bisect sides AD and BC, respectively. Points G and H are the
intersections of BD with AF and CE, respectively. Find the area of quadrilateral EGF H.

Answer: 288
Sides AB and AD are in the ratio 3 : 5, so 4ABD is a 3−4−5 triangle with third side BD = 48. Then
note that BG = GH = HD = 16 because 4AGD ∼ 4EHD showing GD = 2HD and 4BHC ∼ 4BGF
showing that BH = 2GH. The height of 4ABD onto side BD is 36, so the height of 4EGH onto side
1
BD is 18. Thus, 4EGH has area 2 · 16 · 18 = 144. The requested area is twice that, equal to 288.

Problem 14
Evaluate
log10 (202 ) · log20 (302 ) · log30 (402 ) · · · log990 (10002 )
.
log10 (112 ) · log11 (122 ) · log12 (132 ) · · · log99 (1002 )

Answer: 768
Note that the numerator is a product of 99 factors, and the denominator is a product of 90 factors. Use
log b
the fact that loga (b2 ) = 2 loga b and the change of base formula, loga b = log a , to simplify the numerator to

log 20 log 30 log 40 log 1000 log 1000

299 · · · ··· = 299 · = 3 · 299 .
log 10 log 20 log 30 log 990 log 10

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Similarly, the denominator simplifies to

log 11 log 12 log 13 log 100 log 100

290 · · · ··· = 290 · = 291 .
log 10 log 11 log 12 log 99 log 10

3 · 299
Thus, the requested ratio is = 3 · 28 = 3 · 256 = 768.
291

Problem 15
On the inside of a square with side length 60, construct four congruent isosceles triangles each with base
60 and height 50, and each having one side coinciding with a different side of the square. Find the area of
the octagonal region common to the interiors of all four triangles.

Answer: 360
The diagram shows the square ABCD with the four isosceles triangles. The triangle with base BC has a
third vertex at E, the triangle with base CD has a third vertex at F , and the triangle with base AD has a
third vertex at G. Let H be the intersection of BE and DF , J be the intersection of BE and AG, and K
be the center of the square. The region common to all four triangles can be partitioned into eight triangles

50
congruent to 4HJK. Let the base angles of the isosceles triangles be θ = ∠GAD. Then tan θ = 30 = 53 .
Hence, tan(∠JAB) = cot θ = 35 , so the height of 4JAB is 30 tan(∠JAB) = 18. Then JK = 30 − 18 = 12.
√
The distance DK is half the diagonal of the square, so it is 30 2. Then
5
tan θ − tan(45◦ ) −1 1
∠HDK = ∠HDC − ∠KDC = θ − 45◦ , so tan(∠HDK) = ◦
= 3 5 = . Thus,
1 + tan θ · tan(45 ) 1+ 3 ·1 4
√ √
HK = KD tan(∠HDK) = 30 2 · 14 = 152 2 . Because ∠HKJ = 45◦ , the area of 4HKJ is
√
1 1 15 2 √1
2 · JK · HK · sin(∠HKJ) = 2 · 12 · 2 · 2
= 45, and the area of the entire intersection is 8 · 45 = 360.

Problem 16
     
1 1 1 1 m
1+ 1+ 1+ ··· 1 + = ,
1 + 21 1 + 22 1 + 23 1 + 210 n
where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
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Answer: 3073
1 1 + 2k + 1 1 + 2k−1
First note that for positive integer k, the expression 1 + = = 2 . Thus, the
1 + 2k 1 + 2k 1 + 2k
given product collapses giving
1 + 20
     
1 1 1 1 1024 · 2 2048
1+ 1
1 + 2
1 + 3
· · · 1 + 10
= 210 = = .
1+2 1+2 1+2 1+2 1 + 210 1 + 1024 1025
The requested sum is 2048 + 1025 = 3073.

Problem 17
How many subsets of {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12} have the property that no two of its elements differ
by more than 5? For example, count the sets {3}, {2, 5, 7}, and {5, 6, 7, 8, 9} but not the set {1, 3, 5, 7}.

Answer: 256
Note that any of the subsets of {7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12} satisfy the needed condition. There are 26 = 64 such
subsets. All of the other acceptable sets have a least element in n ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}. Such an acceptable set
contains n along with the elements from any subset of {n + 1, n + 2, n + 3, n + 4, n + 5}. There are 25 = 32
such subsets. It follows that the total number of acceptable subsets is 64 + 6 · 32 = 256.

Problem 18 






  1 1 1 
 1 1   
Define the determinant D1 = |1|, the determinant D2 =  , and the determinant D3 =  1 3 3 .


 1 3  



 1 3 5 
In general, for positive integer n, let the determinant Dn have 1s in every position of its first row and first
column, 3s in the remaining positions of the second row and second column, 5s in the remaining positions
of the third row and third column, and so forth. Find the least n so that Dn ≥ 2015.

Answer: 12
Perform the following row operations on the matrix of values of Dn : Subtract the n − 1st row from the nth
row. Then subtract the n − 2nd row from the n − 1st row. Then subtract the n − 3rd row from the n − 2nd
row. Continue this until the first row has been subtracted from
 the second row. None  of these row
 
 1 1 1 1 1 ... 
 
 
 0 2 2 2 2 ... 
 
 
 0 0 2 2 2 ... 
 
operations change the value of the determinant and result in  0 0 0 2 2 . . .  = 2n−1 . Thus, the
 
 
 
 0 0 0 0 2 ... 
 
 
 . . . . . ... 
 
 
 . . . . . ... 
least n for which Dn ≥ 2015 is n = 12 since 211 = 2048.
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Problem 19
The diagram below shows a 24 × 24 square ABCD. Points E and F lie on sides AD and CD, respectively,
so that DE = DF = 8. Set X consists of the shaded triangle ABC with its interior, while set Y consists of
the shaded triangle DEF with its interior. Set Z consists of all the points that are midpoints of segments
connecting a point in set X with a point in set Y . That is, Z =
{z | z is the midpoint of xy for x ∈ X and y ∈ Y }. Find the area of the set Z.

Answer: 176

Let the midpoint of CD be G, the midpoint of CE be H, and the midpoint of CF be J. The set of
midpoints of segments connecting points in 4DEF with the point C is 4GHJ where CG = 12 CD = 12,
CJ = 12 CF = 8, so GJ = 12 − 8 = 4. Similarly, 4KLM with KL = 4 represents the midpoints of
segments connecting point in 4DEF with the point A, and 4P N O with OP = 4 represent the midpoints
of segments connecting points in 4DEF with the point B. Both sets X and Y are convex. Thus, if z1 ∈ Z
is the midpoint of the segment connecting x1 ∈ X to y1 ∈ Y , and z2 ∈ Z is the midpoint of the segment
zz2
connecting x2 ∈ X to y2 ∈ Y , then if z is on z1 z2 with = α, z will be the midpoint of xy where x is
z1 z2
xx2 yy2
on x1 x2 with = α and y is on y1 y2 with = α. It follows that Z is the convex hexagon
x1 x2 y1 y2
GKLN OJ shaded in the diagram. Extend segments GK, LN , and OJ to form 4QRS. Because GK is
√
half the distance from AC to point D, the distance from GK to point P is P2D = 224 √ = 6 2. The
2
√
distance of P to ON is half that of the distance from D to EF , so P S = √82 = 4 2. Then the distance

8
 √ √ √ √ √
from S to GK is 6 2 + 4 2 = 10 2, and SQ = RS = 10 2 2 = 20. Hence, the area of Z is the area of
20·20
4QRS minus the areas of 4ON S, 4QGJ, and 4KRL. The larger triangle has area 2 = 200, while
4·4
each of the smaller triangles is has area 2 = 8 showing that the area of Z is 200 − 3 · 8 = 176.

Problem 20
For integers a, b, c, and d the polynomial p(x) = ax3 + bx2 + cx + d satisfies p(5) + p(25) = 1906. Find the
minimum possible value for |p(15)|.

Answer: 47
Because p(x) has integer coefficients, so does q(x) = p(x + 15). Then there are integers m and n so that
q(x) + q(−x) = 2mx2 + 2n, so 1906 = p(5) + p(25) = q(−10) + q(10) = 2m · 102 + 2n and p(15) = q(0) = n.
Given that 1906 = 200m + 2n or 953 = 100m + n, it is clear that the smallest possible value for |q(0)| = |n|
is when n = −47 and m = 10. This can be achieved, for example, when p(x) = 10x2 − 150x − 47, so the
requested minimum is 47.

Problem 21
Find the remainder when 20082014 + (2014 − 2008)2014 is divided by 100.

Answer: 0
Note that 20082014 + (2014 − 2008)2014 = 20082014 + 62014 ≡ 82014 + 62014 (mod 100) ≡ (82 )1007 + (62 )1007
(mod 100). Recall that if n is an odd positive integer, then
xn + y n = (x + y)(xn−1 − xn−2 y + xn−3 y 2 − · · · + y n−1 ), and, in particular, xn + y n is a multiple of x + y.
Therefore, (82 )1007 + (62 )1007 is a multiple of 82 + 62 = 100. Thus, the requested remainder is 0.

Problem 22
Let x be a real number between 0 and π
2 for which the function 3 sin2 x + 8 sin x cos x + 9 cos2 x obtains its
maximum value, M . Find the value of M + 100 cos2 x.

Answer: 91
The function is 3(sin2 x + cos2 x) + 8 sin x cos x + 6 cos2 x = 3 + 4 sin(2x) + 3 1 + cos(2x) =

6 + 4 sin(2x) + 3 cos(2x). By the Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality, this is less than or equal to

√ q
6 + 42 + 32 sin2 (2x) + cos2 (2x) = 11. The equality holds if and only if sin(2x)
4 = cos(2x)
3 ,
so tan(2x) = 34 . Such an x exists between 0 and π
2 satisfying this, and for that x cos(2x) = 53 , so
1+cos (2x)
cos2 x = 2 = 54 . The requested quantity is 11 + 100 cos2 x = 11 + 100 · 4
5 = 91.

9
Problem 23
Larry and Diane start 100 miles apart along a straight road. Starting at the same time, Larry and Diane
drive their cars toward each other. Diane drives at a constant rate of 30 miles per hour. To make it
interesting, at the beginning of each 10 mile stretch, if the two drivers have not met, Larry flips a fair coin.
If the coin comes up heads, Larry drives the next 10 miles at 20 miles per hour. If the coin comes up tails,
Larry drives the next 10 miles at 60 miles per hour. Larry and Diane stop driving when they meet. The
m
expected number of times that Larry flips the coin is n, where m and n are relatively prime positive
integers. Find m + n.

Answer: 413
Note that if Larry flips a head (H), and he drives the next 10 miles at 20 miles per hour, it will take Larry
10 1
20 = 2 hour to drive the 10 mile stretch. In that time, the distance between Larry and Diane will be
1
reduced by (20 + 30) · 2 = 25 miles. On the other hand, if Larry flips a tail (T), and he drives the next 10
10 1
miles at 60 miles per hour, it will take Larry 60 = 6 hour to drive the 10 mile stretch. In that time, the
1
distance between Larry and Diane will be reduced by (60 + 30) · 6 = 15 miles. The following table shows
the ways that Larry can flip the coin before he and Diane meet.

Type of Flips Number of Flips Number of Ways Probability Flips × Probability

1 1
4H 4 1 16 4
8 5
3H + 1T followed by H or T 5 8 32 4
6 15
2T + 2H followed by H 5 6 32 16
20 15
3T + 2H followed by H or T 6 20 64 8
10 15
4T + 1H followed by H or T 6 10 64 16
1 3
5T followed by H 6 1 64 32
2 7
6T followed by H or T 7 2 128 64
349
TOTALS 1 64

The requested sum is 349 + 64 = 413.

Problem 24
The complex number w has positive imaginary part and satisfies |w| = 5. The triangle in the complex
plane with vertices at w, w2 , and w3 has a right angle at w. Find the real part of w3 .

Answer: 71
Because the triangle with vertices at w, w2 , and w3 has a right angle at w, the numbers w3 − w and w2 − w
 3 
−w
√
are at right angles to each other. Thus, 0 = < w w2 −w = <(w + 1). It follows that w = −1 + 2 6i, and
√ √
2 √
3
w3 = (−1)3 + 3(−1)2 · 2 6i + 3(−1) · 2 6 i2 + 2 6 i3 which has real part −1 + 3(−1)(4 · 6)(−1) = 71.

10
Problem 25
You have a collection of small wooden blocks that are rectangular solids measuring 3 × 4 × 6. Each of the
six faces of each block is to be painted a solid color, and you have three colors of paint to use. Find the
number of distinguishable ways you could paint the blocks. (Two blocks are distinguishable if you cannot
rotate one block so that it looks identical to the other block.)

Answer: 243
Each block has three pairs of opposite faces: a pair of 3 × 4 faces, a pair of 3 × 6 faces, and a pair of 4 × 6
faces. Consider how many of these pairs have their two faces of the pair both painted the same color.

3


• 0: If none of the three pairs have their two faces painted the same color, there are 2 = 3 ways to
select two colors to paint the two 3 × 4 faces, but it does not matter what order these colors are
chosen because the block can be rotated. Similarly, there are 32 = 3 ways to select two colors to

paint the two 3 × 6 faces, and it does not matter what order these colors are chosen. Finally, there
are 3 · 2 = 6 ways to select colors for the two 4 × 6 faces, and with the orientation of the 3 × 4 and
3 × 6 faces already determined, the order of the selection is important. Thus, there are 3 · 3 · 6 = 54
ways to color the faces so that no pairs of opposite faces are painted the same color.

• 1: If one of the three pairs have its two faces painted the same color, there are 3 ways to select which
pair of faces are painted the same color, and three ways to select that color. Once these faces and
colors are selected, there are 32 = 3 ways to select pairs of colors for each of the two remaining pairs

of opposite faces for a total of 3 · 3 · 32 32 = 81 ways to color the faces so that one pair of opposite

faces is painted the same color.

3


• 2: If two of the three pairs have their two faces painted the same color, there are 2 = 3 ways to
select the two pair of faces that get painted the same color, and 3 ways to select a color for each of
those two pairs of faces. Then one only needs to select two colors for the other pair of opposite faces
for a total of 32 · 3 · 3 · 32 = 81 ways to color the faces so that two pairs of opposite faces are painted

the same color.

• 3: If all three pairs have their two faces painted the same color, one only needs to select the three
colors used for the three pairs of opposite faces. This can be done in 3 · 3 · 3 = 27 ways.

The total number of distinguishable colorings is 54 + 81 + 81 + 27 = 243.

Alternatively, one can use Polya counting which shows that the number of distinguishable ways to paint
n6 +3n4 36 +3·34
the blocks with n colors is p(n) = 4 , so the answer is p(3) = 4 = 243.

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Problem 26
Seven people of seven different ages are attending a meeting. The seven people leave the meeting one at a
time in random order. Given that the youngest person leaves the meeting sometime before the oldest
person leaves the meeting, the probability that the third, fourth, and fifth people to leave the meeting do
m
so in order of their ages (youngest to oldest) is n, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers.
Find m + n.

Answer: 25
7!
There are 2 equally likely orders for the people to leave the meeting given that the youngest leaves before
the oldest. If neither the youngest nor the oldest are among the middle three people to leave, then there
are 53 = 10 ways to select the middle three people, and 4!


2 = 12 ways for the other four people to find

positions to leave giving 10 · 12 = 120 orders for the people to leave. If the youngest person is among the
middle three people but the oldest person is not, then there are 52 = 10 ways to select the other two

people to be among the middle three people, two ways to determine the position of the oldest person (who
has to be one of the final two to leave), and 3! = 6 ways to determine when the other three people leave
giving 10 · 2 · 6 = 120 orders for the people to leave. If the oldest person is among the middle three people
but the youngest person is not, there are again 120 possible orders. Finally, if both the youngest and the
oldest person are among the middle three people, there are 5 ways to select a third middle person and
4! = 24 ways to determine when the other four people leave giving 5 · 24 = 120 orders for the people to
120 + 120 + 120 + 120 4
leave. Thus, the required probability is 7!
= . The requested sum is 4 + 21 = 25.
2
21

Problem 27
A container is shaped like a right circular cone open at the top surmounted by a frustum which is open at
the top and bottom as shown below. The lower cone has a base with radius 2 centimeters and height 6
centimeters while the frustum has bases with radii 2 and 8 centimeters and height 6 centimeters. If there is
a rainfall measuring 2 centimeter of rain, the rain falling into the container will fill the container to a
√
height of m + 3 n cm, where m and n are positive integers. Find m + n.

Answer: 372
The volume of rain that falls into the container is the volume of a cylinder with base radius 8 centimeters
1
and height 2 centimeters which is 2π82 = 128π cm3 . The volume of the lower cone is 3 · 6π22 = 8π cm3 .
Note that the radius of the frustum increases from 2 cm to 8 cm over a height of 6 cm, so the radius and

12
height grow at the same rate. Extend the frustum to make it a complete cone as shown below. This
extends the height of the frustum by 2 centimeters. The volume of this extended piece of the frustum is
1
3 · 2π22 = 83 π cm3 , so the difference in volume of the original container and the container replaced by the
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extended frustum is 3 π cm3 . This means that 128π cm3 of rain would fill the original container to the
same level that 122 23 π cm3 of rain would fill the extended frustum. If the extended frustum fills to height
h, then the volume of the rain filling the frustum is 13 πh3 = 122 23 π cm3 , so h3 = 368 cm3 . Since the
√
original container is 4 centimeters taller than the extended frustum, the required height is 4 + 3 368 cm.
The requested sum is 4 + 368 = 372.

Problem 28
Let A = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and B = {0, 1, 2}. Find the number of pairs of functions {f, g} where both f and g
map the set A into the set B and there are exactly two elements x ∈ A where f (x) = g(x). For example,
the function f that maps 1 → 0, 2 → 1, 3 → 0, 4 → 2, 5 → 1 and the constant function g which maps each
element of A to 0 form such a pair of functions.

Answer: 9720
One can choose a function f that maps the set A into the set B by assigning one of the three elements of
B to each of the five elements of A. Thus, there are 35 = 243 functions f that map the set A into the set
B. For each such f one can choose a function g to pair with f by selecting two elements of A where the
two functions match, and then selecting values for g at the three elements of A where f and g do not
match. There are 52 = 10 ways to select the two elements of A where f and g match, and for each of the

three other elements of A there are 2 ways to define g so that it does not agree with f . Hence, the number
of pairs of functions is 243 · 10 · 23 = 19440. Because this method counts each pair of functions twice, the
19440
answer is 2 = 9720.

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Problem 29
Ten balls are stacked in a pyramid. The bottom level of the stack has six balls each with radius 6 arranged
in a triangular formation with adjacent balls tangent to each other. The middle level of the stack has three
balls each with radius 5 arranged in a triangular formation each tangent to three balls in the bottom level.
The top level of the stack has one ball with radius 6 tangent to the three balls in the middle level. The
diagram shows the stack of ten balls with the balls in the middle shaded. The height of this stack of balls
√
is m + n, where m and n are positive integers. Find m + n.

Answer: 304
In a three dimensional coordinate system with the bottom layer of balls sitting on the z = 0 plane, the
√ √
centers of the bottom layer of balls could be located at (0, 0, 6), (12, 0, 6), (24, 0, 6), (6, 6 3, 6), (18, 6 3, 6),
√
and (12, 12 3, 6). Each ball in the middle layer is tangent to three mutually tangent balls in the first layer,
and the center of that middle layer ball is directly above the centroid of the triangle formed by the centers
of the three neighboring balls in the bottom layer. Thus, one ball in the second layer has a center at
√
(6, 6 3 3 , 6 + h), where h is chosen so that the distance from the center of the middle layer ball is 6 + 5 = 11
 √ 2
from the center of each ball tangent to it on the bottom layer. Hence, 62 + 6 3 3 + h2 = (6 + 5)2 yielding
p √ √ √
h = (6 + 5)2 − 48 = 73. The balls in the middle layer have centers at (6, 2 3, 6 + 73),
√ √ √ √
(18, 2 3, 6 + 73), and (12, 8 3, 6 + 73). The ball on the top layer is tangent to the three balls in the
middle layer, so its center is directly above the centroid of the triangle formed by the centers of the three
√ √
balls in the middle layer. Its center is located at (12, 4 3, 6 + 2 73). It follows that the height of the
√ √
entire pyramid is 12 + 2 73 = 12 + 292. The requested sum is 12 + 292 = 304. Note that the ball on the
top layer is a distance greater than 12 from the nearest ball on the bottom layer confirming that the ball
on the top layer sits on the balls in the middle layer without touching the balls in the bottom layer.

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Problem 30
Cindy and Neil wanted to paint the side of a staircase in the six-square pattern shown below so that each
of the six squares is painted a solid color, and no two squares that share an edge are the same color. Cindy
draws all n patterns that can be colored using the four colors red, white, blue, and green. Neil looked at
these patterns and claimed that k of the patterns Cindy drew were incorrect because two adjacent squares
were colored with the same color. This is because Neil is color-blind and cannot distinguish red from
green. Find n + k.

Answer: 1166
To select a coloring pattern, refer to the squares labeled as in the diagram below. There are 4 ways to
select a color for square A. If squares B and C get the same color, there are 3 ways to choose a color for
them. Then there are 3 ways to select a color for square D, 3 for square E, and 3 for square F for a total
of 4 · 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 = 324 ways. If squares B and C get different colors, there are 3 ways to choose a color for
square B and 2 ways to choose a color for square C. Then there are 2 ways to select a color for square D,
3 for square E, and 3 for square F for a total of 4 · 3 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3 = 432 ways. Thus, Cindy drew
n = 324 + 432 = 756 patterns.

Neil, on the other hand, can only distinguish three colors, so it is as if he can only see red, white, and blue.
Counting as above, Neil can see 48 patterns where squares B and C have the same color and 24 patterns
where B and C have different colors for a total of 48 + 24 = 72 patterns. More precisely, Neil can see 2
patterns that do not use red, 16 patterns that color 1 square red, 38 patterns that color 2 squares red, 12
patterns that color 3 squares red, 4 patterns that color 4 squares red, and no patterns that color more than
4 squares red. One of Cindy’s patterns looks correct to Neil if it is one of Neil’s patterns where the red
squares are colored either red or green. Thus, the number of patterns that Cindy drew that Neil sees as
correct is 2 · 20 + 16 · 21 + 38 · 22 + 12 · 23 + 4 · 24 = 346. The number of patterns Neil sees as incorrect is
then k = 756 − 346 = 410. The requested sum is 756 + 410 = 1166.

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