Grade 10

1. If f(3x – 1) = 2x, what is f(2)?

Answer: 2
Solution:
We can equate 3x – 1 = 2 since f(3x-1) = f(2). We can get x = 1. Then substitute to 2x.
Therefore f(2) = 2.
Alternative Solution:
Let f(x) = Ax + B.
A(3x-1) + B = 2x.
3A = 2
A = 2/3
-2/3 + B = 0 or B = 2/3
f(x) = 2x/3 + 2/3
f(2) = 2(2)/3 + 2/3 = 2

1 2 22 23
2. Find the sum of + 52 + 53 + 54 + …
5
𝟏
Answer:
𝟑
Solution:
a
Applying the formula for infinite Geometric Progression, we have S= where S is the
1−r
sum, a is the first term and r is the common ratio.
1
5 1
S= 2 =3
1−
5

3. How many triangles are formed by 7 points, no three of which are collinear?
Answer: 35
Solution:
nCr where n is the number of points and r is the number of sides of the polygon required.
𝑛!
nCr = 𝑟!(𝑛−𝑟)! = 7C3 = 35.

1
4. If tan x = and x is in the 3rd quadrant, find sin x.
3
−√𝟏𝟎
Answer:
𝟏𝟎
Solution:
√10
Tangent is y/x and r = √𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = √32 + 12 = √10. But sine is y/r which is 1/√10 or .
10
We consider negative since it is on the 3rd quadrant (only tangent and cotangent are
positive).
5. Find the remainder when 𝑥 2016 is divided by 𝑥 2 − 𝑥.
Answer: x
Solution:
Let Ax + B be the remainder. Ax + B since the denominator has degree 2 and the
remainder should have one less degree than the denominator. The roots of 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 = 0
are 0 and 1. We will use the roots of the denominator to get A and B.
f(0) = A(0) + B = 02016 or B = 0
f(1) = A(1) + B = 12016 or A = 1
Therefore, the remainder is x.

Alternative Solution:

By Remainder theorem, we will let x2 = x. (𝑥 2 )1008 = (𝑥)1008 . You will need to do this
until the degree of the result is less than 2 and basically, you will end up with x as well.

6. The sides of a triangle are 5, 12 and 13 cm, respectively. What is the length of the shortest
altitude?
Answer: 60/13 cm.
Solution:
(5, 12, 13) is a Pythagorean triple which means a right triangle is formed. Let x be the
length of the altitude to the longest side (this is the shortest altitude). Just equate the
areas using the base and the height.
1/2 (5)(12) = 1/2 (13)(x)
60 = 13x
x = 60/13 cm.

7. What is the remainder when 𝑥 3 – 2x + 3 is divided by 2x – 1?

Answer: 17/8
Solution:
By Remainder Theorem, we let 2x – 1 = 0 or x = 1/2.
(1/2)^3 – 2(1/2) + 3 = 17/8

8. The 10th and the 12th term of an arithmetic sequence are 38 and 55 respectively. Find the 13th
term.
Answer: 63.5
Solution:
an − ak 55−38
d= = 12−10 = 8.5
𝑛−𝑘
a13 = a12 + d = 55 + 8.5 = 63.5

9. How many different three-digit numbers less than 400 can be formed with the digits 2, 3, 4, and 5
if repetition of digits is not allowed?
Answer: 12
Solution:
2*3*2 = 12 since the first digit can only be either 2 or 3, then since repetition is not
allowed we have 3 digits for the 2nd digit and 2 for the last digit.
10. Find the range of the function y = | 3x – 2 | + 2.
Answer: y ≥ 2 or [2, inf)
Solution:
Take note that the range of an absolute value function is greater than or equal to zero.
Therefore, the range of y = | x | + k is y ≥ k.

11. Find the solution set of the inequality 𝑥 2 > 3x – 2.

Answer: x > 2 or x < 1 or (-inf, 1) U (2, inf)
Solution:
𝑥 2 > 3x – 2
𝑥 2 - 3x + 2 > 0
(x – 2)(x – 1) > 0
Using interval test, x >2 or x < 1

12. Find the center of the circle defined by the equation: 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑦 2 + 6x – 4y – 1 = 0.

Answer: (-3/2, 1)
Solution:
−𝐷 −𝐸
The center of the circle defined by the equation 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐴𝑦 2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0 is ( , ).
2𝐴 2𝐴

13. Find the radius of the circle inscribed in a triangle whose sides are 5, 12 and 13 cm.
Answer: 2 cm.
Solution:
We can use the formula A = rs where A = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐) where s is the semi-
perimeter of the triangle. s = ½ (a + b + c). s = ½ (5 + 12 + 13) = 15. Computing for the
area we will get A = 30 sq.cm. A = rs, therefore 30 = r (15) or r = 2cm

Alternative Solution:

If a circle is inscribed in a right triangle [(5, 12, 13) is a Pythagorean triple], r can be
computed using the formula r = ½ (a + b – c) where a and b are the legs of the right
triangle and c is the hypotenuse. r = ½ (5 + 12 – 13) = 2. This is only applicable if a right
triangle is circumscribing the circle. If the triangle is not right, we can use A = rs.

14. For what values of k will the equation 𝑥 2 + kx + 9 = 0 have no real roots?
Answer: -6 < k < 6 or (-6, 6)
Solution:
A quadratic equation has no real roots if the value of the discriminant is less than 0. We
know that the formula for the discriminant is 𝑏 2 – 4ac.Therefore, 𝑘 2 – 4(1)(9) < 0. (k + 6)
(k – 6) < 0. Using interval test, the value of k lies between -6 and 6 or -6 < k < 6. Note
that if r and s are the roots of the quadratic equation 𝑥 2 + bx + c = 0 and s > r, it follows
that if 𝑥 2 + bx + c < 0, the values of x will be r < x < s.
15. What is the remainder when 20172016 is divided by 7?
Answer: 1
Solution:
Applying Chinese Remainder Theorem, we have 2017 mod 7 = 1 [modulo is the other
term for the remainder when a number is divided by another number. Example is 7 mod 5
= 2 since 7/5 = 1 remainder 2]. We will then have (2017mod7)2016 = (1)2016 mod 7 = 1.

16. Solve for x in the equation 4𝑥 – 5(2𝑥 ) + 4 = 0.

Answer: x = 0 or x = 2
Solution:
Let y = 2𝑥 , therefore 𝑦 2 = (2𝑥 )2 or 4𝑥 . Thus, the equation will be 𝑦 2 − 5𝑦 + 4 = 0.
(y – 4) (y – 1) = 0. y = 4 or y = 1. But y = 2𝑥 . 2𝑥 = 1 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 0. 2𝑥 = 4 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 2.

17. Find a polynomial equation with smallest degree and integer coefficients whose roots are √2 and
√5.
Answer: 𝒙𝟒 - 𝟕𝒙𝟐 + 10 = 0.
Solution:
We will let x = √2 and x = √5. For the equations to have integer coefficients, we will need
to square each of the equation. Thus, 𝑥 2 = 2 and 𝑥 2 = 5. We will both equate them to 0
and get their product to arrive with the desired polynomial equation. We then have
(𝑥 2 – 2)( 𝑥 2 – 5) = 0 or 𝑥 4 - 7𝑥 2 + 10 = 0.

18. Factor completely: 𝑦 4 + 4.

Answer: (𝒚𝟐 – 2y + 2) (𝒚𝟐 + 2y + 2).
Solution:
We need to make the equation a perfect square trinomial by adding a 4𝑦 2 . Then it will
become (𝑦 4 + 4 + 4𝑦 2 ) - 4𝑦 2 . This is also equivalent to ( 𝑦 2 + 2)2 – (2𝑦)2 . Applying the
sum and difference of two binomials [(a + b) (a – b) = 𝑎2 - 𝑏 2 ], our equation becomes
(𝑦 2 + 2 – 2y) (𝑦 2 + 2 + 2y) or (𝑦 2 – 2y + 2) (𝑦 2 + 2y + 2).

19. Find the equation of the line parallel to 4x + y = 3 and passing through the points (4, 3).
Answer: 4x + y = 19.
Solution
If a line is parallel to the line ax + by = c and passing thru the point (r, s), we just copy the
values of a and b then solve for the new value of C satisfying the given point. Thus, our
equation will become 4x + y = C and passing thru (4, 3). Substitute the point to the line
then solve for C. 4(4) + 3 = C or C = 19. Therefore, our desired equation is 4x + y = 19.

1 1 1
20. If a, b and c are the roots of 𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 + 3x + 5 = 0, what is the value of + + ?
a b c
Answer: -3/5
Solution:
Vieta’s Theorem states that if r1, r2 and r3 are the roots of the cubic equation
𝑎𝑥 3 + b𝑥 2 + cx + d = 0, we have the following relationships below:
 r1 + r2 + r3 = -b/a
(r1)(r2) + (r1)(r3) + (r2)(r3) = c/a
(r1)(r2)(r3) = -d/a
1 1 1 ab+bc+ac 3/1 3
+ + = = −5/1 = - 5
a b c abc

21. In a convex quadrilateral ABCD, <A is twice <B, <B is twice <C and <C is twice <D. Find the
measurement in degrees of <C.
Answer: 48°
Solution:
Let <D = x, <C = 2x, <B = 2(2x) = 4x, <A = 2(4x) = 8x
<A + <B + <C + <D = 360 (Quadrilateral Angle Sum)
8x + 4x + 2x + x = 360 or x = 24
<C = 2x = 2(24) = 48°

22. Find the exact value of cos 15°.

𝟏
Answer: (√𝟔 + √𝟐 )
𝟒
Solution:
cos (A – B) = cosAcosB + sinAsinB
cos (45 – 30) = cos45cos30 + sin45sin30
√2 √3 √2 1
= ( )( )+( )( )
2 2 2 2
1
= 4 (√6 + √2 )

23. One of two supplementary angles added to one-third the other yields to 96°. Find the measure of
the smaller angle.
Answer: 54°
Solution:
Let x be the angle and 180-x be the supplement
x + (180-x)/3 = 96
3x + 180 – x = 288
2x = 108
x = 54°

4
24. What is the value when 20173 is divided by 2017?
Answer: 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕𝟖𝟎
Solution:
We need to simplify first the exponent before dividing by 2017. 34 = 81. Using the
properties of exponents 𝑥 𝑎 /𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎−𝑏 . Therefore it will be 201781−1 .or 201780 .

25. Two similar triangles have perimeters 40 cm and 30 cm. If the area of the larger triangle is 256
square cm, find the area of the smaller triangle.
Answer: 144 square cm.
Solution:
P2 A2 40 256
(P1)2 = A1  (30)2 =  A1 = 144 square cm.
A1
26. The sum of two positive numbers is 2016. Let P(x) represent the product of the numbers in terms
of x. What is the domain of this function?
Answer: (0, 2016) or 0 < x < 2016
Solution:
Let x and 2016 – x our numbers. P(x) = x(2016-x). Since x is a positive number,
therefore, x should be greater than 0. But 2016 – x should be greater than zero as well
which will yield to 2016 – x > 0 or x < 2016. Thus, the domain is 0 < x < 2016 or
(0, 2016).

20163 −2(20162 )−2014

27. Simplify
20163 + 20162 − 2017
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒
Answer:
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕
Solution:
𝑥 3 −2𝑥 2 −(𝑥−2) (𝑥 2 −1)(𝑥−2)
Let x = 2016. Thus, the equation becomes = (𝑥 2 −1)(𝑥+1) =
𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 −(𝑥+1)
(𝑥−2) (2016−2) 2014
= (2016+1) = 2017
(𝑥+1)

28. Find the period of the function y = 3 sin 2x

Answer: pi
Solution:
If a function has an equation y = a sinbx or a cosbx, then the amplitude is equal to |a|
and the period is equal to 2pi / b. Thus, period = 2pi / 2 = pi.

29. How many square units are in the area defined by the set of points (x, y) in the first quadrant
which satisfies 10 ≤ x + y ≤ 14?
Answer: 48 square units
Solution:
We can subtract the areas of the 2 triangles to get the area. If a ≤ x + y ≤ b, the area
bounded by the equation in the first quadrant is equal to ½ * (𝑏 2 - 𝑎2 ) = ½ * (142 - 102 ) =
48 sq. units.

30. What fraction in the interval 7/10 < x < 8/11 has the smallest denominator?
Answer: 5/7
Solution:
We will apply here the concept of median fractions. If a/b < x < c/d, it shows that a/b <
(a+c)/(b+d) < c/d. Thus, 7/10 < (7+8)/(10+11) < 8/11. The middle fraction becomes 15/21
or 5/7.

31. How many rectangles are there in a rectangle with dimensions 5 x 8 units?
Answer: 540 rectangles
Solution:
A rectangle whose dimensions are a x b contains (a+1)C2 * (b+1)C2 rectangles. Thus, it
has (5+1)C2* (8+1)C2 = 6C2 * 9C2 or 15*36 = 540 rectangles
32. What is the largest value of x such that x 3 + 100 is divisible by x + 10?
Answer: 890
Solution:
By Remainder Theorem, we have remainder = (−10)3 + 100 = -900. Therefore, we
have the remainder as -900/(x+10). The largest value of x occurs when the numerical
value of the denominator is equal to the denominator which is 900. X + 10 = 900 or x =
890 (largest). The smallest value occurs when denominator is equal to -900. X + 10 =
-900 or x = -910 (smallest)

33. In how many ways can 5 people sit in a row if 2 people refuse to sit beside each other?
Answer: 72
Solution:
Without any restrictions, the total number of ways that the 5 people can sit in a row is 5!
or 120 ways. We now get the number of ways that two of them are always together. Let
A, B, C, D and E our samples. If A and B wants to sit together as always, we now only
have 4 groups. Therefore we have 4!*2! = 48 ways (The 2! Is for the number of ways A
and B can re-arrange themselves). Using the complement rule, the number of ways A
and B refuse to sit beside each other is 120 – 48 = 72 ways.

34. Find the equation of the perpendicular bisector of the line segment joining the points (0, 0) and
(6, 8).
Answer: 3x + 4y = 25
Solution:
If we are asked to find the equation of the perpendicular bisector, we need two things:
perpendicular slope and the midpoint. Slope = (8 – 0)/ (6 – 0) = 4/3. Perpendicular slope
= -3/4. Midpoint = ((0+6)/2 , (0+8)/2) = (3, 4). y – y1 = m ( x – x1)  y – 4 = -3/4 (x – 3)
4y – 16 = -3x + 9  3x + 4y = 25.

35. The sides of a quadrilateral are 4cm, 5cm, 6cm and 7cm. Find the perimeter of a similar
quadrilateral if the side corresponding to 6cm is 9cm.
Answer: 33cm
Solution:
P = 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 22. Applying the similarity ratio, we have 6/9 = 22/x or x = 33.

36. A rubber ball is made to fall from a height of 50 feet and is observed to rebound 2/3 of the height
from which it falls. How far will the ball travel before coming to rest if the ball continues to fall in
this manner?
Answer: 250 feet
Solution:
This is not just an ordinary infinite geometric progression. We can use two formulas for
this problem: S = 2(Sum of infinite) – a1 or S = a1(1+r) / (1-r). Any of the two will produce
same results. S = 50(1+ 2/3) / (1 – 2/3) = 250 feet.
37. What is the probability of selecting a number that is divisible by 2 or 3 if an integer is selected
between 1 and 100 inclusive?
Answer: 67/100
Solution:
We need to get how many are divisible by 2, 3 or 6(LCM of 2 and 3). Total integers
divisible by 2 or 3 is equal to P(2) + P(3) – P(6). P(2) = 100/2 = 50. P(3) = floor(100/3) =
33 and P(6) = floor (100/6) = 16. Thus, we have 50 + 33 – 16 = 67 integers divisible by 2
or 3. Thus, probability is 67/100. Floor function means the greatest integer less than or
equal to the given number.

38. How many trailing zeros are there in 2017!?

Answer: 502
Solution:
To get the number of trailing zeroes of the factorial of a number, we divide the number by
the powers of 5 starting from 5 then get the floor value of the quotient. We then have the
number of trailing zeros equal to floor [2017/5] + floor [2017/25] + floor[2017/125] + floor
[2017/625] = 403 + 80 + 16 + 3 = 502 zeros. We stopped at 625 since the next power of
5 which is 3125 is already larger than our number which is 2017.

39. What is the smallest positive integer x that satisfies x 20 > 630 ?
Answer: 15
Solution:
We first need to find the GCF of the exponents which is 10. Then we raise each side of
the inequality to 1/GCF. We have (x 20 ) 1/10 > (630 ) 1/10. Thus, x 2 > 63 or x 2 > 216
therefore we have x = 15 as the smallest positive integer that will satisfy the inequality.

40. In a 13 cm by 14 cm by 15 cm triangle, find the length of the altitude to the base of 14 cm.
Answer: 12 cm
Solution:
We compute the Area of the triangle using Heron’s formula. A = √𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐)
where s = ½ (a + b + c) = ½ (13 + 14 + 15) = 21. A = √21(21 − 13)(21 − 14)(21 − 15) =
84. Using 14 as our base, we can compute the height using A = ½ bh  84 = ½ (14)(h)
or h = 12 cm.

41. Find f(x) if f(x – 1) = x 2 + 2x + 3.

Answer: f(x) = 𝐱 𝟐 + 4x + 6
Solution:
Using classical method, let f(x) = Ax 2 + Bx + C. We substitute x – 1 to x in the equation
and equate it to x 2 + 2x + 3. We have A (x − 1)2 + B(x – 1) + C = x 2 + 2x + 3. We solve
for the values of A, B and C and we will get A = 1, B = 4 and C = 6. Thus, f(x) = x 2 + 4x +
6.

Alternative Solution:

The above method will take time to solve but we have a shortcut solution for this problem.
We will switch the value of x – 1 to x + 1 then substitute to the given to get our required
function. We have (x + 1)2 + 2(x + 1) + 3 = x 2 + 4x + 6 which is our required function. If
 we are given a problem in this form and f(x – a) is given, we just substitute the conjugate
which is x + a to the given equation to arrive at the desired answer.

42. A circle passes through the points (0, 0), (0, 6) and (8, 0). What is the center of the circle?
Answer: (4, 3)
Solution:
By observation, if we plot the points and draw a circle passing through the points, we will
notice that the triangle formed is a right triangle. If the triangle inscribed in a circle is a
right triangle, the hypotenuse is equal to the diameter of the circle. Thus, we need to get
the midpoint of (0, 6) and (8, 0) to get the coordinates of the center of the circle.
Center = ((0+8)/2, (6+0)/2) = (4, 3).

43. What is the maximum value of f(x) = (4 – x) (x + 8)?

Answer: 36
Solution:
We can solve this by getting the quadratic form of the equation then solve for the vertex
of the parabola to determine the maximum value. But if the equation is in the form such
that the roots can be easily determined, the value of x that will give its maximum value is
the average of the roots of the quadratic equation. Thus, roots are 4 and -8.
Average is (4 + (-8)) / 2 = -2. Then substitute the average. (4-(-2))((-2) + 8) = 6(6) = 36.

44. A bag contains 4 white and 5 black balls. If two balls are drawn in succession without
replacement, what is the probability that both balls are white?
Answer: 1/6
Solution:
Probability of White is 4/9. If we get a white on the first draw, we have 8 remaining balls
and we have 3 white balls left thus probability of white on the 2 nd draw is 3/8. Therefore,
probability that both are white is (4/9) (3/8) = 12/72 or 1/6.

Alternative Solution:

We can use combination. The sample space is 9C2 or 36 [we have 9 balls and we will
select 2 balls from it]. Since we are getting 2 white balls from the 4 white balls, we have
4C2 or 6 ways. Thus, our desired probability is 4C2 / 9C2 = 6/36 or 1/6.

45. Two secants AB and CD intersect outside a circle at point P with B and D nearer to point P. If <P
is 30 degrees, what is the measurement of arc AC if arc BD measures 40 degrees?
Answer: 100 degrees
Solution:
arcAC−arcBD
Using the Intersecting Secant Angles Theorem, we have <P =
2
. Thus,
𝑎𝑟𝑐𝐴𝐶−40
30 = , solving for arc AC, we will get 100 degrees.
2

46. Solve the equation 2x 3 + x 2 – 8x – 4 = 0.

Answer: x = -1/2, -2, 2
Solution:
By grouping we have (2x 3 + x 2 ) – (4x + 2) = 0. x 2 (2x + 1) – 4(2x + 1) = 0. Factoring out
the common term (2x + 1), we have (2x+1) (x 2 – 4) = 0. Then solving for x we have
-1/2, -2 and 2.
47. 12 men can finish a job in 16 days. 5 men were working at the start and after 8 days, 3 men were
added. How many days will it take to finish the job?
Answer: 27 days
Solution:
Using man-hour analysis, the total man-hour is equal to the sum of individual man-hour.
Therefore, we have (12)(16) = 5(8) + (5+3) (x) where x is the remaining number of days
the job will be finished. Solving for x we have 19 days. But 8 days were already used by
the first 5 men, thus we have 19 + 8 or 27 days to finish the job

48. A polyhedron has 12 faces and 16 vertices. How many edges does it have?
Answer: 26
Solution:
Using Euler’s Formula F + V = E + 2 where F is the number of faces, V is the number of
vertices and E is the number of edges, we have 12 + 16 = E + 2 or E = 26.

49. What is the domain of x 2 + y 2 = 25?

Answer: [-5, 5] or -5 ≤ x ≤ 5
Solution:
Express y in terms of x, we have y = +/-√25 − x 2 . If we have a radical equation, the
domain of √𝑥 is x ≥ 0, thus 25 − x 2 ≥ 0 or x 2 − 25 ≤ 0 or -5 ≤ x ≤ 5.

50. If 15 men can build a wall 108 meters long in 6 days, what length of similar wall can be built by
25 men in 3 days?
Answer: 90 meters
Solution:
We know that the number of men (m) is inversely proportional to the number of days
(d). Also, the number of men is directly proportional to the length (l). We have k = md/l
or k = (15)(6)/108 = 5/6. Thus, 5/6 = (25)(3)/L or L = 90 meters