2020 AMC

2020 AMC Intermediate Questions1

Intermediate Questions

Intermediate Questions Division

Questions – Intermediate

1. 2 − (0 − (2 − 0)) =
(A) −4 (B) −2 (C) 0 (D) 2 (E) 4

2. 1000% of 2 is equal to
(A) 0.002 (B) 20 (C) 200 (D) 1002 (E) 2000

3. In the diagram provided, find the sum of x and y.

(A) 30 (B) 75 (C) 95 y◦

(D) 105 (E) 180

|
x◦
105◦

1+2+3+4+5 1+2
4. − =
1+2+3+4 1+2+3
5 7
(A) 3 (B) (C) 1 (D) (E) 2
6 6

5. Sebastien is thinking of two numbers whose sum is 26 and whose difference is 14. The
product of Sebastien’s two numbers is
(A) 80 (B) 96 (C) 105 (D) 120 (E) 132

6. Which of the shapes in the diagram have equal

area? P R
(A) All of the shapes have equal area.
(B) Only Q and S have equal area.
(C) Only R and T have equal area. S
(D) Only P, R and T have equal area. Q
(E) P, R and T have equal area, and Q and
S have equal area. T

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 2020 AMC
Intermediate Questions
2020 AMC Intermediate Questions2

7. 123456 − 12345 + 1234 − 123 + 12 − 1 =

(A) 33333 (B) 101010 (C) 111111 (D) 122223 (E) 112233

4 5  7
8. If of of of is equal to 1, then the value of  is
5 6 7 8
(A) 6 (B) 8 (C) 10 (D) 12 (E) 14

9. A piece of paper is folded twice as shown and cut along the dotted lines.



Once unfolded, which letter does the piece of paper most resemble?
(A) M (B) O (C) N (D) B (E) V

10. An equilateral triangle is subdivided into a number of

smaller equilateral triangles, as shown. The shaded tri-
angle has side length 2. What is the perimeter of the large
triangle?
(A) 24 (B) 27 (C) 30
(D) 33 (E) 36

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Intermediate Questions
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11. Triangle XY S is enclosed by rectangle P QRS Q

P 6 cm X 10 cm
as shown in the diagram.
In square centimetres, what is the area of tri-
angle XY S?
8 cm
(A) 82 (B) 88 (C) 94
(D) 112 (E) 130
Y
6 cm

S R

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
12. Let X = 1 − + − + − and Y = 1 − + − . Then X − Y is equal to
3 5 7 9 11 3 5 7
2 1 1 1 2
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
99 11 10 2 9

13. The number 25 can be written as the sum of three different primes less than 20. For
instance, 25 = 5 + 7 + 13.
How many multiples of 10 can be written as the sum of three different primes less than
20?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5

14. In this circle with centre O, four triangles are drawn,

with angles as shown.
What is the value of x?
(A) 10 (B) 15 (C) 18 2x◦ x◦
O
(D) 24 (E) 36

3x◦
4x◦

15. There are 10 children in a classroom. The ratio of boys to girls increases when another
girl and another boy enter the room. What is the greatest number of boys that could have
been in the room at the beginning?
(A) 1 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 (E) 9

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16. Two triangles, A and B, have the same area. Triangle A is isosceles and triangle B is
right-angled.

5 cm 5 cm
A B

6 cm 6 cm

The difference between the perimeters of triangle A and triangle B is

(A) nothing (B) between 0 cm and 1 cm (C) between 1 cm and 2 cm
(D) between 2 cm and 3 cm (E) more than 3 cm

17. A list of numbers has first term 2 and second term 5. The third term, and each term after
this, is found by multiplying the two preceding terms together:

2, 5, 10, 50, 500, . . .

The value of the eighth term is

(A) 25 × 58 (B) 28 × 59 (C) 28 × 513 (D) 29 × 515 (E) 213 × 521

18. Two sides of a regular hexagon are extended to create

a small triangle.
Inside this triangle, a smaller regular hexagon is drawn,
as shown.
In area, how many times bigger is the larger hexagon
than the smaller hexagon?
(A) 4 (B) 6 (C) 8
(D) 9 (E) 12

1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8 × 9 × 10
19. The number is a perfect square.
n
What is the smallest possible value of n?
(A) 7 (B) 14 (C) 21 (D) 35 (E) 70

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20. In the triangle ABC shown, D is the mid- A

point of AC, E is the midpoint of BD and
F is the midpoint of AE.
If the area of triangle BEF is 5, what is F D
the area of triangle ABC?
(A) 30 (B) 35 (C) 40
E C
(D) 45 (E) 50

21. A scientist measured the amount of bacteria in a Petri dish over several weeks and also
recorded the temperature and humidity for the same time period. The results are sum-
marised in the following graphs.

A B C D E
Bacteria

Humidity
Temperature

Week Humidity Temperature

During which week was the bacteria population highest?

(A) week A (B) week B (C) week C (D) week D (E) week E

22. Five friends read a total of 40 books between them over the holidays. Everyone read at
least one book but no-one read the same book as anyone else.
Asilata read twice as many books as Eammon. Dane read twice as many as Bettina.
Collette read as many as Dane and Eammon put together.
Who read exactly eight books?
(A) Asilata (B) Bettina (C) Colette (D) Dane (E) Eammon

23. There are 5 sticks of length 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm and 8 cm. Three sticks are chosen
randomly. What is the probability that a triangle can be formed with the chosen sticks?
(A) 0.25 (B) 0.3 (C) 0.4 (D) 0.5 (E) 0.6

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24. Five squares of unit area are circumscribed by a circle as

shown.
What is the radius of the circle?
√ √
3 2 5 10
(A) (B) (C)
2 3 2
√ √
13 185
(D) (E)
2 8

25. Alex writes down the value of the following sum, where the final term is the number
consisting of 2020 consecutive nines:

9 + 99 + 999 + 9999 + · · · + 99 

. . . 9 + 99 
. . . 9
2019 nines 2020 nines

How many times does the digit 1 appear in the answer?

(A) 0 (B) 2016 (C) 2018 (D) 2020 (E) 2021

26. If n is a positive integer, n! is found by multiplying the integers from 1 to n. For example,
4! = 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24.
What are the three rightmost digits of the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + · · · + 2020! ?

27. A square of side length 10 cm is sitting on a line. Point P is the corner of the square which
starts at the bottom left, as shown. Without slipping, the square is rolled along the line
in a clockwise direction until P returns to the line for the first time. To the nearest square
centimetre, what is the area under the curve traced by P ?

P
•

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28. Eight identical right-angled triangles with side

lengths 30 cm, 40 cm and 50 cm are arranged as
shown.
The inner four triangles are made to overlap each
other, but the outer four triangles do not overlap
any of the others.
What is the area, in square centimetres, of the
unshaded centre square?

29. My grandson makes wall hangings by stitching to-

gether 16 square patches of fabric into a 4 × 4 grid. I
asked him to use patches of red, blue, green and yel-
low, but to ensure that no patch touches another of G B R Y
the same colour, not even diagonally.
The picture shows an attempt which fails only because R Y G B
two yellow patches touch diagonally.
G B Y R
In how many different ways can my grandson choose
to arrange the coloured patches correctly? Y R G B

30. A clockmaker makes a 12-hour clock but with the hour and minute
hands identical. An ambiguous time on this clock is one where
you cannot tell what time it is, since the exact position of the 11 12 1
10 2
two hands occurs twice in a 12-hour cycle.
9 3
For instance, the clock shown can be seen at approximately 7.23 pm
8 4
and 4.37 pm so both of these times are ambiguous. However,
7 6 5
12.00 pm is not ambiguous, since both hands are together.
How many ambiguous times happen in the 12 hours from midday
to midnight?

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2020 AMC Intermediate Solutions8
Intermediate Solutions

Intermediate Solutions Division

Solutions – Intermediate

1. (Also J6)
2 − (0 − (2 − 0)) = 2 − (0 − 2) = 2 − (−2) = 2 + 2 = 4,
hence (E).

1000
2. 1000% of 2 = × 2 = 10 × 2 = 20,
100
hence (B).

3. (Also S2)
The supplementary angle to 105◦ is x = 75. Since the triangle is isosceles, the other base
angle is 75◦ and the apex angle is y = 180 − 2 × 75 = 30. Then x + y = 75 + 30 = 105,
hence (D).

4. (Also J9)
1+2+3+4+5 1+2 15 3 3 1
− = − = − = 1,
1+2+3+4 1+2+3 10 6 2 2
hence (C).

5. (Also J10, S4)

Alternative 1
The average of the two numbers is 26 ÷ 2 = 13, so that they are equal distances above and
below 13. Since they differ by 14, the distance above and below 13 is 14 ÷ 2 = 7. That is,
the two numbers are 13 − 7 = 6 and 13 + 7 = 20, and their product is 6 × 20 = 120,
hence (D).
Alternative 2
Let the smaller number be x, so that the larger is 14 + x. Then x + (14 + x) = 26, giving
2x = 26 − 14 = 12, and so x = 6. Therefore, the numbers are 6 and 20, with product
6 × 20 = 120,
hence (D).

6. In grid squares, Q has area 1 and R has area 2.

Shape S can be cut into two triangles that rearrange to cover Q, so S has area 1.
Shape P has twice the area of S, so P has area 2.
Finally, T can be cut into two right-angled triangles that rearrange to cover R, so that T
has area 2.
Then in grid squares, P = R = T = 2 and Q = S = 1,
hence (E).

7. (Also J12)
(123456 − 12345) + (1234 − 123) + (12 − 1) = 111111 + 1111 + 11 = 112233,
hence (E).

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Intermediate Solutions

8. (Also S5)
Let x be the value of . Then
4 5 x 7 4×5×x×7
1= × × × =
5 6 7 8 5×6×7×8
4×x x
= =
6×8 12

so that x = 12,
hence (D).

9. (Also J14)
Unfolding the cut page proceeds as shown:

This most closely resembles the letter ‘M’,

hence (A).

10. (Also J15, S8)

There are two triangles congruent to the shaded triangle, labelled ‘2’ below. The smallest
triangles to the right of these are all congruent, so have side 1. The side lengths of
the remaining four triangles can now be deduced—the numbers below indicate these side
lengths.

2 2 1
2 11

5 3
4

The original equilateral triangle has side length 9 and perimeter 27,
hence (B).

11. (Also J16)

The area of rectangle P QRS is 16 × 14 = 224. Within this, unshaded triangles SP X,
QXY and RSY have areas 12 × 6 × 14 = 42, 12 × 10 × 8 = 40 and 12 × 6 × 16 = 48,
respectively, a total of 42 + 40 + 48 = 130.
Consequently, XY S has area 224 − 130 = 94 square centimetres,
hence (C).

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Intermediate Solutions

12.
1 1 11 − 9 2
X −Y = − = =
9 11 99 99
hence (A).

13. Primes less than 20 are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17 and 19. Then 10 = 2 + 3 + 5, 20 = 2 + 5 + 13
and 30 = 2 + 11 + 17. In general, if three primes add to a multiple of 10, they can’t all be
odd, so one of the primes is 2 and the other two are odd. However, the greatest two odd
primes available are 17 and 19, where 2 + 17 + 19 = 38. Consequently the only possible
totals are 10, 20 and 30,
hence (C).

14. Each triangle is isosceles, so each angle can be deduced. In particular, the quadrilateral
has angles 3x, 4x, 7x, 6x, a total of 20x. Also, the angles on a quadrilateral add to 360◦ .
Hence 20x = 360 and x = 18,
hence (C).

15. Alternative 1
Suppose there are b boys and 10 − b girls initially. After, there are b + 1 boys and 11 − b
girls. Then
b+1 b
>
11 − b 10 − b
(b + 1)(10 − b) > b(11 − b) (since 11 − b > 10 − b > 0)
−b2 + 9b + 10 > −b2 + 11b
10 > 2b
5>b
So at most b = 4 boys were in the room at the beginning,
hence (B).
Alternative 2
If there were equal numbers of boys and girls, then the ratio would not change.
So consider whether the initial boy:girl ratio is (i) r > 1, or (ii) r < 1.
In case (i), for every girl there are r > 1 boys. To keep the ratio the same, for every girl
who enters, r boys must enter. However only 1 boy enters, so the ratio decreases.
Conversely, in case (ii) the ratio of boys:girls increases, by similar reasoning.
Since the ratio increases, only (ii) is possible, so there are more girls than boys. That is,
there were initially at least 6 girls and at most 4 boys,
hence (B).

16. Triangle A has perimeter 16 cm. Bisecting the base of triangle A gives two right-angled
triangles. By Pythagoras’ theorem, the height of these triangles is 4 cm.
Since triangle B has the√ same area√and the same base, it has the same height. Then
the hypotenuse is h = 42 + 62 = 52 where 7 < h < 8. The perimeter of B is then
p = 10 + h, so that 17 < p < 18. Consequently p is between 1 cm and 2 cm more than the
perimeter of A,
hence (C).

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2020 AMC Intermediate Solutions11
Intermediate Solutions

17. Write the terms in the sequence in the form 2a 5b , then the multiplication is just adding of
exponents:
21 50 , 20 51 , 21 51 , 21 52 , 22 53 , 23 55 , 25 58 , 28 513
Then the 8th term is 28 513 ,
hence (C).
Note: The exponents here are Fibonacci numbers, since at each step we are adding the
two previous exponents of 2 and also adding the two previous exponents of 5.

18. Alternative 1
The smaller hexagon is adjacent to three equilateral triangles. Consequently the side of
the larger hexagon is three times the side of the smaller hexagon. Then the ratio of areas
is 9 : 1,
hence (D).
Alternative 2
6 2
The smaller hexagon is = of the area of the equilateral triangle in which it is inscribed,
9 3
1
and this triangle is of the area of the larger hexagon. Hence the smaller hexagon is
6
2 1 1
× = of the area of the larger hexagon,
3 6 9
hence (D).

1 × 2 × 3 × 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 × 8 × 9 × 10 28 34 52 7
19. Write k 2 = = . Then k 2 n = (24 32 5)2 7, so that
n n
n = 7, k = 24 32 5 is a solution. In any other solution the prime factor 7 of k 2 n will still be
in n, so n can’t be any smaller than 7,
hence (A).

20. Triangles EF B and F AB have equal bases EF and F A, and equal perpendicular
heights, so they have equal area 5. Hence AEB has area 10.
Similarly, AED has area 10 so that ADB has area 20.
Similarly, CDB has area 20 so that ABC has area 40,
hence (C).

21. From the second graph we see that the highest bacteria population occurred when the
humidity was at its second highest value during the experiment. From the third graph
we see that the second highest humidity occurred when the temperature was at its fourth
lowest value. From the first graph we see that the fourth lowest temperature overall
occurred in week E,
hence (E).

22. Let a, b, c, d, e be the number of books read by Asilata, Bettina, Colette, Dane and Eammon
respectively. Then a = 2e, d = 2b, c = d + e and a + b + c + d + e = 40. Solving,
40 = 2e + b + (2b + e) + 2b + e = 4e + 5b
5
e = 10 − b
4
Thus b is a multiple of 4. Also e > 0 so b < 8.
Consequently, b = 4, e = 5, a = 10, d = 8 and c = 13,
hence (D).

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Intermediate Solutions

23. Label each stick by its length in centimetres. Sticks 2, 4 and 5 can form a triangle, since 5,
the longest stick, is less than 2 + 4. On the other hand, 2, 5 and 8 cannot, since 2 + 5  8.
Here are inequalities (triangle inequalities) for all 10 possible choices of 3 sticks:

2+3>4  2+35 2+38 2+4>5  2+48

2+58 3+4>5  3+48 3+58 4+5>8 
4
From this, there is a probability of = 0.4 that a triangle can be formed,
10
hence (C).

24. Alternative 1
In the upper semicircle, label lengths as shown and then equate the two radii using Pythago-
ras’ theorem.

r 2 = x 2 + 12
 2
1
r2 = (3 − x)2 +
2
2 37
= x − 6x +
r 4
37
1 r x2 + 1 = 2
x − 6x +
1 4
2 33
6x =
4
x 3−x 11
x=
8

 √
√ 185 185
Then r = x2 +1= = ,
64 8
hence (E).
Alternative 2
y
Place the diagram on the coordinate plane as shown.
Here P is the centre of the circle and M is the mid- A(0, 1)
point of chord AB, and so M P is the perpendicular M ( 32 , 34 )
bisector of AB. B(3, 12 )
1
The line AB has slope − so P M has slope 6.
6 P x
3 1 3 1
Then P M has rise so it has run × = .
 4    6 4 8
3 1 11
That is, P = − ,0 = ,0 .
2 8 8
  √
11 2 2 185
Thus P A = +1 = ,
8 8
hence (E).

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Intermediate Solutions

25. (Also S24)

Since 999 . . . 9 is always one less than a power of 10, we can write

9 + 99 + 999 + · · · + 99 . . . 9 = (10 − 1) + (100 − 1) + · · · + (102020 − 1)

 
2020 nines
= 11 . . . 10 − 2020
 
2020 ones
= 11 . . . 111110 − 2020
 
2016 ones
= 11 . . . 109090
 
2016 ones

So the digit 1 appears 2016 times in the answer,

hence (B).

26. For large enough n, 1000 is a divisor of n!, so the three rightmost digits of n! are 000 and
n! does not contribute to the last 3 digits of the sum. In particular, if n  15, then n! has
4 × 5 × 10 × 15 = 3000 as a divisor.
The final 3 digits of each of 1!, 2!, 3!, . . . , 14! are

001, 002, 006, 024, 120, 720, 040, 320, 880, 800, 800, 600, 800, 200

which add to 5313. Consequently the last 3 digits of 1! + 2! + · · · + 2020! are 313,
hence (313).

27. As the square rolls, it pivots on each of the other three corners in turn so that P traces
three arcs of various radii, as shown.

P P 
• •

P P 
• •
A B C

The shaded region under the curve consists of two quarter-circles

√ AP P  and CP  P  with
 
radius 10 cm, one quarter-circle BP P with radius 10 2 cm, and two right-angled triangles
ABP  and BCP  with base and height 10 cm. Therefore the exact shaded area in cm2 is

1 1 √ 1
2× × π × 102 + × π × (10 2)2 + 2 × × 102 = 100π + 100
4 4 2
Using the approximation π ≈ 3.14, the area is approximately 314 + 100 = 414 cm2 ,
hence (414).

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Intermediate Solutions

28. Alternative 1
Consider the diagram on the left which shows all edges of the eight triangles. Let a, b and
c be the side lengths of the small right-angled triangles formed by these edges, and let x
be the side length of the centre square.

•
c c
b 30
•
a
40 50
x

In the top-left triangle, the hypotenuse of length 50 is made up of three line segments of
lengths 40 − c, c and 30 − c, as shown on the right. Hence
(40 − c) + c + (30 − c) = 50
which has solution c = 20. The a-b-c triangles are similar to the 30-40-50 triangles, since
they share common acute angles. Hence
30
a= c = 12
50
40
b= c = 16
50
Finally,
x = 50 − a − b = 50 − 12 − 16 = 22
so the square has area 222 = 484 cm2 ,
hence (484).
Alternative 2
From the sides of the eight triangles, the outer
square has side 70 cm and the first inscribed 20
square has side 50 cm, and area 2500 cm2 . We
can deduce further lengths as shown. 40
Each 30-40-50 triangle has area 600 cm2 . If the 20
area of each of the smaller triangles formed by the 600 X
overlap of two triangles is X (as indicated) then 50 10
the area of the inner square is 2500−4(600−X) =
100 + 4X. 30
Due to shared angles, the two darker triangles
shown are similar, with lengths in the ratio 5 : 2.
Consequently the ratio of areas is 25 : 4, and so 50
4
X= × 600 = 96 cm2 .
25
Then the inner square has area 100 + 4X =
484 cm2 ,
hence (484).

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Intermediate Solutions

29. (Also J30)

We will use symbols GBRY for the four colours.
In the top-left 2 × 2 square, all 4 colours must be used. The G can be in 4 places, then
the B can be in 3 places, the R in 2 places, and the Y in the last place. So there are 24
ways to fill in the top-left 2 × 2 square.
Consider one of these 24 ways, as shown in diagram (i). Then the remainder of rows 1 and
2 can be filled in 4 different ways, shown in (ii)–(v).

(i) G B (ii) G B G B (iii) G B G Y (iv) G B R B (v) G B R Y

R Y R Y R Y R Y R B R Y G Y R Y G B

In case (ii), the third row is either GBGB or BGBG and in either case the fourth row can
be either RYRY or YRYR. So case (ii) leads to 4 possible complete grids.
In case (iii), the third row can be filled in only one way: G in the third column, then the
remainder follow, GBGY. Similarly the fourth row can only be filled in RYRB. So case
(iii) only leads to 1 possible complete grid.
Similarly, each of case (iv) and case (v) has a unique solution.
So with (i) as the starting point, there are 7 possible ways to complete the grid. The same
will be true with each of the 24 ways of starting, so there are 24 × 7 = 168 ways of filling
the grid,
hence (168).

30. Alternative 1
Measure the time in hours and minutes since midday. As noted, neither 0 hours nor 12
hours is ambiguous. For an ambiguous time of a hours and b minutes, a is a whole number
with 0  a  11 and b is a real number with 0  b < 60. Let the time with the hands the
other way be c hours and d minutes, where 0  c  11 and 0  d < 60.
Now consider the angles clockwise from the top. The first time’s hour hand is at angle
1 1
30a + b and the second time’s minute hand is at angle 6d. So 30a + b = 6d, which
2 2
implies that 60a + b = 12d. Similarly 60c + d = 12b.
Consider fixed values of a and c, each from 0 to 11. We solve to find the values of b and d.
b = 12d − 60a and d = 12b − 60c
=⇒ b = 12(12b − 60c) − 60a and d = 12(12d − 60a) − 60c
=⇒ 143b = 720c + 60a and 143d = 720a + 60c
720c + 60a 720a + 60c
=⇒ b= and d=
143 143
780 60
When a = c, this solution becomes b = d = a= a and the two times are equal,
143 11
which is not ambiguous.
Otherwise a = c, so of the hour numbers a and c, at least one is greater than 0 and at
least one is less than 11. Thus 720a + 60c > 0 and 720a + 60c < 720 × 11 + 60 × 11 =
780×11 = 60×143. Hence d > 0 and d < 60, and d is a valid number of minutes. Similarly
0 < b < 60.
Consequently, for fixed values of a and c from 0 to 11 such that a = c, there is a unique
ambiguous time where the hour hand is between numbers a and a + 1 and the minute hand

© Australian Mathematics Trust 70

 So with (i) as the starting point, there are 7 possible ways to complete the grid. The same
will be true with each of the 24 ways of starting, so there are 24 × 7 = 168 ways of filling
the grid,
2020 AMC Intermediate Solutions16
hence (168).

30. Alternative 1
Measure the time in hours and minutes since midday. As noted, neither 0 hours nor 12
hours is ambiguous. For an ambiguous time of a hours and b minutes, a is a whole number
with 0  a  11 and b is a real number with 0  b < 60. Let the time with the hands the
other way be c hours and d minutes, where 0  c  11 and 0  d < 60.
Now consider the angles clockwise from the top. The first time’s hour hand is at angle
1 1
30a + b and the second time’s minute hand is at angle 6d. So 30a + b = 6d, which
2 2
implies that 60a + b = 12d. Similarly 60c + d = 12b.
Consider fixed values of a and c, each from 0 to 11. We solve to find the values of b and d.
b = 12d − 60a and d = 12b − 60c
=⇒ b = 12(12b − 60c) − 60a and d = 12(12d − 60a) − 60c
=⇒ 143b = 720c + 60a and 143d = 720a + 60c
720c + 60a 720a + 60c
=⇒ b= and d=
143 143
780 60
When a = c, this solution becomes b = d = a= a and the two times are equal,
143 11
which is not ambiguous.
Otherwise a = c, so of the hour numbers a and c, at least one is greater than 0 and at
least one is less than 11. Thus 720a + 60c > 0 and 720a + 60c < 720 × 11 + 60 × 11 =
780×11 = 60×143. Hence d > 0 and d < 60, and d is a valid number of minutes. Similarly
2020 AMC
0 < b < 60. Intermediate Solutions
Consequently, for fixed values of a and c from 0 to 11 such that a = c, there is a unique
ambiguous time where the hour hand is between numbers a and a + 1 and the minute hand
is between numbers c and c + 1. There are 12 × 11 = 132 such choices of a and c,
hence (132).
70
Alternative 2
Graph (i) shows the possible positions of both hands as coordinates over the 12-hour cycle.
An ambiguous time is one where h = m and both (h, m) and (m, h) are on this graph.
Since (h, m) and (m, h) are points reflected in the diagonal h = m, an ambiguous time will
be a point (h, m) that is on both the graph and the graph’s reflection, shown in graph (ii).
(i) m (ii) m
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
h h
12 12
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Every almost-horizontal line intersects every almost-vertical line, so there are 144 points
of intersection. However, the 12 intersections on the diagonal h = m are not ambiguous.
Also the non-ambiguous time 12:00 is represented twice on this graph, but both are shown
© Australian
as non-ambiguous. Therefore there are 144Mathematics
− 12 = Trust
132 ambiguous times,
 Intermediate Solutions

2020isAMC Intermediate
between numbersSolutions17
c and c + 1. There are 12 × 11 = 132 such choices of a and c,
hence (132).
Alternative 2
Graph (i) shows the possible positions of both hands as coordinates over the 12-hour cycle.
An ambiguous time is one where h = m and both (h, m) and (m, h) are on this graph.
Since (h, m) and (m, h) are points reflected in the diagonal h = m, an ambiguous time will
be a point (h, m) that is on both the graph and the graph’s reflection, shown in graph (ii).
(i) m (ii) m
12 12
11 11
10 10
9 9
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
h h
12 12
12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Every almost-horizontal line intersects every almost-vertical line, so there are 144 points
of intersection. However, the 12 intersections on the diagonal h = m are not ambiguous.
Also the non-ambiguous time 12:00 is represented twice on this graph, but both are shown
as non-ambiguous. Therefore there are 144 − 12 = 132 ambiguous times,
hence (132).
Alternative 3
On a normal clock, the minute hand (represented by OY below) rotates 12 times for every
rotation of the hour hand (OX below). So in the 12 hours, the minute hand catches up to
the hour hand 11 times, with the last catch-up being at midnight.
Consider a second clock running from midday at 12 times normal speed. This fast clock’s
hour hand always matches OY , the minute hand of the normal clock, whereas OZ, the
minute hand of the fast clock, completes 144 rotations in the 12 hours.

11 12 1 11 12 1 ×144
10 2 Z 10 2 Z
O X O O X
9 3 9 3 ×1
8 4 8 4
×12
7 6 5 7 6 5
Y Y Y
normal fast both

An ambiguous time on the clockmaker’s clock is one where X = Z, but X = Y .

In the 12 hours, OZ completes 144 revolutions, and so catches up with the OX 143 times;
11 of these times are where X = Y = Z, so are not ambiguous. Consequently there are
143 − 11 = 132 ambiguous times,
hence (132).

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© Australian Mathematics Trust