Mathematics Olympiad

Pre-RMO, 2012

Narasimhan R. Chari

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Euclid wrote for mature persons preparing for the study of philosophy. Geometry was the best introduction to
deductive reasoning.
H. S. M. Coxeter

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References:

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I. F. Sharygin, Problems in Plane Geometry, Mir Publishers, 1988

H. S. M. Coxeter and S. L. Greitzer, Geometry Revisited, Mathematical Association of America, 1967

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Roger A. Johnson, Advanced Euclidean Geometry, Dover, 1929
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Christopher J. Bradley, Challenges in Geometry, Oxford University Press, 2005

S. L. Loney, Plane Trigonometry, Cambridge, 1915

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Arthur Engel, Problem Solving Strategies, Springer Verlag, 1998

R. Graham, D. Knuth, O. Patashnik, Concrete Mathematics, Second Edition, Addison-Wesley, 1994

Ivan Niven and Herbert S. Zuckerman, An Introduction to the Theory of Numbers, Wiley Eastern Lim-
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ited, (Third Edition), 1972

www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk, (Mactutor History of Mathematics, Univ. of St. Andrews, Scotland)

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 1. Rama was asked by her teacher to subtract 3 from a certain number and then divide the result
by 9. Instead, she subtracted 9 and then divided by 3. She got 43. What would have been her
answer if she had solved the problem correctly?
x−3 x−9
Ans: Let the correct answer be = y; = 43. Hence x = 138, y = 15.
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2. A triangle with integer sides has perimeter 7. What is the maximum possible area?

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Ans: 1 + 2 + 4 = 7, but 1 + 2 < 4 is not possible for a triangle.

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1 + 1 + 5 = 7, but 1 + 1 < 5 is not possible for a triangle.

1 + 3 + 3 = 7 and 2 + 2 + 3 = 7 are the only possible solutions. Both are isosceles triangles.

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r √ √
1 35 35
The (1, 1, 3) triangle has height = 9 − = ; area =
4 2 4

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r √ √ √
9 7 3 7 63
The (2, 2, 3) triangle has height = 4 − = ; area = =
4 2
gm 4 4

The (2, 2, 3) triangle, (which comes closest to being equilateral),

√
3 7
has the maximum possible area =
4
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p
Note: By Heron’s formula, the area of a triangle is A = s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)
A2 s−a+s−b+s−c 3
 
⇒ = (s − a)(s − b)(s − c) ≤ , since AM ≥ GM;
s 3

A2 3s − 2s 3  s 3 s2
 
⇒ ≤ = ⇒A≤ √ ;
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s 3 3 3 3

equality holds in the AM − GM inequality only when s − a = s − b = s − c, i.e., when a = b = c,

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i.e., when the triangle is equilateral.

Hence, of all triangles with a given constant perimeter, the equilateral triangle has the maximum
area, (when the lengths of the sides are positive real numbers).
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3. For how many pairs of positive integers (x, y) is the equation x + 3y = 100 satisfied?
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Ans: Put y = 1, 2, . . . , 33. The solutions are (x, y) = (97, 1), (94, 2), . . . , (1, 33). There are 33
solutions.

Theorem: Given positive integers a, b, n, with gcd(a, b) = 1, c ≥ a + b the number N of pos-

itive integral solutions of the linear Diophantine equation ax + by = n is given by the formulas:
c
Case 1: If a divides c, and b also divides c , then ab divides c and N = −1
ab

Case 2: If (a divides c but b does not divide c), or (b divides c but a does not divide c),
jck
then N =
ab
jck
Case 3: If (a does not divide c) and (b also does not divide c), then N = +1
ab
2
 4. R, M and O are whole numbers. R × M × O = 240; M + RO = 46; R + MO = 64. Find
R + M + O.
Ans: RO + M = 46 ⇒ MRO + M 2 = 46M ⇒ M 2 − 46M + 240 = 0 ⇒ M = 40, 6

R + MO = 64 ⇒ R2 + RMO = 64R ⇒ R2 − 64R + 240 = 0 ⇒ R = 60, 4

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M = 40 ⇒ RO + 40 = 46 ⇒ RO = 6, not possible for whole numbers.

M = 6 ⇒ RO+6 = 46 ⇒ RO = 40 ⇒ R 6= 60 ⇒ R = 4 ⇒ O = 10 ⇒ R+M +O = 4+6+10 = 20

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5. Sn = n2 + 20n + 12, where n ∈ N. Find the sum of all possible values of n for which Sn is a
perfect square.
Ans: Let n2 + 20n + 12 = k2 where k ∈ N; add 100 on both sides to complete the square.

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(n2 + 20n + 100) + 12 = k2 + 100 ⇒ (n + 10)2 − k2 = 88
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⇒ (n + 10 + k)(n + 10 − k) = (1)(88), (2)(44), (4)(22), (8)(11)
But n + 10 + k and n + 10 − k have the same parity, i.e., either both are even or both are odd,
(since their sum is 2n + 20, which is even).
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Also n + 10 + k > n + 10 − k; hence n + 10 + k = 44, n + 10 − k = 2 ⇒ n = 13

Or, n + 10 + k = 22, n + 10 − k = 4 ⇒ n = 3
The sum of these values is 13 + 3 = 16
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6. A postman has to deliver 5 letters to five different houses. Mischievously, he posts one letter
through each door without looking to see if it is the correct address. In how many ways can he
do this so that exactly two houses receive the correct letters.
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Ans: The number of ways of selecting 2 correct houses out of 5 houses is given by
5
5×4
2 = 1 × 2 = 10. There are 3! = 6 permutations of the remaining 3 houses.
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Out of these one is the correct arrangement. Hence there are 5 incorrect ways of posting the 3
letters. Total number of ways is 10 × 5 = 50.
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 7. In triangle ABC AC = BC = 7, AB = 2. D is a point on the line AB such that B lies between
A and D. CD = 8. Find the length of BD.
Ans: Let BD = x. Use Stewart’s theorem: If D is a point on the line segement BC, and
AB = c, BC = a, CA = b, AD = d, BD = m, CD = n, then

mb2 + nc2 = a d 2 + mn .

Here CB is the Cevian in triangle ACD. We get

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x(49) + 2(64) = (x + 2)(49 + 2x) ⇒ 49x + 128 = 2x2 + 4x + 49x + 98 ⇒ x2 + 2x − 15 = 0.

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Hence x = −5, 3 ⇒ BD = 3.

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Method 2: The more tedious method is to draw the altitude CP on the side AB of the isosce-
les triangle CAB (where AP = BP = 1). Then Pythagoras’ theorem in ∆ APC, gives CP2 =
AC2 − AP2 = 49 − 1 = 48. Pythagoras’ theorem in ∆CDP gives DP2 = CD2 −CP2 = 64 − 48 =

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16 ⇒ DP = 4 ⇒ BD = DP − BP = 4 − 1 = 3

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8. In rectangle ABCD, AB = 5, BC = 3; F and G are on the line segment CD; DF = 1, GC = 2.
AF and BG intersect at E. Find the area of the triangle AFB.
Ans: CG = 2, GF = 2, FD = 1. Hence E lies outside the rectangle. Drop EP perpendicular
to CD and extend EP to intersect AB at Q. Then ∆ EPG ∼ ∆ EQB and ∆ EFG ∼ ∆ EAB. Let
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EP = x. Hence

5 x+3 1 25
= ⇒ x = 2. Hence, the area of the triangle AEB is [AEB] = . AB. EQ =
2 x 2 2
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9. Given 4x1 = 5; 5x2 = 6; 6x3 = 7, . . . , 127x124 = 128. Find x1 x2 . . . x124 .

Ans: (4x1 )x2 = 5x2 = 6; repeat the process. (4x1 x2 )x3 = 6x3 = 7, and so on. We get
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4x1 x2 ...x124 = 128 = 27 ⇒ 22x1 x2 ...x124 = 27 ; hence x1 x2 . . . x124 = .
2
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10. ABCD is a square with each side equal to 1 unit. Equilateral triangles AY B and DXC are
drawn with X and Y inside the square. Find the length of XY .
Ans: Let XY (extended) intersect AB at E and CD at F. XY k AD
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√ and EF = AD = 1.√ XF
3 3
is the height of an equilateral triangle of side 1 unit. Hence XF = . Similarly, Y E = .
2 2
√ √ √ √
XF +Y E = 3 ⇒ XY +Y F + XY + XE = 3 ⇒ XY + EF = 3 ⇒ XY = 3 − 1.

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11. Let P(n) = (n + 1)(n + 3)(n + 5)(n + 7)(n + 9). What is the largest integer which is a divisor of
P(n) for all even positive integers n?
Ans: P(2) = 3.5.7.9.11; P(4) = 5.7.9.11.13; P(6) = 7.9.11.13.15; P(8) = 9.11.13.15.17;
P(10) = 11.13.15.17.19, P(12) = 13.15.17.19.21. The gcd of these numbers is 15.

n = 0, 1 or 2 mod 3, gives n + 3, n + 5 or n + 7 are divisible by 3.

n = 0, ±1 or ±2 mod 5, gives n + 5 or n + 9 or n + 1 or n + 3 or n + 7 are divisible by 5.

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In all cases, P(n) is divisible by 15. The initial values show that this is the gcd.

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Home-work: Find the gcd of P(n), as n varies over all odd positive integers.

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Ans: P(1) = 2.4.6.8.10; P(3) = 4.6.8.10.12; P(5) = 6.8.10.12.14; P(7) = 8.10.12.14.16;
P(9) = 10.12.14.16.18

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There are 5 even factors; out of these, atleast two are multiples of 4. Hence 27 divides P(n).
After removing this power of 2, we have a product of five consecutive odd numbers, which is a

12. If p
1
√
√ √
= m − n , find m + n.
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multiple of 15, by the first part of the problem. Hence the gcd is 128 × 3 × 5 = 1920.

2011 + 20112 − 1
Ans: Let n = 2011.
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p √ p √
1 n − n2 − 1 n − n2 − 1
p √ .p √ =p
n + n2 − 1 n − n2 − 1 n2 − (n2 − 1)
p √ √ √ √ √
= n − n2 − 1 = x − y ⇒ n − n2 − 1 = x + y − 2 xy
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n2 − 1
       
n+1 n−1 n+1 n−1
⇒ x+y = n = + and xy = = .
2 2 4 2 2
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n+1 n−1
x= and y =
2 2
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We want x + y = 2011.
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a b c d
13. a = b − c, b = c − d, c = d − a, abcd 6= 0. Find + + + .
b c d a
d c
Ans: a + b = b − c + c − d; a = −d; = −1; c = d − a = d + d = 2d; = 2
a d
c c b 1
b = c−d = c− = ; =
2 2 c 2
a c
a = b − c; = 1 − = 1 − 2 = −1
b b
a b c d 1 1
+ + + = −1 + + 2 − 1 = .
b c d a 2 2

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14. The incentre of a triangle ABC is I and O is its circumcentre. If O, I, B and C lie on a circle,
find the measure of ∠ BAC in degrees.
B C
Ans: ∆BIC gives ∠ IBC = ; ∠ ICB = ;
2  2  
B C B +C 180 − A) A
∠ BIC = 180 − − = 180 − = 180 − = 90 + .
2 2 2 2 2

∠ BOC = 2 ∠ A, (since the angle subtended by the chord BC at the centre of the circle is twice

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the angle at the circumference).
Given B, I, O, C form a cyclic quadrilateral; hence ∠ BIC = ∠ BOC

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A 3A
Hence 90 + = 2A ⇒ 90 = ⇒ A = 60◦

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2 2
jxk jxk
15. Find the number of non-negative integral values of x such that = .
5 7

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Ans: Let x > 0 and x = 5k + 5 f1 ; x = 7m + 7 f2 , where k, m are positive integers and
0 ≤ f1 , f2 < 1. gm
Given k = m; hence 2k = |5 f1 − 7 f2 | ⇒ 2k ≤ 2 ⇒ k ≤ 1 ⇒ x < (7)(2) + 1 = 15 ⇒ x ≤ 14

x = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 ⇒ LHS = RHS = 0;
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x = 5, 6 ⇒ LHS = 1, RHS = 0; x = 7, 8, 9 ⇒ LHS = RHS = 1;

x = 10, 11, 12, 13 ⇒ LHS = 2; RHS = 1; x = 14 ⇒ LHS = RHS = 2.

For x > 15, LHS > RHS, hence no solution.
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There are 9 non-negative integral solutions.

16. Let f : N → N be a function such that

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f (mn) = f (m) f (n); f (m) < f (n), for m < n and f (2) = 2. Find ∑20k=1 f (k).

Ans: Put m = n ⇒ f n2 = [ f (n)]2 ; similarly f nk = [ f (n)]k , for all positive integers k.

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Hence f (1) = [ f (1)]2 and f (1) ∈ N ⇒ f (1) = 1; similarly, f (4) = [ f (2)]2 = 4

f (2) < f (3) < f (4) ⇒ 2 < f (3) < 4 ⇒ f (3) = 3

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Assume f (k) = k, for 1 ≤ k ≤ n. If n + 1 is composite, it is a product of two integers which

are both smaller than n; by the induction hypothesis, both these factors are fixed by f ; by the
multiplicative property of f , we get f (n + 1) = n + 1.
 
n+1
If n + 1 is prime, then n + 2 = (2) is composite and hence fixed by f ; then
2
n = f (n) < f (n + 1) < f (n + 2) = n + 2
Hence f (n + 1) = n + 1. Hence by induction, f is the identity function.
20 × 21
∑20
k=1 f (k) = 1 + 2 + · · · + 20 = = 210
2

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17. Let x1 , x2 , x3 be the roots of the equation x3 + 3x + 5 = 0. Find the value of
   
1 1 1
x1 + x2 + x3 +
x1 x2 x3

Ans: If x1 , x2 , x3 are the roots of the equation ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0, then

ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = a (x − x1 ) (x − x2 ) (x − x3 ). Equating coefficients on both sides, we get

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−b c −d
x1 + x2 + x3 = ; x1 x2 + x2 x3 + x3 x1 = ; x1 x2 x3 =
a a a

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In this problem, these elementary symmetric functions of the roots become

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3 −5
x1 + x2 + x3 = 0; x1 x2 + x2 x3 + x3 x1 = = 3; x1 x2 x3 = = −5
1 1
x12 x22 + x22 x32 + x32 x12 x12 + x22 + x32
   

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1 1 1 1
x1 + x2 + x3 + = x1 x2 x3 + + +
x1 x2 x3 x1 x2 x3 x1 x2 x3 x1 x2 x3
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Now, 0 = (x1 + x2 + x3 )2 = x12 + x22 + x32 + 2 (x1 x2 + x2 x3 + x3 x1 )

⇒ x12 + x22 + x32 = −2(3) = −6

32 = 9 = (x1 x2 + x2 x3 + x3 x1 )2 = x12 x22 + x22 x32 + x32 x12 + 2x1 x2 x3 (x1 + x2 + x3 )

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9 = x12 x22 + x22 x32 + x32 x12 + 0 ⇒ x12 x22 + x22 x32 + x32 x12 = 9
1 9 −6 −29
The given expression is equal to −5 + + + =
−5 −5 −5 5
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18. Find the sum of the squares of the roots of the equation x2 − 7bxc + 5 = 0, where bxc denotes
the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
Ans: x = n + f = bxc + {x}, where 0 ≤ {x} < 1
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(n + f )2 − 7n + 5 = 0 ⇒ f 6= 0, since the equation n2 − 7n + 5 = 0 has no integer roots. (1)

0 < f 2 < f < 1 ⇒ n2 < (n + f )2 < (n + 1)2 ⇒ n2 < 7n − 5 < (n + 1)2

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n2 − 7n + 5 < 0 and 7n − 5 < n2 + 2n + 1

49 49 29
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n2 − 7n + < −5 = and (n − 2)(n − 3) > 0

√ 4 4 √ 4
7 − 29 7 + 29
<n< and n < 2 or n > 3
2 2
⇒ 1 ≤ n ≤ 6; n = 1, 4, 5, 6 are the solutions. ∑ n2 = ∑ (7n − 5) = 7(1 + 4 + 5 + 6) − 20 = 92

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19. How many integer pairs (x, y) satisfy x2 + 4y2 − 2xy − 2x − 4y − 8 = 0?
Ans: x2 − 2xy − 2x + 4y2 − 4y − 8 = 0

(x − y − 1)2 + 3y2 − 6y − 9 = 0

(x − y − 1)2 + 3(y − 1)2 = 12 = 02 + 3(±2)2 or (±3)2 + 3(±1)2

There are six cases. The solutions are (x, y) = (4, 3), (0, −1), (6, 2), (4, 0), (0, 2), (−2, 0)

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20. PS is a line segment of length 4. O is the midpoint of PS; a semi-circular arc is drawn on

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PS as diameter. X is the midpoint of this arc. Q and R are points on this arc PXS such that

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QR k PS and the semi-circular arc drawn on QR as diameter is tangent to PS. Find the area of
the region QXROQ bounded by the two semi-circular arcs.
π (4)
Ans: Let OX and QR intersect at Y . Area of the semi-circle (PQXRS) is = 2π.

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XO is perpendicular to PS, hence also to QR ; OX bisects QR. Y is the midpoint of QR .

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QR is a diameter;
√ hence Y Q = Y R = Y O; ∠Y QO = ∠Y OQ = 45◦ ; OQ = OP = 2; hence
OY = Y Q = 2.
1√ √
The area of ∆ OY Q is 2 2=1
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2
1 1 π π
The area of the sector OQX with chords OQ, OX and ∠ 45◦ is r2 θ = (4) =
2 2 4 2

The area of the sector QY X of the big circle, (with chords QY, QX and arc QX ) is
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π
[sector OQX] − [sector OQY ] = −1
2

This is also equal to the area of the sector RY X with chords XY, Y R and arc XR.
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1 √
Area (sem-circular arc OQR, of the smaller circle) = π( 2)2 = π.
2
π 
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Required area is 2 − 1 + π = 2π − 2.
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