1. a, b real numbers.

The least value of a2 + ab + b2 – a – 2b is

(a) 1 (b) 0 (c) -1 (d) 2
2. Let x, y, and z be distinct real number that sum to 0. Find the maximum possible value of
xy + yz + zx
.
x 2 + y2 + z2
3. Let f(x) = x2 + 2x + 1. Let g(x) = f(f(….f(x))), where there are 2009 fs in the expression for g(x).
Then g(x) can be written as

g ( x ) = x2 + a 22009 −1 x 2 −1
+ ...... + a1 x + a 0 , where the ai are constants. Compute a 22009 −1 .
2009 2009

4. Let a0, a1 ….. be a sequence such that a0 = 3, a1 = 2, and an+2 = an+1 + an for all n  0. Find
8
an
a .
n =0 n +1a n + 2

5. Let P(x) = x4 + 2x3 - 13x3 - 14x + 24 be a polynomial with roots r1, r2, r3, r4. Let Q be the quartic
polynomial with roots r12 , r22 , r32 , r42 , such that the coefficient of the x4 term of Q is 1. Simplify the

quotient Q(x2)/P(x), leaving your answer in terms of x. (You may assume that x is not equal to
any of r1,r2, r3, r4).
6. Let p = 224036583 – 1, the largest prime currently known. For bow many positive integers
c do the quadratics x2 ± px ± c all have rational roots?
1 1 3 4 22
7. Find the value of a + b where − = + + ... + .
a! b! 1!+ 2!+ 3! 2!+ 3!+ 4! 20!+ 21!+ 22!
1. a, b real numbers. The least value of a2 + ab + b2 – a – 2b is
(a) 1 (b) 0 (c) -1 (d) 2
Ans: (c)
Sol: 1/2 ((a + b – 1)2 + (b – 1)2 + a2 – 2)
Minimum when a + b – 1 = b – 1 = a = 0
a = 0 and b = 1
2. Let x, y, and z be distinct real number that sum to 0. Find the maximum possible value of
xy + yz + zx
.
x 2 + y2 + z2
Ans: -1/2
Sol: Note that 0 = (x + y + z)2 = x2 + y2 + z2 + 2xy + 2yz + 2zx. Rearranging, we get dial xy + yz + zx =
1
− (x2 + y2 + z2), so that in fact the quantity is always equal to -1/2.
2
3. Let f(x) = x2 + 2x + 1. Let g(x) = f(f(….f(x))), where there are 2009 fs in the expression for g(x).
Then g(x) can be written as

g ( x ) = x2 + a 22009 −1 x 2 −1
+ ...... + a1 x + a 0 , where the ai are constants. Compute a 22009 −1 .
2009 2009

Ans: 22009
Sol: f(x) = (x + l)2, so f(xn + cxn-1,+ ...) = (xn + cxn-1 + ... + l)2 = x2n + 2cx2n-1 + ....
Applying the preceding formula repeatedly shows us that the coefficient of the term of second
highest degree in the polynomial doubles each time, so after 2009 applications of f it is 22009.
4. Let a0, a1 ….. be a sequence such that a0 = 3, a1 = 2, and an+2 = an+1 + an for all n  0. Find
8
an
a .
n =0 n +1a n + 2

105
Ans:
212
an a − a n +1 1 1
Sol: We can rewrite as n + 2 = − . We can thus re-write the sum as
a n +1a n + 2 a n +1a n + 2 a n +1 a n + 2

1 1   1 1  1 1  1 1  1 1 1 1 105
 −  +  −  +  −  + ... +  − = − = − = .
 a1 a 2   a 2 a 3   a 4 a 3   a 9 a10  a1 a10 2 212 212
5. Let P(x) = x4 + 2x3 - 13x3 - 14x + 24 be a polynomial with roots r1, r2, r3, r4. Let Q be the quartic
polynomial with roots r12 , r22 , r32 , r42 , such that the coefficient of the x4 term of Q is 1. Simplify the

quotient Q(x2)/P(x), leaving your answer in terms of x. (You may assume that x is not equal to
any of r1,r2, r3, r4).
Ans: x4 – 2x3 – 13x2 + 14x + 24
Sol: We note that we must have

6. Let p = 224036583 – 1, the largest prime currently known. For bow many positive integers
c do the quadratics x2 ± px ± c all have rational roots?
Ans: 0
Sol:

1 1 3 4 22
7. Find the value of a + b where − = + + ... + .
a! b! 1!+ 2!+ 3! 2!+ 3!+ 4! 20!+ 21!+ 22!
Sol: