IOQM – 2023-24

NOTE :
1. denotes the set of all natural numbers, 1,2,3,…
2. For a positive real number x, x denotes the positive square root of x. For example, 4 = +2 .
3. Unless otherwise specified, all numbers are written in base 10.
1. Let n be a positive integer such that 1  n  1000 . Let Mn be the number of integers in the set
X n =  4n + 1, 4n + 2, ....., 4n + 1000 . Let a = max{Mn : 1  n  1000} and b = min{Mn : 1  n  1000} . Find
a – b.
Answer (22)
Sol. The spacing of square is less when n is greatest and spacing of square is more when n is less then
a = M1 and b = M1000
 a = 29 and b = 7
 a – b = 29 – 7 = 22
2. Find the number of elements in the set {(a, b)  N : 2  a, b  2023, loga (b) + 6logb (a) = 5} .
Answer (54)
Sol. loga b = t

6
t+ =5
t
 t 2 − 5t + 6 = 0  t = 2 or 3
loga b = 2 or 3  b = a or a3
2

a2  2023 and a3  2023

 a  44.97 and a  12.64
 a  {2, ….. 44} and a  {2, ….. 12}
 (44 – 2 + 1) + (12 – 2 + 1)
 43 + 11 = 54
16  7
3. Let  and  be positive integers such that   . Find the smallest possible value of .
37  16
Answer (23)
16  7
Sol.  
37  16
37  16
  
16  7
37 16
  
16 7

-2-
 IOQM – 2023-24

2 5  2 5   32 35 
    − 2   ,  − 2  I and lie between  ,    , 
7 16  7 16   112 112 

 ( − 2)  (0.28, 0.31)

If  = 10  (2.8, 3.1)
  − 2 = 3

  = 23

4. Let x, y be positive integers such that x 4 = ( x − 1)(y 3 − 23) − 1 . Find the maximum possible value of x + y.

Answer (07)

Sol. 4n + r = k  I
 4n + r = k 2

( x 4 + 1)
= y 3 − 23 , x, y  I
( x − 1)

Since, x  1  x2
y 3 − 23  I

x4 + 1
 I
x −1
Let, x – 1 = p
(1 + p )4 + 1

p

(a4 p 4 + a3 p3 + .....a1p + 2)

p

2
  p divides 2
p

 p = {–2, –1, 1, 2}
 x  {–1, 0, 2, 3}
but x  2  x = 2 or 3
If x = 2 24 = 1 × (y3 – 23) – 1
 (17 + 23) = y3
 y I

If x = 3 (34 + 1) = 2(y3 – 23) = y = 4

 x+y=7

-3-
 IOQM – 2023-24

5. In a triangle ABC, let E be the midpoint of AC and F be the midpoint of AB. The medians BE and CF intersect at
G. Let Y and Z be the midpoints of BE and CF respectively. If the area of triangle ABC is 480, find the area of
triangle CYZ.

Answer (10)

Sol.

Let BE = 6x

CF = 6y
2
area (GYZ )  1 
= 
area (GBC )  4 

Area(GBC) = 16(area of GYZ)

1 480
area of GBC = of area(ABC) = = 160
3 3

area of GYZ = 10

6. Let X be the set of all even positive integers n such that the measure of the angle of some regular polygon is n
degrees. Find the number of elements in X.

Answer (16)

Sol. Let number of sides of polygon be P.

( P – 2) .180
 = n
P

then P(180 – n) = 360

360
 P=
180 – n

180
But n = 2k then P =
90 – k

Hence possible values of (90 – k) are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 30, 36, 45 and 60

 16 such polygons are possible.

-4-
 IOQM – 2023-24

7. Unconventional dice are to be designed such that the six faces are marked with numbers from 1 to 6 with 1 and
2 appearing on opposite faces. Further, each face is colored either red or yellow with opposite faces always of
the same color. Two dice are considered to have the same design if one of them can be rotated to obtain a dice
that has the same numbers and colors on the corresponding faces as the other one. Find the number of distinct
dice that can be designed

Answer (24)

Sol. Fix 1 and 2 anywhere in 1 way

Fix 3 anywhere in 1 way

1 2

3!
Now remaining 3 faces can be filled in ways and coloring them in 2 × 2 × 2 ways
2

3!
 Total distinct dice = × 8 = 24 ways
2

8. Given a 2 × 2 tile and seven dominoes (2 × 1 tile), find the number of ways of tiling (that is, cover without leaving
gaps and without overlapping of any two tiles) a 2 × 7 rectangle using some of these tiles.

Answer (85)

Sol.

an = 2an – 2 + an – 1

a1 = 1, a2 = 3

a3 = 2a1 + a2 = 2(1) + 3 = 5

a4 = 2a2 + a3 = 2(3) + 5 = 11

a5 = 2a3 + a4 = 2(5) + 11 = 21

a6 = 2(11) + 21 = 43

a7 = 2(21) + 43 = 42 + 43 = 85

-5-