Final Round - Intermediate

Cathedral Mathematics Competition 2023

by Ayaan Waris and Krish Seth

Time limit: 60 minutes.

No calculators allowed.
Note: For non-multiple choice questions, there may or may not be a solution. If there is no solution, please indicate
so by writing “No Solution”.

1. If x2 = x − 1, simplify:

1 + x1 + x2 + ... + x2023

a. 1
b. x
c. 1 + x
d. 2(1 − x)

2. A metallic sphere is recast into n identical cones, each of which has a height equal to the radius of its base and
each radius being equal to the radius of the original sphere. What is the value of n?
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
d. 9
3. Evaluate: √ √ √ √ √ √
2 1 3 2 4 3
2× 2−3× 1 3× 3−4× 2 4× 4−5× 3
+ + + ....
2×3 3×4 4×5
4. Consider the matrix equation : Y = M X − cI, where I is a 2 x 2 unit matrix.
It is known that c is a scalar constant of magnitude -2. Given that
   
−7 −1 0 1
Y = ,M =
4 −8 1 0
Find matrix X :
 
9 2
a.
−10 0
 
10 6
b.
−4 8
 
9 1
c.
10 4
 
−1 −9
d.
−10 4

1
 √
5. A hexagonal prism of side length 12 3 cm and length 143 cm needs to be cut into a wooden cylinder. Compute
the minimum volume of wood that will be lost in this process.
6. During a military exercise, an artillery unit is tested by firing at a dummy target placed at the same altitude
as the artillery. The projectile reaches a maximum height of 605 m at a horizontal distance of 900 m from the
artillery.
The height of the projectile above the ground h is a function of the vertical distance travelled d given by:

h(d) = q − 0.005(x + p)2

where q and p are some constants.

The artillery is positioned at some distance behind an observation point at d = 0. If the shell lands at the
dummy target located 2 km from the observation point, what is the distance between the observation point
and the position of the artillery?
a. 200 m
b. 400 m
c. 500 m
d. 800 m
7. Two series, S1 and S2 , are shown below:
S1 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + ... to 1,000,000 terms
S2 = 1 - 4 + 9 -16 + ... to 1,000,000 terms
The relation between the two series is :
S2
a. S1 = 2
b. S1 = S2
c. S1 = −S2
d. S2 = (S1 )2
8. Find x, given that :
52+4+6+....+2x = (0.04)−28 , x > 0

9. In the figure given below, MP is tangent at M and BP is a tangent at B. Triangle AMB is inscribed in the
shown circle, with O as its center.

Note: Figure is not to scale

If AB is known to be the side of a regular pentagon inscribed in the circle, and the magnitudes of ̸ P M A and
̸ M P B are 115◦ and 40◦ respectively, calculate ̸ M BO.

2
10. Two pipes fill an Olympic swimming pool, one whose opening is 25% larger than the other’s. The larger pipe
gets clogged, which reduces the rate of discharge of water from it to 50% of its original value. If the clogging
causes the time taken to fill the pool to increase by 22.8 hours, then the the total number of hours both
unclogged pipes take to fill the pool is:
a. 12
b. 15
c. 18
d. 21
11. If 1 + tan2 x = k, then find the value of (sin2 x · sec3 x) + secx , in terms of k is :
a. k 2
b. k 3
3
c. k 2
2
d. k 3
12. An equation with variables x and y is given by :
9y 15
x + 9xy + =
2 2
If x and y both have a certain maximum value for a pair (x, y), then :
a. The maximum value of x + y exceeds 4
b. The maximum value of x + y (say, k) satisfies 3 < k < 4
7
c. The difference between the x and y values for which xy is maximum, is 6
d. None of the above
Note : Consider only integer factors of 16.
13. Shanta ka Dhaba, a popular eatery, serves delicious Indian food. Four combo meals on the menu with their
costs are as follows:
Kid’s Meal: One glass of lassi and one plate of biryani (Rs. 315).
Medium Family Meal: Six plates of biryani, four glasses of lassi, two veg. Thalis and one tikka masala (Rs.
2,520).
Tourist’s must-eats: One tikka masala, one plate of biryani, one glass of lassi and one veg. Thali (Rs. 855).
Regular Meal: One veg. Thali, one glass of lassi and two plates of biryani (Rs. 765).
On each combo, the customer saves 10% of the price he would have had to pay purchasing each item separately.
If a woman wants to buy two plates of biryani, two cups of lassi, one veg thali and one tikka masala, not part
of any combo on the menu, what would her pre-tax order total be?
14. Bolingoli has a pack of flash cards numbered 1 through 12. His friend, Adebayo, picks two cards at random.
What is the probability that the sum of numbers on both cards, when divided by 7, leaves a remainder of at
most 2?
15. Consider the following equation :
(log10 x)2023 + log10 (x2023 )
10−2023 =
(log10 x)2023 + log10 (x−2023 )
c
1+102023
Given that x = 10(ab) , where b = 1−102023 , the relation between a and c is:
2023
a. c = a
1
b. c = a−1
1
c. c = a+1
d. c = −a

3
Solutions
1. c. 1 + x
2. b. 4
3. −0.5
 
−1 −9
4. d.
−10 4
√
5. Volume = 46332(2 3 − π) cm3
6. a. 200 m

7. c. S1 = −S2
8. x = 7
9. No Solution
10. b. 15
3
11. c. k 2
12. b. The maximum value of x + y (say, k) satisfies 3 < k < 4
13. Rs. 1300
14
14. 33
1
15. b. c = a−1