1990 AIME Problems
Problem 1
The increasing sequence
consists of all positive integers that are neither
the square nor the cube of a positive integer. Find the 500th term of this sequence.
Solution
Because there aren't that many perfect squares or cubes, let's look for the smallest perfect square greater
than
. This happens to be
equal to
, but
and
. Notice that there are
squares and
are both squares and cubes. Thus, there
are
numbers in our sequence less than
the
cubes less than or
. Magically, we want
term, so our answer is the smallest non-square and non-cube less than
, which is
Problem 2
Find the value of
Solution
Problem 3
Let
of
be a regular
is
and
be a regular
as large as each interior angle of
such that each interior angle
. What's the largest possible value of ?
Solution
Problem 4
Find the positive solution to
Solution
We could clear out the denominators by multiplying, though that would be unnecessarily tedious.
To simplify the equation, substitute
(the denominator of the first fraction). We can
rewrite the equation as
Simplifying,
substituting,
. Multiplying out the denominators now, we get:
, so
. Re. The positive root is
Problem 5
Let
be the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of
including
and itself. Find
and has exactly
positive integral divisors,
Solution
Problem 6
A biologist wants to calculate the number of fish in a lake. On May 1 she catches a random sample of 60
fish, tags them, and releases them. On September 1 she catches a random sample of 70 fish and finds
that 3 of them are tagged. To calculate the number of fish in the lake on May 1, she assumes that 25% of
these fish are no longer in the lake on September 1 (because of death and emigrations), that 40% of the
fish were not in the lake May 1 (because of births and immigrations), and that the number of untagged fish
and tagged fish in the September 1 sample are representative of the total population. What does the
biologist calculate for the number of fish in the lake on May 1?
Solution
Problem 7
A triangle has vertices
of
can be written in the form
, and
. Find
. The equation of the bisector
.
Solution
Problem 8
In a shooting match, eight clay targets are arranged in two hanging columns of three targets each and one
column of two targets. A marksman is to break all the targets according to the following rules:
1) The marksman first chooses a column from which a target is to be broken.
2) The marksman must then break the lowest remaining target in the chosen column.
If the rules are followed, in how many different orders can the eight targets be broken?
Solution
Problem 9
A fair coin is to be tossed
times. Let
consecutive tosses. Find
, in lowest terms, be the probability that heads never occur on
Solution
Clearly, at least
tails must be flipped; any less, then by the pigeonhole principle there will be heads that
appear on consecutive tosses.
Consider the case when
tails occur. The heads must fall between the tails such that no two heads fall
between the same tails, and must fall in the positions labeled
There are six slots for the heads to be placed, but only
are
heads remaining. Thus, there
possible combinations of 5 heads. Continuing this pattern, we find that there
are
. There are a total
of
possible flips of
is
coins, making the probability
. Thus, our solution
Problem 10
The sets
and
set
are in
are both sets of complex roots of unity. The
is also a set of complex roots of unity. How many distinct elements
Solution
Problem 11
Someone observed that
as the product of
. Find the largest positive integer
for which
can be expressed
consecutive positive integers.
Solution
Problem 12
A regular 12-gon is inscribed in a circle of radius 12. The sum of the lengths of all sides and diagonals of
the 12-gon can be written in the form
where , , , and
Solution
are positive integers. Find
Solution 1
The easiest way to do this seems to be to find the length of each of the sides and diagonals. To do such,
draw the radii that meet the endpoints of the sides/diagonals; this will form isosceles triangles. Drawing
the altitude of those triangles and then solving will yield the respective lengths.
The length of each of the 12 sides is
.
The length of each of the 12 diagonals that span across 2 edges is
(or notice that
the triangle formed is equilateral).
The length of each of the 12 diagonals that span across 3 edges is
that the triangle formed is a
right triangle).
The length of each of the 12 diagonals that span across 4 edges is
The length of each of the 12 diagonals that span across 5 edges
is
(or notice
.
The length of each of the 6 diameters is
Adding all of these up, we get
. Thus, the answer
is
Problem 13
Let
(leftmost) digit is 9, how many elements of
. Given that
has 3817 digits and that its first
have 9 as their leftmost digit?
Solution
Problem 14
The rectangle
Diagonals
below has dimensions
and
intersect at
and
. If triangle
is cut out and removed, edges
joined, and the figure is then creased along segments
and
Solution
Problem 15
if the real numbers , , , and
satisfy the equations
Solution
Set
and
. Then the relationship
can be exploited:
Therefore:
Consequently,
and
. Finally:
are
, we obtain a triangular pyramid, all
four of whose faces are isosceles triangles. Find the volume of this pyramid.
Find
and
