UK I NTERMEDIATE

MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD
Hamilton Question Papers and Solutions
2008 to 2010
Organised by the
United Kingdom Mathematics Trust
 i

MT
U K

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UKMT

UK Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad

2008 to 2010

Hamilton Question Papers and Solutions

Organised by the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust
Contents

Background ii
Rules and Guidelines 1
2008 paper 3
2009 paper 4
2010 paper 5

2008 solutions 6
2009 solutions 12
2010 solutions 21

©UKMT 2011
ii

Background

The Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad and Kangaroo (IMOK)

are the follow-up competitions for pupils who do extremely well in
the UKMT Intermediate Mathematical Challenge (about 1 in 200
are invited to take part). The IMOK was established in 2003.

There are three written papers (Cayley, Hamilton, Maclaurin) and

two multiple-choice papers (the Pink and Grey Kangaroo). The
written papers each take two hours and contain six questions. Both
Kangaroo papers are one hour long and contain 25 questions.

The Hamilton paper is for pupils in: Y10 or below (England and
Wales); S3 or below (Scotland); School Year 11 or below
(Northern Ireland).
 1

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust

Intermediate Mathematical Olympiad and Kangaroo

(IMOK)
Olympiad Hamilton Paper

All candidates must be in School Year 10 (England and Wales), S3 (Scotland), or

School Year 11 (Northern Ireland).

READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING

1. Time allowed: 2 hours.
2. The use of calculators, protractors and squared paper is forbidden.
Rulers and compasses may be used.
3. Solutions must be written neatly on A4 paper. Sheets must be STAPLED together in the top
left corner with the Cover Sheet on top.
4. Start each question on a fresh A4 sheet.
You may wish to work in rough first, then set out your final solution with clear explanations
and proofs.
Do not hand in rough work.
5. Answers must be FULLY SIMPLIFIED, and EXACT. They may contain symbols such as π,
fractions, or square roots, if appropriate, but NOT decimal approximations.
6. Give full written solutions, including mathematical reasons as to why your method is correct.
Just stating an answer, even a correct one, will earn you very few marks; also, incomplete or
poorly presented solutions will not receive full marks.
7. These problems are meant to be challenging! The earlier questions tend to be easier; the last
two questions are the most demanding.
Do not hurry, but spend time working carefully on one question before attempting another.
Try to finish whole questions even if you cannot do many: you will have done well if you hand
in full solutions to two or more questions.

DO NOT OPEN THE PAPER UNTIL INSTRUCTED BY THE INVIGILATOR TO DO SO!

The United Kingdom Mathematics Trust is a Registered Charity.
Enquiries should be sent to: Maths Challenges Office,
School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT.
(Tel. 0113 343 2339)
[Link]
2

Advice to candidates

• Do not hurry, but spend time working carefully on one question before attempting
another.

• Try to finish whole questions even if you cannot do many.

• You will have done well if you hand in full solutions to two or more questions.

• Answers must be FULLY SIMPLIFIED, and EXACT. They may contain symbols such
as π, fractions, or square roots, if appropriate, but NOT decimal approximations.

• Give full written solutions, including mathematical reasons as to why your method is
correct.

• Just stating an answer, even a correct one, will earn you very few marks.

• Incomplete or poorly presented solutions will not receive full marks.

• Do not hand in rough work.

 3
2008

1. How many four-digit multiples of 9 consist of four different odd digits?

2. A regular octagon with sides of length a is inscribed in a

square with sides of length 1, as shown.
Prove that a2 + 2a = 1.

3. Kelly cycles to a friend's house at an average speed of 12 km/hr. Her friend is out, so
Kelly immediately returns home by the same route. At what average speed does she
need to cycle home if her average speed over the whole journey is to be 15 km/hr?

4. A triangle is bounded by the lines whose equations are y = −x − 1 , y = 2x − 1 and

y = k, where k is a positive integer.
For what values of k is the area of the triangle less than 2008?

5. Two congruent rectangles have a common

vertex and overlap as shown in the diagram.
What is the total shaded area?

8 2
4

6. Find all solutions to the simultaneous equations

x2 − y2 = −5
2 2
2x + xy − y = 5.
4
2009

1. An aquarium contains 280 tropical fish of various kinds. If 60 more clownfish were
added to the aquarium, the proportion of clownfish would be doubled.

How many clownfish are in the aquarium?

2. Find the possible values of the digits p and q , given that the five-digit number ‘p543q’ is
a multiple of 36.

3. In the diagram, ABCD is a rectangle with AB = 16 cm and D F C

BC = 12 cm . Points E and F lie on sides AB and CD so that
AECF is a rhombus.

What is the length of EF?

A E B

4. Four positive integers a, b, c and d are such that:

the sum of a and b is half the sum of c and d ;
the sum of a and c is twice the sum of b and d ;
the sum of a and d is one and a half times the sum of b and c.
What is the smallest possible value of a + b + c + d?

5. The diagram shows a triangle PT U inscribed P S

in a square PQRS. Each of the marked
angles at P is equal to 30°.
Prove that the area of the triangle PTU is one
third of the area of the square PQRS. U

Q T R

6. Two different cuboids are placed together, face-to-face, to form a large cuboid.
The surface area of the large cuboid is 34 of the total surface area of the original two
cuboids.
Prove that the lengths of the edges of the large cuboid may be labelled x , y and z, where
2 1 1
= + .
z x y
 5
2010

1. The sum of three positive integers is 11 and the sum of the cubes of these numbers is 251.
Find all such triples of numbers.
2. The diagram shows a triangle and two of its angle
bisectors. x°
What is the value of x?
2x°

3. The first and second terms of a sequence are added to make the third term. Adjacent
odd-numbered terms are added to make the next even-numbered term, for example,

first term + third term = fourth term

and third term + fifth term = sixth term.
Likewise, adjacent even-numbered terms are added to make the next odd-numbered
term, for example,
second term + fourth term = fifth term.
Given that the seventh term equals the eighth term, what is the value of the sixth term?
4. The diagram shows a quarter-circle with centre O and two B
semicircular arcs with diameters OA and OB.
Calculate the ratio of the area of the region shaded grey to
the area of the region shaded black.

O A
5. The diagram shows three touching circles, R
whose radii are a, b and c, and whose centres b
are at the vertices Q, R and S of a rectangle
c
QRST . The fourth vertex T of the rectangle lies
on the circle with centre S. S Q
Find the ratio a : b : c. a

T
6. In the diagram, the number in each cell shows the number of shaded
cells with which it shares an edge or a corner. The total of all the 2 1 2
numbers for this shading pattern is 16. Any shading pattern obtained
by rotating or reflecting this one also has a total of 16. 3 2 2
Prove that there are exactly two shading patterns (not counting 1 2 1
rotations or reflections) which have a total of 17.
6
2008 Solutions
1. How many four-digit multiples of 9 consist of four different odd digits?
First solution
There are five odd digits: 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9.
The sum of the four smallest odd digits is 16 and the sum of the four largest is 24.
Hence the digit sum of any four-digit number with different odd digits lies between 16
and 24, inclusive.
However, the sum of the digits of a multiple of 9 is also a multiple of 9, and the only
multiple of 9 between 16 and 24 is 18. Hence the sum of the four digits is 18.
Now 1 + 3 + 5 + 9 = 18, so that the four digits can be 1, 3, 5 and 9. If 7 is one of the
four digits then the sum of the other three is 11, which is impossible. So 7 cannot be one
of the digits and therefore the four digits can only be 1, 3, 5 and 9.
The number of arrangements of these four digits is 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24. Hence there
are 24 four-digit multiples of 9 that consist of four different odd digits.

Second solution
The sum of all five odd digits is 1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 25.
Subtracting 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 in turn we get 24, 22, 20, 18 and 16, only one of which is a
multiple of 9, namely 18 = 25 − 7. Since the sum of the digits of a multiple of 9 is also
a multiple of 9, it follows that the four digits can only be 1, 3, 5 and 9.
The number of arrangements of these four digits is 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 24. Hence there
are 24 four-digit multiples of 9 that consist of four different odd digits.
2. A regular octagon with sides of length a is inscribed in a
square with sides of length 1, as shown.
Prove that a2 + 2a = 1.

First solution
Consider each of the four unshaded triangles. The angle at the vertex of a square is 90°
so each triangle is right-angled.
The marked angles in the left-hand diagram are both external angles of a regular
octagon, so each is equal to 18 × 360° = 45°. Hence each triangle is isosceles (since
sides opposite equal angles are equal).
x

x
a

1
Let the two equal sides of one of these triangles have length x , as shown in the right-
hand diagram.
 7
From Pythagoras' theorem x 2 + x2 = a 2
2 2
so that 2x = a
a
and hence x = .
2
Now the side of the square has length 1, therefore
a + 2x = 1,
that is, a + a 2 = 1,
or a 2 = 1 − a.
Squaring this equation we get
2a2 = 1 − 2a + a2

and therefore a2 + 2a = 1.

Second solution
We derive an equation for a using
unshaded area + area of octagon = area of the square. (1)
Consider each of the four unshaded triangles. The angle at the vertex of a square is 90°
so each triangle is right-angled.
The marked angles in the left-hand diagram are both external angles of a regular
octagon, so each is equal to 18 × 360° = 45°. Hence each triangle is isosceles (since
sides opposite equal angles are equal).
Therefore each of the four unshaded triangles is isosceles and right-angled, with
hypotenuse of length a, so the four triangles can be reassembled to form a square of side
a (see below). Hence the unshaded area is equal to a2 .
C B

a D A
V U
a
W X
E H

F G
1
Similarly, the four shaded triangles in the right-hand figure together have an area of a2.
The octagon comprises these four shaded triangles together with two rectangles, ADEH
and BCFG, which overlap in the square UVWX. Therefore the area of the octagon is
2
a + area ADEH + area BCFG − area U VWX.
But the two rectangles each have area a × 1 and the area of square U VWX is a × a, so
that the octagon has area
a2 + a + a − a2 = 2a.
Finally, the large square has area 1, so equation (1) gives
a2 + 2a = 1.
8
3. Kelly cycles to a friend's house at an average speed of 12 km/hr. Her friend is out, so
Kelly immediately returns home by the same route. At what average speed does she
need to cycle home if her average speed over the whole journey is to be 15 km/hr?
First solution
Let the distance cycled to the house be d km; let the time taken on the journey to the
friend's house be t 1 hours and let the time taken on the way back be t 2 hours.
From the given information about average speeds,
d
12 =
t1
2d
and 15 = .
t 1 + t2
These equations may be rearranged to give
12t1 = d (1)

and 15t1 + 15t2 = 2d. (2)

Substituting from equation (1) into equation (2), we get
15t 1 + 15t 2 = 24t 1
so that t 1 = 53 t 2.
Then equation (1) gives 12 × 53 t 2 = d,
d
and hence 20 = .
t2
Thus Kelly's average speed cycling home is 20 km/h.

Second solution
Let the distance cycled to the house be d km; let the average speed for the journey home
be v km/h. Then from the information given
d
the time for the outward journey = hours,
12
d
the time for the homeward journey = hours,
v
2d
and the time for the whole journey = hours.
15
Therefore we have
d d 2d
+ = ,
12 v 15
which may be rearranged to give
1 2 1
= −
v 15 12
8 −5
=
60
1
= .
20
Hence v = 20 and Kelly's average speed cycling home is 20 km/h.
 9

4. A triangle is bounded by the lines whose equations are y = −x − 1 , y = 2x − 1 and

y = k, where k is a positive integer.
For what values of k is the area of the triangle less than 2008?
Solution
The lines with equations y = −x − 1 and y = 2x − 1 intersect when
−x − 1 = 2x − 1,

from which x = 0,
so that the lines meet at (0, −1).
The line y = k intersects the line y = −x − 1 when
k = −x − 1,

from which x = −k − 1,
and the line y = k intersects the line y = 2x − 1 when
k = 2x − 1
k + 1
from which x = .
2
Thus the three intersection points are (0, −1), (−k − 1, k) and ( k +2 1, k ) .
y

(−k − 1, k ) ( k +2 1 , k )

(0, −1)

Now the enclosed triangle has height k + 1 and ‘base’ equal to

k +1 k + 1
− (−k − 1) = + k + 1
2 2
= 2 (k
3
+ 1) ,
so the enclosed area is
1
2 × 3
2 (k + 1) × (k + 1) = 4 (k
3
+ 1)2 .
Therefore when the area is less than 2008,
3
4 (k + 1)2 < 2008,
8032
so that (k + 1)2 <
3
= 267713 .
Now 512 = 2601 and 522 = 2704 so that k + 1 < 52, that is, k < 51. Hence the
possible values of k are given by 1 ≤ k ≤ 50.
10
5. Two congruent rectangles have a common
vertex and overlap as shown in the diagram.
What is the total shaded area?

8 2
4

Solution
Let the unknown side of the rectangle have length y and let one diagonal of the unshaded
quadrilateral have length x, as shown below.

y
x 4
8 8
y−2 2
4

Applying Pythagoras' theorem to the two unshaded right-angled triangles we get

x2 = 82 + (y − 2)2
2
and x2 = y2 + 4 .
Eliminate x2 from these equations to give
2 2
64 + (y − 2) = y + 16,

that is, 64 + y2 − 4y + 4 = y2 + 16,

which rearranges to 52 = 4y

and hence y = 13.

Now the shaded area is equal to twice the area of one rectangle minus twice the area of
the unshaded region, that is,
2 (8 × 13) − 2 ( 12 × 8 × 11 + 1
2 × 4 × 13) = 68.
Hence the total shaded area equals 68.
6. Find all solutions to the simultaneous equations
x2 − y2 = −5

2x2 + xy − y2 = 5.
First solution
We may rewrite the given equations by factorising the left-hand sides:
(x − y) (x + y) = −5 (1)

(2x − y) (x + y) = 5. (2)
Since −5 is non-zero, we may divide (2) by (1) to get
 11
2x − y
= −1,
x − y
which rearranges to 2x − y = y − x

and hence x = 23 y.
Now substitute x = 23 y in x2 − y2 = −5 to obtain
4 2
9y − y2 = −5,

so that y2 = 9

and hence y = ±3.

Since x = 2
3y we deduce that the equations have two solutions:
x = 2, y = 3 and x = −2, y = −3.
Second solution
The given equations are
x2 − y2 = −5 (3)
2 2
2x + xy − y = 5. (4)
Adding (3) and (4) we get
3x 2 + xy − 2y2 = 0

which factorises to (3x − 2y) ( x + y) = 0.

Hence x = 2
3yor x = −y. But, from equation (3), we know x ≠ −y so we have
x = 23 y.
Substitute x = 23 y in (3) to obtain
4 2
9y − y2 = −5,

so that y2 = 9

and hence y = ±3.

Since x = 2y
3 we deduce that the equations have two solutions:
x = 2, y = 3 and x = −2, y = −3.
12
2009 Solutions
1. An aquarium contains 280 tropical fish of various kinds. If 60 more clownfish were
added to the aquarium, the proportion of clownfish would be doubled.

How many clownfish are in the aquarium?

Solution
Let there be x clownfish in the aquarium.
If 60 clownfish are added there are x + 60 clownfish and 340 tropical fish in total.
Since the proportion of clownfish is then doubled, we have
x x + 60
2 × = .
280 340
Multiplying both sides by 20, we get
x x + 60
=
7 17
and hence

17x = 7 (x + 60) .
It follows that x = 42 and thus there are 42 clownfish in the aquarium.

2. Find the possible values of the digits p and q, given that the five-digit number ‘p543q’ is
a multiple of 36.

Solution
Since ‘p543q’ is a multiple of 36 it is a multiple of both 9 and 4.
The sum of the digits of a multiple of 9 is also a multiple of 9, hence
p + 5 + 4 + 3 + q is a multiple of 9. But 5 + 4 + 3 = 12 and each of p and q is a
single digit, so that p + q = 6 and p + q = 15 are the only possibilities.
Since ‘p543q’ is a multiple of 4 and ‘p5400’ is always divisible by 4, it follows that ‘3q’
is divisible by 4. The only possible values for ‘3q’ are 32 and 36, so that q = 2 or
q = 6.
If q = 2, then p + q = 15 is not possible since p is a single digit. Hence p + q = 6
and so p = 4.
If q = 6, then p + q = 6 is not possible since ‘p543q’ is a five-digit number and
therefore the digit p cannot be zero. Hence p + q = 15 and so p = 9.
Therefore p = 4, q = 2 and p = 9, q = 6 are the only possible values of the digits p and q.
 13
3. In the diagram, ABCD is a rectangle with AB = 16 cm and D F C
BC = 12 cm. Points E and F lie on sides AB and CD so that
AECF is a rhombus.

What is the length of EF?

A E B
Solution
Let the sides of the rhombus AECF have length x cm. Hence AE = x and EB = 16 − x.
Since ABCD is a rectangle, angle EBC is a right angle.
D F C

x 12

A x E 16 − x B
16
Using Pythagoras' theorem in triangle ABC , we have AC 2 = 162 + 122 = 400, so that
AC = 20 cm.
Using Pythagoras' theorem in triangle EBC , we have
2 2 2
EC = CB + EB
and hence
x2 = 12 2 + (16 − x)2 ,
which can be rearranged to give
x2 = 144 + 256 − 32x + x2 .
It follows that
32x = 400
and so
25
x =.
2
We may now proceed in various ways; we show two different methods.

First method
Let M be the point of intersection of the diagonals D F C
AC and EF of AECF. Since AECF is a rhombus,
angle FMC is a right angle and M is the mid-point
of both AC and EF.

A E B
14

Using Pythagoras' theorem in triangle FMC , we have

CF2 = ( 12 AC) + ( 12 EF)
2 2

and hence

( )
2
25
= 102 + ( 12 EF)2 .
2
It follows that

625 = 400 + EF2

and so

EF = 15.
Therefore the length of EF is 15 cm.

Second method
We make use of the fact that
area of rhombus AECF = area of rectangle ABCD − 2 × area of triangle EBC.
Now the area of a rhombus is half the product of its diagonals. Also, the area of triangle
EBC is 12 EB × BC and EB = 16 − 25 2 = 2 . We therefore have
7

1
2 AC × EF = 16 × 12 − 7
2 × 12.

Hence

10 × EF = 192 − 42 = 150

and so

EF = 15.
Therefore the length of EF is 15 cm.

Remark
Another method uses Pythagoras' theorem in the right-angled triangle ENF shown
below.

D F C

A N E B
 15

4. Four positive integers a, b, c and d are such that:

the sum of a and b is half the sum of c and d;
the sum of a and c is twice the sum of b and d ;
the sum of a and d is one and a half times the sum of b and c.
What is the smallest possible value of a + b + c + d?
Solution
There are three equations here but four unknown values, a, b , c and d. Thus it is not
possible just to solve the equations to find the values of a, b, c and d. What we can do is
to find relationships between them and then deduce possible values of a, b, c and d.

From the given information,

a +b = 2 (c
1
+ d) (1)

a + c = 2 (b + d) (2)

a + d = 2 (b
3
+ c) . (3)

We may proceed in various ways; we show two methods, substitution and elimination.

First method: substitution

From (1), we have
a = −b + 1
2 (c + d) . (4)

Substituting in (2), we get

− b + 1
2 (c + d) + c = 2 (b + d)

and hence
3
2c − 23d = 3b,

that is,

c − d = 2b. (5)

Substituting from (4) in (3), we get

− b + 1
2 (c + d) + d = 2 (b
3
+ c)

so that

− c + 23d = 5
2 b. (6)

Now adding (5) and (6) we obtain

1
2d = 9
2 b,

and hence

d = 9b.
16

Once we have minimised b + d, then we automatically minimise a + c, because of

equation (2), and hence minimise the sum we are interested in.
Since b and d are positive integers, b = 1 and d = 9 are the smallest possible values
with d = 9b. From (5) and (4), we see that the corresponding values of c and a are
c = 11 and a = 9, both of which are also positive integers, as required.

Checking these values in equations (1) to (3), we confirm that they are valid solutions of
the given equations.

Hence the smallest possible value of a + b + c + d is 30.

Second method: elimination

We may rearrange the three equations (1), (2) and (3) to give
2a + 2b = c + d (7)

a + c = 2b + 2d (8)

2a + 2d = 3b + 3c. (9)

Adding (7) and (8), we get

3a + 2b + c = 2b + c + 3d

and hence

a = d.

Then (7) and (9) may be rewritten

2b − c + d = 0. (10)

and

3b + 3c − 4d = 0. (11)

Now adding 3 × (10) and (11), we obtain

9b − d = 0

and hence

d = 9b.
The solution now proceeds in the same way as the first method.
 17
5. The diagram shows a triangle PT U inscribed P S
in a square PQRS. Each of the marked
angles at P is equal to 30°.
Prove that the area of the triangle PTU is one
third of the area of the square PQRS. U

Q T R
First solution
Let QT = x, so that PT = 2x, since triangle PTQ is half an equilateral triangle.
P S

2x U

Q x T R
Using Pythagoras' theorem in triangle PTQ, we get
2 2 2
PQ = PT − QT
= (2x)2 − x2
= 3x 2
and hence
PQ = 3x.
We can now find the areas of the three unshaded right-angled triangles.
Area of triangle PQT = 1
2 ×x × 3x
3 2
= x.
2
Similarly,
3 2.
area of triangle PSU = x .
2
Finally,
area of triangle T RU = 1
2 × ( 3x − x ) × ( 3x − x)
= 1
2 (3x2 − 2 3x2 + x 2)
= 2x2 − 3x2.
Therefore the total unshaded area is
3 2 3 2
x + x + 2x2 − 3x 2 = 2x2.
2 2
However, the area of the square PQRS is ( 3x ) = 3x 2. It follows that the shaded area
2

is x 2, which is one third of the area of the square.

18

Second solution
Let the sides of the square PQRS have length x .
P S

x
U

Q T R
Then in triangle PQT we have
x
cos 30° = ,
PT
and hence
x
PT = .
cos 30°

Now by symmetry PU = PT so that

area of triangle PT U = 1
2 PT × PU sin ∠TPU
sin 30°
= 1 2
2x .
cos2 30°

Now cos 30° = 2

3
and sin 30° = 1.
2 Therefore
1
area of triangle PT U = 1 2
2x × 2
3
4

= 1 x2.
3

Hence the area of the triangle PTU is one third of the area of the square PQRS .
 19

6. Two different cuboids are placed together, face-to-face, to form a large cuboid.
The surface area of the large cuboid is 34 of the total surface area of the original two
cuboids.
Prove that the lengths of the edges of the large cuboid may be labelled x , y and z, where
2 1 1
= + .
z x y
First solution
Since the two cuboids are placed together, face-to-face, to form a large cuboid, two of
the edges have the same lengths. Let these common lengths be x and y, and let the other
edges of the two cuboids have lengths z1 and z2, as shown.

z1 y
z2

Now the surface area of the large cuboid is 34 of the total surface area of the original two
cuboids. Therefore
2 [xy + x (z1 + z2 ) + y ( z1 + z2)] = 3
4 [2 (xy + z1 x + z1 y) + 2 (xy + z2x + z2y)]

so that

4 [xy + x (z1 + z2 ) + y ( z1 + z2)] = 3 [ 2xy + x ( z1 + z2) + y (z1 + z2)]

and hence

2xy = x (z1 + z2 ) + y ( z1 + z2) ,

that is,

2xy = (x + y) ( z1 + z2) .

Now z1 + z2 = z, where z is the edge length of the large cuboid. Therefore

2xy = (x + y) z

which may be rearranged to give

2 x + y
=
z xy
1 1
= + .
y x

Hence the lengths of the edges of the large cuboid may be labelled x, y and z, where
2 1 1
= + .
z x y
20

Second solution
Let the large cuboid have dimensions x, y and z, as shown.

y
z

Now the total surface area T of the two original cuboids is equal to the surface area of
the large cuboid added to the area of the two faces which are joined together. But the
surface area of the large cuboid is 34T , hence the area of the two faces which are joined
together is 14 T , that is, 13 of the surface area of the large cuboid.

Therefore
2xy = 1
3 (2xy + 2yz + 2zx)

so that

6xy = 2xy + 2yz + 2zx

and hence

2xy = yz + zx.

Dividing by xyz, we obtain, as required,

2 1 1
= + .
z x y
 21
2010 Solutions
1 The sum of three positive integers is 11 and the sum of the cubes of these numbers is 251.
Find all such triples of numbers.
Solution
Let us calculate the first few cubes in order to see what the possibilities are:

3
1 3 = 1, 23 = 8, 33 = 27, 43 = 64, 5 = 125, 63 = 216 and 73 = 343. (∗)
The sum of the cubes of the positive integers is 251, which is less than 343, hence none
of the integers is greater than 6.

Now 251
3 = 83 23 > 64 = 43, therefore at least one of the integers is 5 or more.

If one of the integers is 6, then the other two cubes add up to 251 − 63 = 251 − 216 = 35.
From (*) above, 33 + 23 = 27 + 8 = 35 is the only possibility. Also,
6 + 3 + 2 = 11 so that 6, 3 and 2 is a possible triple of numbers.

If one of the integers is 5, then the other two cubes add up to

251 − 53 = 251 − 125 = 126. From (*) above 53 + 1 3 = 125 + 1 = 126 is the only
possibility. Also, 5 + 5 + 1 = 11 so that 5, 5 and 1 is a possible triple of numbers.

Hence 2, 3, 6 and 1, 5, 5 are the triples of numbers satisfying the given conditions.

2 The diagram shows a triangle and two of its angle

bisectors. x°
What is the value of x?
2x°

Solution
Let the sum of the two unlabelled angles in the smaller triangle be y. Then the sum of the
two unlabelled angles in the whole triangle is equal to 2y.

The sum of the angles in a triangle is 180°, hence in the small triangle
2x + y = 180 (2.1)
and in the whole triangle
x + 2y = 180. (2.2)
Doubling equation (2.1) and subtracting equation (2.2), we get 3x = 180 and thus
x = 60 .
22

3 The first and second terms of a sequence are added to make the third term. Adjacent
odd-numbered terms are added to make the next even-numbered term, for example,

first term + third term = fourth term

and third term + fifth term = sixth term.
Likewise, adjacent even-numbered terms are added to make the next odd-numbered
term, for example,
second term + fourth term = fifth term.
Given that the seventh term equals the eighth term, what is the value of the sixth term?
Solution
Let a be the first term of the sequence and b the second term. Thus the first eight terms
of the sequence are:
a, b, a + b, 2a + b, 2a + 2b, 3a + 3b, 5a + 4b, 7a + 6b.
The seventh term equals the eighth term, hence 5a + 4b = 7a + 6b. Therefore
2a + 2b = 0 and so a = −b.

Hence the value of the sixth term is 3a + 3b = −3b + 3b = 0.

4 The diagram shows a quarter-circle with centre O and two B

semicircular arcs with diameters OA and OB.
Calculate the ratio of the area of the region shaded grey to
the area of the region shaded black.

O A

Solution
Let 2r be the radius of the quarter-circle. Hence the radius of each semicircle is r. The
diagram is divided into four regions; let their areas be X , Y , Z and T , as shown below.
B

2r Y T
Z
X
O 2r A
The area of the quarter-circle is 4π
1 (2r) = πr . The area of each semicircle is 12 πr2.
2 2

Hence X + Z = 12 πr2.

However, the area inside the quarter-circle but outside one semicircle is
πr2 − 12 πr2 = 12 πr2 . This means that X + T = 12 πr2 .

Therefore X + T = X + Z . We conclude that T = Z , so that the areas of the shaded

regions are equal.

Thus the ratio of the area of the region shaded grey to the area of the region shaded black is
1 : 1.
 23

5 The diagram shows three touching circles, R

whose radii are a, b and c, and whose centres b
are at the vertices Q, R and S of a rectangle
c
QRST . The fourth vertex T of the rectangle lies
on the circle with centre S. S Q
Find the ratio a : b : c. a

T
Solution
In the rectangle QRST , we have QR = T S and hence
a + b = c. (5.1)
In the right-angled triangle QRS, by Pythagoras' Theorem, QS = QR + RS . But
2 2 2

QS = a + c, QR = a + b and RS = b + c, therefore
(a + c)2 = (a + b)2 + (b + c)2 . (5.2)
Substituting for a from equation (5.1) into equation (5.2), we get
(2c − b)2 = c2 + (b + c)2 .

Thus

4c2 − 4bc + b2 = c 2 + b2 + 2bc + c2,

so that

2c2 − 6bc = 0

and hence

c (c − 3b) = 0.
But c ≠ 0, hence c = 3b. Again from equation (5.1), a + b = 3b and thus a = 2b.

Therefore the ratio a : b : c = 2 : 1 : 3.

24

6 In the diagram, the number in each cell shows the number of shaded cells
with which it shares an edge or a corner. The total of all the numbers for 2 1 2
this shading pattern is 16. Any shading pattern obtained by rotating or 3 2 2
reflecting this one also has a total of 16.
1 2 1
Prove that there are exactly two shading patterns (not counting rotations
or reflections) which have a total of 17.
Solution
Whenever a cell is shaded, one is added to all the cells with which it shares an edge or
corner. So consider an alternative numbering system: in each shaded cell write the
number of cells with which it shares an edge or corner; leave each unshaded cell blank.
For example, for the shading pattern given in the question we obtain:

5
8
3
This is equivalent to the original numbering system; in particular, the total of all the
numbers is the same.

Now a shaded corner cell has 3 adjacent cells; a shaded edge cell has 5 adjacent cells; the
shaded central cell has 8 adjacent cells. Thus the total of all the numbers for a shading
pattern is made up solely by adding multiples of 3, 5 and 8.

For a 3 × 3 diagram the available numbers are therefore: four 3s, four 5s and one 8.

If the 8 is used, a remaining total of 17 − 8 = 9 is required. The only way to attain 9 is

to use three 3s.

If the 8 is not used, since 17 is not a multiple of 3 at least one 5 is needed. Now
17 − 1 × 5 = 12, 17 − 2 × 5 = 7 and 17 − 3 × 5 = 2, but neither 7 nor 2 is a multiple of 3. So the
only possibility is to use one 5 and then a remaining total of 12 is required. The only way to
attain 12 is to use four 3s.

Thus the only possibilities are: 3, 3, 3, 3, 5 and 3, 3, 3, 8. Both of these are possible
using the available numbers. What are the corresponding shading patterns?
3 5 3 3 3
8
3 3 3
The diagrams above give examples of the only possible shading pattern for each set of
numbers—all others are rotations of one of these. In the first case, the four corners are
shaded to obtain four 3s, then there is only one way, up to rotation, to shade an edge cell
to obtain the 5. In the second case, the centre is shaded to obtain the 8, then there is only
one way, up to rotation, to shade three corner cells to obtain three 3s.

Therefore there are exactly two shading patterns with a total of 17.