BMT 2022 Algebra Test November 5, 2022
Time limit: 60 minutes.
Instructions: This test contains 10 short answer questions. All answers must be expressed in
simplest form unless specified otherwise. Only answers written inside the boxes on the answer
sheet will be considered for grading.
No calculators.
1. Define an operation ♢ as a♢b = 12a − 10b. Compute the value of ((((20♢22)♢22)♢22)♢22).
2. The equation
4x − 5 · 2x+1 + 16 = 0
has two integer solutions for x. Find their sum.
3. Suppose we have four real numbers a, b, c, d such that a is nonzero, a, b, c form a geometric
sequence, in that order, and b, c, d form an arithmetic sequence, in that order. Compute the
smallest possible value of ad . (A geometric sequence is one where every succeeding term can be
written as the previous term multiplied by a constant, and an arithmetic sequence is one where
every succeeeding term can be written as the previous term added to a constant.)
4. Find all real x such that
⌊x ⌈x⌉⌋ = 2022.
Express your answer in interval notation. (Here, ⌊m⌋ is defined as the greatest integer less than
or equal to m. For example, ⌊3⌋ = 3 and ⌊−4.25⌋ = −5. In addition, ⌈m⌉ is defined as the least
integer greater than or equal to m. For example, ⌈2⌉ = 2 and ⌈−3.25⌉ = −3.)
5. For real numbers B, M , and T , we have B 2 + M 2 + T 2 = 2022 and B + M + T = 72. Compute
the sum of the minimum and maximum possible values of T .
6. The degree-6 polynomial f satisfies f (7) − f (1) = 1, f (8) − f (2) = 16, f (9) − f (3) = 81,
f (10) − f (4) = 256 and f (11) − f (5) = 625. Compute f (15) − f (−3).
7. Let r, s, and t be the distinct roots of x3 − 2022x2 + 2022x + 2022. Compute
1 1 1
2
+ 2
+ .
1−r 1−s 1 − t2
8. Given
x1 x2 · · · x2022 = 1
(x1 + 1) (x2 + 1) · · · (x2022 + 1) = 2
..
.
(x1 + 2021) (x2 + 2021) · · · (x2022 + 2021) = 22021 ,
compute
(x1 + 2022) (x2 + 2022) · · · (x2022 + 2022) .
√ √
9. We define a sequence x1 = 3, x2 = −1, x3 = 2 − 3, and for all n ≥ 4
(xn + xn−3 )(1 − x2n−1 x2n−2 ) = 2xn−1 (1 + x2n−2 ).
Suppose m is the smallest positive integer for which xm is undefined. Compute m.
BMT 2022 Algebra Test November 5, 2022
10. Let p, q, and r be the roots of the polynomial f (t) = t3 − 2022t2 + 2022t − 337. Given
2022 − q 2022 − r
x = (q − 1) +
r−1 p−1
2022 − r 2022 − p
y = (r − 1) +
p−1 q−1
2022 − p 2022 − q
z = (p − 1) +
q−1 r−1
compute xyz − qrx − rpy − pqz.