1
ASSIGNMENT
1. Compute integer x such that x23 =27368747340080916343.
2. Simplify 2003
2 11 − 3 5 , 4006 89 + 12 55 .
3. If x, y and z are real numbers such that 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 2 x − 4 y + 2 xz − 5 , find the maximum possible
value of x − y + z .
4. A rubber band is 4 inches long. An ant begins at the left end. Every minute, the ant walks one inch
along rightwards along the rubber band, but then the band is stretched (uniformly) by one inch. For
what value of n will the ant reach the right end during the nth minute?
5. How may real solutions are there to the equation x −2 −2 −2 = x −3 −3 −3 ?
6. For how many integers a (1 a 200 ) is the number a a a square?
7. A math professor stands up in front of a room containing 100 very smart math students and says,
"Each of you has to write down an integer between 0 and 100, inclusive, to guess 'two-thirds of the
average of all the responses.' Each student who guesses the highest integer that is not higher than
two-thirds of the average of all responses will receive a prize." If among all the students it is
common knowledge that everyone will write down the best response, and there is no communication
between students, what single integer should each of the 100 students write down?
8. Count how many 8-digit members there are that contain exactly four nines as digits.
9. A sequence s0 , s1 , s2 , s3 ,..... is defined by s0 = s1 = 1 and, for every positive integer
n, s2 n = sn , s4 n +1 = s2 n + , s4 n −1 = s2 n −1 + s22n −1 / sn −1 . What is the value of s1000 ?
10. The real function f has the property that, whenever a, b, n are positive integers such that a + b = 2n ,
the equation f ( a ) + f ( b ) = n 2 holds. What is f ( 2002 ) ?
2
Answer
1. (7) 2. (-1) 3. (4) 4. (7) 5. (6) 6. (107)
7. (0) 8. (433755) 9. (720) 10. (96)
Solutions
1. Compute integer x such that x23 =27368747340080916343.
Ans, 7
Sol.
2. Simplify 2003
2 11 − 3 5 , 4006 89 + 12 55 .
Ans. -1
Sol.
3. If x, y and z are real numbers such that 2 x2 + y 2 + z 2 = 2 x − 4 y + 2 xz − 5 , find the maximum possible
value of x − y + z .
Ans. 4
Sol.
4. A rubber band is 4 inches long. An ant begins at the left end. Every minute, the ant walks one inch
along rightwards along the rubber band, but then the band is stretched (uniformly) by one inch. For
what value of n will the ant reach the right end during the nth minute?
Ans. 7
3
Sol.
5. How may real solutions are there to the equation x −2 −2 −2 = x −3 −3 −3 ?
Ans. 6
Sol.
6. For how many integers a (1 a 200 ) is the number a a a square?
Ans. 107
Sol.
7. A math professor stands up in front of a room containing 100 very smart math students and says,
"Each of you has to write down an integer between 0 and 100, inclusive, to guess 'two-thirds of the
average of all the responses.' Each student who guesses the highest integer that is not higher than
two-thirds of the average of all responses will receive a prize." If among all the students it is
common knowledge that everyone will write down the best response, and there is no communication
between students, what single integer should each of the 100 students write down?
Ans. 0
Sol.
4
8. Count how many 8-digit members there are that contain exactly four nines as digits.
Ans. 433755
Sol.
9. A sequence s0 , s1 , s2 , s3 ,..... is defined by s0 = s1 = 1 and, for every positive integer
n, s2 n = sn , s4 n +1 = s2 n + , s4 n −1 = s2 n −1 + s22n −1 / sn −1 . What is the value of s1000 ?
Ans. 720
Sol.
10. The real function f has the property that, whenever a, b, n are positive integers such that a + b = 2n ,
the equation f ( a ) + f ( b ) = n 2 holds. What is f ( 2002 ) ?
Ans. 96
Sol.
