State Math Contest 2024 Junior Level Solutions
Instructions:
Calculators, cell phones and other computational devices are not permitted (you can only use
pens, pencils and paper to work on your answers, and then mark your answers with a number
two pencil on the answer sheet).
Correct answers are worth 5 points. Unanswered questions will be given 1 point. Incorrect
answers will be worth 0 points. This means that it will not, on average, increase your score to
guess answers randomly.
Fill in the answers on the answer sheet using a number two pencil.
Time limit: 120 minutes.
When you are finished, please give the exam and any scratch paper to the test administrator.
Good luck!
1. Andrew sold a lamp for 5 dollars less than the listed price and received 10% of the sale revenue
as a commission. Brittany sold the same type of lamp (with the same listed price) for 20 dollars
less than the listed price, but she received 20% of the sale revenue as a commission. Assuming
there was no sales tax, if both Andrew and Brittany received the same commission then what
was the listed price of the lamp in dollars?
A. 28
B. 32
C. 35
D. 40
E. 45
10 20
Solution: Let x be the price of the lamp. Then (x−5) = (x−20), so x−5 = 2x−40,
100 100
and thus x = 35.
2. A polynomial of degree 4 whose coefficients are real numbers has zeros 2, 3 and 1 − i. If the
coefficient of x4 is 1, what is the coefficient of x3 ?
A. -22
B. -5
C. -7
D. 18
E. 12
Solution: Since the coefficients are real, the complex zeroes come in conjugate pairs, so the
polynomial has form C(x − 2)(x − 3)(x − (1 − i))(x − (1 + i)). Since the leading coefficient
is one, C = 1, so this becomes (x2 − 5x + 6)(x2 − 2x + 2) = x4 − 7x3 + 18x2 − 22x + 12.
3. Let f be a function so that f (x + y) = f (x)f (y) for all integers x and y. If f (1) = 2 then find
f (0) + f (1) + f (2) + .. + f (9).
A. 1033
B. 1023
C. 1212
D. 1022
E. 1134
Solution: If x = 0 and y = 1 we have f (x)f (y) = f (0+1) = 2, so f (0) = 1. If we know f (k)
for a given positive integer k then f (k + 1) = f (k)f (1) = 2f (k) which means that f (n) = 2n
9
X 1(1 − 210 )
for every integer n. Hence, f (0) + f (1) + f (2) + .. + f (9) = 2i = = 1023.
i=0
1−2
4. A total of 50 athletes are competing in a track and field contest, each competing in at least
one of only three available events. One is the fifty meter dash, one is the hammer throw, and
the last is the pole vault. There are 31 competitors in the fifty meter dash, 24 in the hammer
throw and 23 in the pole vaulting competition. There are 13 in both the fifty meter dash and
the hammer throw, 11 in both the fifty meter dash and the pole vault, and 9 in both the pole
vault and the hammer throw. How many athletes are competing in all three events?
A. 0
B. 3
C. 4
D. 7
E. 5
Solution: Let F, H, P denote the sets of athletes competing in fifty meter dash, hammer
throw, and pole vaulting respectively. Then
|F ∪ H ∪ P | = |F | + |H| + |P | − |F ∩ H| − |H ∩ P | − |F ∩ P | + |F ∩ H ∩ P |.
Substituting the known cardinalities, we have
50 = 31 + 24 + 23 − (13 + 11 + 9) + |F ∩ H ∩ P |,
so |F ∩ H ∩ P | = 5.
5. If x2024 is divided by x − 2 then what is the remainder?
A. 0
B. 1
C. 16320
D. 22024
E. x
Solution: Using the Remainder Theorem, the remainder when a polynomial P (x) is divided
by x − c is always P (c). In this case, P (2) = 22024 .
Page 2
6. What is the sum of all positive integers less than 1000 that are divisible by 7 but not by 5?
A. 70771
B. 71071
C. 70071
D. 56861
E. 92150
Solution: The positive integers divisible by seven less than 1000 form a finite arithmetic
sequence whose sum is 7 + 14 + 21 + 28 + · · · + 994 = 7(1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + 142) = 7(143)(71). We
then have to subtract from this sum the sum of all of the numbers which are also divisible
by five, which is 7(5 + 10 + 15 + · · · + 140) = 7(5)(1 + 2 + · · · + 28) = 7(5)(14)(29). The
difference is 7(10153 − 2030) = 71071 − 14210 = 56861.
7. Let f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y) + 2xy − 2 for all real numbers x, and let f (1) = 6. Find f (5).
A. 25
B. 13
C. 48
D. 56
E. 42
Solution: We have 6 = f (0+1) = f (0)+f (1)−2, so f (0) = 2. Also, f (1+1) = f (1)+f (1) =
12 and f (3) = f (2 + 1) = f (2) + f (1) + 2 = 20, and f (4) = f (3 + 1) = f (3) + f (1) + 4 = 30
and f (5) = f (4 + 1) = f (4) + f (1) + 6 = 42.
Note that there is such a function, f (x + y) = (x + 1)(x + 2), since f (x) + f (y) + 2xy − 2 =
x2 + 3x + 2 + y 2 + 3y + 2 + 2xy − 2 = x2 + 3x + 3y + 2xy + 2 = ((x + y) + 1)((x + y) + 2).
8. The rectangle shown has an area of 36. B, C, D are the midpoints of the sides of the rectangle
shown. The point A is three fifths of the distance from the bottom of the side shown. Find the
area of the shaded region.
A
C
A. 9
D
B. 24
Page 3
C. 18
D. 12
E. 27
Solution: First name half of the width of the rectangle w and name half of the height of
the rectangle l. Let P be the lower right vertex of the rectangle and let Q be the vertex at
the upper left-hand corner of the triangle. Let h be the height of A from the base of the
rectangle (so 2l − h is the distance from the top). Then the area enclosed by △ACP is lw,
wh
the area enclosed by triangle △AP D is , and the area enclosed by triangle △ABQ is
2
w
(2l − h) . Adding these together we get that the area of the shaded region is 2lw, which
2
is half of 4lw, the area of the rectangle. Since this rectangle has area 36, the area of the
shaded region is 18. Notice that this solution would have worked the same way no matter
where A was positioned along the left side of the rectangle.
9. Out of a class of ten people, three people must be chosen to participate in an athletic event and
a fourth person must be chosen to go along to help with the equipment and registration as a
team manager. How many ways can a manager and a set of three participants be selected from
the class of ten people?
A. 240
B. 1200
C. 840
D. 210
E. 720
Solution: There are ten ways to choose the manager, and then nine choose three ways to
(10)(9!)
choose the set of participants, for a total of = 840 ways to choose the manager and
(6!)(3!)
the participants. We could think of it as a permutation problem choosing four individuals
with three identical from a set of ten.
10. If 6x + 5y = 4, find 64x 32y .
A. 16
B. 32
C. 4
D. 64
E. 128
Solution: 64x 32y = 26x 25y = 26x+5y = 24 = 16.
Page 4
11. Find the units digit of 72031 × 31202 × 6999 .
A. 0
B. 1
C. 2
D. 7
E. 8
Solution: We use modular arithmetic. First, note that raising six to any positive integer
power has a ones digit of 6 (which is congruent to -4 mod ten, which is slightly easier to
multiply by). Also, 33 = 9 which is congruent to −1 mod ten. Hence, 31202 has the same
ones digit as (−1)1101 which is the same as −1 mod ten (giving a ones digit of 9, but -1
is simpler to multiply by). Next, note that 72 = 49 which is congruent to −1 mod ten, so
72030 is congruent to (−1)1015 = −1 mod ten. Multiplying by another 7 we get that 72031
is congruent to −7 mod ten, so the ones digit is 3. Multiplying (3)(−1)(−4) = 12 which is
congruent to 2 mod ten, which means that the units digit is 2.
12. A pump can fill a swimming pool in 8 hours. A second pump can fill the same pool in 10 hours.
When the pool’s drain is open, the (completely filled) pool drains in 20 hours. Assume both
pumps are operating and the drain is open, and each pump adds water at a constant rate and
water is also removed through the drain at a constant rate. How long will it take to fill the pool?
4
A. 5 hours
7
2
B. 5 hours
7
3
C. 5 hours
7
1
D. 5 hours
7
5
E. 5 hours
7
Solution: The rate of water pumped into the pool in pools per hour for the first pump is
1 1 1
, for the second pump is and for the drain is − , so the total ”pools per hour” rate
8 10 20
1 1 1 7
of filling the pool if both pumps and the drain are active is + − = pools per
10 8 20 40
40 5
hour. Thus, the number of hours to fill the pool is = 5 + hours.
7 7
Page 5
13. A fair coin is flipped three times. What is the probability that two or more heads are flipped
given that one of the flips was a head?
1
A.
2
2
B.
3
1
C.
3
5
D.
7
4
E.
7
Solution: Given that we know at least one head has been flipped, the possible outcomes are
HHH, HHT, HT H, T HH, HT T, T HT, T T H. Of those seven equally probable outcomes,
four have at least two flipped heads.
r r
√ √
q q
14. Let a = 6+ 6+ 6 + ..., and b = 12 − 12 − 12 − .... Find ab.
A. 9
B. 6
√
C. 48
D. Infinity
E. 8
√
Solution: First, note that a = 6 + a, which means that a2 = 6 + a and a√ 2
− a − 6 = 0,
so (a − 3)(a + 2) = 0 and therefore a = 3 (since a is positive). Likewise, b = 12 − b which
means that b2 = 12 − b, so b2 + b − 12 = 0 and therefore (b − 3)(b + 4) = 0, so b = 3 also.
Hence ab = 9.
15. Which of the following numbers is the smallest?
√3
A. 2 10
3π
B.
2
√
C. 3 2
D. log5 4000
√6
E. 6000
√
3
√
Solution: Taking the sixth power of 2 10√ gives 6400, taking the √sixth power of 3 2 gives
6
729 ∗ 8 = 5832. Taking the sixth power of 6000 gives 6000, so 3 2 is the smallest of the
√ 3π
three. Furthermore, (1.5)2 = 2.25 > 2, so 3 2 < 3 ∗ (1.5) = 4.5 < since π > 3. Finally,
2 √
5
log5 4000 > log5 3125 = log5 5 = 5. Thus, the smallest of these five numbers is 3 2.
Page 6
16. Find the statement which is logically equivalent to the statement “If either of A or B are true
then it follows that it is not true that both C and D are false.”
A. C is true or A is false
B. If C is true then A is false.
C. Either C and D are both true or A and B are both false.
D. Either it is true that C is true or D is true, or it is true that A is false and
B is false.
E. Either it is true that C is true or D is true, or it is true that A is false or B is false.
Solution: The implication P → Q is equivalent to ¬P ∨ Q logically. So, we can write the
original statement as ¬(A ∨ B) ∨ ¬(¬C ∧ ¬D). Since ¬(A ∨ B) is equivalent to ¬A ∧ ¬B
and ¬(¬C ∧ ¬D) is equivalent to C ∨ D, this is the same as D.
17. Which of the following is equivalent to sin(2 tan−1 (x))
x
A. 2
x +1
2x
B. 2
x +1
2x
C. √
x2 + 1
x2
D. 2
x +1
x
E. √ .
2
x +1
Solution: First, observe that sin(2 tan−1 (x)) = 2 sin(tan−1 (x)) cos(tan−1 (x)). Then, we
x
look at the triangle below with the angle θ whose tangent is x and see sin(θ) = √
1 + x2
1 2x
and cos(θ) = √ . Plugging in yields 2 .
1 + x2 x +1
p
x2 + 1
x
Page 7
18. Three disks of radius one are mutually externally tangent to each other. Find the area enclosed
by the circumscribed equilateral triangle containing the three disks.
A. 9
√
3 3
B. 4+
2
9
C.
2
√
D. 4 3+3
√
E. 6+4 3
Solution: Let A, B, and C denote the centers of the three disks starting with A at the
lower left and proceeding counterclockwise. Let D, E, and F be the vertices of the triangle
starting with D at the lower left and proceeding counterclockwise. Let M and N be the
points at which the lower two circles intersect the bottom edge of the triangle with M on
π
the left. We note that M N = 2 because the radii of each circle is one. Angle ∠ADM =
√ 6
π
which means that length DM = cot = 3. Hence, the length of a side of the equilateral
6 √
√ 3 √ √
triangle is 2 + 2 3. This makes the area (2 + 2 3)2 = 6 + 4 3.
4
19. Find (log2 5)(log5 7)(log7 16).
A. log70 560
B. 5
C. 4
D. 8
E. log2 560
log2 5 log2 7 log2 16
Solution: Using the change of base formula we obtain = log2 16 = 4.
log2 2 log2 5 log2 7
Page 8
20. A triangle △ABC has side lengths AC = 27 and AB = 36. Let M be the midpoint of line
segment BC. Let F be a point on line segment AB and E be a point on line segment AC so
that AF = 3AE. Let G be the point of intersection of the line segments EF and AM . Find
FG
.
GE
F
M
G
A E C
A. 2
3
B.
2
9
C.
4
4
D.
3
E. Cannot be uniquely determined
Solution: First draw a line parallel to EF passing through B and let P be the point of
AF
intersection of that line with AC. Since △AF E is similar to △ABP , the ratio 3 = =
AE
AB 36
= , which means that AP = 12. Let Q = AM ∩ BP .
AP AP
Observe that sin(θ) = sin(π − θ) for any angle θ, so sin(∠AQP ) = sin(∠AQB) and
sin(∠AM C) = sin(∠AM B), and since M is the midpoint of CB, we have M C = M B.
MC 27 MB
Next, we use the law of sines to see that = and =
sin(∠M AC) sin(∠AM C) sin(∠M AB)
MC 27
36 36 sin(∠M AC) sin(∠M AB) sin(∠AM C) 3
= . Hence, MB
= = 36 = .
sin(∠AM B) sin(∠AM C) sin(∠M AB)
sin(∠M AC) sin(∠AM C)
4
BQ FG
Next, observe that since △AF E is similar to △ABP , the ratio = . By the law of
QP GE
QP 12 BQ 36 36
sines, = and = = . Thus,
sin(∠M AC) ! sin(∠AQP ) sin(∠M AB) ! sin(∠AQB) sin(∠AQP )
BQ 36
BQ sin(∠M AB) sin(∠M AB) sin(∠AQP ) 3 9
= QP
= 12 = .
QP sin(∠M AC)
sin(∠M AC) sin(∠AQP )
4 4
Page 9
21. A certain diet requires a person to eat exactly 28 grams of fiber, 11 grams of fat, and 14 grams
of protein per day. Food A contains 2 grams of fiber, 1 gram of fat, and 2 grams of protein
per serving, and food B contains 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of fat, and 2 grams of protein per
serving, and food C contains 4 grams of fiber, 1 gram of fat, and 1 gram of protein per serving.
If a person eats only those three foods on this diet, then how many servings of food C must the
person eat each day?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
E. 5
Solution: Let a, b, c be the number of servings consumed of foods A, B, C. Equating the
amounts of fiber, fat, and protein gives us the system:
2a + 3b + 4c = 28
a + 2b + c = 11
2a + 2b + c = 14
To solve the system, we can add negative the second equation to the third to get a = 3.
Substituting this into the first and second equations gives 3b + 4c = 22 and 2b + c = 8.
Then adding negative four times the second of these new equations to the first gives us
−5b = −10, so b = 2, which means that c = 4.
22. Anna and Bill play a game. Anna goes first and rolls a fair six-sided die. If she rolls a one or
two then she wins. Otherwise, Bill goes and flips a fair coin. If he flips a head then he wins.
Otherwise, Anna goes again, rolling her die and winning on a one or a two. If she does not win
then Bill goes again, winning on a flip of heads with his coin and so on. What is the probability
that Anna wins the game?
2
A.
3
1
B.
3
1
C.
2
D. 0.6
E. 0.4
1
Solution: The probability that Anna wins on her first roll is . The probability that
3
Anna
does
notwin and then Bill does not win and then Anna wins on the second roll is
2 1 1 1
= 2 . The probability that Anna and Bill fail to win twice and then Anna
3 2 3 3
2 1 2 1 1 1
wins on her third roll is = 3 . Continuing, the probability that
3 2 3 2 3 3
1
Anna and Bill fail to win n − 1 times and then Anna wins on her nth roll is n . Thus, the
3
1
1 1 1 1
probability that Anna wins is + 2 + 3 + . . . = 3 1 = .
3 3 3 1− 3 2
Page 10
2024 2024 2024 x−1 y−1 z−1
23. Let x, y, z be real numbers so that + + = 2025. Find + + .
x+1 y+1 z+1 x+1 y+1 z+1
2022
A.
2024
2021
B.
2024
2019
C.
2024
2020
D.
2024
2017
E.
2024
1 1 1 2025 x−1 x+1−2
Solution: First, note + + = . Next, observe that = =
x+1 y+1 z+1 2024 x+1 x+1
2 y−1 2 z−1 2
1− and likewise = 1− and = 1− . Thus, we have
x+1 y+1 y+1 z +1 z + 1
x−1 y−1 z−1 1 1 1 2025 2022
+ + =3−2 + + =3−2 = .
x+1 y+1 z+1 x+1 y+1 z+1 2024 2024
24. A triangle has side lengths 5, 6, and 7. Find the area enclosed by the triangle.
A. 12
√
B. 8 2
√
C. 5 3
√
D. 6 6
E. 6
Solution: Using Heron’s formula,
p √ since (5 + 6 + 7)/2 = 9, the area of the triangle is
9(9 − 5)(9 − 6)(9 − 7) = 6 6. The law of cosines would also yield a solution.
25. Let n! = n(n − 1)(n − 2) . . . (1) for any non-negative integer n. Find the number of consecutive
zeros at the end of the number 250!.
A. 12
B. 50
C. 62
D. 125
E. 184
Solution: Since the power of 2 in the expansion of a factorial is always at least as large as
the power of five, the number of zeroes, which corresponds to the largest power of ten that
can be factored from the number, is the same as the power of five. The number of times
five occurs as a factor of (250)(249)(248) . . . (1) can be determined by adding the power of
five in each factor. Only the factors ending in a five or a zero are divisible by five, which are
250, 245, 240, . . . , 5 (a total of 50 numbers). Those divisible by 25 are 250, 225, 200, . . . , 25
(a total of 10 numbers), and the numbers divisible by 125 are just 125 and 250, for a total
of two numbers. Thus, the sum of all powers of five of all factors is 50+10+2=62, so the
number of zeroes at the end of 250! is 62.
Page 11
26. Let n be the positive integer written with a string of 2024 consecutive 1’s for the digits, so
n = 111...11, a string of 2024 1’s. Of the following, which is the largest number that divides n?
A. 11
B. 1111
C. 11111111 (eight 1’s)
D. 1111111111111111 (16 1’s)
E. 11111111111111111111111111111111 (32 1’s)
Solution: The number 2024 = 8(253) = (23 )(11)(23). If the number of 1’s for a number
m = 111...11 divides 2024 then m divides n. In particular, if m is a string of eight 1’s then
252
X
n = m + (108 )m + (1016 )m + · · · + (102016 )m = 108i m. Let k be an integer whose base
i=0
ten representation is a string of a number j 1’s that does not divide 2024. If j > 2024 then
certainly k cannot divide n. Otherwise, subtract 102024−j k from n to leave an integer whose
base ten representation is a string of 2024 − j 1’s. If there are fewer than j 1’s remaining in
this representation then this is the remainder when n is divided by k. Otherwise, subtract
102024−2j k from what remains. The number of ones remaining is 2024 − 2j. Continuing, we
are eventually left with a number r whose base ten representation is a string of 1’s of length
more than zero and less than j, meaning that r is the remainder when n is divided by k, so
k does not divide n. Since 16 and 32 do not divide 2024, the answer is C.
27. If (8x)log2 3 − (2x)log2 9 = 0, then what is log2 (x)?
1
A.
2
B. 1
C. 2
D. 4
E. Undefined
Solution: Since (8x)log2 3 = (2x)log2 9 , taking the natural logarithm of both sides gives us
(log2 3)(ln 8x) = (log2 9)(ln 2x). Since 9 = 32 this means (log2 3)(ln 8x) = 2(log2 3)(ln 2x),
which implies that ln 8x = 2 ln 2x and so ln 8 + ln x = 2(ln 2 + ln x), which means that
3 ln 2 + ln x = 2 ln 2 + 2 ln x, so ln x = ln 2, and hence x = 2. Thus, log2 x = 1.
n n!
28. Let refer to if k ≤ n and n and k are non-negative integers (where n! =
k (n − k)!k!
9 9
n(n − 1)(n − 2) . . . (1) if n ≥ 1 and 0! = 1). Which of the following is equal to + +
1 2
9 9 9 9 9 9 9
+ + + + + + ?
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A. 511
B. 1024
C. 510
D. 512
E. 720
Page 12
9 9
X 9 X 9
Solution: Using the Binomial Theorem, (1 + 1)9 = (1)i (1)9−i = , so 512 −
i=0
i i=0
i
9
= 511 is the desired sum.
0
9
Alternately, there
are 2 = 512 subsets of a set of nine objects, only one of which has no
9
elements. Since is the set of subsets with exactly k elements, the sum given is the total
k
number of subsets with at least one element. Hence, the sum is 512 − 1 = 511.
29. A car has traveled for two hours at an average speed of 40 miles per hour. How fast must the
car travel for the next hour so that the average speed will be 60 miles per hour for the entire
three-hour trip?
A. 80 miles per hour
B. 120 miles per hour
C. 90 miles per hour
D. 100 miles per hour
E. There is no speed at which the car could travel that would result in that average speed
Solution: The distance traveled in the first two hours is 80 miles. For the average speed
over three hours to be 60 miles per hour, the distance traveled must be 180 miles so that
180
the average speed is = 60 miles per hour. So, the car must travel another 100 miles in
3
the last hour, meaning that it must travel at 100 miles per hour.
√
30. Find the distance from the graph of y = 2x to the point (3, 0) (meaning the smallest distance
from a point on the graph to the point (3, 0)).
A. 3
√
B. 2 2
√
C. 1 + 2
√
D. 5
√
E. 2
√
Solution:
r The distance from a point on the graph of y = 2x to (3, 0) is
√ 2
2
(x − 3) + 2x − 0 . This is minimized when its square D = (x−3)2 +2x is minimized,
subject to the constraint that x ≥ 0. Since D = x2 − 4x + 9 is smallest at the vertex whose x
value
p is 2 (which
√ is greater than zero and falls within the constraint), the minimum distance
is D(2) = 5.
Page 13
