GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

SOLUTIONS
2009
c Australian Mathematics Trust

PROBLEM 1
Complete the magic pentagon by putting numbers in the empty circles so
that the sum of the three numbers along each of the sides of the pentagon
equals 100. Show that there is only one solution to this problem.
................ ................. .................
... ... ... .. ... ..
.... ..................... .....................
...
............. ..
... 21
...
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..
. .
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..
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................
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... .. ... ..
10
.... .....
............
. 32
...
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.
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... . ..... .
56
... .. 47
... ..
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.... .... ......... ......................
........ .......
..
... ..
...
.... .....
...........

SOLUTION 1
Let x be the number that is supposed to be put in the circle which is
between the circles with numbers 10 and 21.
Then the number to be put in the circle between the circles containing
21 and 32 has to be equal to 100 − 21 − x = 79 − x since the sum of the
three numbers along each of the sides of the pentagon equals 100.
1
Therefore the number in the circle between the circles containing 32 and
47 has to be equal to 100 − 32 − (79 − x) = x − 11.
Hence the number in the circle between the circles containing 47 and 56
must be equal to 100 − 47 − (x − 11) = 64 − x.
Hence the last empty circle must contain 100 − 56 − (64 − x) = x − 20.
1
2 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

Thus we see that one of the sides of the pentagon contains circles with
numbers 10, x and x − 20. Hence we obtain the equation

10 + x + x − 20 = 100. 1

Hence 2x = 110 which implies x = 55. Therefore we can calculate the

other numbers and obtain the following answer.

................. .................. ........

..... ......
.... ....................... ..................... ..
..55
...
................
.. ..21
....
................
.
. ..
... 24
................
..
.
.. ...
..
. .
.. ..
.. .
................. .................
...
.. .. ... ..
.. 10 .
. ... 32 .
..
.... ..... ...
.......... .................
. .
... ..
..
.
.. .
............ ...............
.... ..... ... ..
.. .... ..
... 35 .... 44
.. ..
.... .....
........... ..... .. ......................
.
...
........... ...... . .
.
..... ............ .
. ... .. ..
... . ...
56
.. ... .. 47 ..
..
...... .......... ..
....... .... ....... .......................
........ ........
.. ..
.... ..
.... 9 ..
...............
.

The solution shows that there is only one value of x that satisfies
the conditions of the problem and therefore the values of the other four
numbers are unique. 1
Note. A computer program or spreadsheet must explain how it has been
constructed for full marks (no explanation gets 1 mark - the last). Trial
and error or similar solutions which do not show that the answer is the
only one gain 1 mark.
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 3

PROBLEM 2
ABCD is a parallelogram. G is the midpoint of AD and F is the mid-
point of AG. The area of the parallelogram ABCD is 200 cm2 . Find the
area of the quadrilateral BCGF .

SOLUTION 2
B..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... C
.. ... ............ ..
.. ... ............. ......... ..... .
... .. ....... .......... ..... ...
.. .. ....... ......... ....
.. ... ...... ....
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..
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. .. ..
.. .. ....... ......... ..... ..
..
. ..
. ....... ................. ...
...... ...
...... ... ... ..
.
.. .. ....... ......... ..... ..
..
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... .. ..................... .....
..
..
..
. ... ........ ............ ..... .
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... .. .......... ..
..
...
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...
...
....
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. .
.
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... ................. ..
. ... ..... ....... ...
... . .. .. .
.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A F G D

Draw AC and BD.

Since the triangles ACD and CAB are congruent, |ACD| = |CAB|.
1
Hence |ACD| = |ABCD| = 100 cm2 .
2
1
Similarly, |ABD| = |ABCD| = 100 cm2 . 1
2
The triangles GCD and ACD have a common altitude from C and
1
GD = AD.
2
1
Hence |GCD| = |ACD| = 50 cm2 . 1
2
The triangles ABF and ABD have a common altitude from B and
1
AF = AD.
4
1
Hence |ABF | = |ABD| = 25 cm2 . 1
4
Therefore

|BCGF | = |ABCD| − |GCD| − |ABF |

= 200 cm2 − 50 cm2 − 25 cm2 = 125 cm2 .

Thus |BCGF | = 125 cm2 . 1

4 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 3
AX
In a triangle ABC , X is a point on AC such that = 3 and
XC
 AXB = 70◦ . Find the length of AC if  ABC = 110◦ and BC = 6 cm.

SOLUTION 3
B
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..
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.....
...
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.
....
.....
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.
.....
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.
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....
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...... ... ....
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........ . .....
.
....... ..
.
....
.....
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. ...
................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
A X C

Since  AXB = 70◦ , we have  BXC = 180◦ −  AXB = 180◦ − 70◦ =

110◦ .
Hence  ABC =  BXC . 1
Thus in the triangles ABC and BXC ,
 ABC =  BXC and  C is their common angle.
Hence ABC and BXC are similar triangles. 1
AC BC
Therefore = .
BC XC
Now let XC = x . Then AX = 3x and AC = AX + XC = 4x as
AX
= 3.
XC
4x 6 cm
Hence = as BC = 6 cm. 1
6 cm x
Therefore 4x2 = 36 cm2 which yields x2 = 9 cm2 .
Hence x = 3 cm and AC = 4x = 12 cm.
Thus AC = 12 cm. 1
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 5

PROBLEM 4
Find all three digit numbers N such that N − 14 is divisible by 7, N − 24
is divisible by 8 and N − 36 is divisible by 9.

SOLUTION 4
Since N − 14 is divisible 7 and 14 is divisible by 7, N is also divisible by
7.
1
Similarly N is divisible by 8 as N − 24 is divisible by 8 and 24 is divisible
by 8,
and also N is divisible by 9 as N − 36 is divisible by 9 and 36 is divisible
by 9. 1
Thus N is divisible by each of the numbers 7, 8 and 9.
Hence N is divisible by 7 × 8 × 9 = 504. 1
Since there is only one three digit number that is divisible by 504, there is
only one number N that satisfies the conditions of the problem, namely
N = 504. 1
Note. A computer program or spreadsheet must explain how it has been
constructed for full marks (no explanation gets 1 mark - the last). Trial
and error or similar solutions which do not show that the answer is the
only one gain 1 mark.
6 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 5
In a parallelogram ABCD, AB = 15 cm and BC = 14 cm. The foot H
of the perpendicular dropped from B to AD is between A and D. Find
the length of the diagonal BD if BH = 12 cm.

SOLUTION 5
B C
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.
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.
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.
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..
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.
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.
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.....................................................................................................................................
A H D

Since BH is perpendicular to AD, we have  AHB = 90◦.

Therefore by Pythagoras’ theorem, we obtain AH 2 + BH 2 = AB 2 .
1
Hence AH 2 = AB 2 − BH 2 = 225 cm2 − 144 cm2 = 81 cm2 .
Therefore AH = 9 cm. 1
Since ABCD is a parallelogram, AD = BC = 14 cm.
Hence HD = AD − AH = 14 cm − 9 cm = 5 cm. 1
Therefore by Pythagoras’ theorem applied to the triangle BHD, we have
BD2 = BH 2 + HD2 = 144 cm2 + 25 cm 2 = 169 cm2 .
Hence BD = 13 cm. 1
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 7

PROBLEM 6
X, Y and Z are positive integers such that X 2 + Y 2 + Z 2 = 390. What
is the value of X + Y + Z? Find all possible solutions.

SOLUTION 6
Since 202 = 400 and X 2 + Y 2 + Z 2 = 390 < 400, we see that X < 20,
Y < 20 and Z < 20. 1
Set up a spreadsheet with 1√to 19 down a column (X) and across a row
(Y ). In each cell, calculate 390 − X 2 − Y 2 . Look for integer values.
1
The following table lists all values for X, Y and Z such that X 2 + Y 2 +
Z 2 = 390 .

X Y Z X 2 +Y 2 +Z 2 X +Y +Z
1 10 17 390 28
1 17 10 390 28
2 5 19 390 26
2 19 5 390 26
5 2 19 390 26
5 13 14 390 32
5 14 13 390 32
5 19 2 390 26
10 1 17 390 28
10 11 13 390 34
10 13 11 390 34
10 17 1 390 28
11 10 13 390 34
11 13 10 390 34
13 5 14 390 32
13 10 11 390 34
13 11 10 390 34
13 14 5 390 32
14 5 13 390 32
14 13 5 390 32
17 1 10 390 28
17 10 1 390 28
19 2 5 390 26
19 5 2 390 26

1
Thus the possible values of X + Y + Z are 26, 28, 32 and 34. 1
8 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 7
A carpenter has a long rod of length 4 m 83 cm. He needs to cut this
rod into lengths of 161 cm, 23 cm and 7 cm so that he would get at least
one rod of each length and have nothing left over. After a while, the
carpenter managed to solve this problem. How many rods of each length
did he get? Find all possible solutions.

SOLUTION 7
Alternative 1
Let a, b and c be the numbers of rods of lengths 161 cm, 23 cm and 7 cm
respectively that were obtained by the carpenter.
Then the following equation holds:

161a + 23b + 7c = 483. 1

Since 483 = 23 × 7 × 3 and 161 = 23 × 7, we can see that each of 161a,

23b and 483 is divisible by 23.
Hence 7c is divisible by 23 which implies that c is divisible by 23.
Similarly since each of 161a, 7c and 483 is divisible by 7, 23b must be
divisible by 7 which means that b is divisible by 7.
Therefore we have b = 7m and c = 23n as b is divisible by 7 and c is
divisible by 23.
Hence 161a + 161m + 161n = 483 which yields a + m + n = 3. 1
Since none of a, m and c is allowed to be 0, the only solution is a = 1,
m = 1 and n = 1.
Hence a = 1, b = 7 and c = 23. 1
Thus the carpenter obtained one rod of length 161 cm, seven rods of
length 23 cm and twenty three rods of length 7 cm, and this is the only
answer to the problem. 1
Alternative 2
Let a, b and c be the numbers of rods of lengths 161 cm, 23 cm and 7 cm
respectively that were obtained by the carpenter.
Since 161 ×3 = 483 and the carpenter got at least one rod of each length,
we see that either a = 2 or a = 1. 1
If a = 2, then 23b + 7c = 483 − 161 × 2 = 161.
Since both 161 and 7c are divisible by 7, 23b must be divisible by 7.
Hence b ≥ 7 and therefore 23b ≥ 161 which is not possible as c > 0. 1
If a = 1, then 23b + 7c = 322.
Since 322 = 23 × 14, we have 1 ≤ b ≤ 13.
We now check all possible values of b and come to the conclusion that
only b = 7, a = 23 satisfies all the restraints. 1
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 9

Thus the carpenter obtained one rod of length 161 cm, seven rods of
length 23 cm and twenty three rods of length 7 cm, and this is the only
answer to the problem. 1

Note. A computer program or spreadsheet must explain how it has been

constructed for full marks (no explanation gets 1 mark - the last). Trial
and error or similar solutions which do not show that the answer is the
only one gain 1 mark.
10 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 8
Points A and B are on the banks of a river. It takes a motorboat 1 hour
to go down-stream from A to B and 1 hour 30 min to go up-stream from
B to A. How long would it take the motorboat to go from C to D and
back, if C and D are on the shores of a lake and the distance between C
and D is the same as that between A and B?

SOLUTION 8
Let the distance between A and B be d km, the speed of the motorboat
in the lake be u km/h and the speed of the current of the river v km/h.
Then we have
d
u+v = 1
1
and
d
u−v = 1
1.5
as 1 hour 30 min is 1.5 hours.
Hence

2u = (u + v) + (u − v)
d d
= +
1 1.5
5d
= .
3
5d 5d
Thus 2u = which implies u = . 1
3 6
Therefore the trip from C to D and back takes the motorboat
5d 12d
2d ÷ = = 2.4
6 5d
hours.
Thus the answer is 2 hours and 24 minutes. 1
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 11

PROBLEM 9
The Executive Director of the “Smart Solutions” company wishes to
employ 9 new staff members. There are 14 applicants: 4 mathematicians
and 10 accountants. In how many ways can the Executive Director select
9 people if he wants to employ at least one mathematician?

SOLUTION 9
Alternative 1
The group of the nine successful applicants consists of either one math-
ematician and eight accountants or two mathematicians and seven ac-
countants or three mathematicians and six accountants or four mathe-
maticians and five accountants. 1
   
4 10
There are × = 4 × 45 = 180 ways to select a group consisting
1 8
of one mathematician and eight accountants, 1
   
4 10
there are × = 6 × 120 = 720 ways to select a group consisting
2 7
of two mathematicians
    and seven accountants,
4 10
there are × = 4 × 210 = 840 ways to select a group consisting
3 6
of three mathematicians
   and  six accountants,
4 10
and there are × = 1 × 252 = 252 ways to select a group
4 5
consisting of four mathematicians and five accountants. 1
Therefore, there are 180+720+840+252 = 1992 ways to select 9 people.
1
Alternative 2
Let M be the number of ways to select 9 people without knowing how
many of them are mathematicians.
Let N be the number of ways to select 9 people so that all of them are
accountants.
Then the number of ways the executive director can select 9 people so
that at least one of them is a mathematician is M − N . 1
 
14
There are = 2002 ways to select 9 people without knowing how
9
many of them are mathematicians. Hence M = 2002. 1
 
10
There are = 10 ways to select a group consisting of accountants
9
only. Hence N = 10. 1
Therefore, there are M − N = 2002 − 10 = 1992 ways to select 9 people
so that at least one of them is a mathematician. 1
12 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

Note. A computer program solution must explain how it has been con-
structed for full marks (no explanation gets 1 mark - the last).
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 13

PROBLEM 10
Show that 29 × 2099 + 71 × 5664 + 24 × 3755 is divisible by 19.

SOLUTION 10
We have 20 ≡ 1 (mod 19).
Hence 2099 ≡ 199 ≡ 1 (mod 19).
Therefore 29 × 2099 ≡ 29 × 1 ≡ 29 ≡ 10 (mod 19). 1
Also we can see that 56 ≡ −1 (mod 19).
Hence 5664 ≡ (−1)64 ≡ 1 (mod 19).
Therefore 71 × 5664 ≡ 71 × 1 ≡ 71 ≡ 14 (mod 19). 1
Finally, 37 ≡ −1 (mod 19).
Hence 3755 ≡ (−1)55 ≡ −1 ≡ 18 (mod 19).
Therefore 24 × 3755 ≡ 24 × 18 ≡ 14 (mod 19). 1
Hence

29 × 2099 + 71 × 5664 + 24 × 3755 ≡ 10 + 14 + 14 ≡ 38 ≡ 0 (mod 19)

which means that 29 × 2099 + 71 × 5664 + 24 × 3755 is divisible by 19.

1
14 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 11
For the Pan Australian Games the three states at the top of the medals
table (Victoria, S.A. and W.A.) had won a total of 186 medals. Victoria
had won the most gold medals and S.A. had as many gold medals as
bronze medals. Victoria and S.A. won the same number of silver medals.
W.A. had two more silver medals than bronze medals and their gold
medals numbered one more than Victoria’s bronze medals. Victoria had
as many gold medals as the bronze medals of S.A. and W.A. combined
and this number was also three quarters of the total number of medals
won by S.A. The number of gold medals won by the three states was one
less than the total number of medals won by Victoria. How many of each
medal did each state win?

SOLUTION 11
Let a be the number of silver medals won by Victoria.
Let b be the number of gold medals won by S.A.
Let c be the number of bronze medals won by W.A.
Let d be the number of bronze medals won by Victoria.
Then a table can be constructed as shown:
Gold Silver Bronze
Victoria b+c a d
1
W.A. d+1 c+2 c
S.A. b a b
Also we have

Sum of medals = 186

3(a + 2b)
b+c =
4
(b + c) + (d + 1) + b = (b + c) + a + d − 1.

1
Simplifying these become

2a + 3b + 3c + 2d = 183
4c = 3a + 2b
b = a − 2.

Solving for c and d in terms of a

5a
c = −1
4
35a
d = 96 − .
8
GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS 15

Therefore a is divisible by 8 and must be less than 22 for d to be positive.

Hence a = 8 or 16.
Hence (a, b, c, d) = (8, 6, 9, 61) or (16, 14, 19, 26). 1
Since Victoria has the most gold medals, b + c > d + 1.
Therefore the latter solution is the required one and the table becomes

Gold Silver Bronze

Victoria 33 16 26
1
W.A. 27 21 19
S.A. 14 16 14
16 GAUSS STUDENT SAMPLE PROBLEMS: SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM 12
A number is written on a whiteboard. Jim writes 221 to the right of this
number thus obtaining a new number which turns out to be a multiple
of the original one. What is the original number? Find all possible
solutions.

SOLUTION 12
Let the original number be X.
Then the new number on the whiteboard is 1000X + 221. 1
Hence we obtain the equation 1000X + 221 = kX where k is a positive
integer.
Therefore (k − 1000)X = 221. 1
Since 221 = 13 × 17, we come to the conclusion that either X = 1 or
X = 13 or X = 17 or X = 221. 1
Checking shows that each of these four values for X suits the data.
Thus the original number is one of the numbers 1, 13, 17 and 221.
1