MT

UK
MT

UK
UKMT

United Kingdom
Mathematics Trust

Mathematical Olympiad for Girls

Thursday 7 October 2021
© 2021 UK Mathematics Trust

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Instructions
1. Do not turn over the page until told to do so.
2. Time allowed: 2 12 hours.
3. Each question carries 10 marks. To gain full marks, your solution should be explained in
full sentences. If your solution involves calculations, equations, tables, etc., explain where
these come from and how you are using them. Explain how the steps of your solution link
together, and give full proofs of assertions that you make. Answers alone will gain few
marks (if any).
Work in rough first, and then write up your best attempt at a clearly explained solution.
4. Partial marks may be awarded for good ideas, so try to hand in everything that documents
your thinking on the problem — the more clearly written the better.
However, one complete solution will gain more credit than several unfinished attempts.
5. Earlier questions tend to be easier. Questions have multiple parts. Often earlier parts
introduce results or ideas useful in solving later parts of the problem.
6. The use of rulers and compasses is allowed, but calculators and protractors are forbidden.
7. Start each question on an official master answer sheet that has a QR code on.
On each additional answer sheet (blank or lined paper only) you need for a question please
write your initials and the number of the question in the top left-hand corner.
8. Write on one side of the paper only as bold as possible.
9. Arrange your answer sheets in question order before they are collected. Please remove blank
answer sheets i.e. those you do not wish to submit a solution for.
10. To accommodate candidates sitting in other time zones, please do not discuss the paper on
the internet until 08:00 BST on Friday 8 October.

Enquiries about the Mathematical Olympiad for Girls should be sent to:
UK Mathematics Trust, School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT
T 0113 365 1121 [email protected] www.ukmt.org.uk
Mathematical Olympiad for Girls Thursday 7 October 2021

1. (a) Find all whole numbers 𝑥 such that

2 −4𝑥+4)
(𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 11) (𝑥 = 1.

(7 marks)
(b) Find all whole numbers 𝑥 such that
2 −4𝑥+4)
(𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 11) (𝑥 = −1.

(3 marks)

2. Consider a 4 × 4 grid numbered 1 to 16 left to right then top to bottom. Tile A or Tile B is
placed onto the grid so that it covers three adjacent numbers.

1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 B
9 10 11 12 A
13 14 15 16
(a) If Tile A is placed onto the grid (the orientation of the tile may be changed), can the
total of the uncovered numbers be a multiple of three? (3 marks)
(b) In how many different ways can Tile B be placed onto the grid (the orientation of the
tile may be changed) so that the sum of the uncovered numbers is a multiple of three?
(7 marks)

3. The diagram shows a quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷, where 𝐴𝐵 is 2 cm and ∠ 𝐴𝐵𝐶, ∠ 𝐴𝐶𝐷 and
∠𝐷 𝐴𝐵 are right angles.
𝐶 𝐵

2 cm

𝐷 𝐴

(a) Let 𝐸 be the point on 𝐷 𝐴 such that 𝐶𝐸 is perpendicular to 𝐷 𝐴. Prove that triangles
𝐴𝐵𝐶 and 𝐷𝐸𝐶 are similar. (2 marks)
(b) Given that the area of quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷 is 6 cm2 , find all possible values for the
perimeter of quadrilateral 𝐴𝐵𝐶𝐷. (8 marks)

© 2021 UK Mathematics Trust www.ukmt.org.uk

Mathematical Olympiad for Girls Thursday 7 October 2021

4. Sam is playing a game. Her teacher gives her a positive whole number 𝐴, and then Sam
chooses a positive whole number 𝑆. Sam then adds together all of the integers between 𝑆
and 𝑆 + 𝐴 − 1 (inclusive) to obtain a total 𝑇. If 𝑇 is even, Sam wins the game. For example,
if 𝐴 = 4, Sam can win by choosing 𝑆 = 10 because then 𝑇 = 10 + 11 + 12 + 13 = 46.
(a) (i) Show that if 𝐴 = 4, Sam will win the game no matter which number she chooses.
(ii) Show that if 𝐴 is a multiple of 4, Sam will win the game no matter which number
she chooses. (3 marks)
(b) For which other values of 𝐴 can Sam choose an 𝑆 so that she wins? You must show
how she can win for each of those values, and also explain why she cannot win for all
the other values. (7 marks)

5. (a) By considering their difference, or otherwise, find all possibilities for the common
factors of 𝑛 and 𝑛 + 3. (1 mark)
For 𝑛 ≥ 2, let 𝑃(𝑛) denote the largest prime factor of 𝑛.
(b) If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are positive integers greater than 1, explain why 𝑃(𝑎𝑏) must be equal to at
least one of 𝑃(𝑎) or 𝑃(𝑏). (1 mark)
(c) Find all positive integers 𝑛 such that 𝑃(𝑛2 + 2𝑛 + 1) = 𝑃(𝑛2 + 9𝑛 + 14). (8 marks)

© 2021 UK Mathematics Trust www.ukmt.org.uk