Lecture 1

Operations on Rational Numbers

1. Basic Rules on Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division

Commutative Law: a + b = b + a ab = ba
Associative Law: a + b + c = a + (b + c) (ab)c = a(bc)
Distributive Law: ac + bc = (a + b)c = c(a + b)

2. Rule for Removing Brackets

For any rational numbers x, y,
(i) x + (y) = x + y, x + (−y) = x − y;
(ii) x − (y) = x − y, x − (−y) = x + y.
(iii) x × (−y) = −xy; (−x) × y = −xy; (−x) × (−y) = xy;
(−1)n = −1 for odd n, (−1)n = 1 for even n.
(iv) If the denominators of the following expressions are all not zeros,
then
x x −x x −x x
=− ; =− ; = .
−y y y y −y y
3. Ingenious Ways for Calculating
• Make a telescopic sum by using the following expressions:
1 1 1
= − ,
k(k + 1) k µk + 1 ¶
1 1 1 1
= − ,
k(k + m) m k ·k + m ¸
1 1 1 1
= − .
k(k + 1)(k + 2) 2 k(k + 1) (k + 1)(k + 2)
• By use of the following formulae:
(a ± b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 ;
a2 − b2 = (a − b)(a + b);
a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 );
a3 − b3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 ), etc.

1
2 Lecture 1 Operations on Rational Numbers

Examples
µ ¶3 µ ¶2
2 1 3 1
Example 1. Evaluate (−5) × − −2 ÷ − − (−1)1999 .
5 2
µ ¶3 µ ¶2
1 1
Solution (−5)2 × − − 23 ÷ − − (−1)1999
5 2
µ ¶
2 1 1
=5 × − − 8 ÷ − (−1)
125 4
1 1 1
= − − 8 × 4 + 1 = − − 31 = −31 .
5 5 5
Example 2. There are five µ operational expressions
¶ below:
1 1 1 1
(i) (2 × 3 × 5 × 7) + + + ;
2 3 5 7
(ii) (−0.125)7 · 88 ;
(iii) (−11) + (−33) − (−55) − (−66) − (−77) − (−88);
µ ¶2 µ ¶2
75 37
(iv) − + ;
"µ 13 ¶ µ
13
¶ µ ¶ # µ ¶
7
6 4 4 16 246
(v) − + − × − × × 9 − 0.666 .
7 5 9 81 247
Then the expression with maximal value is
(A) (i), (B) (iii), (C) (iv), (D) (v).

Solution µ ¶
1 1 1 1
(i) (2 × 3 × 5 × 7) + + +
2 3 5 7
= 105 + 70 + 42 + 30 = 247;
(ii) (−0.125)7 · 88 = −(0.125 × 8)7 × 8 = −8;
(iii) (−11) + (−33) − (−55) − (−66) − (−77) − (−88)
=
µ −11¶−2 33 µ
+ 55¶+ 66 + 77 + 88 = 11 × 22 = 242;
2
75 37
(iv) − + < 62 + 32 = 45;
"µ 13 ¶ µ
13
¶ µ ¶ # µ ¶
7
6 4 4 16 246
(v) − + − × − × × 9 − 0.666
7 5 9 81 247

< 1 × 10 = 10;
Thus, the answer is (A).
 Lecture Notes on Mathematical Olympiad 3

Example 3. 123456789 × 999999999 = .

Solution
123456789 × 999999999 = 123456789 × (1000000000 − 1)
= 123456789000000000 − 123456789 = 123456788876543211.

13579
Example 4. The value of is
(−13579)2 + (−13578)(13580)
(A) 1, (B) 13579, (C) −1, (D) −13578.
Solution By use of (a − b)(a + b) = a2 − b2 , we have
13579
(−13579)2+ (−13578)(13580)
13579
= = 13579.
(13579)2 − (135792 − 1)
The answer is (B).
832 + 173
Example 5. = .
83 × 66 + 172
Solution By use of the formula a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ),

832 + 173 (83 + 17)(832 − 83 × 17 + 172 )

=
83 × 66 + 172 83 × 66 + 172
100 × (83 × 66 + 172 )
= = 100.
83 × 66 + 172
Example 6. Evaluate

(4 × 7 + 2)(6 × 9 + 2)(8 × 11 + 2) · · · · · (100 × 103 + 2)

.
(5 × 8 + 2)(7 × 10 + 2)(9 × 12 + 2) · · · · · (99 × 102 + 2)

Solution From n(n + 3) + 2 = n2 + 3n + 2 = (n + 1)(n + 2) for any integer

n, we have
(4 × 7 + 2)(6 × 9 + 2)(8 × 11 + 2) · · · · · (100 × 103 + 2)
(5 × 8 + 2)(7 × 10 + 2)(9 × 12 + 2) · · · · · (99 × 102 + 2)
(5 × 6)(7 × 8)(9 × 10) · · · · · (101 × 102)
=
(6 × 7)(8 × 9)(10 × 11) · · · · · (100 × 101)
= 5 × 102 = 510.

200920082
Example 7. = .
200920072 + 200920092 − 2
4 Lecture 1 Operations on Rational Numbers

200920082
Solution
200920072 + 200920092 − 2

200920082
=
(200920072 − 1) + (200920092 − 1)
200920082
=
(20092006)(20092008) + (20092008)(20092010)
200920082 200920082 1
= = = .
(20092008)(20092006 + 20092010) 2(200920082 ) 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Example 8. 3 − − − − − − − = .
2 6 12 20 30 42 56
Solution
µ ¶
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
3− + + + + + +
2 6 12 20 30 42 56
µ ¶
1 1 1 1
=3− + + + ··· +
1×2 2×3 3×4 7×8
·µ ¶ µ ¶ µ ¶¸
1 1 1 1 1
=3− 1− + − + ··· + −
2 2 3 7 8
µ ¶
1 1
=3− 1− =2 .
8 8

1 1 1 1 1 1
Example 9. Evaluate + + + + + .
3 15 35 63 99 143
µ ¶
1 1 1 1
Solution Since = − for any positive integer k, so
k(k + 2) 2 k k+2

1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + + +
3 15 35 63 99 143
1 1 1 1 1 1
= + + + + +
1 × 3 3 × 5 5 × 7 7 × 9 µ9 × 11 11 × 13
·µ ¶ µ ¶ ¶¸
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= − + − + ··· + −
2 1 3 3 5 11 13
· ¸
1 1 6
= × 1− = .
2 13 13

Example 10. If ab < 0, then the relation in sizes of (a − b)2 and (a + b)2 is
(A) (a − b)2 < (a + b)2 ; (B) (a − b)2 = (a + b)2 ;
(C) (a − b)2 > (a + b)2 ; (D) not determined.
 Lecture Notes on Mathematical Olympiad 5

Solution From (a − b)2 = a2 − 2ab + b2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 − 4ab =

(a + b)2 − 4ab > (a + b)2 , the answer is (C).
1
Example 11. If −1 < a < 0, then the relation in sizes of a3 , −a3 , a4 , −a4 , ,
a
1
− is
a
1 1
(A) < −a4 < a3 < −a3 < a4 < − ;
a a
1 1
(B) a < < −a4 < a4 < − < −a3 ;
a a
1 1
(C) < a3 < −a4 < a4 < −a3 < − ;
a a
1 1
(D) < a3 < a4 < −a4 < −a3 < − .
a a
1
SolutionFrom −1 < a < 0 we have 0 < a4 < −a3 < 1 < − , so
a
1
−a4 > a3 and − > −a3 and a4 > −a4 , the answer is (C).
a

Testing Questions (A)

1. Evaluate −1 − (−1)1 − (−1)2 − (−1)3 − · · · − (−1)99 − (−1)100 .

2. Evaluate 2008 × 20092009 − 2009 × 20082008.

1
3. From 2009 subtract half of it at first, then subtract of the remaining num-
3
1 1
ber, next subtract of the remaining number, and so on, until of the
4 2009
remaining number is subtracted. What is the final remaining number?
1 1 1 1 1
4. Find the sum + + + + .
5 × 7 7 × 9 9 × 11 11 × 13 13 × 15

1 1 1 1 1
5. Find the sum + + + + .
10 40 88 154 238
6. Evaluate
µ ¶µ ¶
1 1 1 1 1
+ + ··· + 1 + + ··· +
3 4 2009 2 2008
µ ¶µ ¶
1 1 1 1 1 1
− 1 + + + ··· + + + ··· + .
3 4 2009 2 3 2008
6 Lecture 1 Operations on Rational Numbers

1 1 1
7. Find the sum + + ··· + .
1+2 1+2+3 1 + 2 + · · · + 51

8. Let n be a positive integer, find the value of

1 2 1 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 n n−1 1
1+ + + + + + + + +· · ·+ + +· · ·+ + +· · ·+ .
2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 n n n n n

9. Evaluate 12 − 22 + 32 − 42 + · · · − 20082 + 20092 .

10. Find the sum 11 + 192 + 1993 + 19994 + 199995 + 1999996 + 19999997 +
199999998 + 1999999999.

Testing Questions (B)

32 + 1 52 + 1 72 + 1 992 + 1
1. Calculate 2
+ 2 + 2 + ··· + 2 .
3 −1 5 −1 7 −1 99 − 1
2. After simplification, the value of
2 3 4
1− − −
1 · (1 + 2) (1 + 2)(1 + 2 + 3) (1 + 2 + 3)(1 + 2 + 3 + 4)
100
−··· −
(1 + 2 + · · · + 99)(1 + 2 + · · · + 100)
is a proper fraction in its lowest form. Find the difference of its denominator
and numerator.

1 1 1
3. Evaluate + + ··· + .
1×2×3 2×3×4 100 × 101 × 102

4. Find the sum

1 2 3 50
+ + + ··· + .
1 + 12 + 14 1 + 22 + 24 1 + 32 + 34 1 + 502 + 504

5. Evaluate the expression

12 22 802
+ + · · · + .
12 − 10 + 50 22 − 20 + 50 802 − 80 + 50
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