International Youth Math Challenge

Qualification Round 2019

Problem A
Find the maximum value of the function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 + 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 3 for 𝑥 ≥ 0.

For any polynomial, the local maxima are point on the curve of the function
at which the slope of the tangent is zero or:
𝑑
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 0
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
We can find the derivative using these rules: 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 and (𝑓 (𝑥 ) ±
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑 𝑑
𝑔(𝑥 )) = 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ± 𝑔(𝑥 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑑
So, 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 1 + 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 2 = −(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)
𝑑𝑥
For 𝑥 ≥ 0, −(3𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1) = 0 only if 𝑥 = 1

𝑑
So, the point (the local maximum) at which 𝑥 ≥ 0 and 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 0 has an 𝑥 −
𝑑𝑥
𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of 1
Hence, the maximum value of 𝑓(𝑥) is 𝑓 (1) = 1 + 12 − 13 = 1
Problem B
Show that n3 + 2n + 3n2 is divisible by 2 and 3 for all positive integers n.

𝑛3 + 3𝑛2 + 2𝑛 = 𝑛(𝑛2 + 3𝑛 + 2) = 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 + 2)

By factoring.
Let 𝑘 = 𝑛3 + 3𝑛2 + 2𝑛 = 𝑛 (𝑛 + 1)(𝑛 + 2)

Part 1: divisibility by 2.
If 𝑛 is divisible by 2, 𝑛 is a factor of 𝑘. So, 𝑘 will be divisible by 2.
If 𝑛 is not divisible by 2, 𝑛 + 1, which hence will be divisible by 2, is a factor
of 𝑘. So, 𝑘 will be divisible by 2.
Hence, it is proved in all cases that 𝑘 is divisible by 2.

Part 2: divisibility by 3.
Note: the notation 𝑎 ≡ 𝑏 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 𝑐) means in number theory 𝑎 ≡ 𝑗 ∙ 𝑐 + 𝑏 for any
integer 𝑗.
So, 𝑎 ≡ 0 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 𝑐) means that 𝑎 is divisible by 𝑐.

Case 1: 𝑛 ≡ 0 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 3)
Since 𝑛 is a factor of 𝑘, 𝑘, in this case, is divisible by 3.

Case 2: 𝑛 ≡ 1 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 3)
Hence, 𝑛 + 2 ≡ 1 + 2 ≡ 0 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 3).
Since 𝑛 + 2 is a factor of 𝑘, 𝑘, in this case, is divisible by 3.

Case 3: 𝑛 ≡ 2 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 3)
Hence, 𝑛 + 1 ≡ 2 + 1 ≡ 0 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 3).
Since 𝑛 + 1 is a factor of 𝑘, 𝑘, in this case, is divisible by 3.

So, n3 + 2n + 3n2 is divisible by 2 and 3 for all positive integers n.

Problem C
Find at least two 𝑥 that make this equation true:
𝜋 3 + 2√𝜋 6 (−1)16 log 2 (√8)
sin (𝑥 + ) = cos (𝑥 + − )
𝜋2 + 𝜋2 2 3

Simplifying,
𝜋 3 + 2√𝜋 6 𝜋 3 + 2𝜋 3 3𝜋 3 3𝜋
sin (𝑥 + 2 ) = sin (𝑥 + ) = sin (𝑥 + ) = sin (𝑥 + )
𝜋 + 𝜋2 𝜋2 + 𝜋2 2𝜋 2 2

(−1)16 log 2 (√8)

cos (𝑥 + − )
2 3
1 log 2 (√8) 1 log 2 (23⁄2 )
= cos (𝑥 + − ) = cos (𝑥 + − )
2 3 2 3
1 3⁄2 1 1
= cos (𝑥 + − ) = cos (𝑥 + − ) = cos(𝑥)
2 3 2 2
So, we need to find at least two 𝑥 that make this equation true:
3𝜋
cos(𝑥) = sin (𝑥 + )
2
𝜋
∵ sin ( − 𝑥) = cos(𝑥)
2
3𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋 𝜋 3𝜋
∴ cos(𝑥) = sin (𝑥 + ) ⇔ sin ( − 𝑥) = sin (𝑥 + ) ⇔ − 𝑥 = 𝑥 + ⇔ 2𝑥
2 2 2 2 2
𝜋
=𝜋⇔𝑥=
2

𝜋 3𝜋
Working with trigonometric functions, if is a solution to cos(𝑥) = sin (𝑥 + ),
2 2
𝜋
then + 2𝜋𝑘 is also a solution for any integer 𝑘. In other words, sin(𝑓(𝑥) +
2
2𝜋𝑘) = sin(𝑓(𝑥)) for any function 𝑓 and any integer 𝑘; same with cosine.

𝜋 𝜋
So, we may consider the first solution 𝑥 = , and the second 𝑥 = + 2𝜋
2 2
Problem D
You have given following three equations below with α,β,γ ∈R. What is the value of α?

α+β+γ=1
β+γ+β=1
γ+β+γ=1

𝑎 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 = 1 (1)
𝛽 + 𝛾 + 𝛽 = 2𝛽 + 𝛾 = 1 (2)
𝛾 + 𝛽 + 𝛾 = 2𝛾 + 𝛽 = 1 (3)

From equation 2 and 3: 2𝛾 + 𝛽 = 2𝛽 + 𝛾 ⇔ 𝛽 = 𝛾 (4)

Then 2𝛽 + 𝛾 = 3𝛽 = 1 ⇔ 𝛽 = 1⁄3 (5)
From equation 1 and 4: 𝑎 + 2𝛽 = 1 (6)
From equation 5 and 6: 𝑎 + 2⁄3 = 1 ⇔ 𝑎 = 1⁄3

(Q.E.D)
Problem E
The circle in the drawing below has a surface area of A1 = 1m2. Determine the surface area
A2 of the square that was placed inside of the circle.

In any inscribed square, the diagonals are both diameters of the circumcircle.

A1 = 𝜋𝑟 2 = 1 ⇔ 𝑟 2 = 1⁄𝜋 ⇔ 𝑟 = 1⁄ (No ± in this step because the radius

√𝜋
cannot be negative)
Hence, the diameter 𝑑 = 2⁄ , and the area of the square A2 = 1⁄2 × 𝑑2 =
√ 𝜋
1⁄ × (2⁄ )2 = 1⁄ × 4⁄ = 2⁄
2 2 𝜋 𝜋
√𝜋

(Q.E.D)