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Mastering AMC 1012 Book
Mastering AMC 1012 Book
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Combinatorics 8
1 Permutations and Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2 Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3 Casework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
4 Complementary Counting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
7 Combinatorial Identities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
8 Geometric Counting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
9 Geometric Probability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
10 Expected Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
11 Recursion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
12 Probability States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Algebra 96
13 Algebraic Manipulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
1
OmegaLearn.org Contents
28 Bases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Geometry 276
30 Angle Chasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
34 Quadrilaterals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
35 Circles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
36 Polygons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 425
2
OmegaLearn.org Contents
41 Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508
42 Logarithms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 516
3
Preface
Motivation
This book was created to provide a comprehensive overview of the most important concepts on
the AMC 10/12 examinations. The book includes video lectures for every chapter, formulas
for every topic, and hundreds of examples and practice problems with detailed video solutions.
• Combinatorics
• Algebra
• Number Theory
• Geometry
Discord Server
Join our Discord Server to discuss problems from the book and for help with math contest
preparation.
Feedback Form
If you have any feedback, find any errors, or think of any interesting problems that should be
added here, please fill out this Feedback Form or email us at info@omegalearn.org.
Book Updates
We appreciate your feedback and will update the book regularly by adding new topics and
problems. Please bookmark OmegaLearn.org to get the Latest Version of this book.
Video Content
The book includes video lectures for every chapter. All the lecture videos are available on
our YouTube Channel. These videos should provide a good foundation for anyone preparing
for math competitions.
4
OmegaLearn.org Preface
1. All you need to know about Math Competitions from Elementary to High School
2. How to prepare for AMC 10/12 and qualify for AIME and USA(J)MO
This is the video course accompanying this book, and includes video lectures for every
chapter. We explain all the important concepts from this book, along with many useful
examples showing the application of those concepts.
This is an earlier course which covered the most fundamental topics on the AMC 10/12
exams. Here is the list of topics that were covered:
5
OmegaLearn.org Preface
9. Logarithms
10. Meta-solving Techniques - how to find answers without solving the problem
Each chapter includes relevant formulas for the topic along with instructive Example
Problems that show interesting applications of the concept.
Then, there is a Practice Problems section, which includes problems from AMC 10/12,
AIME and original problems. These problems have a detailed video solution.
There is also an Additional Problems section with more problems (on the harder side) for
extra practice.
The Answer for each problem is hidden. If you click on ”Answer:” the answer will be
displayed. Unfortunately this feature is not supported on some PDF readers (including
Preview on Mac) but it works great on ”Adobe Acrobat Reader”. If your PDF reader doesn’t
display the answer, please use Adobe Acrobat reader which is available for free.
Hopefully, the curated collection of examples and problems in this book will improve your
problem solving skills and help you perform better on the AMC 10/12 exams. Good Luck!
6
Combinatorics
7
Chapter 1
Video Lecture
8
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
9
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
1.1 Factorials
Definition 1.1.1. A factorial is the product of all positive integers less than or equal to a
given positive integer. In other words n! = n × (n − 1) × (n − 2) × · · · × 1.
The number of ways of arranging n objects in a circle where rotations of the same
arrangement aren’t considered distinct is (n − 1)!
The number of ways of arranging n objects in a circle where rotations of the same
arrangement aren’t considered distinct and reflections of the same arrangement aren’t
considered distinct is (n−1)!
2
1.2 Permutations
Definition 1.2.1. A permutation is a possible arrangement of objects in a set where the
order of objects matter.
Remark 1.2.3
Usually, the words ”permute”, ”order does matter”, etc. imply a permutation while the
words ”choose”, ”select”, ”order doesn’t matter”, etc. imply a combination.
10
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
Example
Peter is packing his pencil case for the AMC 12. He must pack 3 distinct pencils, 2
distinct erasers, and 2 distinct markers in some order. However, he will not put an item
in his case if there are already more of that type of item than any other type of item.
(Eg. Peter will not put another pencil in his case if there are already more pencils than
markers or more pencils than erasers in the case). How many different orders are there
for Peter to put items in his case?
Video Solution
Answer: 864
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙8
11
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
Remark 1.3.2
This is not only true for words! The number of ways of arranging objects or anything
else is also the same.
Example (AIME)
In a shooting match, eight clay targets are arranged in two hanging columns of three
targets each and one column of two targets. A marksman is to break all the targets
according to the following rules:
1) The marksman first chooses a column from which a target is to be broken.
2) The marksman must then break the lowest remaining target in the chosen column.
If the rules are followed, in how many different orders can the eight targets be broken?
Video Solution
Answer: 560
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙8
12
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
Video Solution
Answer: 115
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙9
1.4 Combinations
Definition 1.4.1. A combination is a possible arrangement in a collection of items where
the order of the selection does not matter.
n(n − 1) . . . (n − k + 1)
!
n n!
= =
k k!(n − k)! k!
Remark 1.4.3
Notice that ! !
n n
=
k n−k
This is true because we can see choosing k objects on the left hand side is equivalent to
the n − k objects that will not be selected on the right hand side.
13
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
1.5 Subsets
Theorem 1.5.1
The number of subsets of a set of size n is 2n .
Remark 1.5.2
We have 2 choices for each element in the set: whether to include or not include the
element in our subset, and since there are n elements in the set, the total number of
subsets is 2 × 2 × 2 × · · · × 2 (n times).
Note: This means that one of our subsets is the empty subset, where we decide to
not include all of the elements. Remember to check the problem wording whether we
should count the empty subset as valid or not.
Video Solution
Answer: 40
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
14
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
How many distinguishable arrangements are there of 1 brown tile, 1 purple tile, 2
green tiles, and 3 yellow tiles in a row from left to right? (Tiles of the same color are
indistinguishable.)
Video Solution
Answer: 420
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙5
A child builds towers using identically shaped cubes of different colors. How many
different towers with a height of 8 cubes can the child build with 2 red cubes, 3 blue
cubes, and 4 green cubes? (One cube will be left out.)
Video Solution
Answer: 1260
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
A license plate in a certain state consists of 4 digits, not necessarily distinct, and 2
letters, also not necessarily distinct. These six characters may appear in any order, except
that the two letters must appear next to each other. How many distinct license plates
are possible?
Video Solution
Answer: 5 × 104 × 262
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
15
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
At a gathering of 30 people, there are 20 people who all know each other and 10
people who know no one. People who know each other hug, and people who do not know
each other shake hands. How many handshakes occur within the group?
Video Solution
Answer: 245
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙8
Henry’s Hamburger Haven offers its hamburgers with the following condiments: ketchup,
mustard, mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce, pickles, cheese, and onions. A customer can choose
one, two, or three meat patties and any collection of condiments. How many different
kinds of hamburgers can be ordered?
Video Solution
Answer: 768
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Video Solution
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
A game uses a deck of n different cards, where n is an integer and n ≥ 6. The number
16
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
of possible sets of 6 cards that can be drawn from the deck is 6 times the number of
possible sets of 3 cards that can be drawn. Find n.
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙1
What is the number of ways the numbers from 1 to 14 can be split into 7 pairs such that
for each pair, the greater number is at least 2 times the smaller number?
(A) 108 (B) 120 (C) 126 (D) 132 (E) 144
Video Solution
Answer: 144
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958360
Video Solution
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
How many 15-letter arrangements of 5 A’s, 5 B’s, and 5 C’s have no A’s in the first 5
letters, no B’s in the next 5 letters, and no C’s in the last 5 letters?
17
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 1. Permutations and Combinations
Video Solution
Answer: A
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
18
Chapter 2
Probability
Video Lecture
19
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Example (AIME)
A deck of forty cards consists of four 1’s, four 2’s,..., and four 10’s. A matching pair (two
cards with the same number) is removed from the deck. Given that these cards are not
returned to the deck, let m/n be the probability that two randomly selected cards also
form a pair, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 758
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
Video Solution
Answer: 16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
20
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Two 6-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that the sum of the two num-
bers is even?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
A deck of cards has only red cards and black cards. The probability of a randomly
chosen card being red is 13 . When 4 black cards are added to the deck, the probability of
choosing red becomes 41 . How many cards were in the deck originally?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙6
Bob and Alice each have a bag that contains one ball of each of the colors blue, green,
orange, red, and violet. Alice randomly selects one ball from her bag and puts it into
Bob’s bag. Bob then randomly selects one ball from his bag and puts it into Alice’s bag.
What is the probability that after this process the contents of the two bags are the same?
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Ms. Carr asks her students to read any 5 of the 10 books on a reading list. Harold
randomly selects 5 books from this list, and Betty does the same. What is the probability
21
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Two different numbers are selected at random from {1, 2, 3, 4, 5} and multiplied together.
What is the probability that the product is even?
Video Solution
Answer: 0.7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙12
A fair 6-sided die is repeatedly rolled until an odd number appears. What is the
probability that every even number appears at least once before the first occurrence of
an odd number?
Video Solution
Answer: 20
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
Two fair dice, each with at least 6 faces are rolled. On each face of each dice is printed
a distinct integer from 1 to the number of faces on that die, inclusive. The probability
of rolling a sum of 7 is 34 of the probability of rolling a sum of 10, and the probability
of rolling a sum of 12 is 12
1
. What is the least possible number of faces on the two dice
combined?
Video Solution
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
22
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
The numbers 1,2,. . . ,9 are randomly placed into the 9 squares of a 3×3 grid. Each
square gets one number, and each of the numbers is used once. What is the probability
that the sum of the numbers in each row and each column is odd?
Video Solution
Answer: 14
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
Two cubical dice each have removable numbers 1 through 6. The twelve numbers
on the two dice are removed, put into a bag, then drawn one at a time and randomly
reattached to the faces of the cubes, one number to each face. The dice are then rolled
and the numbers on the two top faces are added. What is the probability that the sum
is 7?
Video Solution
Answer: 11
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Tina randomly selects two distinct numbers from the set {1, 2, 3, 4, 5}, and Sergio ran-
domly selects a number from the set {1, 2, ..., 10}. What is the probability that Sergio’s
number is larger than the sum of the two numbers chosen by Tina?
Video Solution
Answer: 25
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Let S be the set of permutations of the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 for which the first term is
not 1. A permutation is chosen randomly from S. The probability that the second term
23
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Video Solution
Answer: 16
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
A box contains 5 chips, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Chips are drawn randomly one at
a time without replacement until the sum of the values drawn exceeds 4. What is the
probability that 3 draws are required?
Video Solution
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Video Solution
Answer: 162
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
A red ball and a green ball are randomly and independently tossed into bins num-
bered with the positive integers so that for each ball, the probability that it is tossed
into bin k is 2−k for k = 1, 2, 3.... What is the probability that the red ball is tossed into
a higher-numbered bin than the green ball?
Video Solution
24
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Two fair dice, each with at least 6 faces are rolled. On each face of each dice is printed
a distinct integer from 1 to the number of faces on that die, inclusive. The probability
of rolling a sum if 7 is 34 of the probability of rolling a sum of 10, and the probability
of rolling a sum of 12 is 121
. What is the least possible number of faces on the two dice
combined?
Video Solution
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Ang, Ben, and Jasmin each have 5 blocks, colored red, blue, yellow, white, and green;
and there are 5 empty boxes. Each of the people randomly and independently of the
other two people places one of their blocks into each box. The probability that at least
one box receives 3 blocks all of the same color is m
n
, where m and n are relatively prime
positive integers. What is m + n?
Video Solution
Answer: 471
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
A fair 6-sided die is repeatedly rolled until an odd number appears. What is the
probability that every even number appears at least once before the first occurrence of
an odd number?
Video Solution
Answer: 20
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
25
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 2. Probability
Three balls are randomly and independantly tossed into bins numbered with the posi-
tive integers so that for each ball, the probability that it is tossed into bin i is 2−i for
i = 1, 2, 3, .... More than one ball is allowed in each bin. The probability that the balls
end up evenly spaced in distinct bins is pq , where p and q are relatively prime positive
integers. (For example, the balls are evenly spaced if they are tossed into bins 3, 17, and
10.) What is p + q?
Video Solution
Answer: 55
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Additional Problems
Problem 2.1.19 (AMC 10/12)
An urn contains one red ball and one blue ball. A box of extra red and blue balls
lies nearby. George performs the following operation four times: he draws a ball from the
urn at random and then takes a ball of the same color from the box and returns those
two matching balls to the urn. After the four iterations the urn contains six balls. What
is the probability that the urn contains three balls of each color?
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
26
Chapter 3
Casework
Video Lecture
27
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
3.1 Casework
Many counting or probability problems can be solved by dividing a problem into several cases
and calculating arrangements and probabilities for each case before summing them together.
Video Solution
Answer: 2220
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
28
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Video Solution
Answer: 84
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
29
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Video Solution
Answer: 148
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
30
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Coin A is flipped three times and coin B is flipped four times. What is the proba-
bility that the number of heads obtained from flipping the two fair coins is the same?
Video Solution
Answer: 128
35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Two tour guides are leading six tourists. The guides decide to split up. Each tourist
must choose one of the guides, but with the stipulation that each guide must take at
least one tourist. How many different groupings of guides and tourists are possible?
Video Solution
Answer: 62
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Three fair six-sided dice are rolled. What is the probability that the values shown
on two of the dice sum to the value shown on the remaining die?
Video Solution
Answer: 24
5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
How many rearrangements of abcd are there in which no two adjacent letters are also
adjacent letters in the alphabet? For example, no such rearrangements could include
either ab or ba.
31
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Call a positive integer an uphill integer if every digit is strictly greater than the previous
digit. For example, 1357, 89, and 5 are all uphill integers, but 32, 1240, and 466 are not.
How many uphill integers are divisible by 15?
Video Solution
Answer: 6
Video Solution
Answer: 63
8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Alice refuses to sit next to either Bob or Carla. Derek refuses to sit next to Eric.
How many ways are there for the five of them to sit in a row of chairs under these
conditions?
Video Solution
Answer: 28
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
32
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Three young brother-sister pairs from different families need to take a trip in a van.
These six children will occupy the second and third rows in the van, each of which has
three seats. To avoid disruptions, siblings may not sit right next to each other in the
same row, and no child may sit directly in front of his or her sibling. How many seating
arrangements are possible for this trip?
Video Solution
Answer: 96
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
How many three-digit numbers are composed of three distinct digits such that one
digit is the average of the other two?
Video Solution
Answer: 112
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙16
There are 10 people standing equally spaced around a circle. Each person knows
exactly 3 of the other 9 people: the 2 people standing next to her or him, as well as the
person directly across the circle. How many ways are there for the 10 people to split up
into 5 pairs so that the members of each pair know each other?
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
The nine delegates to the Economic Cooperation Conference include 2 officials from
Mexico, 3 officials from Canada, and 4 officials from the United States. During the
33
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
opening session, three of the delegates fall asleep. Assuming that the three sleepers were
determined randomly, the probability that exactly two of the sleepers are from the same
country is m
n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 139
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Arjun and Beth play a game in which they take turns removing one brick or two adjacent
bricks from one ”wall” among a set of several walls of bricks, with gaps possibly creating
new walls. The walls are one brick tall. For example, a set of walls of sizes 4 and 2 can be
changed into any of the following by one move: (3, 2), (2, 1, 2), (4), (4, 1), (2, 2), or(1, 1, 2).
Arjun plays first, and the player who removes the last brick wins. For which start-
ing configuration is their a strategy that guarantees a win for Beth.
Video Solution
Answer: (6, 2, 1)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
Let D(n) denote the number of ways of writing the positive integer n as a product
n = f1 · f2 · · · fk ,
where k ≥ 1, the fi are integers strictly greater than 1, and the order in which the factors
are listed matters (that is, two representations that differ only in the order of the factors
are counted as distinct). For example, the number 6 can be written as 6, 2 · 3, and 3 · 2,
so D(6) = 3. What is D(96)?
Video Solution
Answer: 112
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
34
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
a1 x + b 1 y + c 1 z = 0
a2 x + b 2 y + c 2 z = 0
a3 x + b 3 y + c 3 z = 0
where each of the coefficients is either 0 or 1 and the system has a solution other than
x = y = z = 0. For example, one such system is {1x + 1y + 0z = 0, 0x + 1y + 1z =
0, 0x + 0y + 0z = 0} with a nonzero solution of {x, y, z} = {1, −1, 1}. How many such
systems are there? (The equations in a system need not be distinct, and two systems
containing the same equations in a different order are considered different.)
(A) 302 (B) 338 (C) 340 (D) 343 (E) 344
Video Solution
Answer: 338
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962596
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
Each square in a 5 × 5 grid is either filled or empty, and has up to eight adjacent
neighboring squares, where neighboring squares share either a side or a corner. The grid
is transformed by the following rules: Any filled square with two or three filled neighbors
remains filled. Any empty square with exactly three filled neighbors becomes a filled
square. All other squares remain empty or become empty. A sample transformation is
shown in the figure below.
Initial Transformed
35
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
How many initial configurations will lead to a transformed grid consisting of a single
filled square in the center after a single transformation? (Rotations and reflections of the
same configuration are considered different.)
? ? ?
? ? ?
? ? ?
Initial Transformed
Video Solution
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962599
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Additional Problems
Problem 3.2.16 (AIME)
Zou and Chou are practicing their 100-meter sprints by running 6 races against each
other. Zou wins the first race, and after that, the probability that one of them wins a
race is 23 if they won the previous race but only 13 if they lost the previous race. The
probability that Zou will win exactly 5 of the 6 races is m
n
, where m and n are relatively
prime positive integers. Find m + n.
In a particular game, each of 4 players rolls a standard 6-sided die. The winner is
the player who rolls the highest number. If there is a tie for the highest roll, those
involved in the tie will roll again and this process will continue until one player wins.
Hugo is one of the players in this game. What is the probability that Hugo’s first roll
36
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Answer: 41
144
Jason rolls three fair standard six-sided dice. Then he looks at the rolls and chooses a
subset of the dice (possibly empty, possibly all three dice) to reroll. After rerolling, he
wins if and only if the sum of the numbers face up on the three dice is exactly 7. Jason
always plays to optimize his chances of winning. What is the probability that he chooses
to reroll exactly two of the dice?
Answer: 36
7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙25
Each of the 12 edges of a cube is labeled 0 or 1. Two labelings are considered dif-
ferent even if one can be obtained from the other by a sequence of one or more rotations
and/or reflections. For how many such labelings is the sum of the labels on the edges of
each of the 6 faces of the cube equal to 2?
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
Two different cubes of the same size are to be painted, with the color of each face
being chosen independently and at random to be either black or white. What is the
probability that after they are painted, the cubes can be rotated to be identical in
appearance?
37
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 3. Casework
Answer: 1024
147
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙20
A cube is constructed from 4 white unit cubes and 4 blue unit cubes. How many
different ways are there to construct the 2 × 2 × 2 cube using these smaller cubes? (Two
constructions are considered the same if one can be rotated to match the other.)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Answer: 7
38
Chapter 4
Complementary Counting
Video Lecture
39
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 4. Complementary Counting
Example (AIME)
A positive integer is called ascending if, in its decimal representation, there are at least
two digits and each digit is less than any digit to its right. How many ascending positive
integers are there?
Video Solution
Answer: 902
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1992˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙2
Video Solution
Answer: 25
32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
40
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 4. Complementary Counting
Video Solution
Answer: 240
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙5
How many four-digit positive integers have at least one digit that is a 2 or a 3?
Video Solution
Answer: 5416
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Video Solution
Answer: 27
7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙9
Let (a, b, c, d) be an ordered quadruple of not necessarily distinct integers, each one
of them in the set 0, 1, 2, 3. For how many such quadruples is it true that a · d − b · c is
odd? (For example, (0, 3, 1, 1) is one such quadruple, because 0 · 1 − 3 · 1 = −3 is odd.)
Video Solution
41
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 4. Complementary Counting
Answer: 96
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
How many strings of length 5 formed from the digits 0,1,2,3,4 are there such that
for each j ∈ {1, 2, 3, 4}, at least j of the digits are less than j? (For example, 02214
satisfies the condition because it contains at least 1 digit less than 1, at least 2 digits less
than 2, at least 3 digits less than 3, and at least 4 digits less than 4. The string 23404
does not satisfy the condition because it does not contain at least 2 digits less than 2.)
(A) 500 (B) 625 (C) 1089 (D) 1199 (E) 1296
Video Solution
Answer: 1296
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958431
Additional Problems
Problem 4.1.6 (AIME)
Let N be the number of ordered pairs of nonempty sets A and B that have the following
properties:
A ∪ B = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}, A ∩ B = ∅, The number of elements of A is
not an element of A, The number of elements of B is not an element of B. Find N .
Answer: 882
42
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 4. Complementary Counting
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
43
Chapter 5
Video Lecture
44
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 5. Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion
Definition 5.0.1. The principle of inclusion and exclusion (PIE) is a counting technique
that computes the number of elements that satisfy at least one of several properties while
guaranteeing that elements satisfying more than one property are not counted twice.
Basically, we count the number of possibilities in 2 ”things” and subtract the duplicates.
Example (AIME)
Many states use a sequence of three letters followed by a sequence of three digits as their
standard license-plate pattern. Given that each three-letter three-digit arrangement is
equally likely, the probability that such a license plate will contain at least one palindrome
(a three-letter arrangement or a three-digit arrangement that reads the same left-to-right
m
as it does right-to-left) is , where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find
n
m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 059
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
45
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 5. Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion
In this formula, we count the number of possibilities in 3 ”things”, subtract the possibilities
that are duplicates in all 3 pairs of sets, and add back the number of duplicates in all 3
sets.
Video Solution
Answer: 252
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙12
46
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 5. Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion
Seven distinct pieces of candy are to be distributed among three bags. The red bag and
the blue bag must each receive at least one piece of candy; the white bag may remain
empty. How many arrangements are possible?
Video Solution
Answer: 1932
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
In how many ways can the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 be rearranged so that no three con-
secutive terms are increasing and no three consecutive terms are decreasing?
Video Solution
Answer: 32
47
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 5. Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion
In how many ways can the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 be rearranged so that no three con-
secutive terms are increasing and no three consecutive terms are decreasing?
Video Solution
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
Additional Problems
Problem 5.1.4 (AIME)
Each unit square of a 3-by-3 unit-square grid is to be colored either blue or red. For
each square, either color is equally likely to be used. The probability of obtaining a grid
that does not have a 2-by-2 red square is m n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive
integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 929
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Call a set S product-free if there do not exist a, b, c ∈ S (not necessarily distinct) such
that ab = c. For example, the empty set and the set {16, 20} are product-free, whereas
the sets {4, 16} and {2, 8, 16} are not product-free. Find the number of product-free
subsets of the set {1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 7, 8, 9, 10}.
48
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 5. Principle of Inclusion and Exclusion
While watching a show, Ayako, Billy, Carlos, Dahlia, Ehuang, and Frank sat in that order
in a row of six chairs. During the break, they went to the kitchen for a snack. When
they came back, they sat on those six chairs in such a way that if two of them sat next
to each other before the break, then they did not sit next to each other after the break.
Find the number of possible seating orders they could have chosen after the break.
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
49
Chapter 6
Video Lecture
50
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 6. Stars & Bars
n+k−1
!
Remark 6.0.2
Stars and Bars is very useful, and can often be adapted based on situations. For example,
if each bin has to have at least 1 object in it we assign 1 object to each bin to start off,
and apply our formula to the remaining n − k objects and k distinguishable bins.
51
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 6. Stars & Bars
Video Solution
Answer: 14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
• The second squirrel is fine with any non-negative even number of acorns.
• The third squirrel insists he must get an even number of acorns greater than or
equal to 4.
Video Solution
Answer: 36
52
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 6. Stars & Bars
Alice has 24 apples. In how many ways can she share them with Becky and Chris
so that each of the three people has at least two apples?
Video Solution
Answer: 190
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙25
When 7 fair standard 6-sided dice are thrown, the probability that the sum of the
numbers on the top faces is 10 can be written as
n
,
67
where n is a positive integer. What is n?
Video Solution
Answer: 84
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
Pat is to select six cookies from a tray containing only chocolate chip, oatmeal, and
peanut butter cookies. There are at least six of each of these three kinds of cookies on
the tray. How many different assortments of six cookies can be selected?
Video Solution
Answer: 28
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
53
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 6. Stars & Bars
Let D(n) denote the number of ways of writing the positive integer n as a product
n = f1 · f2 · · · fk ,
where k ≥ 1, the fi are integers strictly greater than 1, and the order in which the factors
are listed matters (that is, two representations that differ only in the order of the factors
are counted as distinct). For example, the number 6 can be written as 6, 2 · 3, and 3 · 2,
so D(6) = 3. What is D(96)?
Video Solution
Answer: 112
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
Additional Problems
Problem 6.1.5 (AIME)
A fair die is rolled four times. The probability that each of the final three rolls is
at least as large as the roll preceding it may be expressed in the form m
n
where m and n
are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 79
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
Ed has five identical green marbles, and a large supply of identical red marbles. He
arranges the green marbles and some of the red ones in a row and finds that the number
of marbles whose right hand neighbor is the same color as themselves is equal to the
number of marbles whose right hand neighbor is the other color. An example of such
an arrangement is GGRRRGGRG. Let m be the maximum number of red marbles for
which such an arrangement is possible, and let N be the number of ways he can arrange
the m + 5 marbles to satisfy the requirement. Find the remainder when N is divided by
1000.
54
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 6. Stars & Bars
Answer: 003
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
There are two distinguishable flagpoles, and there are 19 flags, of which 10 are identical
blue flags, and 9 are identical green flags. Let N be the number of distinguishable
arrangements using all of the flags in which each flagpole has at least one flag and no two
green flags on either pole are adjacent. Find the remainder when N is divided by 1000.
Answer: 310
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙12
55
Chapter 7
Combinatorial Identities
Video Lecture
56
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
m+n
! ! ! ! ! ! !
n m n m n m
+ + ··· + =
0 m 1 m−1 m 0 n
.
i=0 i k
57
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
n+1
! ! !
n n
+ =
k k+1 k+1
58
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
k+1 n+1
! ! ! !
k n
+ + ··· + =
k k k k+1
k=0 k m
Remark 7.0.9
These identities can be helpful in combinatorics problem, but their applications may not
always be straightforward, so a good approach to many combinatorics problem may be
to just manipulate expressions.
Example (AIME)
A club consisting of 11 men and 12 women needs to choose a committee from among its
members so that the number of women on the committee is one more than the number
of men on the committee. The committee could have as few as 1 member or as many as
23 members. Let N be the number of such committees that can be formed. If N = ab ,
find a + b.
Video Solution
Answer: 35(original81)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙7
59
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
Example (AIME)
Find the remainder when
! ! !
3 4 40
2 + 2 + ··· + 2
2 2 2
is divided by 1000.
Video Solution
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
60
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
A choir director must select a group of singers from among his 6 tenors and 8 basses. The
only requirements are that the difference between the number of tenors and basses must
be a multiple of 4, and the group must have at least one singer. Let N be the number of
different groups that could be selected. What is the remainder when N is divided by
100?
Video Solution
Answer: 95
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
A choir director must select a group of singers from among his 6 tenors and 8 basses. The
only requirements are that the difference between the number of tenors and basses must
be a multiple of 4, and the group must have at least one singer. Let N be the number of
groups that could be selected. What is the remainder when N is divided by 100?
Video Solution
Answer: 95
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
7 11 8 6 4 5 9 12 1 13 10 2 3
61
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
(A) 4082 (B) 4095 (C) 4096 (D) 8178 (E) 8191
Video Solution
Answer: 8178
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958384
Additional Problems
Problem 7.1.4 (AIME)
A fair die is rolled four times. The probability that each of the final three rolls is
at least as large as the roll preceding it may be expressed in the form m
n
where m and n
are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 79
Consider all 1000-element subsets of the set {1, 2, 3, ..., 2015}. From each such sub-
set choose the least element. The arithmetic mean of all of these least elements is pq ,
where p and q are relatively prime positive integers. Find p + q.
Answer: 431
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙12
62
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 7. Combinatorial Identities
There are two distinguishable flagpoles, and there are 19 flags, of which 10 are identical
blue flags, and 9 are identical green flags. Let N be the number of distinguishable
arrangements using all of the flags in which each flagpole has at least one flag and no two
green flags on either pole are adjacent. Find the remainder when N is divided by 1000.
Answer: 310
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙12
63
Chapter 8
Geometric Counting
Video Lecture
64
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
Theorem 8.0.1
The general formula for the number of rectangles of all sizes in a rectangular grid of size
m × n is
m+1 n+1
! !
×
2 2
.
Remark 8.0.2
Each combination of two horizontal lines and two vertical lines creates a unique rectangle.
We have
m+1
!
2
ways to choose two horizontal lines and
n+1
!
65
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
Video Solution
Answer: 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Video Solution
Answer: 81
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
66
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
Video Solution
Answer: 810
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
67
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
A set of 25 square blocks is arranged into a 5×5 square. How many different combinations
of 3 blocks can be selected from that set so that no two are in the same row or column?
Video Solution
Answer: 600
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Video Solution
Answer: 57
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙23
How many ways are there to place 3 indistinguishable red chips, 3 indistinguishable
blue chips, and 3 indistinguishable green chips in the squares of a 3 × 3 grid so that
no two chips of the same color are directly adjacent to each other, either vertically or
horizontally.
Video Solution
Answer: 36
Each face of a regular tetrahedron is painted either red, white, or blue. Two color-
ings are considered indistinguishable if two congruent tetrahedra with those colorings can
be rotated so that their appearances are identical. How many distinguishable colorings
68
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
are possible?
Video Solution
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Additional Problems
Problem 8.1.5 (AMC)
A game board consists of 64 squares that alternate in color between black and white.
The figure below shows square P in the bottom row and square Q in the top row. A
marker is placed at P. A step consists of moving the marker onto one of the adjoining
white squares in the row above. How many 7-step paths are there from P to Q? (The
figure shows a sample path.)
69
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 8. Geometric Counting
translations, rotations, and/or reflections, so that their corresponding small triangles are
of the same color.
Given that there are six different colors of triangles from which to choose, how many
distinguishable large equilateral triangles may be formed?
70
Chapter 9
Geometric Probability
Video Lecture
71
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 9. Geometric Probability
1. Try a few examples for the different cases, make sure to always mark the extreme cases
Remark 9.0.2
Geometric probability can be useful when the number of possible outcomes is infinite.
Video Solution
Answer: 34
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Video Solution
Answer: π4 − 21 = 0.29
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
72
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 9. Geometric Probability
Alex and Bob decide to meet at the park between 3 and 4 pm. They both will ar-
rive at a random time during the hour but will only wait up to 15 minutes for the other
person and then leave the park. What is the probability that they will meet?
Video Solution
Answer: 16
7
Video Solution
Answer: 57
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙23
Real numbers between 0 and 1, inclusive, are chosen in the following manner. A
fair coin is flipped. If it lands heads, then it is flipped again and the chosen number is 0
if the second flip is heads, and 1 if the second flip is tails. On the other hand, if the first
coin flip is tails, then the number is chosen uniformly at random from the closed interval
[0, 1]. Two random numbers x and y are chosen independently in this manner. What is
the probability that |x − y| > 12 ?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
73
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 9. Geometric Probability
A square with side length 8 is colored white except for 4 black isosceles right trian-
gular regions √
with legs of length 2 in each corner of the square and a black diamond with
side length 2 2 in the center of the square, as shown in the diagram. A circular coin
with diameter 1 is dropped onto the square and lands in a random location where the
coin is completely contained within the square. The probability
that
√ the coin will cover
part of the black region of the square can be written as 196 a + b 2 + π , where a and
1
Video Solution
Answer: 68
74
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 9. Geometric Probability
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Additional Problems
Problem 9.1.5 (AIME)
Answer: 817
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
75
Chapter 10
Expected Value
Video Lecture
76
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 10. Expected Value
xi · P (xi )
X
where xi are the possible values of X and P (xi ) is the probability they occur.
Basically the expected value is just the weighted sum of probabilities of events
Remark 10.0.3
Often times, in finding the expected value, we can just look for symmetry instead
of summing each individual probability times number. For example, to calculate the
expected value of a dice roll rather than evaluating
1 1 1 1 1 1
· 1 + · 2 + · 3 + · 4 + · 5 + · 6 = 3.5
6 6 6 6 6 6
we can see that since all rolls from 1 to 6 are equally likely, the expected value is just
the average roll which is just the average of the 2 middle terms which is 3.5. (See the
arithmetic sequences section)
77
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 10. Expected Value
Basically, what this means is that the total expected value of n events is just the sum of
the expected values of each individual event.
Remark 10.0.5
This theorem is powerful as it allows us to find the expected value of the individual
events rather than of the whole thing at once.
Video Solution
Answer: 2.2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Video Solution
Answer: 23
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
78
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 10. Expected Value
Mark is playing a game at the casino. The game costs $100. There is a 5% chance he
will win $500 and a 20% chance he will win $250 and 75% chance he will win $0. What
is the expected value for the money he will lose?
Video Solution
Answer: 25
A player pays $5 to play a game. A die is rolled. If the number on the die is odd,
the game is lost. If the number on the die is even, the die is rolled again. In this case
the player wins if the second number matches the first and loses otherwise. How much
should the player win if the game is fair? (In a fair game the probability of winning times
the amount won is what the player should pay.)
Video Solution
Answer: 60
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
Additional Problems
Problem 10.1.3 (AMC 12)
A school has 100 students and 5 teachers. In the first period, each student is tak-
ing one class, and each teacher is teaching one class. The enrollments in the classes are
50, 20, 20, 5, and 5. Let t be the average value obtained if a teacher is picked at random
and the number of students in their class is noted. Let s be the average value obtained if
a student was picked at random and the number of students in their class, including the
student, is noted. What is t − s?
Answer: −13.5
79
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 10. Expected Value
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙7
For each permutation a1 , a2 , a3 , · · · , a10 of the integers 1, 2, 3, · · · , 10, form the sum
Answer: 058
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1996˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙12
80
Chapter 11
Recursion
Video Lecture
81
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
2. Recursion Equation: Look at the different cases for any general value of n (ex.
whether the last digit is 0 or 1)
• If you are stuck, you can try a few small cases and look for a pattern
Remark 11.0.2
Note that you can get the answer to many recursion problems by using engineering
induction (see the meta-solving section).
82
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
Video Solution
Answer: 65
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
Example (AIME)
A collection of 8 cubes consists of one cube with edge-length k for each integer k, 1 ≤
k ≤ 8. A tower is to be built using all 8 cubes according to the rules:
• The cube immediately on top of a cube with edge-length k must have edge-length
at most k + 2.
Let T be the number of different towers than can be constructed. What is the
remainder when T is divided by 1000?
Video Solution
Answer: 458
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙11
Video Solution
Answer: 129
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
83
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
Video Solution
Answer: 24
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙25
Problem 11.1.2
Arjun and Beth play a game in which they take turns removing one brick or two
adjacent bricks from one ”wall” among a set of several walls of bricks, with gaps possibly
creating new walls. The walls are one brick tall. For example, a set of walls of sizes 4 and
2 can be changed into any of the following by one move: (3, 2), (2, 1, 2), (4), (4, 1), (2, 2),
or (1, 1, 2).
, , ,...
Arjun plays first, and the player who removes the last brick wins. For which starting
configuration is there a strategy that guarantees a win for Beth?
(A) (6, 1, 1) (B) (6, 2, 1) (C) (6, 2, 2) (D) (6, 3, 1) (E) (6, 3, 2)
Video Solution
Answer: (6, 2, 1)
84
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
Additional Problems
Problem 11.1.3 (AMC 10)
Square ABCD in the coordinate plane has vertices at the points A(1, 1), B(−1, 1), C(−1, −1),
and D(1, −1). Consider the following four transformations:
• L, a rotation of 90◦ counterclockwise around the origin;
• R, a rotation of 90◦ clockwise around the origin;
• H, a reflection across the x-axis; and
• V, a reflection across the y-axis.
Each of these transformations maps the squares onto itself, but the positions of the
labeled vertices will change. For example, applying R and then V would send the vertex
A at (1, 1) to (−1, −1) and would send the vertex B at (−1, 1) to itself. How many
sequences of 20 transformations chosen from {L, R, H, V } will send all of the labeled
vertices back to their original positions? (For example, R, R, V, H is one sequence of 4
transformations that will send the vertices back to their original positions.)
Answer: 238
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
There are 210 = 1024 possible 10-letter strings in which each letter is either an A
or a B. Find the number of such strings that do not have more than 3 adjacent letters
that are identical.
Answer: 548
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=2015˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙12
The figure below shows a ring made of six small sections which you are to paint on a wall.
You have four paint colors available and you will paint each of the six sections a solid
color. Find the number of ways you can choose to paint the sections if no two adjacent
sections can be painted with the same color.
85
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
Answer: 732
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙12
Answer: 486
86
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 11. Recursion
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
Let △A0 B0 C0 be a triangle whose angle measures are exactly 59.999◦ , 60◦ , and 60.001◦ .
For each positive integer n, define An to be the foot of the altitude from An−1 to line
Bn−1 Cn−1 . Likewise, define Bn to be the foot of the altitude from Bn−1 to line An−1 Cn−1 ,
and Cn to be the foot of the altitude from Cn−1 to line An−1 Bn−1 . What is the least
positive integer n for which △An Bn Cn is obtuse?
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
A mail carrier delivers mail to the nineteen houses on the east side of Elm Street.
The carrier notices that no two adjacent houses ever get mail on the same day, but that
there are never more than two houses in a row that get no mail on the same day. How
many different patterns of mail delivery are possible?
Answer: 351
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙14
Answer: 461
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙11
87
Chapter 12
Probability States
Video Lecture
88
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
2. Write your equations for the probability of winning from each of these positions in
terms of the other states
Remark 12.0.3
Often times in state problems when you have a lot of states, you may have to write a
state recursion equation.
89
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
Video Solution
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Video Solution
Answer: 25
32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
90
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
Video Solution
Answer: 14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
91
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
Amelia has a coin that lands heads with probability 13 , and Blaine has a coin that
lands on heads with probability 25 . Amelia and Blaine alternately toss their coins until
someone gets a head; the first one to get a head wins. All coin tosses are independent.
Amelia goes first. The probability that Amelia wins is pq , where p and q are relatively
prime positive integers. What is q − p?
Video Solution
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Debra flips a fair coin repeatedly, keeping track of how many heads and how many
tails she has seen in total, until she gets either two heads in a row or two tails in a row,
at which point she stops flipping. What is the probability that she gets two heads in a
row but she sees a second tail before she sees a second head?
Video Solution
Answer: 24
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
A frog sitting at the point (1, 2) begins a sequence of jumps, where each jump is
parallel to one of the coordinate axes and has length 1, and the direction of each jump
(up, down, right, or left) is chosen independently at random. The sequence ends when
the frog reaches a side of the square with vertices (0, 0), (0, 4), (4, 4), and (4, 0). What is
the probability that the sequence of jumps ends on a vertical side of the square?
Video Solution
Answer: 58
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
92
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
Lily pads 1, 2, 3, . . . lie in a row on a pond. A frog makes a sequence of jumps starting on
pad 1. From any pad k the frog jumps to either pad k + 1 or pad k + 2 chosen randomly
with probability 12 and independently of other jumps. The probability that the frog visits
pad 7 is pq , where p and q are relatively prime positive integers. Find p + q.
Video Solution
Answer: 107
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙2
In a small pond there are eleven lily pads in a row labeled 0 through 10. A frog
is sitting on pad 1. When the frog is on pad N , 0 < N < 10, it will jump to pad N − 1
with probability 10
N
and to pad N + 1 with probability 1 − 10
N
. Each jump is independent
of the previous jumps. If the frog reaches pad 0 it will be eaten by a patiently waiting
snake. If the frog reaches pad 10 it will exit the pond, never to return. What is the
probability that the frog will escape without being eaten by the snake?
Video Solution
Answer: 146
63
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Additional Problems
Problem 12.1.6 (AMC 12)
A square is drawn in the Cartesian coordinate plane with vertices at (2, 2), (−2, 2),
(−2, −2), (2, −2). A particle starts at (0, 0). Every second it moves with equal probability
to one of the eight lattice points (points with integer coordinates) closest to its current
position, independently of its previous moves. In other words, the probability is 1/8
that the particle will move from (x, y) to each of (x, y + 1), (x + 1, y + 1), (x + 1, y),
(x + 1, y − 1), (x, y − 1), (x − 1, y − 1), (x − 1, y), or (x − 1, y + 1). The particle will
eventually hit the square for the first time, either at one of the 4 corners of the square
93
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 12. Probability States
or at one of the 12 lattice points in the interior of one of the sides of the square. The
probability that it will hit at a corner rather than at an interior point of a side is m/n,
where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. What is m + n?
Answer: 39
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
94
Algebra
95
Chapter 13
Algebraic Manipulations
Video Lecture
96
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
97
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
98
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
(x + y)3 = x3 + 3xy(x + y) + y 3
(x + y)3 = x3 + 3x2 y + 3xy 2 + y 3
(x − y)3 = x3 − 3xy(x − y) − y 3
(x − y)3 = x3 − 3x2 y + 3xy 2 − y 3
Theorem 13.1.3
If
1
x+ =a
x
then
1
x2 + = a2 − 2
x2
1
x3 + 3 = a3 − 3a
x
1
x4 + 4 = (a2 − 2)2 − 2
x
Video Solution
Answer: 194
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
99
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Example
Given that x − 1
x
= 3, find x3 − 1
x3
Video Solution
Answer: 36
100
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
x2 − y 2 = (x − y)(x + y)
x3 − y 3 = (x − y)(x2 + xy + y 2 )
x3 + y 3 = (x + y)(x2 − xy + y 2 )
Example
Given that x − 1
x
= 3, find x3 − 1
x3
Video Solution
Answer: 36
101
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Note: The signs in the second term alternate between positive and negative
xy + kx + jy + jk = (x + j)(y + k)
Remark 13.4.3
You can generally apply this factorization when you have xy, x, and y terms. After
applying the factorization, you can then find all possible values for each of your terms in
your factorization (remember negatives!).
Video Solution
Answer: 1795
102
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
1. Substitution
2. Elimination
3. Adding/Subtracting/Multiplying Equations
Video Solution
Answer: 2
103
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Video Solution
Answer: 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙20
Example (AIME)
Find the positive solution to
1 1 2
+ 2 − 2 =0
x2 − 10x − 29 x − 10x − 45 x − 10x − 69
Video Solution
Answer: 013
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
Example (AIME)
Let (a, b, c) be the real solution of the system of equations x3 − xyz = 2, y 3 − xyz = 6,
z 3 − xyz = 20. The greatest possible value of a3 + b3 + c3 can be written in the form mn
,
where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 158
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙9
104
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Assuming a ̸= 3, b ̸= 4, and c =
̸ 5, what is the value in simplest form of the fol-
lowing expression?
a−3 b−4 c−5
· ·
5−c 3−a 4−b
Video Solution
Answer: −1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙3
Supposed that x and y are nonzero real numbers such that 3x+y
x−3y
= −2. What is
the value of 3x−y
x+3y
?
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙4
Real numbers a and b satisfy the equations 3a = 81b+2 and 125b = 5a−3 . What is
ab?
Answer: 60
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Let a + 1 = b + 2 = c + 3 = d + 4 = a + b + c + d + 5. What is a + b + c + d?
Video Solution
105
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Answer: −10
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Video Solution
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
x3 y 3
x+ + + y?
y 2 x2
Video Solution
Answer: 440
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙14
Video Solution
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙2
Given that x and y are distinct nonzero real numbers such that x + 2
x
= y + y2 , what is
xy?
106
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙8
Video Solution
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙11
107
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Additional Problems
Problem 13.6.12
If x + 1
x
= 4, then what is the value of x8 + 1
x8
?
Answer: 14
MATHCOUNTS
Answer: −x
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
108
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
xy + x + y = 71,
x2 y + xy 2 = 880.
Answer: 146
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1991˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙1
Answer: 841
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
Suppose that x, y, and z are three positive numbers that satisfy the equations xyz = 1,
x + z1 = 5, and y + x1 = 29. Then z + y1 = m
n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive
integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙7
109
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
ax + by = 3,
ax2 + by 2 = 7,
ax3 + by 3 = 16,
ax4 + by 4 = 42.
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙15
The equation 2333x−2 + 2111x+2 = 2222x+1 + 1 has three real roots. Given that their
sum is m/n where m and n are relatively prime positive integers, find m + n.
Answer: 113
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
√
What is the product of the real roots of the equation x2 + 18x + 30 = 2 x2 + 18x + 45?
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1983˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙3
Find A2 , where A is the sum of the absolute values of all roots of the following equation:
√
x = 19 + √19+ √ 91 91
19+ √ 91
19+ √ 91 91
19+ x
110
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
a + b = −3,
ab + bc + ca = −4,
abc + bcd + cda + dab = 14,
abcd = 30.
Answer: 145
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
Answer: 263
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙14
Answer: 89
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙14
The equation 2000x6 + 100x5 + 10x3 + x − 2 = 0 has exactly two real roots, one
111
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 13. Algebraic Manipulations
√
of which is m+r n , where m, n and r are integers, m and r are relatively prime, and r > 0.
Find m + n + r.
Answer: 200
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙13
112
Chapter 14
Video Lecture
113
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
14.1 Polynomials
ax2 + bx + c = 0
are √
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
1. If the discriminant b2 − 4ac is 0, then the quadratic has a double or repeated root
2. If the discriminant b2 − 4ac is positive, the quadratic has 2 different real roots
114
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
Example
If the roots of the quadratic 3x2 + 6x − 5 are r and s, find r3 + s3 .
Video Solution
Answer: −18
an−2
r1 r2 + r1 r3 + .. + rn−1 rn (the sum of all products of 2 terms) =
an
an−3
r1 r2 r3 + r1 r2 r4 + ... + rn−2 rn−1 rn (the sum of all products of 3 terms) = −
an
..
.
a0
r1 r2 r3 . . . rn (the sum of all products of n terms) = (−1)n
an
Note that the negative and positive signs alternate. When summing the products for
odd number of terms, we will have a negative sign otherwise we will have a positive sign.
115
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
Example
If r, s, and t are roots of the cubic x3 − 6x − 5 = 0, find r3 + s3 + t3 .
Video Solution
Answer: 15
Video Solution
Answer: −11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙19
116
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
Find the sum and product of the roots of the quadratic 2x2 − 24x + 17?
Video Solution
Answer: 12, 17
2
There are two values of a for which the equation 4x2 + ax + 8x + 9 = 0 has only
one solution for x. What is the sum of these values of a?
Video Solution
Answer: −16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Video Solution
Answer: 92
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
What is the sum of the reciprocals of the roots of the equation 2003
2004
x +1+ 1
x
= 0?
Video Solution
Answer: −1
117
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Video Solution
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
x
Let f be a function for which f = x2 + x + 1. Find the sum of all values of
3
z for which f (3z) = 7.
Video Solution
Answer: − 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙15
What is the sum of all real numbers x for which |x2 − 12x + 34| = 2?
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙5
The polynomial x3 − ax2 + bx − 2010 has three positive integer roots. What is the
smallest possible value of a?
Video Solution
118
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
Answer: 78
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Suppose that a and b are nonzero real numbers, and that the equation x2 + ax + b = 0
has solutions a and b. Then the pair (a, b) is
Video Solution
Answer: (1, −2)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Suppose that the roots of x3 + 3x2 + 4x − 11 = 0 are a, b, and c, and that the roots of
x3 + rx2 + sx + t = 0 are a + b, b + c, and c + a. Find t.
Video Solution
Answer: 023
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1996˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
g(x) = x3 + ax2 + x + 10
has three distinct roots, and each root of g(x) is also a root of the polynomial
What is f (1)?
Video Solution
Answer: −7007
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
119
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
Let a, b, and c be three distinct one-digit numbers. What is the maximum value
of the sum of the roots of the equation (x − a)(x − b) + (x − b)(x − c) = 0?
Video Solution
Answer: 16.5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
Problem 14.2.13
Video Solution
Answer: −88
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙12
In the polynomial x4 − 18x3 + kx2 + 200x − 1984 = 0, the product of 2 of its roots is
−32. Find k.
Video Solution
Answer: 86
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙USAMO˙Problems/Problem˙1
Video Solution
Answer: −88
120
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙14
The zeros of the function f (x) = x2 − ax + 2a are integers. What is the sum of
the possible values of a?
Answer: 16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Answer: 753
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
Answer: 500
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
121
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
How many distinct ordered triples (x, y, z) satisfy the following equations?
x + 2y + 4z = 12
xy + 4yz + 2xz = 22
xyz = 6
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1976˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙30
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 510
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙11
Let P (x) = x2 − 3x − 7, and let Q(x) and R(x) be two quadratic polynomials also
with the coefficient of x2 equal to 1. David computes each of the three sums P + Q,
P + R, and Q + R and is surprised to find that each pair of these sums has a common
root, and these three common roots are distinct. If Q(0) = 2, then R(0) = m
n
, where m
and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 71
122
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 14. Vieta’s Formulas for Polynomials
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙11
123
Chapter 15
Polynomial Roots
Video Lecture
124
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
125
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
an (x − r1 )(x − r2 )(x − r3 ) . . . (x − rn )
(x − r1 )(x − r2 )(x − r3 ) . . . (x − rn )
Concept 15.1.3
When a problem asks you to find an expression like (k − r)(k − s)(k − t) where r, s, and
t are roots of the polynomial for a monic polynomial, it would just be equal to P (k) by
the above definition. The same will work for non monic polynomials except it would be
P (k)
an
where an is the coefficient of the xn term in the polynomial.
126
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Example (AHSME)
Find the remainder when x51 + 51 is divided by x + 1.
Video Solution
Answer: 50
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1974˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙4
Example (USAMO)
In the polynomial x4 − 18x3 + kx2 + 200x − 1984 = 0, the product of 2 of its roots is
−32. Find k.
Video Solution
Answer: 86
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙USAMO˙Problems/Problem˙1
127
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Example (AIME)
For distinct complex numbers z1 , z2 , . . . , z673 , the polynomial
(x − z1 )3 (x − z2 )3 · · · (x − z673 )3
can be expressed as x2019 + 20x2018 + 19x2017 + g(x), where g(x) is a polynomial with
complex coefficients and with degree at most 2016. The sum
X
zj zk
1≤j<k≤673
Video Solution
Answer: 352
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
128
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
is symmetric if
an = a0
an−1 = a1
an−2 = a2
an−3 = a3
etc.
Video Solution
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
129
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Video Solution
Answer: 20
1 1
,5
130
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Essentially, when flipping the coefficients of a polynomial, it will have roots that are
reciprocals of the original roots.
Remark 15.3.3
Remember, if the roots are k more, than we subtract k from each of the x terms in our
polynomial.
Remark 15.3.4
Polynomial manipulations are useful when evaluating complex expressions in terms of
roots. For example, in order to evaluate
1 1 1
+ +
(r − 3) 3 (s − 3) 3 (t − 3)3
of a polynomial with roots r, s, t, rather than expanding it out and bashing with Vieta’s
131
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
by the above methods and then simply find the sum of the roots of the polynomial.
Video Solution
Answer: 1+a+b+c
c
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
132
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
1. Start off with a Sk value and multiply by it by the leftmost polynomial coefficient.
Remark 15.3.6
Note that by each Newton Sum Equation, we can iteratively calculate each Pk rather
than having to bash with Vieta’s Formulas.
133
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
x
Let f be a function for which f = x2 + x + 1. Find the sum of all values of
3
z for which f (3z) = 7.
Video Solution
Answer: − 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙15
Suppose that the roots of x3 + 3x2 + 4x − 11 = 0 are a, b, and c, and that the roots of
x3 + rx2 + sx + t = 0 are a + b, b + c, and c + a. Find t.
Video Solution
Answer: 023
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1996˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
g(x) = x3 + ax2 + x + 10
has three distinct roots, and each root of g(x) is also a root of the polynomial
What is f (1)?
Video Solution
Answer: −7007
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
134
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Problem 15.4.4
[AMC 10/12B] Let P (x) be a polynomial with rational coefficients such that when
P (x) is divided by the polynomial x2 + x + 1, the remainder is x + 2, and when P (x) is
divided by the polynomial x2 + 1, the remainder is 2x + 1. There is a unique polynomial of
least degree with these two properties. What is the sum of the squares of the coefficients
of that polynomial?
(A) 10 (B) 13 (C) 19 (D) 20 (E) 23
Video Solution
Answer: 23
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962548
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1963˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙14
Answer: −64
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
135
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
Let P (x) be a polynomial such that when P (x) is divided by x − 19, the remain-
der is 99, and when P (x) is divided by x − 99, the remainder is 19. What is the remainder
when P (x) is divided by (x − 19)(x − 99)?
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1999˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙17
Answer: −x + 118
The
√ √
real root of the equation 8x3 − 3x2 − 3x − 1 = 0 can be written in the form
3 a+ 3 b+1
c
, where a, b, and c are positive integers. Find a + b + c.
Answer: 98
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙5
√
Let x1 < x2 < x3 be the three real roots of the equation 2014x3 − 4029x2 + 2 = 0. Find
x2 (x1 + x3 ).
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙9
The graph of y = x6 − 10x5 + 29x4 − 4x3 + ax2 lies above the line y = bx + c ex-
cept at three values of x, where the graph and the line intersect. What is the largest of
these values?
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙21
136
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
The equation √2000x6 + 100x5 + 10x3 + x − 2 = 0 has exactly two real roots, one
of which is m+r n , where m, n and r are integers, m and r are relatively prime, and r > 0.
Find m + n + r.
Answer: 200
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙13
Let P (x) be a nonzero polynomial such that (x − 1)P (x + 1) = (x + 2)P (x) for every real
x, and (P (2))2 = P (3). Then P ( 72 ) = m
n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive
integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 109
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙11
Answer: 85
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙14
A quadratic polynomial with real coefficients and leading coefficient 1 is called disrespectful
if the equation p(p(x)) = 0 is satisfied by exactly three real numbers. Among all the
disrespectful quadratic polynomials, there is a unique such polynomial p̃(x) for which
the sum of the roots is maximized. What is p̃(1)?
Answer: 5
16
137
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 15. Polynomial Roots
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
138
Chapter 16
Arithmetic Sequences
Video Lecture
139
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
1, 4, 7, 10, 13, . . . , 40
Remark 16.0.2
Note that an arithmetic sequence can also have a negative common difference. For
example, in the arithmetic sequence
an = a1 + (n − 1)d
an = am + (n − m)d
140
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
141
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
Example (AIME)
For each positive integer k, let Sk denote the increasing arithmetic sequence of integers
whose first term is 1 and whose common difference is k. For example, S3 is the sequence
1, 4, 7, 10, . . . . For how many values of k does Sk contain the term 2005?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Example (AIME)
If the integer k is added to each of the numbers 36, 300, and 596, one obtains the squares
of three consecutive terms of an arithmetic series. Find k.
Video Solution
Answer: 925
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1989˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙7
142
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
Video Solution
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙5
In how many ways can 345 be written as the sum of an increasing sequence of two
or more consecutive positive integers?
Video Solution
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
Suppose that S is a finite set of positive integers. If the greatest integer in S is re-
moved from S, then the average value (arithmetic mean) of the integers remaining is 32.
If the least integer in S is also removed, then the average value of the integers remaining
is 35. If the greatest integer is then returned to the set, the average value of the integers
rises to 40. The greatest integer in the original set S is 72 greater than the least integer
in S. What is the average value of all the integers in the set S?
Video Solution
Answer: 36.8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
In the five-sided star shown, the letters A, B, C, D, and E are replaced by the num-
143
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
bers 3, 5, 6, 7, and 9, although not necessarily in this order. The sums of the numbers
at the ends of the line segments AB,BC,CD,DE, and EA form an arithmetic sequence,
although not necessarily in this order. What is the middle term of the arithmetic
sequence?
C D
E B
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
A grocer makes a display of cans in which the top row has one can and each lower
row has two more cans than the row above it. If the display contains 100 cans, how many
rows does it contain?
Video Solution
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙8
The terms of an arithmetic sequence add to 715. The first term of the sequence is
increased by 1, the second term is increased by 3, the third term is increased by 5, and in
general, the kth term is increased by the kth odd positive integer. The terms of the new
sequence add to 836. Find the sum of the first, last, and middle terms of the original
sequence.
144
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
Video Solution
Answer: 195
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Video Solution
Answer: 0.01
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Additional Problems
Problem 16.1.8 (AMC 10)
Mary divides a circle into 12 sectors. The central angles of these sectors, measured
in degrees, are all integers and they form an arithmetic sequence. What is the degree
measure of the smallest possible sector angle?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
How many non-similar triangles have angles whose degree measures are distinct positive
integers in arithmetic progression?
145
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 16. Arithmetic Sequences
Answer: 59
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
The degree measures of the angles in a convex 18-sided polygon form an increasing
arithmetic sequence with integer values. Find the degree measure of the smallest angle.
Answer: 143
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
Problem 16.1.11
Find the roots of the polynomial x5 − 5x4 − 35x3 + ax2 + bx + c, given that the roots
form an arithmetic progression.
Answer: −−
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Arithmetic˙sequence
Find the eighth term of the sequence 1440, 1716, 1848, . . . , whose terms are formed by
multiplying the corresponding terms of two arithmetic sequences.
Answer: 348
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
146
Chapter 17
Geometric Sequences
Video Lecture
147
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 . . . , 1024
is a geometric sequence because there is always a ratio of 2 between consecutive terms.
Definition 17.0.2 (Geometric Sequence Notation). In general, the terms of a geometric
sequence can be represented as:
g1 , g2 , g3 , g4 , . . . , gn
where
• r is the common ratio between consecutive terms
• n is the number of terms
Remark 17.0.3
Note that a geometric sequence can also have a negative common ratio. For example the
sequence 1, −2, 4, −8, . . . , 256, −512, 1024 has a common ratio of −2.
gn = g1 · rn−1
gn = gm · r(n−m)
Example (AIME)
Two geometric sequences a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . and b1 , b2 , b3 , . . . have the same common ratio,
with a1 = 27, b1 = 99, and a15 = b11 . Find a9 .
Video Solution
Answer: 363
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙2
148
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
Remark 17.0.7
The reason the formula only works for |r| < 1 is because if |r| ≥ 1 the sum will diverge
or essentially be infinite. We can only find the sum of an infinite geometric sequence
which is converging as its sum approaches a constant value. Examples:
1 1 1 1
1+ + + + ··· = =2
2 4 8 1− 1
2
1 1 1 1 3
1+ + + + ··· = =
3 9 27 1− 1
3
2
Example (AIME)
For −1 < r < 1, let S(r) denote the sum of the geometric series
Video Solution
Answer: 336
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
Example (AIME)
An infinite geometric series has sum 2005. A new series, obtained by squaring each term
of the original series, has 10 times the sum of the original series. The common ratio of
the original series is m
n
where m and n are relatively prime integers. Find m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 802
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
149
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
The fifth term of a geometric sequence of positive numbers is 11 and the eleventh
term is 5. What is the eighth term of the sequence?
Video Solution
√
Answer: 55
The third and fourth terms of an arithmetic sequence are the first and second terms of a
geometric sequence. If the first two terms of the arithmetic sequence are 5, 2, then what
is the fourth term of the geometric sequence?
Video Solution
Answer: −64
Video Solution
Answer: 81
2
The positive integers A, B, and C form an arithmetic sequence while the integers
B, C, and D form a geometric sequence. If B
C
= 53 , what is the smallest possible value of
A + B + C + D?
Video Solution
150
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
Answer: 52
MATHCOUNTS
Call a 3-digit number geometric if it has 3 distinct digits which, when read from left to
right, form a geometric sequence. Find the difference between the largest and smallest
geometric numbers.
Answer: 840
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
The sum of the first 2011 terms of a geometric sequence is 200. The sum of the
first 4022 terms is 380. Find the sum of the first 6033 terms.
Answer: 542
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙5
Answer: 750
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1989˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙3
The sum of an infinite geometric series is a positive number S, and the second term in
151
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙14
Positive integers a, b, and 2009, with a < b < 2009, form a geometric sequence with an
integer ratio. What is a?
Answer: 41
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
In an increasing sequence of four positive integers, the first three terms form an arithmetic
progression, the last three terms form a geometric progression, and the first and fourth
terms differ by 30. Find the sum of the four terms.
Answer: 129
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
A high school basketball game between the Raiders and Wildcats was tied at the
end of the first quarter. The number of points scored by the Raiders in each of the four
quarters formed an increasing geometric sequence, and the number of points scored by
the Wildcats in each of the four quarters formed an increasing arithmetic sequence. At
the end of the fourth quarter, the Raiders had won by one point. Neither team scored
more than 100 points. What was the total number of points scored by the two teams in
the first half?
Answer: 34
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
152
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 17. Geometric Sequences
Problem 17.2.8
Let p and q be real numbers with |p| < 1 and |q| < 1 such that
Answer: 48
Answer: 973
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Two distinct, real, infinite geometric series each have a sum of 1 and have the same
second term. The third term of √one of the series is 1/8, and the second term of both
series can be written in the form m−n
p
, where m, n, and p are positive integers and m is
not divisible by the square of any prime. Find 100m + 10n + p.
Answer: 518
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙11
153
Chapter 18
Special Sequences
Video Lecture
154
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
1 + 3 + 5 + · · · + (2n − 1) = n2
In simple terms, the
Sum of first n odd numbers = n2
2 + 4 + 6 + · · · + 2n = n(n + 1)
To intuitively think about it, just take 2 common from each term
(n)(n + 1)
2(1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n) = 2 = n(n + 1)
2
155
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
18.1 Telescoping
Concept 18.1.1 (Telescoping)
Expand the first few and last few terms, and cancel out any terms you see.
Remark 18.1.2
Generally, whenever you have long expressions that seem to be hard or impossible to
compute manually, telescoping is probably a good option.
Example (AIME)
1
Consider the sequence defined by ak = 2 for k ≥ 1. Given that am + am+1 + · · · +
k +k
1
an−1 = , for positive integers m and n with m < n, find m + n.
29
Video Solution
Answer: 840
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙4
Video Solution
Answer: 12
156
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Example (AIME)
Given that
x1 = 211,
x2 = 375,
x3 = 420,
x4 = 523, and
xn = xn−1 − xn−2 + xn−3 − xn−4 when n ≥ 5,
Video Solution
Answer: 898
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
157
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Video Solution
Answer: 50
99
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙17
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙8
Seven cubes, whose volumes are 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, and 343 cubic units, are stacked
vertically to form a tower in which the volumes of the cubes decrease from bottom to
top. Except for the bottom cube, the bottom face of each cube lies completely on top of
the cube below it. What is the total surface area of the tower (including the bottom) in
square units?
Video Solution
Answer: 658
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
158
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Hiram’s algebra notes are 50 pages long and are printed on 25 sheets of paper; the
first sheet contains pages 1 and 2, the second sheet contains pages 3 and 4, and so on.
One day he leaves his notes on the table before leaving for lunch, and his roommate
decides to borrow some pages from the middle of the notes. When Hiram comes back, he
discovers that his roommate has taken a consecutive set of sheets from the notes and
that the average (mean) of the page numbers on all remaining sheets is exactly 19. How
many sheets were borrowed?
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Additional Problems
Problem 18.2.5 (AHSME)
If Tn = 1 + 2 + 3 + · · · + n and
T2 T3 T4 Tn
Pn = · · · ··· ·
T2 − 1 T3 − 1 T4 − 1 Tn − 1
for n = 2, 3, 4, · · · , then P1991 is closest to which of the following numbers?
(A) 2.0 (B) 2.3 (C) 2.6 (D) 2.9 (E) 3.2
Answer: 2.9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1991˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙25
Let A be the set of positive integers that have no prime factors other than 2, 3, or
5. The infinite sum
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + ···
1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 12 15 16 18 20
of the reciprocals of the elements of A can be expressed as m
n
, where m and n are relatively
159
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Answer: 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Answer: 128
257
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1977˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙24
The Fibonacci sequence 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, . . . starts with two 1s, and each term after-
wards is the sum of its two predecessors. Which one of the ten digits is the last to appear
in the units position of a number in the Fibonacci sequence?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙4
Call a three-term strictly increasing arithmetic sequence of integers special if the sum of
the squares of the three terms equals the product of the middle term and the square of
the common difference. Find the sum of the third terms of all special sequences.
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙5
Answer: 31
Problem 18.2.10
Evaluate
1 1 1
2 ! 2 ! 2 !
1− 1− 1− ...
3 4 5
160
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Answer: 2
3
Answer: 986
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
This sequence tends to a limit; call it L. What is the least value of k such that
1
|uk − L| ≤ ?
21000
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙18
a2n−1
a0 = 1, a1 = 1, and an = an−1 + for n ≥ 2.
an−2
b2n−1
b0 = 1, b1 = 3, and bn = bn−1 + for n ≥ 2.
bn−2
161
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Find b32
a32
.
Answer: 561
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
The sum of the first m positive odd integers is 212 more than the sum of the first
n positive even integers. What is the sum of all possible values of n?
Answer: 255
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
a2n−1
a0 = 1, a1 = 1, and an = an−1 + for n ≥ 2.
an−2
b2n−1
b0 = 1, b1 = 3, and bn = bn−1 + for n ≥ 2.
bn−2
Find b32
a32
.
Answer: 561
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
162
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 18. Special Sequences
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙13
163
Chapter 19
Video Lecture
164
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
Example (AIME)
A finite set S of distinct real numbers has the following properties: the mean of S ∪ {1}
is 13 less than the mean of S, and the mean of S ∪ {2001} is 27 more than the mean of
S. Find the mean of S.
Video Solution
Answer: 651
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Definition 19.0.2 (Median). After arranging the numbers in increasing or decreasing order:
If number of terms is odd,
Median = middle number
If number of terms is even,
Remark 19.0.4
There could be multiple modes. If the problem says “unique mode”, it means that there
is only one mode.
√
n
a1 × a2 × a3 · · · × an
1
= 1
+ a1 +···+ a1
a1 2 n
n
n
= 1
a1
+ 1
a2
+ ··· + 1
an
165
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
Video Solution
Answer: −5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
10, 2, 5, 2, 4, 2, x
are arranged in increasing order, they form a non-constant arithmetic progression. What
is the sum of all possible real values of x?
Video Solution
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙14
166
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
The quiz scores of a class with k > 12 students have a mean of 8. The mean of a
collection of 12 of these quiz scores is 14. What is the mean of the remaining quiz scores
in terms of k?
Video Solution
Answer: 8k−168
k−12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙5
Suppose that S is a finite set of positive integers. If the greatest integer in S is re-
moved from S, then the average value (arithmetic mean) of the integers remaining is 32.
If the least integer in S is also removed, then the average value of the integers remaining
is 35. If the greatest integer is then returned to the set, the average value of the integers
rises to 40. The greatest integer in the original set S is 72 greater than the least integer
in S. What is the average value of all the integers in the set S?
Video Solution
Answer: 36.8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
The quiz scores of a class with k > 12 students have a mean of 8. The mean of a
collection of 12 of these quiz scores is 14. What is the mean of the remaining quiz scores
of terms of k?
Video Solution
Answer: 8k−168
k−12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙5
167
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
Ms. Blackwell gives an exam to two classes. The mean of the scores of the students
in the morning class is 84, and the afternoon class’s mean score is 70. The raio of the
number of students in the morning class to the number of students in the afternoon class
is 34 . What is the mean of the scores of all the students?
Video Solution
Answer: 76
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙6
In the following list of numbers, the integer n appears n times in the list for 1 ≤ n ≤ 200.
Video Solution
Answer: 142
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Additional Problems
Problem 19.1.6 (AMC 10)
The numbers 3, 5, 7, a, and b have an average (arithmetic mean) of 15. What is the
average of a and b?
Answer: 30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙2
168
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
The mean, median, and mode of the 7 data values 60, 100, x, 40, 50, 200, 90 are all
equal to x. What is the value of x?
Answer: 90
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙7
Every high school in the city of Euclid sent a team of 3 students to a math contest.
Each participant in the contest received a different score. Andrea’s score was the median
among all students, and hers was the highest score on her team. Andrea’s teammates
Beth and Carla placed 37th and 64th, respectively. How many schools are in the city?
Answer: 23
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙8
1, 2, 3, . . . , 2020, 12 , 22 , 32 , . . . , 20202
Answer: 1976.5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
A list of 2018 positive integers has a unique mode, which occurs exactly 10 times.
What is the least number of distinct values that can occur in the list?
Answer: 225
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
169
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
Melanie computes the mean µ, the median M , and the modes of the 365 values that are
the dates in the months of 2019. Thus her data consist of 12 1s, 12 2s, . . . , 12 28s,
11 29s, 11 30s, and 7 31s. Let d be the median of the modes. Which of the following
statements is true?
(A) µ < d < M (B) M < d < µ (C) d = M = µ
(D) d < M < µ (E) d < µ < M
Answer: 649
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
The arithmetic mean of two distinct positive integers x and y is a two-digit integer.
The geometric mean of x and y is obtained by reversing the digits of the arithmetic mean.
What is |x − y|?
Answer: 66
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
A sample of 121 integers is given, each between 1 and 1000 inclusive, with repeti-
tions allowed. The sample has a unique mode (most frequent value). Let D be the
difference between the mode and the arithmetic mean of the sample. What is the largest
170
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 19. Mean, Median, Mode
possible value of ⌊D⌋? (For real x, ⌊x⌋ is the greatest integer less than or equal to x.)
Answer: 947
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1989˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙11
171
Chapter 20
System of Equations
Video Lecture
172
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Video Solution
Answer: 42
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙5
173
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Theorem 20.1.1
Equivalently,
Work
Rate =
Time
Work
Time =
Rate
Theorem 20.1.2
The if one person can do something is a amount of time, and someone else can do it in b
amount of time, together they can do it in
ab
a+b
time.
Remark 20.1.3
This not only applies to work. For example, if a problem says 2 faucets take a and b
hours to fill a tub, together they can fill a tub in
ab
a+b
hours.
174
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Example (AIME)
Abe can paint the room in 15 hours, Bea can paint 50 percent faster than Abe, and Coe
can paint twice as fast as Abe. Abe begins to paint the room and works alone for the
first hour and a half. Then Bea joins Abe, and they work together until half the room is
painted. Then Coe joins Abe and Bea, and they work together until the entire room is
painted. Find the number of minutes after Abe begins for the three of them to finish
painting the room.
Video Solution
Answer: 334
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙1
Example (AIME)
The workers in a factory produce widgets and whoosits. For each product, production
time is constant and identical for all workers, but not necessarily equal for the two
products. In one hour, 100 workers can produce 300 widgets and 200 whoosits. In two
hours, 60 workers can produce 240 widgets and 300 whoosits. In three hours, 50 workers
can produce 150 widgets and m whoosits. Find m.
Video Solution
Answer: 450
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
In an after-school program for juniors and seniors there is a debate team with an
equal number of students from each class on the team. Among the 28 students on the
program, 25% of the juniors and 10% of the seniors are on the debate team. How many
juniors are in the program?
Video Solution
Answer: 8
175
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙3
Joe has a collection of 23 coins, consisting of 5-cent coins, 10-cent coins, and 25-cent
coins. He has 3 more 10-cent coins than 5-cent coins, and the total value of his collection
is 320 cents. How many more 25-cent coins does Joe have than 5-cent coins?
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙8
The sum of two natural numbers is 17,402. One of the two numbers is divisible by
10. If the units digit of that number is erased, the other number is obtained. What is
the difference of these two numbers?
Video Solution
Answer: 14, 238
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙3
Pablo, Sofia, and Mia got some candy eggs at a party. Pablo had three times as
many eggs as Sofia, and Sofia had twice as many eggs as Mia. Pablo decides to give some
of his eggs to Sofia and Mia so that all three will have the same number of eggs. What
fraction of his eggs should Pablo give to Sofia?
Video Solution
Answer: 1/6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙4
176
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
The sum of two natural numbers is 17,402. One of the two numbers is divisible by
10. If the units digit of that number is erased, the other number is obtained. What is
the difference of these two numbers?
Video Solution
Answer: 14, 238
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙3
At a math contest, 57 students are wearing blue shirts, and another 75 students are
wearing yellow shirts. The 132 students are assigned into 66 pairs. In exactly 23 of
these pairs, both students are wearing blue shirts. In how many pairs are both students
wearing yellow shirts?
Video Solution
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙4
1.abab · · · = 1.ab
Where a and b are digits. He did not notice the notation and just multiplied 66 times
1.ab. Later he found that his answer is 0.5 less than the correct answer. What is the
2-digit integer ab?
Video Solution
Answer: 75
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙8
177
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Suppose that S is a finite set of positive integers. If the greatest integer in S is re-
moved from S, then the average value (arithmetic mean) of the integers remaining is 32.
IF the least integer in S is also removed, then the average value of the integers remaining
is 35. IF the greatest integer is then returned to the set, the average value of the integers
rises to 40. The greatest integer in the original set S is 72 greater than the least integer
in S. Wha tis the average value of all the integers in the set S?
Video Solution
Answer: 36.8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Additional Problems
Problem 20.2.9 (AMC 10)
Ana and Bonita were born on the same date in different years, n years apart. Last year
Ana was 5 times as old as Bonita. This year Ana’s age is the square of Bonita’s age.
What is n?
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙3
At Megapolis Hospital one year, multiple-birth statistics were as follows: Sets of twins,
triplets, and quadruplets accounted for 1000 of the babies born. There were four times
as many sets of triplets as sets of quadruplets, and there was three times as many sets of
twins as sets of triplets. How many of these 1000 babies were in sets of quadruplets?
Answer: 100
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
178
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Two jars each contain the same number of marbles, and every marble is either blue or
green. In Jar 1 the ratio of blue to green marbles is 9 : 1, and the ratio of blue to green
marbles in Jar 2 is 8 : 1. There are 95 green marbles in all. How many more blue marbles
are in Jar 1 than in Jar 2?
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙11
In the United States, coins have the following thicknesses: penny, 1.55 mm; nickel,
1.95 mm; dime, 1.35 mm; quarter, 1.75 mm. If a stack of these coins is exactly 14 mm
high, how many coins are in the stack?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Boris has an incredible coin-changing machine. When he puts in a quarter, it returns five
nickels; when he puts in a nickel, it returns five pennies; and when he puts in a penny, it
returns five quarters. Boris starts with just one penny. Which of the following amounts
could Boris have after using the machine repeatedly?
(A)3.63 (B)5.13 (C)6.30 (D)7.45 (E)9.07
Answer: $7.45
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙10˙Problems/Problem˙17
One morning each member of Angela’s family drank an 8-ounce mixture of coffee with
milk. The amounts of coffee and milk varied from cup to cup, but were never zero.
Angela drank a quarter of the total amount of milk and a sixth of the total amount of
179
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙13
The state income tax where Kristin lives is levied at the rate of p% of the first $28000
of annual income plus (p + 2)% of any amount above $28000. Kristin noticed that the
state income tax she paid amounted to (p + 0.25)% of her annual income. What was her
annual income?
Answer: 32000
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙3
Paula the painter and her two helpers each paint at constant, but different, rates.
They always start at 8:00 AM, and all three always take the same amount of time to
eat lunch. On Monday the three of them painted 50% of a house, quitting at 4:00 PM.
On Tuesday, when Paula wasn’t there, the two helpers painted only 24% of the house
and quit at 2:12 PM. On Wednesday Paula worked by herself and finished the house by
working until 7:12 P.M. How long, in minutes, was each day’s lunch break?
Answer: 48
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
A group of 12 pirates agree to divide a treasure chest of gold coins among themselves as
follows. The k th pirate to take a share takes 12
k
of the coins that remain in the chest. The
number of coins initially in the chest is the smallest number for which this arrangement
will allow each pirate to receive a positive whole number of coins. How many coins does
the 12th pirate receive?
Answer: 1925
180
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Jar A contains four liters of a solution that is 45% acid. Jar B contains five liters
of a solution that is 48% acid. Jar C contains one liter of a solution that is k% acid.
From jar C, m n
liters of the solution is added to jar A, and the remainder of the solution
in jar C is added to jar B. At the end both jar A and jar B contain solutions that are
50% acid. Given that m and n are relatively prime positive integers, find k + m + n.
Answer: 85
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
In order to complete a large job, 1000 workers were hired, just enough to complete
the job on schedule. All the workers stayed on the job while the first quarter of the work
was done, so the first quarter of the work was completed on schedule. Then 100 workers
were laid off, so the second quarter of the work was completed behind schedule. Then
an additional 100 workers were laid off, so the third quarter of the work was completed
still further behind schedule. Given that all workers work at the same rate, what is the
minimum number of additional workers, beyond the 800 workers still on the job at the
end of the third quarter, that must be hired after three-quarters of the work has been
completed so that the entire project can be completed on schedule or before?
Answer: 766
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙5
A group of clerks is assigned the task of sorting 1775 files. Each clerk sorts at a
constant rate of 30 files per hour. At the end of the first hour, some of the clerks are
reassigned to another task; at the end of the second hour, the same number of the
remaining clerks are also reassigned to another task, and a similar assignment occurs
at the end of the third hour. The group finishes the sorting in 3 hours and 10 minutes.
Find the number of files sorted during the first one and a half hours of sorting.
181
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 20. System of Equations
Answer: 945
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
182
Chapter 21
Video Lecture
183
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
Theorem 21.0.1
Equivalently,
Distance
Speed =
Time
Distance
Time =
Speed
Theorem 21.0.2
Total Distance
Average Speed =
Total Time
Remark 21.0.3
A common mistake is to assume that average speed is the averages of all speeds (especially
when the distance you are traveling at each of those speeds are the same). Remember,
that’s not true unless you are traveling at those speeds for the same amount of time!
Video Solution
Answer: 1 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
184
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
Example (AIME)
Al walks down to the bottom of an escalator that is moving up and he counts 150 steps.
His friend, Bob, walks up to the top of the escalator and counts 75 steps. If Al’s speed
of walking (in steps per unit time) is three times Bob’s walking speed, how many steps
are visible on the escalator at a given time? (Assume that this value is constant.)
Video Solution
Answer: 120
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙10
Example (AIME)
A 100 foot long moving walkway moves at a constant rate of 6 feet per second. Al steps
onto the start of the walkway and stands. Bob steps onto the start of the walkway two
seconds later and strolls forward along the walkway at a constant rate of 4 feet per
second. Two seconds after that, Cy reaches the start of the walkway and walks briskly
forward beside the walkway at a constant rate of 8 feet per second. At a certain time,
one of these three persons is exactly halfway between the other two. At that time, find
the distance in feet between the start of the walkway and the middle person.
Video Solution
Answer: 52
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
185
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
A cart rolls down a hill, travelling 5 inches the first second and accelerating so that
during each successive 1-second time interval, it travels 7 inches more than during the
previous 1-second interval. The cart takes 30 seconds to reach the bottom of the hill.
How far, in inches, does it travel?
Video Solution
Answer: 3195
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙4
Chantal and Jean start hiking from a trailhead toward a fire tower. Jean is wear-
ing a heavy backpack and walks slower. Chantal starts walking at 4 miles per hour.
Halfway to the tower, the trail becomes really steep, and Chantal slows down to 2 miles
per hour. After reaching the tower, she immediately turns around and descends the steep
part of the trail at 3 miles per hour. She meets Jean at the halfway point. What was
Jean’s average speed, in miles per hour, until they meet?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙6
A car passes point A driving at a constant rate of 60 km per hour. A second car,
traveling at a constant rate of 75 km per hour, passes the same point A a while later and
then follows the first car. It catches the first car after traveling a distance of 75 km past
point A. How many minutes after the first car passed point A did the second car pass
point A?
Video Solution
Answer: 15min
MATHCOUNTS
186
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
A cart rolls down a hill, travelling 5 inches the first second and accelerating so that
during each successive 1-second time interval, it travels 7 inches more than during the
previous 1-second interval. The cart takes 30 seconds to reach the bottom of the hill.
How far, in inches, does it travel?
Video Solution
Answer: 3195
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙4
Chantal and Jean start hiking from a trailhead toward a fire tower. Jean is wear-
ing a heavy backpack and walks slower. Chantal starts walking at 4 miles per hour.
Halfway to the tower, the trail becomes really steep, and Chantal slows down to 2 miles
per hour. After reaching the tower, she immediately turns around and descends the steep
part of the trail at 3 miles per hour. She meets Jean at the halfway point. What was
Jean’s average speed, in miles per hour, until they meet?
Video Solution
Answer: 12
13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙6
187
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
Additional Problems
Problem 21.1.6 (AMC 10)
Sam drove 96 miles in 90 minutes. His average speed during the first 30 minutes
was 60 mph (miles per hour), and his average speed during the second 30 minutes was 65
mph. What was his average speed, in mph, during the last 30 minutes?
Answer: 67
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙2
Samia set off on her bicycle to visit her friend, traveling at an average speed of 17
kilometers per hour. When she had gone half the distance to her friend’s house, a tire
went flat, and she walked the rest of the way at 5 kilometers per hour. In all it took her
44 minutes to reach her friend’s house. In kilometers rounded to the nearest tenth, how
far did Samia walk?
Answer: 2.8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
Roy bought a new battery-gasoline hybrid car. On a trip the car ran exclusively on its
battery for the first 40 miles, then ran exclusively on gasoline for the rest of the trip,
using gasoline at a rate of 0.02 gallons per mile. On the whole trip he averaged 55 miles
per gallon. How long was the trip in miles?
Answer: 440
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Rudolph bikes at a constant rate and stops for a five-minute break at the end of every
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OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
mile. Jennifer bikes at a constant rate which is three-quarters the rate that Rudolph
bikes, but Jennifer takes a five-minute break at the end of every two miles. Jennifer and
Rudolph begin biking at the same time and arrive at the 50-mile mark at exactly the
same time. How many minutes has it taken them?
Answer: 620
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙2
Andrea and Lauren are 20 kilometers apart. They bike toward one another with Andrea
traveling three times as fast as Lauren, and the distance between them decreasing at a
rate of 1 kilometer per minute. After 5 minutes, Andrea stops biking because of a flat
tire and waits for Lauren. After how many minutes from the time they started to bike
does Lauren reach Andrea?
Answer: 65
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
While Steve and LeRoy are fishing 1 mile from shore, their boat springs a leak, and water
comes in at a constant rate of 10 gallons per minute. The boat will sink if it takes in
more than 30 gallons of water. Steve starts rowing towards the shore at a constant rate
of 4 miles per hour while LeRoy bails water out of the boat. What is the slowest rate,
in gallons per minute, at which LeRoy can bail if they are to reach the shore without
sinking?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙7
Ed and Sue bike at equal and constant rates. Similarly, they jog at equal and con-
stant rates, and they swim at equal and constant rates. Ed covers 74 kilometers after
biking for 2 hours, jogging for 3 hours, and swimming for 4 hours, while Sue covers 91
kilometers after jogging for 2 hours, swimming for 3 hours, and biking for 4 hours. Their
189
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 21. Speed, Distance, and Time
biking, jogging, and swimming rates are all whole numbers of kilometers per hour. Find
the sum of the squares of Ed’s biking, jogging, and swimming rates.
Answer: 314
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
Ana, Bob, and Cao bike at constant rates of 8.6 meters per second, 6.2 meters per
second, and 5 meters per second, respectively. They all begin biking at the same time
from the northeast corner of a rectangular field whose longer side runs due west. Ana
starts biking along the edge of the field, initially heading west, Bob starts biking along
the edge of the field, initially heading south, and Cao bikes in a straight line across the
field to a point D on the south edge of the field. Cao arrives at point D at the same
time that Ana and Bob arrive at D for the first time. The ratio of the field’s length to
the field’s width to the distance from point D to the southeast corner of the field can be
represented as p : q : r, where p, q, and r are positive integers with p and q relatively
prime. Find p + q + r.
Answer: 061
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
Jon and Steve ride their bicycles along a path that parallels two side-by-side train
tracks running the east/west direction. Jon rides east at 20 miles per hour, and Steve
rides west at 20 miles per hour. Two trains of equal length, traveling in opposite directions
at constant but different speeds each pass the two riders. Each train takes exactly 1
minute to go past Jon. The westbound train takes 10 times as long as the eastbound
train to go past Steve. The length of each train is mn
miles, where m and n are relatively
prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 49
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙4
190
Number Theory
191
Chapter 22
Video Lecture
192
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
Definition 22.0.1 (Primes). Primes are numbers that have exactly two factors: 1 and the
number itself. Ex. 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, etc. are all primes
Remark 22.0.2
In order to check whether a number n is prime, we need to check all the primes that are
less than or equal to √
n
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Remark 22.0.5
Basically, in order to find the number of factors of a number:
193
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
Example (AIME)
Let n = 231 319 . How many positive integer divisors of n2 are less than n but do not
divide n?
Video Solution
Answer: 589
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1995˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙6
Example (AIME)
Let n be the smallest positive integer that is a multiple of 75 and has exactly 75 positive
integral divisors, including 1 and itself. Find 75
n
.
Video Solution
Answer: 432
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
(1+p11 +p21 +· · ·+pe11 −1 +pe11 )(1+p12 +p22 +· · ·+pe22 −1 +pe22 ) . . . (1+p1k +p2k +· · ·+pkek −1 +pekk )
194
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
possible exponents k in the prime factorization. Then, we will multiply all such sums for
all of the primes to get the sum of all the factors of the number.
Video Solution
Answer: 192
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
195
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
A positive integer divisor of 12! is chosen at random. The probability that the di-
visor chosen is a perfect square can be expressed as m
n
, where m and n are relatively
prime positive integers. What is m + n?
Video Solution
Answer: 23
A single bench section at a school event can hold either 7 adults or 11 children. When N
bench sections are connected end to end, an equal number of adults and children seated
together will occupy all the bench space. What is the least possible positive integer value
of N ?
(A) 9 (B) 18 (C) 27 (D) 36 (E) 77
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Video Solution
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙7
The numbers from 1 to 8 are placed at the vertices of a cube in such a manner that the
196
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
sum of the four numbers on each face is the same. What is this common sum?
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
How many positive even multiples of 3 less than 2020 are perfect squares?
Video Solution
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
How many positive integer divisors of 2019 are perfect squares or perfect cubes (or
both)?
Video Solution
Answer: 37
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
What is the sum of the exponents of the prime factors of the square root of the largest
perfect square that divides 12! ?
Video Solution
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
How many ways are there to write 2016 as the sum of twos and threes, ignoring order?
197
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
(For example, 1008 · 2 + 0 · 3 and 402 · 2 + 404 · 3 are two such ways.)
Video Solution
Answer: 337
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙14
Find the number of positive integers with three not necessarily distinct digits, abc,
with a ̸= 0 and c ̸= 0 such that both abc and cba are multiples of 4.
Video Solution
Answer: 040
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
For some positive integer n, the number 110n3 has 110 positive integer divisors, in-
cluding 1 and the number 110n3 . How many positive integer divisors does the number
81n4 have?
Video Solution
Answer: 325
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Let S be the set of all positive integer divisors of 100, 000. How many numbers are
the product of two distinct elements of S?
Video Solution
Answer: 117
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
198
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
The 25 integers from −10 to 14, inclusive, can be arranged to form a 5-by-5 square in
which the sum of the numbers in each row, the sum of the numbers in each column, and
the sum of the numbers along each of the main diagonals are all the same. What is the
value of this common sum?
Video Solution
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙7
All the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are assigned to the six faces of a cube, one number to each
face. For each of the eight vertices of the cube, a product of three numbers is computed,
where the three numbers are the numbers assigned to the three faces that include that
vertex. What is the greatest possible value of the sum of these eight products?
Video Solution
Answer: 729
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
How many odd positive 3-digit integers are divisible by 3 but do not contain the digit 3?
Video Solution
Answer: 96
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Video Solution
199
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙15
There is a prime number p such that 16p + 1 is the cube of a positive integer. Find p.
Video Solution
Answer: 307
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
Joey and Chloe and their daughter Zoe all have the same birthday. Joey is 1 year
older than Chloe, and Zoe is exactly 1 year old today. Today is the first of the 9 birthdays
on which Chloe’s age will be an integral multiple of Zoe’s age. What will be the sum of
the two digits of Joey’s age the next time his age is a multiple of Zoe’s age?
Video Solution
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
200
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
Video Solution
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙2
Find the number of ordered pairs of positive integers (m, n) such that m2 n = 2020 .
Video Solution
Answer: 231
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙1
201
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
Let N = 34 · 34 · 63 · 270. What is the ratio of the sum of the odd divisors of N
to the sum of the even divisors of N ?
Video Solution
Answer: 1 : 14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙12
Additional Problems
Problem 22.3.23 (AMC 12)
In multiplying two positive integers a and b, Ron reversed the digits of the two-digit
number a. His erroneous product was 161. What is the correct value of the product of a
and b?
Answer: 224
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙4
Positive integers a, b, and 2009, with a < b < 2009, form a geometric sequence with an
integer ratio. What is a?
Answer: 41
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 6
202
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Let N = 34 · 34 · 63 · 270. What is the ratio of the sum of the odd divisors of N
to the sum of the even divisors of N ?
Answer: 1 : 14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙7
Suppose that m and n are positive integers such that 75m = n3 . What is the min-
imum possible value of m + n?
Answer: 60
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Elmo makes N sandwiches for a fundraiser. For each sandwich he uses B globs of
peanut butter at 4¢per glob and J blobs of jam at 5¢per blob. The cost of the peanut
butter and jam to make all the sandwiches is $2.53. Assume that B, J, and N are positive
integers with N > 1. What is the cost of the jam Elmo uses to make the sandwiches?
Answer: $1.65
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
The largest prime factor of 16384 is 2 because 16384 = 214 . What is the sum of
the digits of the greatest prime number that is a divisor of 16383?
Answer: 10
203
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙6
How many ways are there to paint each of the integers 2, 3, . . . , 9 either red, green,
or blue so that each number has a different color from each of its proper divisors?
Answer: 432
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
The positive integers A, B, A − B, and A + B are all prime numbers. The sum of
these four primes is
(A) even (B) divisible by 3 (C) divisible by 5
(D) divisible by 7 (E) prime
Answer: prime
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙11
Given that 38 · 52 = ab , where both a and b are positive integers, find the smallest
possible value for a + b.
Answer: 407
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
How many positive integer divisors of 20042004 are divisible by exactly 2004 positive
integers?
Answer: 54
204
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 22. Primes and Factors
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
Find the number of positive integers that are divisors of at least one of 1010 , 157 , 1811 .
Answer: 435
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
Let S be the sum of all numbers of the form a/b, where a and b are relatively prime
positive divisors of 1000. What is the greatest integer that does not exceed S/10?
Answer: 248
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙11
For each positive integer n, let f1 (n) be twice the number of positive integer divi-
sors of n, and for j ≥ 2, let fj (n) = f1 (fj−1 (n)). For how many values of n ≤ 50 is
f50 (n) = 12?
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
For each positive integer n > 1, let P (n) denote the greatest
√ prime factor of√n. For how
many positive integers n is it true that both P (n) = n and P (n + 48) = n + 48?
Answer: 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
205
Chapter 23
Video Lecture
206
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
Video Solution
Answer: 4944
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
207
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
Example (AIME)
Let N be the number of consecutive 0’s at the right end of the decimal representation of
the product 1!2!3!4! · · · 99!100!. Find the remainder when N is divided by 1000.
Video Solution
Answer: 124
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙4
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
A rectangular floor that is 10 feet wide and 17 feet long is tiled with 170 one-foot
square tiles. A bug walks from one corner to the opposite corner in a straight line.
Including the first and the last tile, how many tiles does the bug visit?
Video Solution
Answer: 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
How many odd positive 3-digit integers are divisible by 3 but do not contain the digit 3?
208
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
Video Solution
Answer: 96
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙15
(n + 2)! − (n + 1)!
n!
is always which of the following?
(A) a multiple of 4 (B) a multiple of 10 (C) a prime number
(D) a perfect square (E) a perfect cube
Video Solution
Answer: (D)aperf ectsquare
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Video Solution
Answer: N A
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1959˙IMO˙Problems/Problem˙1
What is that largest positive integer n for which n3 + 100 is divisible by n + 10?
Video Solution
Answer: 890
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1986˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
209
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
Call a positive integer an uphill integer if every digit is strictly greater than the previous
digit. For example, 1357, 89, 5 are all uphill integers but 32, 1240, 466 are not. How
many uphill integers are divisible by 15?
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Additional Problems
Problem 23.1.7 (AMC 10)
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
The number 21! = 51, 090, 942, 171, 709, 440, 000 has over 60, 000 positive integer di-
visors. One of them is chosen at random. What is the probability that it is odd?
Answer: 19
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Call a positive integer an uphill integer if every digit is strictly greater than the previous
210
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
digit. For example, 1357, 89, and 5 are all uphill integers, but 32, 1240, and 466 are not.
How many uphill integers are divisible by 15?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Let n denote the smallest positive integer that is divisible by both 4 and 9, and whose
base-10 representation consists of only 4’s and 9’s, with at least one of each. What are
the last four digits of n?
Answer: 4944
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
A finite sequence of three-digit integers has the property that the tens and units digits of
each term are, respectively, the hundreds and tens digits of the next term, and the tens
and units digits of the last term are, respectively, the hundreds and tens digits of the
first term. For example, such a sequence might begin with the terms 247, 475, and 756
and end with the term 824. Let S be the sum of all the terms in the sequence. What is
the largest prime factor that always divides S?
Answer: 37
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙11
211
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 23. Divisibility & Legendre’s Formula
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Let a10 = 10, and for each positive integer n > 10 let an = 100an−1 + n. Find the
least positive n > 10 such that an is a multiple of 99.
Answer: 45
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙9
Define n!! to be n(n − 2)(n − 4) · · · 3 · 1 for n odd and n(n − 2)(n − 4) · · · 4 · 2 for
n even. When
X (2i − 1)!!
2009
i=1 (2i)!!
ab
is expressed as a fraction in lowest terms, its denominator is 2a b with b odd. Find .
10
Answer: 401
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
212
Chapter 24
Video Lecture
213
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
Definition 24.0.1 (Greatest Common Divisor). The Greatest Common Divisor (GCD) of
two or more non-0 integers is the largest positive integer that divides each of the integers.
Note: This is also known as GCF (Greatest Common Factor), and the terms GCF and GCD
are often used interchangeably.
Definition 24.0.2 (Least Common Multiple). The Least Common Multiple (LCM) of two
or more non-0 integers is the smallest positive integer that is divisible by both the numbers.
Concept 24.0.3
GCD/LCM Greatest common divisor of m and n = GCD(m, n) can be found by taking
the lowest prime exponents from the prime factorizations of m and n.
Least common multiple of m and n = LCM (m, n) can be found by taking the high-
est prime exponents from the prime factorizations of m and n.
Theorem 24.0.4
The product of GCD and LCM of two numbers is equal to the product of the two
numbers:
GCD(m, n) · LCM (m, n) = m · n
Theorem 24.0.5
If two numbers have a common factor c, then
Video Solution
Answer: 24
214
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
Remark 24.0.7
We can apply the Euclidean Algorithm multiple times to easily find the GCD of large
numbers since after applying the Euclidean algorithm, we know have 2 smaller numbers
which we can apply the Euclidean Algorithm again until we get 2 very small numbers.
For example,
Example (AIME)
The numbers in the sequence 101, 104, 109, 116,. . . are of the form an = 100 + n2 , where
n = 1, 2, 3, . . . For each n, let dn be the greatest common divisor of an and an+1 . Find
the maximum value of dn as n ranges through the positive integers.
Video Solution
Answer: 401
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙13
215
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
Let a, b, c, and d be positive integers such that gcd(a, b) = 24, gcd(b, c) = 36, gcd(c, d) =
54, and 70 < gcd(d, a) < 100. Which of the following must be a divisor of a?
(A) 5 (B) 7 (C) 11 (D) 13 (E) 17
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Video Solution
Answer: −N A−
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1959˙IMO˙Problems/Problem˙1
What is that largest positive integer n for which n3 + 100 is divisible by n + 10?
Video Solution
Answer: 890
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1986˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
How many ordered pairs (a, b) of positive integers satisfy the equation
where gcd(a, b) denotes the greatest common divisor of a and b, and lcm(a, b) denotes
216
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Additional Problems
Problem 24.1.5 (AMC 12)
Let N be the second smallest positive integer that is divisible by every positive in-
teger less than 7. What is the sum of the digits of N ?
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙5
There are 10 horses, named Horse 1, Horse 2, . . . , Horse 10. They get their
names from how many minutes it takes them to run one lap around a circular race track:
Horse k runs one lap in exactly k minutes. At time 0 all the horses are together at the
starting point on the track. The horses start running in the same direction, and they
keep running around the circular track at their constant speeds. The least time S > 0,
in minutes, at which all 10 horses will again simultaneously be at the starting point is
S = 2520. Let T > 0 be the least time, in minutes, such that at least 5 of the horses are
again at the starting point. What is the sum of the digits of T ?
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
a + b + c = 23
217
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
and
gcd(a, b) + gcd(b, c) + gcd(c, a) = 9.
What is the sum of all possible distinct values of a2 + b2 + c2 ?
Answer: 438
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Let N be the second smallest positive integer that is divisible by every positive in-
teger less than 7. What is the sum of the digits of N ?
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙5
Let n be the smallest positive integer such that n is divisible by 20, n2 is a perfect
cube, and n3 is a perfect square. What is the number of digits of n?
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Mary chose an even 4-digit number n. She wrote down all the divisors of n in in-
n
creasing order from left to right: 1, 2, . . . , , n. At some moment Mary wrote 323 as a
2
divisor of n. What is the smallest possible value of the next divisor written to the right
of 323?
Answer: 340
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
218
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
How many positive integers n are there such that n is a multiple of 5, and the least
common multiple of 5! and n equals 5 times the greatest common divisor of 10! and n?
Answer: 48
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙21
For how many ordered pairs of positive integers (x, y), with y < x ≤ 100, are both
x
y
and x+1
y+1
integers?
Answer: 85
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1995˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙8
Let n be the least positive integer greater than 1000 for which
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
Consider the sequence (ak )k≥1 of positive rational numbers defined by a1 = 2020
2021
and for
k ≥ 1, if ak = m
n
for relatively prime positive integers m and n, then
m + 18
ak+1 = .
n + 19
Determine the sum of all positive integers j such that the rational number aj can be
219
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 24. GCD & LCM
Answer: 059
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
Find the number of ordered pairs (m, n) such that m and n are positive integers in
the set {1, 2, ..., 30} and the greatest common divisor of 2m + 1 and 2n − 1 is not 1.
Answer: 295
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
220
Chapter 25
Modular Arithmetic
221
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
222
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
223
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Video Lectures
Modular Arithmetic Euler’s & Binomial Theorems Chinese Remainder Theorem & Line
Definition 25.0.1.
n ≡ a (mod b)
means the number ’n’ leaves the same remainder as ’a’ when divided by b
Theorem 25.0.2
If a = x (mod n) and b ≡ y (mod n), then
ab ≡ xy (mod n)
Theorem 25.0.3
If a ≡ x (mod n), then
am ≡ x m (mod n)
Example (AIME)
Find the remainder when 9 × 99 × 999 × · · · × 99 · · · 9} is divided by 1000.
| {z
999 9’s
Video Solution
Answer: 109
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
224
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
then
1 1 1
! ! !
ϕ(n) = n · 1 − 1− ... 1 −
p1 p2 pn
where ϕ(n) denotes the number of positive integers less than or equal to n that are
relatively prime to n.
Steps to find totient of a number
225
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
aϕ(n) ≡ 1 (mod n)
if and only if
gcd(a, n) = 1
ap−1 ≡ 1 (mod p)
if an only if p is a prime and
gcd(a, n) = 1
ab ≡ 1 (mod n)
(p − 1)! ≡ p − 1 ≡ −1 (mod p)
Example (AIME)
Let an = 6n + 8n . Determine the remainder upon dividing a83 by 49.
Video Solution
Answer: 035
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1983˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙6
226
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
x ≡ a1 (mod n1 )
x ≡ a2 (mod n2 )
..
.
x ≡ ak (mod nk )
where all ni are relatively prime, then x has a unique solution (mod n1 · n2 · n3 . . . nk )
Remark 25.0.12
Be careful! This may not necessarily be true if any ni share common factors as then
congruences might contradict each other.
• Guess and Check until you reach a value that works and satisfies both mods
227
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
• Algebraic Method
1. Find 2 congruences
n ≡ r1 (mod m1 )
n ≡ r2 (mod m2 )
such that m1 and m2 are relatively prime
2. Rewrite them algebraically
n = k(m1 ) + r1
n = j(m2 ) + r2
3. Set them equal mod the smaller of m1 and m2 (in this case, say m1 < m2 )
k −1 (mod m2 )
n = k(m1 ) + r1
Concept 25.0.14
The solution to
n ≡ r1 (mod m1 )
n ≡ r2 (mod m2 )
is
n ≡ r1 + m1 (r2 − r1 ) · i
where i ≡ m−1
1 (mod m2 )
Remark 25.0.15
To solve a general congruence of more than 2 congruences, just solve them 2 at a time
until you are left with just 1 congruence.
228
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Example
Find the smallest positive integer greater than 100 that leaves a remainder of 5 when
divided by 9 and leaves a remainder of 4 when divided by 17.
Video Solution
Answer: 140
Example (AIME)
The positive integers N and N 2 both end in the same sequence of four digits abcd when
written in base 10, where digit a is not zero. Find the three-digit number abc.
Video Solution
Answer: 937
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
Video Solution
Answer: 1
Problem 25.1.2
Video Solution
Answer: −1
229
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Problem 25.1.3
Video Solution
Answer: 343
Video Solution
Answer: 45
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
Video Solution
Answer: 15
Problem 25.1.6
Find the smallest positive number that leaves a remainder of 11 when divided by
13 and a remainder of 2 when divided by 5.
Answer: 37
230
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙2
Video Solution
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
Which of the following expressions is never a prime number when p is a prime number?
(A) p2 + 16 (B) p2 + 24 (C) p2 + 26 (D) p2 + 46 (E) p2 + 96
Video Solution
Answer: (C) p2 + 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙11
Let S(n) equal the sum of the digits of positive integer n. For example, S(1507) = 13.
For a particular positive integer n, S(n) = 1274. Which of the following could be the
value of S(n + 1)?
Video Solution
Answer: 1239
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
231
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
a1 + a2 + · · · + a2018 = 20182018 .
Video Solution
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
How many of the first 2018 numbers in the sequence 101, 1001, 10001, 100001, . . . are
divisible by 101?
Answer: 505
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
a1 + a2 + · · · + a2018 = 20182018 .
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
232
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Video Solution
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
One of the following numbers is not divisible by any prime number less than 10. Which
is it? (A) 2606 − 1 (B) 2606 + 1 (C) 2607 − 1 (D) 2607 + 1 (E) 2607 + 3607
Video Solution
Answer: 2607 − 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962588
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
k=0
Suppose 7Sn ≡ 1 (mod 2 ) for all n ≥ 1. What is the value of the sum
n
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962555
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
233
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
Additional Problems
Problem 25.1.17 (AMC 10)
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Answer: 21005
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Let n be a 5-digit number, and let q and r be the quotient and the remainder, re-
spectively, when n is divided by 100. For how many values of n is q + r divisible by
11?
Answer: 8181
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙25
How many distinct four-digit numbers are divisible by 3 and have 23 as their last
two digits?
Answer: 30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
234
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
For positive integers N and k, define N to be k-nice if there exists a positive inte-
ger a such that ak has exactly N positive divisors. Find the number of positive integers
less than 1000 that are neither 7-nice nor 8-nice.
Answer: 749
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙11
Let S be the set of integers between 1 and 240 whose binary expansions have exactly two
1’s. If a number is chosen at random from S, the probability that it is divisible by 9 is
p/q, where p and q are relatively prime positive integers. Find p + q.
Answer: 913
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
Answer: 112
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
Answer: 239
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
235
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 25. Modular Arithmetic
The number obtained from the last two nonzero digits of 90! is equal to n. What
is n?
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
236
Chapter 26
Video Lecture
237
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
2. Group terms
Example (AIME)
Find the number of ordered triples (a, b, c) where a, b, and c are positive integers, a is a
factor of b, a is a factor of c, and a + b + c = 100.
Video Solution
Answer: 200
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙2
x2 − y 2 = (x − y)(x + y)
238
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Video Solution
Answer: 33
Example (AIME)
Find the sum of all positive integers n such that when 13 + 23 + 33 + · · · + n3 is divided
by n + 5, the remainder is 17
Video Solution
Answer: 239
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
xy + kx + jy + jk = (x + j)(y + k)
239
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Remark 26.3.2
You can generally apply this factorization when you have xy, x, and y terms. After
applying the factorization, you can then find all possible values for each of your terms in
your factorization (remember negatives!).
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Note: The signs in the second term alternate between positive and negative
240
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Remark 26.5.2
Be on the lookout for 4th powers to apply Sophie Germain’s Identity!
241
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
There is a positive integer n such that (n + 1)! + (n + 2)! = n! · 440. What is the
sum of the digits of n?
Video Solution
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙6
(n + 2)! − (n + 1)!
n!
is always which of the following?
(A) a multiple of 4 (B) a multiple of 10 (C) a prime number
(D) a perfect square (E) a perfect cube
Video Solution
Answer: (D)aperf ectsquare
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙6
Let S(n) equal the sum of the digits of positive integer n. For example, S(1507) = 13.
For a particular positive integer n, S(n) = 1274. Which of the following could be the
value of S(n + 1)?
Video Solution
Answer: 1239
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
242
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
What is the greatest three-digit positive integer n for which the sum of the first n
positive integers is not a divisor of the product of the first n positive integers?
Video Solution
Answer: 996
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
1.a b a b . . . = 1.a b,
where a and b are digits, he did not notice the notation and just multiplied 66 times
1.a b. Later he found that his answer is 0.5 less than the correct answer. What is the
2-digit number a b?
Video Solution
Answer: 75
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙5
Video Solution
Answer: 201
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Compute
(104 + 324)(224 + 324)(344 + 324)(464 + 324)(584 + 324)
.
(44 + 324)(164 + 324)(284 + 324)(404 + 324)(524 + 324)
243
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Video Solution
Answer: 373
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙14
Video Solution
Answer: (E, O, E)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙8
Video Solution
Answer: 3128 − 2128
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
The ages of Jonie’s four cousins are distinct single-digit positive integers. Two of
the cousins ages multiplied together give 24, while the other two multiply to 30. What is
the sum of the ages of Jonie’s four cousins?
Video Solution
244
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙5
Let f be a function defined on the set of positive rational numbers with the prop-
erty that f (a · b) = f (a) + f (b) for all positive rational numbers a and b. Suppose that f
as have the property that f (p) = p for every prime number p. For which of the following
numbers x is f (x) < 0?
Video Solution
Answer: 25
11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Grandma has just finished baking a large rectangular pan of brownies. She is plan-
ning to make rectangular pieces of equal size and shape, with straight cuts parallel to
the sides of the pan. Each cut must be made entirely across the pan. Grandma wants to
make the same number of interior pieces as pieces along the perimeter of the pan. What
is the greatest possible number of brownies she can produce?
Video Solution
Answer: 60
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙11
Additional Problems
Problem 26.6.13 (AMC 10)
Consider the set of all fractions xy , where x and y are relatively prime positive in-
tegers. How many of these fractions have the property that if both numerator and
denominator are increased by 1, the value of the fraction is increased by 10%?
Answer: 1
245
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Three clever monkeys divide a pile of bananas. The first monkey takes some bananas
from the pile, keeps three-fourths of them, and divides the rest equally between the
other two. The second monkey takes some bananas from the pile, keeps one-fourth of
them, and divides the rest equally between the other two. The third monkey takes the
remaining bananas from the pile, keeps one-twelfth of them, and divides the rest equally
between the other two. Given that each monkey receives a whole number of bananas
whenever the bananas are divided, and the numbers of bananas the first, second, and
third monkeys have at the end of the process are in the ratio 3 : 2 : 1,what is the least
possible total for the number of bananas?
Answer: 408
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
There exists a unique strictly increasing sequence of nonnegative integers a1 < a2 < · · · <
ak such that
2289 + 1
= 2a1 + 2a2 + · · · + 2ak .
217 + 1
What is k?
Answer: 137
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
n
For how many integers n is the square of an integer?
20 − n
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
246
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙15
For k > 0, let Ik = 10 . . . 064, where there are k zeros between the 1 and the 6.
Let N (k) be the number of factors of 2 in the prime factorization of Ik . What is the
maximum value of N (k)?
(A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 8 (D) 9 (E) 10
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Two fair dice, each with at least 6 faces are rolled. On each face of each dice is printed
a distinct integer from 1 to the number of faces on that die, inclusive. The probability
of rolling a sum of 7 is 34 of the probability of rolling a sum of 10, and the probability
of rolling a sum of 12 is 12
1
. What is the least possible number of faces on the two dice
combined?
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
247
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
How many ordered pairs (m, n) of positive integers, with m ≥ n, have the property that
their squares differ by 96?
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
For how many positive integers n less than or equal to 24 is n! evenly divisible by
1 + 2 + · · · + n?
Answer: 16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Let S be the set of all perfect squares whose rightmost three digits in base 10 are
256. Let T be the set of all numbers of the form x−256
1000
, where x is in S. In other words,
T is the set of numbers that result when the last three digits of each number in S are
truncated. Find the remainder when the tenth smallest element of T is divided by 1000.
Answer: 170
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
For each integer n ≥ 2, let Sn be the sum of all products jk, where j and k are
integers and 1 ≤ j < k ≤ n. What is the sum of the 10 least values of n such that Sn is
divisible by 3?
Answer: 197
248
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 26. Algebraic Number Theory
Answer: 181
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙15
249
Chapter 27
Diophantine Equations
Video Lecture
250
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Definition 27.0.1. A Diophantine equation is a polynomial equation such that the only
solutions are integers (i.e. all variables have integer values).
• Bound the possible values of different terms, generally useful when there are a
finite number of solutions to your Diophantine equations
• Factoring, using the various factorizations (see the algebra section on this), can
help find all the solutions
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Example (AIME)
There exist unique positive integers x and y that satisfy the equation x2 +84x+2008 = y 2 .
Find x + y.
Video Solution
Answer: 80
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙4
251
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Example (AIME)
Assume that a, b, c, and d are positive integers such that a5 = b4 , c3 = d2 , and c − a = 19.
Determine d − b.
Video Solution
Answer: 757
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙7
Video Solution
Answer: 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
x2020 + y 2 = 2y?
Video Solution
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙9
a3 − b 3 73
Let a and b be relatively prime positive integers with a > b > 0 and = .
(a − b) 3 3
What is a − b?
252
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Video Solution
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Find 3x2 y 2 if x and y are integers such that y 2 + 3x2 y 2 = 30x2 + 517.
Video Solution
Answer: 588
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
How many ordered pairs of positive integers (b, c) exist where both x2 + bx + c = 0 and
x2 + cx + b = 0 do not have distinct, real solutions?
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
There is a prime number p such that 16p + 1 is the cube of a positive integer. Find p.
Video Solution
Answer: 307
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
Determine all non-negative integral solutions (n1 , n2 , . . . , n14 ) if any, apart from per-
mutations, of the Diophantine Equation n41 + n42 + · · · + n414 = 1599.
253
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Video Solution
Answer: N ointegralsolutions
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1979˙USAMO˙Problems/Problem˙1
Video Solution
Answer: 206
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958363
Two distinct numbers are selected from the set {1, 2, 3, 4, . . . , 36, 37} so that the sum of
the remaining 35 numbers is the product of these two numbers. What is the difference of
these two numbers?
Video Solution
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙10
Hiram’s algebra notes are 50 pages long and are printed on 25 sheets of paper; the
first sheet contains pages 1 and 2, the second sheet contains pages 3 and 4, and so on.
One day he leaves his notes on the table before leaving for lunch, and his roommate
decides to borrow some pages from the middle of the notes. When Hiram comes back, he
discovers that his roommate has taken a consecutive set of sheets from the notes and
that the average (mean) of the page numbers on all remaining sheets is exactly 19. How
many sheets were borrowed?
254
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Additional Problems
Problem 27.1.11 (AMC 10)
Two farmers agree that pigs are worth 300 dollars and that goats are worth 210 dollars.
When one farmer owes the other money, he pays the debt in pigs or goats, with ”change”
received in the form of goats or pigs as necessary. (For example, a 390 dollar debt could
be paid with two pigs, with one goat received in change.) What is the amount of the
smallest positive debt that can be resolved in this way?
Answer: 30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
How many triples (a, b, c) of positive integers which satisfy the simultaneous equations
ab + bc = 44
ac + bc = 23?
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙21
One of Euler’s conjectures was disproved in the 1960s by three American mathematicians
when they showed there was a positive integer such that
255
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 27. Diophantine Equations
Answer: 144
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1989˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙9
Find the largest possible value of k for which 311 is expressible as the sum of k consecutive
positive integers.
Answer: 486
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙11
For some integer m, the polynomial x3 − 2011x + m has the three integer roots a,
b, and c. Find |a| + |b| + |c|.
Answer: 98
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙15
Let m ≥ 5 be an odd integer, and let D(m) denote the number of quadruples (a1 , a2 , a3 , a4 )
of distinct integers with 1 ≤ ai ≤ m for all i such that m divides a1 + a2 + a3 + a4 . There
is a polynomial
q(x) = c3 x3 + c2 x2 + c1 x + c0
such that D(m) = q(m) for all odd integers m ≥ 5. What is c1 ?
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
256
Chapter 28
Bases
Video Lecture
257
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Definition 28.0.1 (Bases). A number expressed in base-n is similar to base 10 except instead
of regrouping to a new place value every 10, we regroup every n.
Concept 28.0.2
A number in base n with digits am , am−1 , . . . , a2 , a1 , a0 can be written as:
am am−1 . . . a2 a1 a0
am nm + am−1 nm−1 + · · · + a2 n2 + a1 n1 + a0 n0
Video Solution
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Example (AIME)
Find the three-digit positive integer a b c whose representation in base nine is b c a nine ,
where a, b, and c are (not necessarily distinct) digits.
Video Solution
Answer: 227
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
258
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Video Solution
Answer: 0.7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
Concept 28.0.3
We can also have bases with decimals (both repeating and terminal).
Video Solution
Answer: 16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
259
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
In base 10, the number 2013 ends in the digit 3. In base 9, on the other hand, the same
number is written as (2676)9 and ends in the digit 6. For how many positive integers b
does the base-b-representation of 2013 end in the digit 3?
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Hexadecimal (base-16) numbers are written using numeric digits 0 through 9 as well
as the letters A through F to represent 10 through 15. Among the first 1000 positive
integers, there are n whose hexadecimal representation contains only numeric digits.
What is the sum of the digits of n?
Video Solution
Answer: 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
For each positive integer n, let f (n) be the sum of the digits in the base-four representa-
tion of n and let g(n) be the sum of the digits in the base-eight representation of f (n).
For example, f (2020) = f (1332104 ) = 10 = 128 , and g(2020) = the digit sum of 128 = 3.
Let N be the least value of n such that the base-sixteen representation of g(n) cannot be
expressed using only the digits 0 through 9. Find the remainder when N is divided by
1000.
Video Solution
Answer: 151
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙5
260
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Video Solution
Answer: 621
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
For which of the following integers b is the base-b number 2021b − 221b not divisible by 3?
Video Solution
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
261
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Let n be a positive integer and d be a digit such that the value of the numeral 32d in
base n equals 263, and the value of the numeral 324 in base n equals the value ¯of¯¯the
numeral 11d1 in base six. What is n + d? ¯¯¯
¯¯¯¯
Video Solution
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Additional Problems
Problem 28.1.7 (AMC 10)
Let n be a positive integer and d be a digit such that the value of the numeral 32d in
base n equals 263, and the value of the numeral 324 in base n equals the value of the
numeral 11d1 in base six. What is n + d?
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
For which of the following integers b is the base-b number 2021b − 221b not divisible by 3?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
What is the greatest possible sum of the digits in the base-seven representation of
a positive integer less than 2019?
262
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙12
In the equation below, A and B are consecutive positive integers, and A, B, and
A + B represent number bases:
What is A + B?
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙11
Answer: 925
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Call a positive integer N a 7-10 double if the digits of the base-7 representation of
N form a base-10 number that is twice N . For example, 51 is a 7-10 double because its
base-7 representation is 102. What is the largest 7-10 double?
Answer: 315
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
Let N be the number of positive integers that are less than or equal to 2003 and
263
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
whose base-2 representation has more 1’s than 0’s. Find the remainder when N is divided
by 1000.
Answer: 155
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙13
A rational number written in base eight is ab.cd, where all digits are nonzero. The
same number in base twelve is bb.ba. Find the base-ten number abc.
Answer: 321
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙5
Find the number of positive integers less than or equal to 2017 whose base-three repre-
sentation contains no digit equal to 0.
Answer: 222
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
Answer: 925
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
Find the sum of all positive integers b < 1000 such that the base-b integer 36b is a
perfect square and the base-b integer 27b is a perfect cube.
264
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Answer: 371
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
Answer: 621
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
There exist r unique nonnegative integers n1 > n2 > · · · > nr and r unique integers ak
(1 ≤ k ≤ r) with each ak either 1 or −1 such that
Find n1 + n2 + · · · + nr .
Answer: 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
For each positive integer n, let f (n) be the sum of the digits in the base-four representa-
tion of n and let g(n) be the sum of the digits in the base-eight representation of f (n).
For example, f (2020) = f (1332104 ) = 10 = 128 , and g(2020) = the digit sum of 128 = 3.
Let N be the least value of n such that the base-sixteen representation of g(n) cannot be
expressed using only the digits 0 through 9. Find the remainder when N is divided by
1000.
Answer: 151
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙5
265
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 28. Bases
Bernardo chooses a three-digit positive integer N and writes both its base-5 and base-6
representations on a blackboard. Later LeRoy sees the two numbers Bernardo has written.
Treating the two numbers as base-10 integers, he adds them to obtain an integer S. For
example, if N = 749, Bernardo writes the numbers 10,444 and 3,245, and LeRoy obtains
the sum S = 13,689. For how many choices of N are the two rightmost digits of S, in
order, the same as those of 2N ?
Answer: 25
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
266
Chapter 29
Video Lecture
267
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
29.1 Palindromes
Definition 29.1.1. A palindrome is a number that reads the same forward and backward.
Example (AIME)
Find the arithmetic mean of all the three-digit palindromes. (Recall that a palindrome
is a number that reads the same forward and backward, such as 777 or 383.)
Answer: 550
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙1
(a − 1)(b − 1)
2
positive integers which cannot be expressed in the form ma + nb where m and n are
positive integers.
Remark 29.2.2
This theorem is useful in finding solutions to problems like ”the maximum amount of
money that can’t be created with 3 cent and 5 cent coins”.
268
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
Answer: 47
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Answer: 991
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
269
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
Suppose
1 144
2+ = .
1+ 1
2
2+ 3+x
53
Video Solution
Answer: 34
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙3
Driving along a highway, Megan noticed that her odometer showed 15951 (miles). This
number is a palindrome-it reads the same forward and backward. Then 2 hours later, the
odometer displayed the next higher palindrome. What was her average speed, in miles
per hour, during this 2-hour period?
Video Solution
Answer: 55
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙6
A palindrome, such as 83438, is a number that remains the same when its digits are re-
versed. The numbers x and x + 32 are three-digit and four-digit palindromes, respectively.
What is the sum of the digits of x?
Video Solution
Answer: 24
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙6
270
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
Mr. Zhou places all the integers from 1 to 225 into a 15 by 15 grid. He places 1
in the middle square (eighth row and eighth column) and places other numbers one by
one clockwise, as shown in part in the diagram below. What is the sum of the greatest
number and the least number that appear in the second row from the top?
Video Solution
Answer: 367
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
Let d(n) denote the number of positive integers that divide n, including 1 and n. For
example, d(1) = 1, d(2) = 2, and d(12) = 6. (This function is known as the divisor
271
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
function.) Let
d(n)
f (n) = 3 √ .
n
There is a unique positive integer N such that f (N ) > f (n) for all positive integers
n ̸= N . What is the sum of the digits of N ?
Video Solution
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
Additional Problems
Problem 29.3.6 (AMC 10/12)
A palindrome between 1000 and 10, 000 is chosen at random. What is the probability
that it is divisible by 7?
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙11
How many 7-digit palindromes (numbers that read the same backward as forward)
can be formed using the digits 2, 2, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙11
A palindrome is a nonnegative integer number that reads the same forwards and back-
wards when written in base 10 with no leading zeros. A 6-digit palindrome n is chosen
uniformly at random. What is the probability that 11
n
is also a palindrome?
272
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
Answer: 11
30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Joey and Chloe and their daughter Zoe all have the same birthday. Joey is 1 year
older than Chloe, and Zoe is exactly 1 year old today. Today is the first of the 9 birthdays
on which Chloe’s age will be an integral multiple of Zoe’s age. What will be the sum of
the two digits of Joey’s age the next time his age is a multiple of Zoe’s age?
Video Solution
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Ninety-four bricks, each measuring 4′′ × 10′′ × 19′′ , are to be stacked one on top of
another to form a tower 94 bricks tall. Each brick can be oriented so it contributes 4′′ or
10′′ or 19′′ to the total height of the tower. How many different tower heights can be
achieved using all ninety-four of the bricks?
Answer: 465
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1994˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙11
Let N be the positive integer 7777 . . . 777, a 313-digit number where each digit is a
7. Let f (r) be the leading digit of the rth root of N . What is
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
273
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 29. Miscellaneous Number Theory
Find the sum of all positive integers n such that, given an unlimited supply of stamps
of denominations 5, n, and n + 1 cents, 91 cents is the greatest postage that cannot be
formed.
Answer: 071
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙14
274
Geometry
275
Chapter 30
Angle Chasing
Video Lecture
276
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277
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
278
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
B
C E
Video Solution
Answer: 90°
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙8
279
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Example (AIME)
In △ABC with AB = AC, point D lies strictly between A and C on side AC, and point
E lies strictly between A and B on side AB such that AE = ED = DB = BC. The
degree measure of ∠ABC is m n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers.
Find m + n.
C B
Video Solution
Answer: 547
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
280
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Theorem 30.1.5
(n − 2)
Interior angle of a regular polygon = · 180
n
360
Exterior angle of a regular polygon =
n
281
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Definition 30.1.9 (Chord). A Chord is a line segment between any two distinct points on
the circle. The diameter of the circle is the longest chord in the circle.
Theorem 30.1.10
The perpendicular bisector of any chord passes through the center. In the figure below,
the perpendicular bisectors of AB and CD intersect at the center O.
282
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Corollary 30.1.11 • Congruent chords are equidistant from the center of a circle.
• If two chords in a circle are congruent, then their intercepted arcs are congruent.
• If two chords in a circle are congruent, then they determine two central angles that
are congruent.
Theorem 30.1.12
The angle marked in the diagram is half of the difference of the 2 red arcs.
⌢ ⌢
BD − AC
∠AP C =
2
283
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Theorem 30.1.13
If two chords AB and CD intersect at P, then the ∠BP C and ∠AP D are equal to the
average of the two arcs.
⌢ ⌢
BC + AD
∠BP C = ∠AP D =
2
Theorem 30.1.14
If a tangent R intersects the circle at Q, and a chord QP is drawn, then the ∠RQP is
equal to half the arc angle
Remark 30.1.15
Circles are really useful for angle chasing so keep an eye out for the inscribed arc theorem
284
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Remark 30.1.16
A useful trick to solving angle chasing problems with regular polygons is to draw a circle
around the polygon and use the inscribed arc theorem.
Theorem 30.1.17
Equal chords mark out equal arcs
This basically means that if you have 2 chords of the same length, the sector of the circle
they mark out will be equal
Definition 30.1.18 (Tangent). A tangent is any line from a point external to the circle that
just touches the circle.
Remark 30.1.20
This property is very useful in circle problems as it allows us to work with right angles.
In addition, another helpful technique is drawing useful radii to various points in your
diagram as that opens up new information to work with.
285
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286
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
F D
B E A
Video Solution
Answer: 110
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
287
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Video Solution
Answer: 55
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Two congruent circles centered at points A and B each pass through the other cir-
cle’s center. The line containing both A and B is extended to intersect the circles at
points C and D. The circles intersect at two points, one of which is E. What is the degree
measure of ∠CED?
Video Solution
Answer: 120
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙23
A square is located in the interior of a regular hexagon, and certain vertices are la-
beled as shown. What is the degree measure of ∠ABC?
288
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Video Solution
Answer: 45
MATHCOUNTS
In the given circle, the diameter EB is parallel to DC, and AB is parallel to ED.
The angles AEB and ABE are in the ratio 4 : 5. What is the degree measure of angle
BCD?
E O B
D C
Video Solution
289
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Answer: 130
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Video Solution
Answer: 100°
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
Additional Problems
Problem 30.2.6 (AHSME)
△ABC is isosceles with base AC. Points P and Q are respectively in CB and AB
and such that AC = AP = P Q = QB. The number of degrees in ∠B is:
Answer: 25 57
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1961˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙25
290
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
In this diagram AB and AC are the equal sides of an isosceles △ABC, in which is
inscribed equilateral △DEF . Designate ∠BF D by a, ∠ADE by b, and ∠F EC by c.
Then:
E
D b c
a
B F C
(A) b = a+c
2
(B) b = a−c
2
(C) a = b−c
2
(D) a = b+c
2
(E) none of these
Answer: a = b+c
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1960˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙38
How many non-similar triangles have angles whose degree measures are distinct positive
integers in arithmetic progression?
Answer: 59
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Concave quadrilateral ABCD is symmetric about the line AC. The measures of an-
gles DAB and ABC are 84 degrees and 32 degrees, respectively. The dashed line segments
bisect angles ABC and ADC. What is the degree measure of the acute angle at which
the two dashed line segments intersect?
291
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Answer: 64
As shown in the figure below, point E lies on the opposite half-plane determined by line
CD from point A so that ∠CDE = 110◦ . Point F lies on AD so that DE = DF , and
ABCD is a square. What is the degree measure of ∠AF E?
E
A F
D
110◦
B C
Answer: 170
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙6
In the adjoining figure, ABCD is a square, ABE is an equilateral triangle and point E
is outside square ABCD. What is the measure of ∡AED in degrees?
292
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
A
D
C
B
Video Solution
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1979˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙3
The angles of quadrilateral ABCD satisfy ∠A = 2∠B = 3∠C = 4∠D. What is the
degree measure of ∠A, rounded to the nearest whole number?
Answer: 173
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
The sum of two angles of a triangle is 65 of a right angle, and one of these two an-
gles is 30◦ larger than the other. What is the degree measure of the largest angle in the
triangle?
Answer: 72
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
293
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Mary divides a circle into 12 sectors. The central angles of these sectors, measured
in degrees, are all integers and they form an arithmetic sequence. What is the degree
measure of the smallest possible sector angle?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
294
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
Answer: 3π7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1990˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙14
Answer: 83
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
Quadrilateral ABCD has AB = BC = CD, angle ABC = 70 and angle BCD = 170.
What is the measure of angle BAD?
Answer: 85
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
A beam of light strikes BC at point C with angle of incidence α = 19.94◦ and re-
flects with an equal angle of reflection as shown. The light beam continues its path,
reflecting off line segments AB and BC according to the rule: angle of incidence equals
angle of reflection. Given that β = α/10 = 1.994◦ and AB = BC, determine the number
of times the light beam will bounce off the two line segments. Include the first reflection
295
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 30. Angle Chasing
at C in your count.
Answer: 071
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1994˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙14
296
Chapter 31
Video Lecture
297
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
298
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Definition 31.1.3 (Incenter). The incenter of a triangle is the intersection of all the angle
bisectors. This point is also the center of the incircle, and equidistant from all the three sides.
Definition 31.1.4 (In-radius). The inradius of a triangle is the radius of the inscribed circle
in the triangle.
Theorem 31.1.5
Inradius r of a right triangle:
1
r = (a + b − c)
2
where a and b are the legs of the triangle, and c is the hypotenuse.
Remark 31.1.7
Note that if we know the area of the triangle and it’s semi-perimeter, we can apply the
inradius formula to find the inradius of the triangle.
299
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Remark 31.1.11
Similar to the inradius problem, if we know all 3 sides of a triangle, we can apply Heron’s
and easily calculate the circumradius of the triangle.
300
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
1
A= |(a1 b2 + a2 b3 + · · · + an b1 ) − (b1 a2 + b2 a3 + · · · + bn a1 )|
2
You can also go counterclockwise order, as long as you find the absolute value of the
answer.
The Shoelace Theorem gets its name because if one lists the coordinates in a column,
(a1 , b1 )
(a2 , b2 )
..
.
(an , bn )
(a1 , b1 )
5. Find
1
|A − B|
2
301
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
302
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Example (AIME)
As shown in the figure, triangle ABC is divided into six smaller triangles by lines drawn
from the vertices through a common interior point. The areas of four of these triangles
are as indicated. Find the area of triangle ABC.
84
35
40 30
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 315
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙6
303
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
C A
Theorem 31.2.4
The centroid of a triangle is on the median and it is 2
3
of the way from from one of
vertices to the midpoint of the opposite side.
Definition 31.2.5 (Cevian). A cevian is any line from any vertex of a triangle to the opposite
side. Medians and angle bisectors are special cases of cevians.
304
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Video Solution
√
3
Answer:
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Video Solution
Answer: 30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
305
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Remark 31.2.7
A way to remember this is the saying ”A Man and his Dad put a Bomb in the Sink
Note that this follows from Stewart’s Theorem and the Angle Bisector Theorem.
Corollary 31.2.9 (Stewart’s Theorem For Medians)
If AD is a median, then d2 = 12 (b2 + c2 ) − 41 a2
306
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
1 7
1
1
7 1
Video Solution
Answer: 6 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
Triangle ABC has a right angle at B. Point D is the foot of the altitude from B,
AD = 3, and DC = 4. What is the area of △ABC?
B C
Video Solution
√
Answer: 7 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
The figure below shows a square and four equilateral triangles, with each triangle
307
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
having a side lying on a side of the square, such that each triangle has side length 2 and
the third vertices of the triangles meet at the center of the square. The region inside the
square but outside the triangles is shaded. What is the area of the shaded region?
Video Solution √
Answer: 12 − 4 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
308
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
A
U V
M C
Video Solution
Answer: 96
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Points P and Q lie in a plane with P Q = 8. How many locations for point R in
this plane are there such that the triangle with vertices P , Q, and R is a right triangle
with area 12 square units?
Video Solution
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
309
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
A E B
D F C
Video Solution
Answer: 10
91
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Additional Problems
Problem 31.3.7 (AMC 10)
Given a triangle with side lengths 15, 20, and 25, find the triangle’s shortest altitude.
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
A triangle with side lengths in the ratio 3 : 4 : 5 is inscribed in a circle with radius 3.
What is the area of the triangle?
Answer: 8.64
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
310
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
√
The two legs of a right triangle, which are altitudes, have lengths 2 3 and 6. How
long is the third altitude of the triangle?
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Triangle ABC has AB = 13 and AC = 15, and the altitude to BC has length 12.
What is the sum of the two possible values of BC?
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
A triangle has side lengths 10, 10, and 12. A rectangle has width 4 and area equal to the
area of the triangle. What is the perimeter of this rectangle?
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
How many noncongruent integer-sided triangles with positive area and perimeter less
than 15 are neither equilateral, isosceles, nor right triangles?
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙10
311
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
Answer: 28
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Isosceles triangles T and T ′ are not congruent but have the same area and the same
perimeter. The sides of T have lengths 5, 5, and 8, while those of T ′ have lengths a, a,
and b. Which of the following numbers is closest to b?
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
312
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
C
A D F B
21
Answer:
13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙11
Points P and Q lie in a plane with P Q = 8. How many locations for point R in
this plane are there such that the triangle with vertices P , Q, and R is a right triangle
with area 12 square units?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙8
Triangle ABC has AB = 9 and BC : AC = 40 : 41. What’s the largest area that
this triangle can have?
Answer: 420
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1992˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙13
313
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Through a point on the hypotenuse of a right triangle, lines are drawn parallel to
the legs of the triangle so that the triangle is divided into a square and two smaller right
triangles. The area of one of the two small right triangles is m times the area of the
square. The ratio of the area of the other small right triangle to the area of the square is
(A) 1
2m+1
(B) m (C) 1 − m (D) 1
4m
(E) 1
8m2
Answer: 4m1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙21
A triangle is partitioned into three triangles and a quadrilateral by drawing two lines
from vertices to their opposite sides. The areas of the three triangles are 3, 7, and 7, as
shown. What is the area of the shaded quadrilateral?
7
3
7
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
314
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 31. Triangle Area and Length
A
14
E
19
28
D
6
B C
Answer: 56
19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙25
Let ABCD be a unit square. Let Q1 be the midpoint of CD. For i = 1, 2, . . . , let
Pi be the intersection of AQi and BD, and let Qi+1 be the foot of the perpendicular
from Pi to CD. What is
∞
Area of △DQi Pi ?
X
i=1
Answer: 14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
315
Chapter 32
Special Triangles
Video Lecture
316
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
Theorem 32.1.1
If the side length of an equilateral triangle is a
√
3
Height of the triangle = a
2
317
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
c 2 = a2 + b 2
a c
C b A
If all numbers in a pythagorean triple are multiplied by a constant, the resulting num-
bers still form a pythagorean triple.
318
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
Video Solution
Answer: 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙20
319
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
1 1
Area of the triangle = × side length2 = a2
2 2
320
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
√ √
3 3 2
Area = × short leg2 = a
2 2
321
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
Example (AIME)
In triangle ABC, angles A and B measure 60 degrees and 45 degrees, respectively. The
bisector of angle A intersects
√ BC at T , and AT = 24. The area of triangle ABC can be
written in the form a + b c, where a, b, and c are positive integers, and c is not divisible
by the square of any prime. Find a + b + c.
24
30◦
30◦ 45◦
A D B
Video Solution
Answer: 291
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙4
322
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
323
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
Video Solution
Answer: 37 : 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
324
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
B D C
Video Solution
√
Answer: 5−12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Additional Problems
Problem 32.3.3 (AIME)
325
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
B
A C
Answer: 084
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙1
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
326
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
How many non-congruent right triangles with positive integer leg lengths have areas that
are numerically equal to 3 times their perimeters?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
2 4
1 3 5
327
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 32. Special Triangles
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙24
Suppose that △ABC is an equilateral triangle of side length s, with the property
√
that there is a unique point P inside the triangle such that AP = 1, BP = 3, and
CP = 2. What is s?
√
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙24
328
Chapter 33
Similar Triangles
Video Lecture
329
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
330
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Theorem 33.0.1
For similar triangles:
• AA similarity: Two angles of the triangles are same, which basically means that
the third angle will be equal)
• SAS similarity (Side Angle Side): Two sides are proportional and the angle between
the sides is equal
• SSS similarity (Side Side Side): All three sides are proportional
• LL similarity (LL Leg): In a right triangle, the two legs are proportional
An easy way to detect similar triangles is if bases of triangles are parallel and the
sides of the triangles are collinear (see figure below)
331
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Example (AIME)
A point P is chosen in the interior of △ABC such that when lines are drawn through P
parallel to the sides of △ABC, the resulting smaller triangles t1 , t2 , and t3 in the figure,
have areas 4, 9, and 49, respectively. Find the area of △ABC.
t1 t2
t3
B C
Video Solution
Answer: 144
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙3
332
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
q
Length of the perpendicular to the hypotenuse (BD) = AB·BC
AC
Also note that:
AD · CD = BD2
AD · AC = AB2
CD · CA = CB2
333
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
D C
A Q B
Video Solution
Answer: 117
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
334
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A
30
F
x
E
20
B C
Video Solution
Answer: 360
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
335
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
336
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
E
D
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 2 : 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙12
337
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Example (AIME)
In triangle ABC, AB = 20 and AC = 11. The angle bisector of ∠A intersects BC at
point D, and point M is the midpoint of AD. Let P be the point of the intersection of
m
AC and BM . The ratio of CP to P A can be expressed in the form , where m and n
n
are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
20
A P 11 D′ C
Video Solution
Answer: 51
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
338
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A paper triangle with sides of lengths 3, 4, and 5 inches, as shown, is folded so that point
A falls on point B. What is the length in inches of the crease?
5
3
A 4 C
Video Solution
Answer: 15
8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
Three unit squares and two line segments connecting two pairs of vertices are shown.
What is the area of △ABC?
339
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
A B
P
43
11
D 43 C
340
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Video Solution
Answer: 194
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Right triangle ABC has leg lengths AB = 20 and BC = 21. Including AB and
BC, how many line segments with integer length can be drawn from vertex B to a point
on hypotenuse AC?
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
341
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Video Solution
Answer: 069
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙13
In △ABC with a right angle at C, point D lies in the interior of AB and point E
lies in the interior of BC so that AC = CD, DE = EB, and the ratio AC : DE = 4 : 3.
What is the ratio AD : DB?
342
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
B
C A
Video Solution
Answer: 2 : 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Triangle ABC with AB = 50 and AC = 10 has area 120. Let D be the midpoint
of AB, and let E be the midpoint of AC. The angle bisector of ∠BAC intersects DE
and BC at F and G, respectively. What is the area of quadrilateral F DBG?
Video Solution
Answer: 75
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
343
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A B
P
E
Q
D C
Video Solution
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Video Solution
√
Answer: 12 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙11
Triangle ABC with AB = 50 and AC = 10 has area 120. Let D be the midpoint
of AB, and let E be the midpoint of AC. The angle bisector of ∠BAC intersects DE
and BC at F and G, respectively. What is the area of quadrilateral F DBG?
Video Solution
Answer: 75
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
344
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Video Solution
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958416
The diagram below shows a rectangle with side lengths 4 and 8 and a square with
side length 5. Three vertices of the square lie on three different sides of the rectangle, as
shown. What is the area of the region inside both the square and the rectangle?
Video Solution
5
Answer: 15
8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962631
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
345
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Let ABCD be a rhombus with ∠ADC = 46◦ . Let E be the midpoint of CD, and
let F be the point on BE such that AF is perpendicular to BE. What is the degree
measure of ∠BF C?
Video Solution
Answer: 113
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962598
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Additional Problems
Problem 33.2.14 (AMC 10)
A M B
3
6
D 6 C
Answer: 75
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
An angle is drawn on a set of equally spaced parallel lines as shown. The ratio of
346
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
the area of shaded region C to the area of shaded region B is 11/5. Find the ratio of
shaded region D to the area of shaded region A.
Answer: 408
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙7
Let P be an interior point of triangle ABC and extend lines from the vertices through P
to the opposite sides. Let a, b, c, and d denote the lengths of the segments indicated in
the figure. Find the product abc if a + b + c = 43 and d = 3.
347
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Answer: 441
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1988˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙12
D
13
F 9
A C
E
348
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Answer: 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
A square with side length x is inscribed in a right triangle with sides of length 3,
4, and 5 so that one vertex of the square coincides with the right-angle vertex of the
triangle. A square with side length y is inscribed in another right triangle with sides of
length 3, 4, and 5 so that one side of the square lies on the hypotenuse of the triangle.
x
What is ?
y
E
D
A F B
C′
T
y
A′ B′
Q
349
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Answer: 37
35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Trapezoid ABCD has sides AB = 92, BC = 50, CD = 19, and AD = 70, with
AB parallel to CD. A circle with center P on AB is drawn tangent to BC and AD.
Given that AP = mn
, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers, find m + n.
Answer: 164
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1992˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙9
√
1001
x
C y D
Answer: 110
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
350
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
13 F 9
A C
E
Answer: 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
A P 15 B
S
20
O
Q
D R C
351
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
Answer: 677
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1991˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙12
In the right triangle △ACE, we have AC = 12, CE = 16, and EA = 20. Points
B, D, and F are located on AC, CE, and EA, respectively, so that AB = 3, CD = 4,
and EF = 5. What is the ratio of the area of △DBF to that of △ACE?
B
15
F
5
C 4 D 12 E
Answer: 16
7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
352
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A 3 B
D C
Answer: 54
25
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
353
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A B
H E
G
D 1 F 1 C
2 2
1
Answer:
6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
A M B
3
6
D 6 C
Answer: 75
354
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
D C
A E B
Answer: 75
8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙18
355
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
D 4 C F
A
B
Answer: 125
12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
356
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
E
D 1 2 C
F G
A 5 B
Answer: 25
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
357
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
G
H 6 B
C
F
D 4 E A
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Square ABCD has sides of length 1. Points E and F are on BC and CD, respec-
tively, so that △AEF is equilateral. A square with vertex B has sides that are parallel
to √those of ABCD and a vertex on AE. The length of a side of this smaller square is
a− b
c
, where a, b, and c are positive integers and b is not divisible by the square of any
prime. Find a + b + c.
358
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 33. Similar Triangles
A 1 D
A′ D′
B C′ E C
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
Let ABC be a triangle where M is the midpoint of AC, and CN is the angle bi-
sector of ∠ACB with N on AB. Let X be the intersection of the median BM and the
bisector CN . In addition △BXN is equilateral with AC = 2. What is BX 2 ?
√
Answer: 10−67
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙24
359
Chapter 34
Quadrilaterals
Video Lecture
360
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
34.1 Square
s2
and a perimeter of
4s
34.2 Rectangle
bh
and a perimeter of
2b + 2h
361
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Example (AIME)
Let ABCD be a square, and let E and F be points on AB and BC, respectively. The
line through E parallel to BC and the line through F parallel to AB divide ABCD into
two squares and two nonsquare rectangles. The sum of the areas of the two squares is
9
10
of the area of square ABCD. Find EB AE
+ EB
AE
.
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
34.3 Rhombus
362
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
34.4 Parallelogram
bh
363
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Example (AIME)
In △ABC, AB = 425, BC = 450, and AC = 510. An interior point P is then drawn,
and segments are drawn through P parallel to the sides of the triangle. If these three
segments are of an equal length d, find d.
Video Solution
Answer: 306
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1986˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙9
364
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
34.5 Trapezoid
b1 + b2
·h
2
365
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Video Solution
√
Answer: 3 35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙21
366
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
B A
Video Solution
Answer: 36
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
The five small shaded squares inside this unit square are congruent and have disjoint
interiors. The midpoint of each side of the middle square coincides with one √ of the
vertices of the other four small squares as shown. The common side length is a−b 2 , where
a and b are positive integers. What is a + b ?
367
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Video Solution
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Video Solution
Answer: 25
32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
368
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
A 3 B
D C
Video Solution
Answer: 54
25
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
A square piece of paper has side length 1 and vertices A, B, C, andD in that order.
As shown in the figure the paper is folded so that vertex C meets edge AD at point
C ′ , and edge BC intersects edge AB at point E. Suppose that C ′ D = 13 . What is the
perimeter of △AEC ′ ?
369
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
A C’ D
B C
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
370
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
A B
P
43
11
D 43 C
Video Solution
Answer: 194
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Let ABCD be an isosceles trapezoid having parallel bases AB and CD with AB > CD.
Line segments from a point inside ABCD to the vertices divide the trapezoid into four
triangles whose areas are 2, 3, 4, and 5 starting with the triangle with base CD and
moving clockwise as shown in the diagram below. What is the ratio CD AB
?
Video Solution
371
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
√
Answer: 2 + 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Let ABCD be a parallelogram with area 15. Points P and Q are the projections
of A and C, respectively, onto the line BD; and points R and S are the projections of
B and D, respectively, onto the line AC. See the figure, which also shows the relative
locations of these points.
Suppose P Q = 6 and RS = 8, and let d denote the length of BD, the longer diagonal
√
of ABCD. Then d2 can be written in the form m + n p, where m, n, and p are positive
integers and p is not divisible by the square of any prime. What is m + n + p?
Video Solution
Answer: 81
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙24
Isosceles trapezoid ABCD has parallel sides AD and BC, with BC < AD and AB = CD.
There is a point P in the plane such that P A = 1, P B = 2, P C = 3, and P D = 4. What
is AD
BC
?
1 1 1 2 3
(A) 4
(B) 3
(C) 2
(D) 3
(E) 4
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
372
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958416
Additional Problems
Problem 34.6.11 (AMC 10/12)
Four congruent rectangles are placed as shown. The area of the outer square is 4
times that of the inner square. What is the ratio of the length of the longer side of each
rectangle to the length of its shorter side?
Answer: 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙8
In square ABCD, points E and H lie on AB and DA, respectively, so that AE = AH.
Points F and G lie on BC and CD, respectively, and points I and J lie on EH so that
373
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
F I ⊥ EH and GJ ⊥ EH. See the figure below. Triangle AEH, quadrilateral BF IE,
quadrilateral DHJG, and pentagon F CGJI each has area 1. What is F I 2 ?
D G C
F
H
A E B
√
Answer: 8 − 4 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
A closed box with a square base is to be wrapped with a square sheet of wrapping
paper. The box is centered on the wrapping paper with the vertices of the base lying on
the midlines of the square sheet of paper, as shown in the figure on the left. The four
corners of the wrapping paper are to be folded up over the sides and brought together to
meet at the center of the top of the box, point A in the figure on the right. The box has
base length w and height h. What is the area of the sheet of wrapping paper?
374
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
A
w w
A 3 B
D C
Answer: 54
25
375
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Answer: 240
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Consider the 12-sided polygon ABCDEF GHIJKL, as shown. Each of its sides has
length 4, and each two consecutive sides form a right angle. Suppose that AG and CH
meet at M . What is the area of quadrilateral ABCM ?
A B
K L C D
M
J I F E
H G
376
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Answer: 88
5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Let ABCD be a square, and let E and F be points on AB and BC, respectively.
The line through E parallel to BC and the line through F parallel to AB divide ABCD
into two squares and two nonsquare rectangles. The sum of the areas of the two squares
is 10
9
of the area of square ABCD. Find EB
AE
+ EB
AE
.
Answer: 018
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
A 9 B
D 12 C
377
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
A E F B
D C
√
Answer: 63
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
378
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Trapezoid ABCD has parallel sides AB of length 33 and CD of length 21. The other
two sides are of lengths 10 and 14. The angles A and B are acute. What is the length of
the shorter diagonal of ABCD?
A E 33 F B
10 14
D 21 C
Answer: 25
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
A 15 G 15 D
6
6
F
B
2 C
E
Answer: 135
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
379
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Answer: 98
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
In the diagram below, ABCD is a rectangle with side lengths AB = 3 and BC = 11,
and AECF is a rectangle with side lengths AF = 7 and F C = 9, as shown. The area of
the shaded region common to the interiors of both rectangles is m
n
, where m and n are
relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
380
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
F
A D
B C
Answer: 109
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
A rectangular floor measures a by b feet, where a and b are positive integers and
b > a. An artist paints a rectangle on the floor with the sides of the rectangle parallel
to the floor. The unpainted part of the floor forms a border of width 1 foot around the
painted rectangle and occupies half the area of the whole floor. How many possibilities
are there for the ordered pair (a, b)?
381
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
ABCD is a rectangular sheet of paper that has been folded so that corner B is matched
with point B ′ on edge AD. The crease is EF, where E is on AB and F is on CD. The
dimensions AE = 8, BE = 17, and CF = 3 are given. The perimeter of rectangle ABCD
is m/n, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
C′
D F C
B′
A E B
Answer: 293
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
382
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
Answer: 090
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
In the figure, ABCD is a square of side length 1. The rectangles JKHG and EBCF
are congruent. What is BE?
383
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 34. Quadrilaterals
C F H D
B E J A
√
Answer: 2 − 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
384
Chapter 35
Circles
Video Lecture
385
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
386
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
387
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
a°
Area of a sector = πr2 × = π × radius2 × fraction of circle in sector
360
a°
Length of the arc = 2πr × = 2π × radius × fraction of circle in sector
360
Definition 35.1.3 (Angle of an arc). This is the angle that the arc makes at the center of
the circle.
388
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Video Solution
Answer: π7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
389
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
E F G
A B C D
Video Solution
Answer: 17
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
390
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Example (AIME)
A circle with diameter P Q of length 10 is internally tangent at P to a circle of radius
20. Square ABCD is constructed with A and B on the larger circle, CD tangent at Q
to the smaller circle, and√the smaller circle outside ABCD. The length of AB can be
written in the form m + n, where m and n are integers. Find m + n.
D A
P
Q
C B
Video Solution
Answer: 312
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1994˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙2
391
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Example (AIME)
A machine-shop
√ cutting tool has the shape of a notched circle, as shown. The radius of
the circle is 50 cm, the length of AB is 6 cm and that of BC is 2 cm. The angle ABC
is a right angle. Find the square of the distance (in centimeters) from B to the center of
the circle.
B C
Video Solution
Answer: 026
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1983˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
PS = PT
392
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
P A · P B = P C · P D = r2 − OP 2
P A · P B = P C · P D = OP 2 − r2
Remark 35.3.4
Power of a point is useful when dealing with circles and chord lengths.
393
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
45◦ E
A √ √ B
5 2 2 5
Video Solution
Answer: 100
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
394
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Example (AIME)
Let ABCD be a parallelogram with ∠BAD < 90◦ . A circle tangent to sides DA, AB,
and BC intersects diagonal AC at points P and Q with AP < AQ, as shown. Suppose
that AP√= 3, P Q = 9, and QC = 16. Then the area of ABCD can be expressed in the
form m n, where m and n are positive integers, and n is not divisible by the square of
any prime. Find m + n.
B C
A D
Video Solution
Answer: 150
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙11
395
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
You can draw a circle around quadrilateral and use angle chasing properties for circles
like the inscribed angle theorem.
Concept 35.4.2
Sometimes, there may be quadrilaterals not explicitly stated to be in a circle. Then, if
the sum of opposite angles is 180° or if the angles satisfy properties from the inscribed
angle theorem, then you can identify them to be a cyclic quadrilateral, and you can
use any of the properties of cyclic quadrilaterals or even circles because you know the
quadrilateral can be inscribed in a circle.
396
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
AC · BD = AB · CD + AD · BC
397
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
398
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
√ √
3 6 3 6
O2
B C
√ √
5 2 5 2
O1
Video Solution
Answer: 26π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
399
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Example (AIME)
A hexagon is inscribed in a circle. Five of the sides have length 81 and the sixth, denoted
by AB, has length 31. Find the sum of the lengths of the three diagonals that can be
drawn from A.
E D
81
81 81
z
y
F C
81 x
81
31
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 384
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1991˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙14
Externally tangent circles with centers at points A and B have radii of lengths 5 and
3, respectively. A line externally tangent to both circles intersects ray AB at point C.
What is BC?
400
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
A 8 B x C
3
5
E
D
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙11
In the figure below, N congruent semicircles lie on the diameter of a large semicir-
cle, with their diameters covering the diameter of the large semicircle with no overlap.
Let A be the combined area of the small semicircles and B be the area of the region
inside the large semicircle but outside the semicircles. The ratio A : B is 1 : 18. What is
N?
...
Video Solution
Answer: 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙7
401
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Seven cookies of radius 1 inch are cut from a circle of cookie dough, as shown. Neighboring
cookies are tangent, and all except the center cookie are tangent to the edge of the dough.
The leftover scrap is reshaped to form another cookie of the same thickness. What is the
radius in inches of the scrap cookie?
Video Solution
√
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Two circles of radius 5 are externally tangent to each other and are internally tan-
gent to a circle of radius 13 at points A and B, as shown in the diagram. The distance
AB can be written in the form m n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers.
What is m + n?
402
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 69
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Three circles with radius 2 are mutually tangent. What is the total area of the cir-
cles and the region bounded by them, as shown in the figure?
Video Solution √
Answer: 10π + 4 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
403
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
The figure below shows 13 circles of radius 1 within a larger circle. All the inter-
sections occur at points of tangency. What is the area of the region, shaded in the figure,
inside the larger circle but outside all the circles of radius 1?
Video Solution
√
Answer: 4π 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
404
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
E
A O B D
Video Solution
Answer: 140
37
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙18
In △ABC, AB = 86, and AC = 97. A circle with center A and radius AB inter-
sects BC at points B and X. Moreover BX and CX have integer lengths. What is
BC?
405
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
B
k
E
k
86 90◦ D
h
m
86
A 97 C
Video Solution
Answer: 61
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
If circular arcs AC and BC have centers at B and A, respectively, then there ex-
⌢ ⌢ ⌢
ists a circle tangent to both AC and BC, and to AB. If the length of BC is 12, then the
circumference of the circle is
406
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Video Solution
Answer: 27
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙24
M
3
E
B
A 3
Video Solution
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
√
A quadrilateral is inscribed in a circle of radius 200 2. Three of the sides of this
quadrilateral have length 200. What is the length of the fourth side?
407
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
B C
E F D
A
θ
O
Video Solution
Answer: 500
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
Video Solution
Answer: 122
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙24
Let S be the set of circles in the coordinate plane that are tangent to each of the
three circles with equations x2 + y 2 = 4, x2 + y 2 = 64, and (x − 5)2 + y 2 = 3. What is
408
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Video Solution
Answer: 136π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962604
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Additional Problems
Problem 35.5.14 (AMC 10)
Mary divides a circle into 12 sectors. The central angles of these sectors, measured
in degrees, are all integers and they form an arithmetic sequence. What is the degree
measure of the smallest possible sector angle?
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
409
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
A number of linked rings, each 1 cm thick, are hanging on a peg. The top ring has an
outside diameter of 20 cm. The outside diameter of each of the outer rings is 1 cm less
than that of the ring above it. The bottom ring has an outside diameter of 3 cm. What
is the distance, in cm, from the top of the top ring to the bottom of the bottom ring?
20
..
.
Answer: 173
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙12
A circle of radius 1 is tangent to a circle of radius 2. The sides of △ABC are tan-
gent to the circles as shown, and the sides AB and AC are congruent. What is the area
of △ABC?
410
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
A
B C
√
Answer: 16 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
The diagram shows twenty congruent circles arranged in three rows and enclosed in a
rectangle. The circles are tangent to one another and to the sides of the rectangle as
shown in the diagram. The ratio of the longer dimension of the rectangle to the shorter
1 √
dimension can be written as ( p − q) where p and q are positive integers. Find p + q.
2
Answer: 154
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
411
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral. The side lengths of ABCD are distinct inte-
gers less than 15 such that BC · CD = AB · DA. What is the largest possible value of
BD?
q
Answer: 425 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
In the figure below, semicircles with centers at A and B and with radii 2 and 1, respec-
tively, are drawn in the interior of, and sharing bases with, a semicircle with diameter
JK. The two smaller semicircles are externally tangent to each other and internally
tangent to the largest semicircle. A circle centered at P is drawn externally tangent to
the two smaller semicircles and internally tangent to the largest semicircle. What is the
radius of the circle centered at P ?
Answer: 67
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙16
412
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Answer: 17
6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Triangle ABC is equilateral with side length 6. Suppose that O is the center of the
inscribed circle of this triangle. What is the area of the circle passing through A, O, and
C?
Answer: 12π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
Triangle ABC has AB = 27, AC = 26, and BC = 25. Let I be the intersection
of the internal angle bisectors of △ABC. What is BI?
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
Circles with radii 1, 2, and 3 are mutually externally tangent. What is the area of
the triangle determined by the points of tangency?
(A) 3
5
(B) 4
5
(C) 1 (D) 6
5
(E) 4
3
413
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Answer: 65
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
√ √
Isosceles triangle ABC has AB = AC = 3 6, and a circle with radius 5 2 is tan-
gent to line AB at B and to line AC at C. What is the area of the circle that passes
through vertices A, B, and C?
Answer: 26π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙15
A triangle with sides of 5, 12, and 13 has both an inscribed and a circumscribed
circle. What is the distance between the centers of those circles?
414
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
A
E
F
I
B D O C
√
Answer: 265
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
T
S
P U Q
415
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Answer: 725
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
Circles C1 and C2 are externally tangent, and they are both internally tangent to
circle C3 . The radii of C1 and C2 are 4 and 10, respectively, and the centers of the three
circles are all collinear. A chord of C3 √is also a common external tangent of C1 and C2 .
Given that the length of the chord is mp n where m, n, and p are positive integers, m and
p are relatively prime, and n is not divisible by the square of any prime, find m + n + p.
B
T2
T
T1
A
H
O1 O3 O2
Answer: 405
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
416
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
P
B
D
θ O
6
M
θ
C 8 A
Answer: 35
12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Points A and B lie on a circle centered at O, and ∠AOB = 60◦ . A second circle
is internally tangent to the first and tangent to both OA and OB. What is the ratio of
the area of the smaller circle to that of the larger circle?
417
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
B
P r
2r r
◦
30
A
O Q
R
Answer: 19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
Q′ P′
P S R′′ Q′′
Q 6 R S′ P ′′
√
Answer: 3 + 10 π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
418
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Circles with centers O and P have radii 2 and 4, respectively, and are externally tangent.
Points A and B on the circle with center O and points C and D on the circle with center
P are such that AD and BC are common external tangents to the circles. What is the
area of the concave hexagon AOBCP D?
A 4
2
P
O
√
Answer: 24 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
A B
1 2 1
419
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
√
Answer: 76 π − 23
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
In the adjoining figure, two circles with radii 8 and 6 are drawn with their centers
12 units apart. At P , one of the points of intersection, a line is drawn in such a way that
the chords QP and P R have equal length. Find the square of the length of QP .
R
12
Answer: 130
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1983˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙14
Triangle ABC is inscribed in circle ω. Points P and Q are on side AB with AP <
AQ. Rays CP and CQ meet ω again at S and T (other than C), respectively. If
AP = 4, P Q = 3, QB = 6, BT = 5, and AS = 7, then ST = m n
, where m and n are
relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
420
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Answer: 43
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
421
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
D
A
C B
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙23
Circles A, B and C are externally tangent to each other, and internally tangent to
circle D. Circles B and C are congruent. Circle A has radius 1 and passes through the
center of D. What is the radius of circle B?
Answer: 89
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙19
422
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Circles A, B, and C each have radius 1. Circles A and B share one point of tan-
gency. Circle C has a point of tangency with the midpoint of AB. What is the area
inside circle C but outside circle A and circle B?
M
A B
C
D
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙11
A collection of circles in the upper half-plane, all tangent to the x-axis, is constructed in
layers as follows. Layer L0 consists of two circles of radii 702 and 732 that are externally
tangent. For k ≥ 1, the circles in k−1 j=0 Lj are ordered according to their points of
S
tangency with the x-axis. For every pair of consecutive circles in this order, a new circle
is constructed externally tangent to each of the two circles in the pair. Layer Lk consists
of the 2k−1 circles constructed in this way. Let S = 6j=0 Lj , and for every circle C denote
S
423
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 35. Circles
Answer: 143
14
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
424
Chapter 36
Polygons
Theorem 36.0.1
(n − 2)
Interior angle of a regular polygon = · 180
n
360
Exterior angle of a regular polygon =
n
425
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
36.1 Hexagon
Theorem 36.1.1
(6 − 2)
Interior angle of a regular hexagon = · 180 = 120
6
360
Exterior angle of a regular hexagon = = 60
6
√
3 2
Area of a regular hexagon = 6 · s
4
426
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
36.2 Octagon
Theorem 36.2.1
(8 − 2)
Interior angle of a regular octagon = · 180 = 135
6
360
Exterior angle of a regular octagon = = 45
8
√
Area of a regular octagon = 2(1 + 2)s2
Remark 36.2.2
A regular hexagon can be divided into 6 congruent equilateral triangles.
427
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
A wire is cut into two pieces, one of length a and the other of length b. The piece
of length a is bent to form an equilateral triangle, and the piece of length b is bent to
form a regular hexagon. The triangle and the hexagon have equal area. What is ab ?
√
Answer: 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙15
Video Solution
Answer: 55
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Two circles lie outside regular hexagon ABCDEF . The first is tangent to AB, and the
second is tangent to DE. Both are tangent to lines BC and F A. What is the ratio of
the area of the second circle to that of the first circle?
(A) 18 (B) 27 (C) 36 (D) 81 (E) 108
428
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
Answer: 81
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Regular octagon ABCDEF GH has area n. Let m be the area of quadrilateral ACEG.
What is m
n
?
A B
H C
G D
F E
429
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
Video Solution
√
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
Video Solution
Answer: 23
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
In regular hexagon ABCDEF , points W , X, Y , and Z are chosen on sides BC, CD, EF ,
and F A respectively, so lines AB, ZW , Y X, and ED are parallel and equally spaced.
What is the ratio of the area of hexagon W CXY F Z to the area of hexagon ABCDEF ?
430
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
E D
Z W
F C
Y X
A B
Video Solution
Answer: 11
27
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Additional Problems
Problem 36.3.7 (AMC 10)
A regular octagon is formed by cutting an isosceles right triangle from each of the
corners of a square with sides of length 2000. What is the length of each side of the
octagon?
√
Answer: 2000( 2 − 1)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AMC˙10˙Problems/Problem˙20
Spot’s doghouse has a regular hexagonal base that measures one yard on each side.
He is tethered to a vertex with a two-yard rope. What is the area, in square yards, of
the region outside of the doghouse that Spot can reach?
431
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
Answer: 3π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
In convex hexagon ABCDEF , all six sides are congruent, ∠A and ∠D are right an-
gles, √
and ∠B, ∠C, ∠E, and ∠F are congruent. The area of the hexagonal region is
2116( 2 + 1). Find AB.
E D
A B
Equilateral △ABC has side length 1, and squares ABDE, BCHI, CAF G lie outside
432
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
F
E
G
D
B C
I H
√
Answer: 3 + 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
433
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
A
F G
E B
J H
D C
√
Answer: 1 + 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Andrea inscribed a circle inside a regular pentagon, circumscribed a circle around the
pentagon, and calculated the area of the region between the two circles. Bethany did
the same with a regular heptagon (7 sides). The areas of the two regions were A and B,
respectively. Each polygon had a side length of 2. Which of the following is true?
(A) A = 25
49
B (B) A = 57 B (C) A = B (D) A = 57 B (E) A = 49
25
B
Answer: A = B
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Answer: 6
434
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
relatively prime, and c is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find a + b + c + d.
Answer: 021
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙12
The two squares shown share the same center O and have sides of length 1. The
length of AB is 43/99 and the area of octagon ABCDEF GH is m/n, where m and n
are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 185
435
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1999˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
√
In equiangular octagon CAROLIN E, CA = RO = LI = N E = 2 and AR = OL =
IN = EC = 1. The self-intersecting octagon CORN ELIA encloses six non-overlapping
triangular regions. Let K be the area enclosed by CORN ELIA, that is, the total area
a
of the six triangular regions. Then K = , where a and b are relatively prime positive
b
integers. Find a + b.
Answer: 023
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
A hexagon that is inscribed in a circle has side lengths 22, 22, 20, 22, 22, and 20
√
in that order. The radius of the circle can be written as p + q, where p and q are
positive integers. Find p + q.
B C
A D
F E
Answer: 272
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
436
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 36. Polygons
In △P QR, P R = 15, QR = 20, and P Q = 25. Points A and B lie on P Q, points C and D
lie on QR, and points E and F lie on P R, with P A = QB = QC = RD = RE = P F = 5.
Find the area of hexagon ABCDEF .
Answer: 120
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
Eight spheres of radius 100 are placed on a flat surface so that each sphere is tan-
gent to two others and their centers are the vertices of a regular octagon. A ninth sphere
is placed on the flat surface so that
√ it is tangent to each of the other eight spheres. The
radius of this last sphere is a + b c, where a, b, and c are positive integers, and c is not
divisible by the square of any prime. Find a + b + c.
Answer: 152
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1998˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙10
437
Chapter 37
3-D Geometry
37.1 Cube
√ √
Length of space diagonal of a cube = 3 × side length = 3a
438
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
√
Length of space diagonal of a rectangular prism = l2 + b2 + h2
439
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
37.3 Cylinder
440
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
37.4 Cone
Remark 37.4.2
The slant height s can be calculated by the following formula
√
s = r2 + h2
or q
slant height = radius2 + height2
441
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
37.5 Sphere
442
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
37.6 Tetrahedron
443
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
37.7 Pyramid
444
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Seven cubes, whose volumes are 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, and 343 cubic units, are stacked
vertically to form a tower in which the volumes of the cubes decrease from bottom to
top. Except for the bottom cube, the bottom face of each cube lies completely on top of
the cube below it. What is the total surface area of the tower (including the bottom) in
square units?
Video Solution
Answer: 658
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙10
Jerry cuts a wedge from a 6-cm cylinder of bologna as shown by the dashed curve.
Which answer choice is closest to the volume of his wedge in cubic centimeters?
6 cm
8 cm
Video Solution
445
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 151
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙21
In the cube ABCDEF GH with opposite vertices C and E, J and I are the mid-
points of segments F B and HD, respectively. Let R be the ratio of the area of the
cross-section EJCI to the area of one of the faces of the cube. What is R2 ?
G
J
A I
Video Solution
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙24
Isabella uses one-foot cubical blocks to build a rectangular fort that is 12 feet long,
10 feet wide, and 5 feet high. The floor and the four walls are all one foot thick. How
many blocks does the fort contain?
446
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Video Solution
Answer: 280
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙8˙Problems/Problem˙18
The two cones shown have parallel bases and common apex T. TW = 32 m, WV
= 8 m, and ZY = 5 m. What is the volume of the frustum with circle W and circle Z as
its bases? Express your answer in terms of π.
447
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Video Solution
Answer: 516π
MATHCOUNTS
An inverted cone with base radius 12 cm and height 18 cm is full of water. The
water is poured into a tall cylinder whose horizontal base has a radius of 24 cm. What is
the height in centimeters of the water in the cylinder?
Video Solution
Answer: 1.5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙10
448
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Two right circular cones with vertices facing down as shown in the figure below contain
the same amount of liquid. The radii of the tops of the liquid surfaces are 3 cm and 6 cm.
Into each cone is dropped a spherical marble of radius 1 cm, which sinks to the bottom
and is completely submerged without spilling any liquid. What is the ratio of the rise of
the liquid level in the narrow cone to the rise of the liquid level in the wide cone?
Video Solution
Answer: 4 : 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
449
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
√
(A) 6 (B) 7 (C) 5 + 2 2 (D) 8 (E) 9
Video Solution
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2958365
Video Solution
Answer: 4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙13
450
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
M ABCD?
Video Solution
√
Answer: 24 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙14
451
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Additional Problems
Problem 37.8.11 (MATHCOUNTS)
A right circular cone is sliced into four pieces by planes parallel to its base, as shown in
the figure. All of these pieces have the same height. What is the ratio of the volume of
the second-largest piece to the volume of the largest piece? Express your answer as a
common fraction.
Answer: <>
MATHCOUNTS
The centers of the faces of the right rectangular prism shown below are joined to
create an octahedron. What is the volume of this octahedron?
452
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
A pyramid with a square base is cut by a plane that is parallel to its base and 2
units from the base. The surface area of the smaller pyramid that is cut from the top
is half the surface area of the original pyramid. What is the altitude of the original
pyramid?
√
Answer: 4 + 2 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
A white cylindrical silo has a diameter of 30 feet and a height of 80 feet. A red
stripe with a horizontal width of 3 feet is painted on the silo, as shown, making two
complete revolutions around it. What is the area of the stripe in square feet?
453
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
3
80
30
Answer: 240
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
A right circular cylinder with its diameter equal to its height is inscribed in a right
circular cone. The cone has diameter 10 and altitude 12, and the axes of the cylinder
and cone coincide. Find the radius of the cylinder.
454
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
A
12 − 2r
D E
2r
2r
B 10 C
Answer: 30
11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AMC˙10˙Problems/Problem˙21
A regular hexagon with sides of length 6 has an isosceles triangle attached to each
side. Each of these triangles has two sides of length 8. The isosceles triangles are folded
to make a pyramid with the hexagon as the base of the pyramid. What is the volume of
the pyramid?
√
Answer: 36 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
An ice cream cone consists of a sphere of vanilla ice cream and a right circular cone that
has the same diameter as the sphere. If the ice cream melts, it will exactly fill the cone.
455
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Assume that the melted ice cream occupies 75% of the volume of the frozen ice cream.
What is the ratio of the cone’s height to its radius? (Note: a cone with radius r and
height h has volume πr2 h/3 and a sphere with radius r has volume 4πr3 /3.)
Answer: 3 : 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Triangle ABC, with sides of length 5, 6, and 7, has one vertex on the positive x-
axis, one on the positive y-axis, and one on the positive z-axis. Let O be the origin.
What is the volume of tetrahedron OABC?
5
b
O a
A
c
7
√
Answer: 95
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
A cube with side length 1 is sliced by a plane that passes through two diagonally opposite
vertices A and C and the midpoints B and D of two opposite edges not containing A or
456
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
√
Answer: 26
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
The centers of the faces of the right rectangular prism shown below are joined to
create an octahedron. What is the volume of this octahedron?
457
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 10
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Answer: 44π
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙14
A pyramid has a square base with side of length 1 and has lateral faces that are
equilateral triangles. A cube is placed within the pyramid so that one face is on the base
of the pyramid and its opposite face has all its edges on the lateral faces of the pyramid.
What is the volume of this cube?
458
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
√
Answer: 5 2 − 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙18
A pyramid has a square base with sides of length 1 and has lateral faces that are
equilateral triangles. A cube is placed within the pyramid so that one face is on the base
of the pyramid and its opposite face has all its edges on the lateral faces of the pyramid.
What is the volume of this cube?
√
Answer: 5 2 − 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Jesse cuts a circular paper disk of radius 12 along two radii to form two sectors, the
smaller having a central angle of 120 degrees. He makes two circular cones, using each
sector to form the lateral surface of a cone. What is the ratio of the volume of the smaller
cone to that of the larger?
√ √ √
(A) 18 (B) 14 (C) 10
10
(D) 6
5
(E) 5
5
459
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
√
Answer: 1010
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
A regular hexagon with sides of length 6 has an isosceles triangle attached to each
side. Each of these triangles has two sides of length 8. The isosceles triangles are folded
to make a pyramid with the hexagon as the base of the pyramid. What is the volume of
the pyramid?
√
Answer: 36 21
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
Six spheres of radius 1 are positioned so that their centers are at the vertices of a
regular hexagon of side length 2. The six spheres are internally tangent to a larger sphere
whose center is the center of the hexagon. An eighth sphere is externally tangent to the
six smaller spheres and internally tangent to the larger sphere. What is the radius of
this eighth sphere?
460
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
1
1
s
r
s
r−1
√
3+ 5
Answer:
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙23
461
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
A cylindrical log has diameter 12 inches. A wedge is cut from the log by making
two planar cuts that go entirely through the log. The first is perpendicular to the axis of
the cylinder, and the plane of the second cut forms a 45◦ angle with the plane of the first
cut. The intersection of these two planes has exactly one point in common with the log.
The number of cubic inches in the wedge can be expressed as nπ, where n is a positive
integer. Find n.
Answer: 216
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙5
H G
E
F
2
D C
A 3 B
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙10
462
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Centers of adjacent faces of a unit cube are joined to form a regular octahedron. What is
the volume of this octahedron?
Answer: 16
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
A sphere is inscribed in a cube that has a surface area of 24 square meters. A sec-
ond cube is then inscribed within the sphere. What is the surface area in square meters
of the inner cube?
463
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 8
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Logan is constructing a scaled model of his town. The city’s water tower stands 40 meters
high, and the top portion is a sphere that holds 100,000 liters of water. Logan’s miniature
water tower holds 0.1 liters. How tall, in meters, should Logan make his tower?
Answer: 0.4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙7
When a right triangle is rotated about one leg, the volume of the cone produced is
800π cm3 . When the triangle is rotated about the other leg, the volume of the cone
produced is 1920π cm3 . What is the length (in cm) of the hypotenuse of the triangle?
Answer: 026
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙2
464
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
The solid shown has a square base of side length s. The upper edge is√parallel to
the base and has length 2s. All other edges have length s. Given that s = 6 2, what is
the volume of the solid?
Answer: 288
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1983˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙11
A container in the shape of a right circular cone is 12 inches tall and its base has
a 5-inch radius. The liquid that is sealed inside is 9 inches deep when the cone is held
with its point down and its base horizontal. When the liquid is held with its point up
√
and its base horizontal, the height of the liquid is m − n 3 p, from the base where m, n,
and p are positive integers and p is not divisible by the cube of any prime number. Find
m + n + p.
465
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 052
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
√
Answer: 2 + 2 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
466
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 041
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙7
In a regular tetrahedron the centers of the four faces are the vertices of a smaller
tetrahedron. The ratio of the volume of the smaller tetrahedron to that of the larger is
m/n, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 028
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
A cylindrical barrel with radius 4 feet and height 10 feet is full of water. A solid
cube with side length 8 feet is set into the barrel so that the diagonal of the cube is
vertical. The volume of water thus displaced is v cubic feet. Find v 2 .
467
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 384
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Cube ABCDEF GH, labeled as shown below, has edge length 1 and is cut by a plane
passing through vertex D and the midpoints M and N of AB and CG respectively. The
plane divides the cube into two solids. The volume of the larger of the two solids can be
written in the form pq , where p and q are relatively prime positive integers. Find p + q.
H G
E N
F
D
C
A M B
468
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 37. 3-D Geometry
Answer: 089
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
469
Chapter 38
• Divide the shape into “nicer” areas which are easier to calculate
• Extend Lines
– You generally want to extend lines when they form nicer shapes/areas to work
with, such as triangles
• Break up areas
Remark 38.1.2
A common technique is to find the area of shapes and then find the area of a shape in
terms of a variable (like altitude, inradius, circumradius, etc.) and then solve for that
variable.
470
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
• Be on the lookout for 90 degree angles, as you can use Pythagorean theorem
• Split the length into multiple components by using some of these techniques
• Extending lines to create similar triangles, special triangles, etc. and then sub-
tracting the extra length
B A
Video Solution
Answer: 36
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
471
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Regular octagon ABCDEF GH has area n. Let m be the area of quadrilateral ACEG.
What is m
n
?
A B
H C
G D
F E
Video Solution
√
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
As shown in the figure below, six semicircles lie in the interior of a regular hexagon
with side length 2 so that the diameters of the semicircles coincide with the sides of the
hexagon. What is the area of the shaded region —- inside the hexagon but outside all of
the semicircles?
472
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Video Solution
√
Answer: 3 3 − π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙14
√
Answer: 4(π − 3)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙14
A rectangle has sides of length a and 36. A hinge is installed at each vertex of the
rectangle, and at the midpoint of each side of length 36. The sides of length a can be
pressed toward each other keeping those two sides parallel so the rectangle becomes
a convex hexagon as shown. When the figure is a hexagon with the sides of length a
parallel and separated by a distance of 24, the hexagon has the same area as the original
rectangle. Find a2 .
473
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Answer: 720
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
ABCD is a rectangular sheet of paper that has been folded so that corner B is matched
with point B ′ on edge AD. The crease is EF, where E is on AB and F is on CD. The
dimensions AE = 8, BE = 17, and CF = 3 are given. The perimeter of rectangle ABCD
is m/n, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
C′
D F C
B′
A E B
Answer: 293
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
474
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
In △ABC, ∠C = 90◦ and AB = 12. Squares ABXY and CBW Z are constructed
outside of the triangle. The points X, Y , Z, and W lie on a circle. What is the perimeter
of the triangle?
W B
Y
M
E
Z C A
√
Answer: 12 + 12 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
475
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Let R be the region formed by the union of the square and all the triangles, and S be the
smallest convex polygon that contains R. What is the area of the region that is inside S
but outside R?
Answer: 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙15
476
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
A B
D C
√
Answer: 12−5
36
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
15
7
D
OA
3
20
7
OB
3
45◦ sin θ = 5
C B
4
477
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√
Answer: 28
3
10 − 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙20
A circle with center O√ has area 156π. Triangle ABC is equilateral, BC is a chord
on the circle, OA = 4 3, and point O is outside △ABC. What is the side length of
△ABC?
s
B 2 X C
√
s 3
2
s
√ A
156
√
4 3
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
The figure shown is called a trefoil and is constructed by drawing circular sectors
about the sides of the congruent equilateral triangles. What is the area of a trefoil whose
horizontal base has length 2?
478
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Answer: 23 π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Two circles lie outside regular hexagon ABCDEF . The first is tangent to AB, and the
second is tangent to DE. Both are tangent to lines BC and F A. What is the ratio of
the area of the second circle to that of the first circle?
479
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Answer: 81
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙20
A X B
a
1
2
√
3
3
√
2π 3
Answer: −
9 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙16
An equilateral triangle has side length 6. What is the area of the region contain-
ing all points that are outside the triangle but not more than 3 units from a point of the
triangle?
480
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
3
6
Answer: 54 + 9π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Circles centered at
√ A and B each have radius 2, as shown. Point O is the midpoint of
AB, and OA = 2 2. Segments OC and OD are tangent to the circles centered at A and
B, respectively, and EF is a common tangent. What is the area of the shaded region
ECODF ?
E F
C D
A B
O
2 2
√
Answer: 8 2 − 4 − π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
481
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
The closed curve in the figure is made up of 9 congruent circular arcs each of length 2π
3
,
where each of the centers of the corresponding circles is among the vertices of a regular
hexagon of side 2. What is the area enclosed by the curve?
◦ ◦
◦ ◦
√
Answer: π + 6 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
A regular hexagon has side length 6. Congruent arcs with radius 3 are drawn with
the center at each of the vertices, creating circular sectors as shown. The region inside
the hexagon but outside the sectors is shaded as shown What is the area of the shaded
region?
482
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√
Answer: 54 3 − 18π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙12
A round table has radius 4. Six rectangular place mats are placed on the table. Each
place mat has width 1 and length x as shown. They are positioned so that each mat has
two corners on the edge of the table, these two corners being end points of the same side
of length x. Further, the mats are positioned so that the inner corners each touch an
inner corner of an adjacent mat. What is x?
483
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√ √
Answer: 3 7−2
3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
484
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√
Answer: 43 − 241
π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
Square ABCD has side length 2. A semicircle with diameter AB is constructed in-
side the square, and the tangent to the semicircle from C intersects side AD at E. What
is the length of CE?
D C
A B
Answer: 52
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
485
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
B
2
√
Answer: 53 π − 2 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙25
486
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
C E
B
O A
√
Answer: π3 + 1 − 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
A paint brush is swept along both diagonals of a square to produce the symmetric
painted area, as shown. Half the area of the square is painted. What is the ratio of the
side length of the square to the brush width?
487
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√
Answer: 2 2 + 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Circles centered at
√ A and B each have radius 2, as shown. Point O is the midpoint of
AB, and OA = 2 2. Segments OC and OD are tangent to the circles centered at A and
B, respectively, and EF is a common tangent. What is the area of the shaded region
ECODF ?
E F
C D
A B
O
2 2
√
Answer: 8 2 − 4 − π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
A unit square is rotated 45◦ about its center. What is the area of the region swept out
by the interior of the square?
488
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
√
Answer: 2 − 2 + π4
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙20
489
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
A
B C
√
Answer: 43 − 4 273π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Circles ω1 , ω2 , and ω3 each have radius 4 and are placed in the plane so that each
circle is externally tangent to the other two. Points P1 , P2 , and P3 lie on ω1 , ω2 , and
ω3 respectively such that P1 P2 = P2 P3 = P3 P1 and line Pi Pi+1 is tangent to ωi for each
i = 1, 2, 3,√where√P4 = P1 . See the figure below. The area of △P1 P2 P3 can be written in
the form a + b for positive integers a and b. What is a + b?
490
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
ω1
P1
P3
ω3 ω2
P2
Answer: 552
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙25
Squares S1 and S2 are inscribed in right triangle ABC, as shown in the figures be-
low. Find AC + CB if area (S1 ) = 441 and area (S2 ) = 440.
E
D
S1
B
C F
A
X
Y
S2
W
B
C Z
491
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 38. Area and Length of Complex Shapes
Answer: 462
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙15
492
Chapter 39
Coordinate Geometry
493
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
|a · x0 + b · y0 + c|
√
a2 + b 2
.
Remark 39.1.7
Be careful not to get the equation of the line confused with ax + by = c
Remark 39.1.8
Note that this distance represents the shortest possible distance which would be length
of the perpendicular line.
Remark 39.1.9
This formula is a bit confusing so an easy way to remember the numerator is that it’s
just the equation of the line with the values of the point plugged in as the x and y values
(x − a)2 + (y − b)2 = r2
Video Solution
2
Answer: a8a
2 +1
494
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙24
A laser is placed at the point (3,5). The laser beam travels in a straight line. Larry wants
the beam to hit and bounce off the y-axis, then hit and bounce off the x-axis, then hit
the point (7, 5). What is the total distance the beam will travel along this path?
Video Solution
√
Answer: 10 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙11
The point P (a, b) in the xy-plane is first rotated counterclockwise by 90° around the
point (1, 5) and then reflected about the line y = −x. The image of P after these two
transformations is at (−6, 3). What is b − a?
Video Solution
Answer: 7
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙9
x2 + y 2 = 3|x − y| + 3|x + y|
Video Solution
Answer: 54
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
495
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
Additional Problems
Problem 39.2.5 (AMC 10)
The line 12x + 5y = 60 forms a triangle with the coordinate axes. What is the sum of
the lengths of the altitudes of this triangle?
281
Answer:
13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Triangle ABC has vertices A = (3, 0), B = (0, 3), and C, where C is on the line
x + y = 7. What is the area of △ABC?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙10
The point P = (1, 2, 3) is reflected in the xy-plane, then its image Q is rotated by
180◦ about the x-axis to produce R, and finally, R is translated by 5 units in the
positive-y direction to produce S. What are the coordinates of S?
Answer: (1, 3, 3)
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙10
496
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
Answer: 50
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙12
Answer: 12
35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
1
Two lines with slopes and 2 intersect at (2, 2). What is the area of the triangle
2
enclosed by these two lines and the line x + y = 10?
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙7
A triangle has vertices (0, 0), (1, 1), and (6m, 0), and the line y = mx divides the
triangle into two triangles of equal area. What is the sum of all possible values of m?
Answer: − 61
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
497
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
Let A, B and C be three distinct points on the graph of y = x2 such that line AB is
parallel to the x-axis and △ABC is a right triangle with area 2008. What is the sum of
the digits of the y-coordinate of C?
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙17
Let points A = (0, 0), B = (1, 2), C = (3, 3), and D = (4, 0). Quadrilateral ABCD is
cut
into
equal area pieces by a line passing through A. This line intersects CD at point
, , where these fractions are in lowest terms. What is p + q + r + s?
p r
q s
B
E
15
8
A 27 4 D
8
Answer: 58
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙18
In rectangle ABCD, we have A = (6, −22), B = (2006, 178), D = (8, y), for some
integer y. What is the area of rectangle ABCD?
498
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
Find the area of the region enclosed by the graph of |x − 60| + |y| = x
4
.
Answer: 480
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1987˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
Find the number of ordered pairs (x, y) of positive integers that satisfy x ≤ 2y ≤ 60 and
y ≤ 2x ≤ 60.
Answer: 480
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1998˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙2
Consider the parallelogram with vertices (10, 45), (10, 114), (28, 153), and (28, 84). A line
through the origin cuts this figure into two congruent polygons. The slope of the line is
m/n, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 118
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1999˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙2
499
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
Answer: 031
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
Triangle ABC lies in the cartesian plane and has an area of 70. The coordinates
of B and C are (12, 19) and (23, 20), respectively, and the coordinates of A are (p, q).
The line containing the median to side BC has slope −5. Find the largest possible value
of p + q.
A (p,q)
(17,22)
M C (23,20)
B (12,19)
Answer: 047
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙10
500
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 39. Coordinate Geometry
G
H 6 B
C
F
D 4 E A
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
501
Advanced Topics
502
Chapter 40
3. Graph your equations and look for intersection points (we recommend using graph
paper)
503
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 40. Floor and Ceiling Functions
Additional Problems
Problem 40.1.1 (AMC 10)
The graph of
f (x) = |⌊x⌋| − |⌊1 − x⌋|
is symmetric about which of the following? (Here ⌊x⌋ is the greatest integer not exceeding
x.)
(A) the y-axis (B) the line x = 1 (C) the origin
1
(D) the point ,0 (E) the point (1, 0)
2
Answer: D
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
Cozy the Cat and Dash the Dog are going up a staircase with a certain number of
steps. However, instead of walking up the steps one at a time, both Cozy and Dash jump.
Cozy goes two steps up with each jump (though if necessary, he will just jump the last
step). Dash goes five steps up with each jump (though if necessary, he will just jump the
last steps if there are fewer than 5 steps left). Suppose Dash takes 19 fewer jumps than
Cozy to reach the top of the staircase. Let s denote the sum of all possible numbers of
steps this staircase can have. What is the sum of the digits of s?
504
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 40. Floor and Ceiling Functions
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Answer: 743
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1991˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙6
How many positive integers N less than 1000 are there such that the equation x⌊x⌋ = N
has a solution for x?
Answer: 412
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
Given a nonnegative real number x, let ⟨x⟩ denote the fractional part of x; that is,
⟨x⟩ = x − ⌊x⌋, where ⌊x⌋ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Suppose
that a is positive, ⟨a−1 ⟩ = ⟨a2 ⟩, and 2 < a2 < 3. Find the value of a12 − 144a−1 .
Answer: 233
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1997˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙9
A sample of 121 integers is given, each between 1 and 1000 inclusive, with repeti-
tions allowed. The sample has a unique mode (most frequent value). Let D be the
505
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 40. Floor and Ceiling Functions
difference between the mode and the arithmetic mean of the sample. What is the largest
possible value of ⌊D⌋? (For real x, ⌊x⌋ is the greatest integer less than or equal to x.)
Answer: 947
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1989˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙11
Answer: 049
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
Find the number of positive integers n less than 1000 for which there exists a posi-
tive real number x such that n = x⌊x⌋.
Note: ⌊x⌋ is the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
Answer: 496
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙10
Given a real number x, let ⌊x⌋ denote the greatest integer less than or equal to x.
For a certain integer k, there are exactly 70 positive integers n1 , n2 , . . . , n70 such that
√ √ √
k = ⌊ 3 n1 ⌋ = ⌊ 3 n2 ⌋ = · · · = ⌊ 3 n70 ⌋ and k divides ni for all i such that 1 ≤ i ≤ 70.
Find the maximum value of ni
k
for 1 ≤ i ≤ 70.
Answer: 553
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙7
506
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 40. Floor and Ceiling Functions
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
For a real number a, let ⌊a⌋ denote the greatest integer less than or equal to a. Let R de-
note the region in the coordinate plane consisting of points (x, y) such that ⌊x⌋2 +⌊y⌋2 = 25.
The region R is completely contained in a disk of radius r (a disk √
is the union of a circle
and its interior). The minimum value of r can be written as n , where m and n are
m
Answer: 132
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
Answer: 80or81
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙8
507
Chapter 41
Inequalities
b2
• If a > 0, then the minimum value of Q(x) is c − 4a
and occurs when x = − 2a
b
b2
• If a < 0, then the maximum value of Q(x) is c − 4a
and occurs when x = − 2a
b
Remark 41.0.3
Simple, yet powerful. This is the core of all inequalities and how more advanced
inequalities are derived.
The rest of the inequalities are optional for the AMC 10 but are still good to know.
Basically, this means the average of 2 non-negative numbers (arithmetic mean) is always
at least as big as the square root of the product of the 2 numbers (the geometric mean).
508
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Corollary 41.0.5
The minimum value of x + 1
x
is 2 and occurs when x = 1
Note that equality occurs when a1 = a2 · · · = an . (essentially all the variables are equal).
Remark 41.0.8
This means in general,
√
min(a1 + a2 + a3 + · · · + an ) = n · n
a1 · a2 · a3 · · · · an
a1 + a2 + · · · + an
n
max(a1 · a2 · a3 · · · · an ) =
n
Essentially,
q
min(sum of all numbers) = n · n
product of all numbers)
Remark 41.0.9
Generally, we use AM-GM to maximize products or minimize sums.
509
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Remark 41.0.11
Weighted AM-GM is very similar to AM-GM. One way to visualize weighted AM-GM
is that there are ck number of terms which are all equal to ak . So instead of writing
ak + ak + · · · + ak ck times in our sum we simply write ak · ck , and instead of writing
ak · ak · . . . ck times in our product we simply write ackk .
Remark 41.0.12
We use weighted AM-GM when we are trying to make the sum of all terms a constant
by multiplying weights to all (or some) the terms. Remember to divide by the weights
you multiplied at the end.
This means
(the sum of the products of all ak and bk )2 ≤
product of the sum of squares of all ak and bk
Remark 41.0.14
If you ever forget which side the ≥ sign faces, just try a small example like a1 = 1,
a2 = 2, b1 = 3, and b2 = 4.
510
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Remark 41.0.15
You generally want to apply Cauchy Schwarz when you are dealing with sums of squares.
Alternately, √ √ √
a1 a2 an ( a1 + a2 + · · · + an )2
+ + ··· + ≥
b1 b2 bn b1 + b2 + b3 + · · · + b n
1. Try to find another simple expression for maximization is greater than or equal to
the expression you are given OR minimization is less than the expression you are
given by using 1 (or possibly even more) of the inequalities
2. Verify that the equality case of your inequality holds true with your problem
conditions
511
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Define
P (x) = (x − 12 )(x − 22 ) · · · (x − 1002 ).
How many integers n are there such that P (n) ≤ 0?
Video Solution
Answer: 5100
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Video Solution
Video Solution (Meta-solving)
Answer: 2018
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙19
What is the least possible value of (xy − 1)2 + (x + y)2 for real numbers x and y?
Video Solution
Answer: 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙9
512
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Consider functions f that satisfy |f (x) − f (y)| ≤ 21 |x − y| for all real numbers x and y.
Of all such functions that also satisfy the equation f (300) = f (900), what is the greatest
possible value of
f (f (800)) − f (f (400))?
(A) 25 (B) 50 (C) 100 (D) 150 (E) 200
Video Solution
Answer: 50
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2962565
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙24
What is the least possible value of (xy − 1)2 + (x + y)2 for real numbers x and y?
Answer: 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙7
Suppose that |xi | < 1 for i = 1, 2, . . . , n. Suppose further that |x1 | + |x2 | + · · · + |xn | =
19 + |x1 + x2 + · · · + xn |. What is the smallest possible value of n?
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1988˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙4
513
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
Answer: 841
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
There is a smallest positive real number a such that there exists a positive real number
b such that all the roots of the polynomial x3 − ax2 + bx − a are real. In fact, for this
value of a the value of b is unique. What is this value of b?
Problem 41.2.5
Answer: 540
19
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2011˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Alpha and Beta both took part in a two-day problem-solving competition. At the
end of the second day, each had attempted questions worth a total of 500 points. Alpha
scored 160 points out of 300 points attempted on the first day, and scored 140 points out
of 200 points attempted on the second day. Beta who did not attempt 300 points on the
first day, had a positive integer score on each of the two days, and Beta’s daily success
rate (points scored divided by points attempted) on each day was less than Alpha’s on
that day. Alpha’s two-day success ratio was 300/500 = 3/5. The largest possible two-day
success ratio that Beta could achieve is m/n, where m and n are relatively prime positive
514
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 41. Inequalities
integers. What is m + n?
Answer: 849
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙5
515
Chapter 42
Logarithms
Video Lectures
Logarithms
logx y = a =⇒ xa = y
.
516
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
loga ar = r
b
loga = loga b − loga c
c
loga bc = c loga b
1
logb a =
loga b
logd a
logb a =
logd b
Remark 42.2.2
This last formula is known as the ”Base Change Formula” and is the most useful of them
all. Often times in logarithm problems you can just expand out your expression in terms
of this formula and simplify the expression to get the answer.
Remark 42.2.3
These formulas are extremely important for working with logarithms and should definitely
be memorized.
Remark 42.2.4
If you ever forget which way the sign of these logarithms are, you can just try a small
example like log10 100 + log10 1000 = log10 100, 000 so from here for example you could
figure out the sum of logarithms identity.
517
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Remark 42.2.5
Natural Logarithm (Base e) where e is the Euler’s Number = 2.71828
A logarithm with a base of e is a called a natural log and is written as ln
1
loga = − loga b
b
log 1 b = − loga b
a
Remark 42.2.7
These formulas are less important and aren’t necessary for most logarithm problems,
but still good to know.
Concept 42.2.8
When you take a logarithm of numbers which form a geometric progression, the logarithms
of those numbers form an arithmetic progression.
Video Solution
Answer: 24
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
518
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙7
1
What is the value of (625log5 2015 ) 4 ?
Video Solution
Answer: 2015
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2015˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙8
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
519
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Video Solution
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙10
The sequence
log12 162, log12 x, log12 y, log12 z, log12 1250
is an arithmetic progression. What is x?
Video Solution
Answer: 270
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
For how many positive integers x is log10 (x − 40) + log10 (60 − x) < 2 ?
Video Solution
Answer: 18
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙20
and all four terms on the left are positive integers, where log denotes the base 10 logarithm.
What is ab?
(A) 1052 (B) 10100 (C) 10144 (D) 10164 (E) 10200
Video Solution
Answer: 10164
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
520
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Video Solution
Video Solution
q q
Answer: log2 3 + log3 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
The value of x that satisfies log2x 320 = log2x+3 32020 can be written as m
n
, where m
and n are relatively prime positive integers. Find m + n.
Video Solution
Answer: 103
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙3
Positive real numbers x ̸= 1 and y ̸= 1 satisfy log2 x = logy 16 and xy = 64. What is
(log2 xy )2 ?
(A) 25
2
(B) 20 (C) 45
2
(D) 25 (E) 32
Video Solution
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Video Solution
521
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙9
Video Solution
Answer: 2 ≤ S < 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
Additional Problems
Problem 42.3.15 (AMC 10)
Answer: 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙17
522
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
The sum of the base-10 logarithms of the divisors of 10n is 792. What is n?
Answer: 11
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
In a Martian civilization, all logarithms whose bases are not specified as assumed
to be base b, for some fixed b ≥ 2. A Martian student writes down
√
3 log( x log x) = 56
loglog x (x) = 54
and finds that this system of equations has a single real number solution x > 1. Find b.
Answer: 216
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙6
Let S be the sum of the base 10 logarithms of all the proper divisors (all divisors
of a number excluding itself) of 1000000. What is the integer nearest to S?
Answer: 141
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1986˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙8
523
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Answer: 881
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙2
Answer: 046
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙17
7
log3 (xn ) = 308
X
n=0
and
7
!
56 ≤ log3 xn ≤ 57,
X
n=0
Answer: 091
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙12
524
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
The solution of the equation 7x+7 = 8x can be expressed in the form x = logb 77 .
What is b?
Answer: 87
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙11
Answer: −1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
The numbers log(a3 b7 ), log(a5 b12 ), and log(a8 b15 ) are the first three terms of an arithmetic
sequence, and the 12th term of the sequence is log bn . What is n?
Answer: 112
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙16
Answer: 512
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1984˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
525
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
The number
2
+ log 2000
log4 20006
3
6 can be written as
m
n
where m and n are relatively prime positive
5
integers. Find m + n.
Answer: 007
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙1
The domain of the function f (x) = log 1 (log4 (log 1 (log16 (log 1 x)))) is an interval of
2 4 16
length m
n
, where m and n are relatively prime positive integers. What is m + n?
Answer: 271
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
The solutions to the equation log3x 4 = log2x 8, where x is a positive real number
other than 13 or 12 , can be written as pq where p and q are relatively prime positive integers.
What is p + q?
Answer: 31
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
The solutions to the equation log3x 4 = log2x 8, where x is a positive real number
other than 13 or 12 , can be written as pq where p and q are relatively prime positive integers.
What is p + q?
Answer: 31
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
526
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 42. Logarithms
Let m > 1 and n > 1 be integers. Suppose that the product of the solutions for x
of the equation
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2013˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
Let S be the set of ordered triples (x, y, z) of real numbers for which
Answer: 29
2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
527
Chapter 43
Algebraic Trigonometry
Note: This topic is mainly relevant for AMC 12, but knowing some concepts can help make
some AMC 10 problems easier to solve.
528
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
Remark 43.1.2
To remember the relationships, just use the mnemonics SOH, CAH, TOA:
SOH = Sin is Opposite over Hypotenuse
CAH = Cos is Adjacent over Hypotenuse
TOA = Tan is Opposite over Adjacent
529
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
cos 0° = 1 √ sin 0° = 0 √
cos 15° = 23+1
√
2
sin 15° = 23−1
√
2
√
cos 30° = √23 sin 30° = 1√
2
cos 45° = 22 sin 45° = √22
cos 60° = 1√
2
sin 60° = √23
cos 75° = 23−1
√
2
sin 75° = 23+1
√
2
cos 0° = 1 sin 0° = 0
cos 90° = 0 sin 90° = 1 √
cos 120° = − 12√ sin 120° = √23
cos 135° = − √22 sin 135° = 22
cos 150° = − 23 sin 150° = 12
cos 180° = 1 sin 0° = 0
530
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
sin(−a) = − sin(a)
sin(a) = sin(180 − a)
cos(a) = cos(−a)
cos(a) = − cos(180 − a)
tan(a) = − tan(180 − a)
tan(−a) = − tan(a)
531
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
2 tan(a)
tan(2a) =
1 − tan2 (a)
532
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
tan(a) + tan(b)
tan(a + b) =
1 − tan a tan b
tan(a) − tan(b)
tan(a − b) =
1 + tan a tan b
533
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
a+b
! !
a−b
sin(a) − sin(b) = 2 sin cos
2 2
a+b
! !
a−b
cos(a) + cos(b) = 2 cos cos
2 2
a+b
! !
a−b
cos(a) − cos(b) = −2 sin sin
2 2
534
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
1
cos(a) cos(b) = (cos(a − b) + cos(a + b))
2
1
sin(a) cos(b) = (sin(a + b) + sin(a − b))
2
535
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
Remark 43.11.4
Long trigonometric expressions can be evaluated by telescoping, using identities in clever
ways, complex number substitutions (see complex numbers section below).
Video Solution
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Suppose that the roots of the polynomial P (x) = x3 + ax2 + bx + c are cos 2π
7
, cos 4π
7
, and
cos 6π
7
, where angles are in radians. What is abc?
Video Solution
536
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
Answer: 32
1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
1 − 3 sin θ + 5 cos 3θ = 0?
Video Solution
Answer: 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
Additional Problems
Problem 43.12.4 (AMC 12)
The functions sin(x) and cos(x) are periodic with least period 2π. What is the least
period of the function cos(sin(x))?
Answer: π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙7
an + an+1
an+2 = .
1 − an an+1
What is |a2009 |?
Answer: 0
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
537
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙21
The number of x-intercepts on the graph of y = sin(1/x) in the interval (0.0001, 0.001) is
closest to
(A) 2900 (B) 3000 (C) 3100 (D) 3200 (E) 3300
Answer: 2900
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2003˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙23
Answer: 35
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙21
Answer: 31
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
538
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
How many solutions does the equation tan(2x) = cos( x2 ) have on the interval [0, 2π]?
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4 (E) 5
Answer: 5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Which of the following describes the largest subset of values of y within the closed
interval [0, π] for which
sin(x + y) ≤ sin(x) + sin(y)
for every x between 0 and π, inclusive?
Answer: 0 ≤ y ≤ π
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 040
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1998˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙5
Answer: 027
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1995˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙7
539
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 43. Algebraic Trigonometry
Answer: 067
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
For each integer n > 1, let F (n) be the number of solutions to the equation sin x = sin (nx)
on the interval [0, π]. What is 2007
n=2 F (n)?
P
Answer: 2016532
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙24
540
Chapter 44
Geometric Trigonometry
Note: This topic is mainly relevant for AMC 12, but knowing some concepts like Law of
Sines and Law of Cosines can help make some AMC 10 problems easier to solve.
1
Area of the triangle = · ab · sin(C)
2
541
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
a b c
= = = 2R
sin A sin B sin C
542
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Video Lectures
Solving area problems using trigonometry
Video Solution
Answer: 37 : 1
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙10B˙Problems/Problem˙19
Regular octagon ABCDEF GH has area n. Let m be the area of quadrilateral ACEG.
What is m
n
?
543
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Video Solution
√
Answer: 22
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
544
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Additional Problems
Problem 44.4.3 (AHSME)
√ √
In △ABC, side a = 3, side b = 3, and side c > 3. Let x be the largest num-
ber such that the magnitude, in degrees, of the angle opposite side c exceeds x. Then x
equals:
Answer: 120
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1963˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙34
Answer: 30
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1999˙AHSME˙Problems/Problem˙27
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AMC˙10A˙Problems/Problem˙22
of the hexagon?
545
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
A
B F
C E
√
Answer: 12 3
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙Fall˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙14
C H B
M
I N G
O
D A
J L
E K F
546
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Answer: 011
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2010˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
A circle centered at O has radius 1 and contains the point A. The segment AB is
tangent to the circle at A and ∠AOB = θ. If point C lies on OA and BC bisects ∠ABO,
then OC =?
θ
O A
C
Answer: 1+sin
1
θ
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AMC˙12˙Problems/Problem˙17
547
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Answer: 089
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2006˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙8
Alice and Bob live 10 miles apart. One day Alice looks due north from her house
and sees an airplane. At the same time Bob looks due west from his house and sees the
same airplane. The angle of elevation of the airplane is 30◦ from Alice’s position and 60◦
from Bob’s position. Which of the following is closest to the airplane’s altitude, in miles?
(A) 3.5 (B) 4 (C) 4.5 (D) 5 (E) 5.5
Answer: 5.5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2016˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙13
In triangle ABC, tan ∠CAB = 22/7, and the altitude from A divides BC into seg-
ments of length 3 and 17. What is the area of triangle ABC?
Answer: 110
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1988˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙7
548
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
Answer: 090
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
In △P QR, P R = 15, QR = 20, and P Q = 25. Points A and B lie on P Q, points C and D
lie on QR, and points E and F lie on P R, with P A = QB = QC = RD = RE = P F = 5.
Find the area of hexagon ABCDEF .
Answer: 120
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
549
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
T
U N G
1 1
36◦ 56◦
P M A
10
Answer: 80
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙23
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2019˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙19
Answer: 15
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2020˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙12
Let △ABC have side lengths AB = 30, BC = 32, and AC = 34. Point X lies in
550
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 44. Geometric Trigonometry
the interior of BC, and points I1 and I2 are the incenters of △ABX and △ACX,
respectively. Find the minimum possible area of △AI1 I2 as X varies along BC.
Answer: 126
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙13
551
Chapter 45
Complex Numbers
Remark 45.1.3
√
Powers of i cycle every 4 terms, so i4n = i4 = 1, i4n+1 = i = −1, i4n+2 = i2 =
−1, i4n+3 = i3 = −i
552
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Definition 45.1.7 (Real and Imaginary Parts). The imaginary part of a complex number
a + bi is b and the real part is a.
Remark 45.1.8
The imaginary part does not include a factor of i.
45.2 Conjugates
Definition 45.2.1. A complex conjugate is found by flipping the sign of the imaginary part
of complex number, and is represented as z̄.
z = a + bi = a − bi
(a + bi)(a − bi) = a2 + b2
553
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Definition 45.4.2. The magnitude of a complex number is represented by |z|, and is the
distance of a complex number (a, b) from the origin.
Definition 45.5.3. The distance between 0 and a complex number is sometimes called the
modulus of that complex number and is represented by r.
554
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Definition 45.5.5. Polar form is another way to represent a complex number based on its
modulus r and argument θ.
Remark 45.5.7
cis θ is just short for cos θ + i sin θ
Remark 45.5.8
Trigonometric ratios tell us that cos θ = ar and sin θ = rb , which we can rearrange to see
that r cos θ = a and r sin θ = b. Plugging in these values gives us the polar form formula.
Remark 45.5.9
cos θ + i sin θ can also be written as cis θ.
Remark 45.5.11
Euler’s Identity is a special case of Euler’s Formula and tells us that
eπi = −1
555
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Remark 45.5.13
We can use this to evaluate expressions like
(3 + 2i)8
much easier because we just convert to polar form and apply De Moivre’s Theorem.
Remark 45.5.14
DeMoivre’s Theorem is very useful when dealing with complex numbers and exponents.
Concept 45.5.16
Complex numbers and their relations to circles makes them easy to work with for many
geometry problems, especially when dealing with polygons such as equilateral triangles
or squares.
How to solve geometry problems using complex numbers:
3. Use the information you have to solve for what you are asked in the problem
Remark 45.5.17
We can also view algebraic complex number problems geometrically.
556
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
eiθ + ei(180−θ)
sin θ =
2i
eiθ + ei(−θ)
cos θ =
2
eiθ + ei(180−θ)
tan θ = i
eiθ + ei(−θ)
Remark 45.7.2
By using these substitutions, we can bash out the value of trigonometric expressions
easily without clever manipulation of trigonometric identities that would be needed to
solve the problem otherwise.
557
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Of the following complex numbers z, which one has the property that z 5 has the greatest
real part?
√ √ √ √
(A) − 2 (B) − 3 + i (C) − 2 + 2i (D) − 1 + 3i (E) 2i
Video Solution
√
Answer: − 3 + i
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
Video Solution
Answer: −z
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙20
Let Z be a complex number satisfying 12|z|2 = 2|z + 2|2 + |z 2 + 1|2 + 31. What is
the value if z + z6 ?
Video Solution
Answer: −2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙18
558
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Additional Problems
Problem 45.8.4 (AMC 12)
There are 24 different complex numbers z such that z 24 = 1. For how many of these is z 6
a real number?
Answer: 12
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙17
Problem 45.8.5
[AMC 12] What is the sum of the roots of z 12 = 64 that have a positive real part?
√ √
Answer: 2 2 + 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
The polynomial f (x) = x4 +ax3 +bx2 +cx+d has real coefficients, and f (2i) = f (2+i) = 0.
What is a + b + c + d?
Answer: 9
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙18
√
A function f is defined by f (z) = iz, where i = −1 and z is the complex conju-
gate of z. How many values of z satisfy both |z| = 5 and f (z) = z?
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2004˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
559
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Find c if a, b, and c are positive integers which satisfy c = (a + bi)3 − 107i, where
i2 = −1.
Answer: 198
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1985˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙3
Answer: 97
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙15
There is a complex number z with imaginary part 164 and a positive integer n such that
z
= 4i.
z+n
Find n.
Answer: 697
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2009˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙2
There are real numbers a, b, c, and d such that −20 is a root of x3 + ax +√b and −21 is a
root of x3 + cx2 + d. These two polynomials
√ share a complex root m + n · i, where m
and n are positive integers and i = −1. Find m + n.
Answer: 330
560
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2021˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙4
What is the sum of the roots of z 12 = 64 that have a positive real part?
√ √
Answer: 2 2 + 6
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2017˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙12
The complex numbers z and w satisfy z 13 = w, w11 = z, and the imaginary part
of z is sin mπ
n
, for relatively prime positive integers m and n with m < n. Find n.
Answer: 071
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2012˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
√
Answer: 2
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙19
The complex number z is equal to 9 + bi, where b is a positive real number and i2 = −1.
Given that the imaginary parts of z 2 and z 3 are the same, what is b equal to?
Answer: 015
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2007˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙3
561
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
z+i
Let F (z) = for all complex numbers z =
̸ i, and let zn = F (zn−1 ) for all posi-
z−i
1
tive integers n. Given that z0 = + i and z2002 = a + bi, where a and b are real
137
numbers, find a + b.
Answer: 275
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2002˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙12
Answer: 000
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2000˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
izn
zn+1 = ,
zn
where zn is the complex conjugate of zn and i2 = −1. Suppose that |z0 | = 1 and z2005 = 1.
How many possible values are there for z0 ?
Answer: 22005
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙22
For how many positive integers n less than or equal to 1000 is (sin t + i cos t)n =
sin nt + i cos nt true for all real t?
562
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Answer: 250
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2005˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙9
Answer: 2198
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2008˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙25
Let N be the number of complex numbers z with the properties that |z| = 1 and
z 6! − z 5! is a real number. Find the remainder when N is divided by 1000.
Answer: 440
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙6
Answer: 100
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2014˙AIME˙I˙Problems/Problem˙7
The solutions to the equation (z + 6)8 = 81 are connected in the complex plane to
563
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
form a convex regular polygon, three of whose vertices are labeled A, B, and C. What is
the least possible area of △ABC?
√
Answer: 32 2 − 32
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12B˙Problems/Problem˙16
The equation
x10 + (13x − 1)10 = 0 has 10 complex roots r1 , r1 , r2 , r2 , r3 , r3 , r4 , r4 , r5 , r5 , where the
bar denotes complex conjugation. Find the value of
Answer: 850
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1994˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙13
Let R be the region in the complex plane consisting of all complex numbers z that
can be written as the sum of complex numbers z1 and z2 , where z1 lies on the segment
with endpoints 3 and 4i, and z2 has magnitude at most 1. What integer is closest to the
area of R?
Answer: 13
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙13
Answer: 840
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2001˙AIME˙II˙Problems/Problem˙14
564
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 45. Complex Numbers
Let c be a real number, and let z1 and z2 be the two complex numbers satisfying
the equation z 2 − cz + 10 = 0. Points z1 , z2 , z11 , and z12 are the vertices of (convex)
quadrilateral Q in the complex plane. When the area of Q obtains its maximum possible
value, c is closest to which of the following?
Answer: 4.5
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
The points (0, 0) , (a, 11) , and (b, 37) are the vertices of an equilateral triangle. Find the
value of ab .
Answer: 315
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/1994˙AIME˙Problems/Problem˙8
√ √ √
The solutions to the equations z 2 = 4 + 4 15i and z 2 = 2 + 2 3i, where i = −1, form
the vertices of a parallelogram in
√ the complex plane. The area of this parallelogram can
√
be written in the form p q − r s, where p, q, r, and s are positive integers and neither
q nor s is divisible by the square of any prime number. What is p + q + r + s?
Answer: 20
https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2018˙AMC˙12A˙Problems/Problem˙22
565
Chapter 46
Video Lectures
Meta-solving Techniques
Definition 46.1.1. Meta-solving is finding the answer to a problem without actually solving
it.
Remark 46.1.2
These techniques may not work for all problems. These techniques are especially useful
when the problem provides answer choices.
2. Look for a pattern amongst those small cases (there may not always be one)
566
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 46. Additional Techniques and Strategies
3. Assume the pattern can continue for larger cases and find the answer
Remark 46.1.5
We can try to apply engineering induction when we see the values in the problem seem
hard/impossible to compute.
567
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 46. Additional Techniques and Strategies
Some unique properties you can look for in your answer choices and try to compute are
• Units Digit
• Last 2 digits
• Prime/composite
• Multiples/Factors of numbers
• etc.
Remark 46.1.7
These last 2 properties are especially useful in combinatorics problems as you can easily
find numbers you have to multiply with each other to get your answer.
Concept 46.1.8
Look for the option choices that are the ”odd one out” or that are different from all
others
• Try all the option choices into the conditions in the problem
• Look at the conditions in the problem and see which of the option choices could
work
568
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 46. Additional Techniques and Strategies
• etc.
After doing so, you will either have a better guess or exact answer.
Remark 46.1.11
We would recommend guessing ONLY if you can narrow it to 2 or 3 option choices.
Essentially, as long as the problem is not telling you ”this fact is not true” (so, whatever
assumption you want to make will satisfy the problem’s conditions) you can assume the
fact is true to simplify your problem and make it really easy to solve.
For example, if you are asked to find some universal ratio in a triangle and you aren’t
specifically told that the triangle isn’t equilateral, you can just assume the triangle is
equilateral and solve the remaining problem from there.
Remark 46.1.14
Make sure not to assume false information! Be very careful that your assumption can be
true.
In our previous example, if we were told the triangle had 2 sides of length 7 and
8, then our assumption would be false, so it wouldn’t work then.
569
OmegaLearn.org Chapter 46. Additional Techniques and Strategies
• Do your computation 2 ways (e.g. If you have to do 87 · 93, you can multiply them
with 87 on the top and with 93 on top)
• Check your work, following the tip above will make it easier to do so
• Try to substitute your answer back into the problem (if you can)
• Estimate what the answer has to be, and see if your answer is close to what your
estimate is
• inclusive, except
• even, odd
• prime, composite
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• After solving the problem, reread the question part of the problem to make sure
you are answering what the question asks for!
• Underline key words while reading (that’s probably gonna be hard this year with
the test being online, but as an alternative you can take note of the important
words on your scratch paper)
For example, in a problem you might think ”I’ll multiply by 5 to whatever answer
I get” and then you find that answer but forget to multiply by 5. A way to avoid this is:
• Write ”Remember ...” big and bold on your scratch or the question paper
Remark 46.2.5
A very common reading mistake is getting confused between the words non-negative and
positive. Remember, non-negative includes 0 while positive doesn’t!
• Undercount possibilities
• Overcount possibilities
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– An easy way to do this is just to try a few examples in your case to see if they
actually work
– Especially, make sure to check if extremes work
– Make sure all your cases are disjoint and that you are not overcounting
anything that’s common between the cases
– Make sure your cases cover all possibilities that the problem asks for
– Solve the problem in multiple ways (for example, by both casework and
complementary counting)
Remark 46.2.8
I know that some of these strategies may take a lot of extra time to follow so we
recommend analyzing how you are making silly mistakes and from there see which
strategies you will want to follow.
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• Questions 1-10 are generally easy, 11-20 are medium, 21-25 are hard
• Sometimes one of the early questions can be hard or bashy, or a later question can
be easy
• Star any question you are unsure about but you feel you can solve it, or any
questions that you solved but are not confident of your answer
• Leave some time to review starred problems and check your work
• You get 1.5 points for leaving a question blank, so if you don’t know how to solve
the problem, just leave it blank
• If you can narrow down the choices to 2-3 options, only then make an educated
guess
• Be relaxed
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– Meditate
– Eat dark chocolate
– Listen to music
– Or whatever else makes you feel relaxed
• When you are stuck, try to use the information in the problem you haven’t used
yet
• Don’t get too stuck with one approach to a problem, move on, and come back to
the problem with a fresh perspective
• In problems that seem complex, try small cases to look for a pattern that can allow
you to figure out how to approach the problem and what patterns may exist (this
is similar to engineering induction)
Remark 46.3.7
Another strategy for the AMC 10/12B is that if you are expecting a AIME qualifying
score on the AMC 10/12A, then you should try to solve more problems and take a
”higher risk higher reward” approach for the AMC 10/12B, however if you didn’t do
good on the A, you should take a safe path.
Remark 46.3.8
Last, but most important, don’t stress out too much about how you will do! It’s just a
math contest, and you’ll probably have many more opportunities in the future.
Good luck to you on your math competitions. We hope you found this book useful!
If you have any feedback, find any errors, or think of any interesting problems that should be
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added here, please fill out this Feedback Form or email us at info@omegalearn.org.
We appreciate your feedback and will update the book regularly by adding new topics
and problems. Please bookmark OmegaLearn.org to get the Latest Version of this book.
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