21st National Math Wizard

Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, INC

Council of Student Chapters
(June 15, 2023)

Here are the questions in the 21st National Math Wizard during the 21st National Student Convention bearing the theme
of "Moving forward collectively as we pave the way to the world of opportunities and digital innovations."

Feel free to directly message the author for any corrections or suggestions or email at kpicar11@gmail.com
Note: Some problems are rephrased for easier typing stuff.

Calculator is allowed is this competition.

Easy – 1 point
Difficult – 3 points

[Easy] 20 seconds
If log 𝑎 = 0.250, what is log 10 𝑎?
Answer: 𝟒
log 10
Solution: log 𝑎 = 0.250
log 10 1
=4
log 𝑎
log 𝑎
log 10
=4
log10 𝑎 = 𝟒

[Difficult] 90 seconds
The probability that both stages of a 2 stage missile will function correctly is 0.95. The probability that the first stage will
function correctly is 0.98. What is the probability that the second stage will function correctly given that the first does? Round
your answer to 2 decimal places.
Answer: 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕
Solution: 𝑃 (𝐴|𝐵)
𝑃(𝐴|𝐵)
= 𝑃 (𝐵)

0.95
𝑃(2𝑛𝑑 missile) = 0.98
= 𝟎. 𝟗𝟕

[Easy] 30 seconds
𝑥 2 −1
Find the lim 𝑥 2+3𝑥−4
𝑥→1
𝟐
Answer: 𝟓
𝑥 2 −1
Solution 1: lim 𝑥 2+3𝑥−4
𝑥→1
(𝑥+1)(𝑥−1)
lim (𝑥+4)(𝑥−1)
𝑥→1
(𝑥+1)
lim (𝑥+4)
𝑥→1
(1+1)
=
(1+4)
𝟐
=𝟓
21st National Math Wizard, 21st NSCON, IIEE-CSC KIRSTEL PICAR

Solution 2: Using L’Hospital Rule to evaluate indeterminate limit

𝑥 2 −1 2𝑥
lim 𝑥 2+3𝑥−4 = lim 2𝑥+3
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
2(1)
=
2(1)+3
𝟐
=
𝟓

[Easy] 30 seconds
Find the point in the parabola 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥 at which rate of change of ordinate and abscissa are equal.
Answer: (𝟏, 𝟐)
Solution: 𝑦 2 = 4𝑥

Implicit differentiation
2𝑦𝑑𝑦 = 4𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 4
= 2𝑦
𝑑𝑥
2
=𝑦

Rate of change of ordinate and abscissa are equal

𝑑𝑦
=1
𝑑𝑥
2
=1
𝑦
𝒚=𝟐

Original equation
𝑦 2 = 4𝑥
22 = 4𝑥
𝒙=𝟏

[Difficult] 120 seconds

Lighthouses are towers with a light beacon on top. They assist sea ships in finding their way at night when they are sailing close
to the shore. A lighthouse beacon sends out light flashes with a regular fixed pattern. Every lighthouse has its own pattern. In
the diagram below, you see the pattern of a certain lighthouse. The light flashes alternately with dark periods. After some time,
the pattern repeats itself. The time taken by one complete cycle of a pattern before it starts to repeat, is called period. For how
many seconds does the lighthouse send out flashes in a day?

Answer: 𝟓 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬
Solution: As you can see in the figure above, the total number of lights in lighthouse is 5 seconds.
21st National Math Wizard, 21st NSCON, IIEE-CSC KIRSTEL PICAR

[Difficult] 45 seconds
The frustum of regular triangular pyramid has equilateral triangles for its bases. The lower and upper base edges are 9𝑚 and
3𝑚, respectively. If the volume is 118.2𝑚3, how far apart are the base?

Answer: 𝟕𝐦
√3
Solution: 𝐴𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑟 ∆ = 4
× 32 = 3.9
√3
𝐴𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 ∆ = × 92 = 35.07
4

ℎ
𝑉 = (𝐴𝑢 + 𝐴𝑙 + √𝐴𝑢 𝐴𝑙 )
3
ℎ
118.2 = 3 (3.9 + 35.07 + √3.9 × 35.07)
𝒉=𝟕

[Easy] 30 seconds
A fraction has a number on top and a number down below. These numbers have special names. The top number is called the
numerator. The number down below is called the denominator. The horizontal line or bar between the numerator and
denominator is called ________.
Answer: Vinculum

[Difficult] 90 seconds
Triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑅 is a right triangle with right angle at 𝑅. The line 𝑅𝑄 is less than the line 𝑃𝑅. 𝑀 is the midpoint of the line 𝑃𝑄 and
𝑁 is the midpoint of the line 𝑄𝑅. 𝑆 is a point inside the triangle? The line 𝑀𝑁 is greater than the line 𝑀𝑆. What is the figure
that best fits the description?
Answer:

[Easy] 45 seconds
1
If 10𝑘 = 2 , what is the value of 10𝑘+3 ?
Answer: 𝟓𝟎𝟎
This problem can be solved using calculator by shift solve (fastest way) .
𝑘 1
Solution: 10 = 2
1
log10 = 𝑘
2

1
(log10 )+3
10𝑘+3 = 10 2

= 𝟓𝟎𝟎
21st National Math Wizard, 21st NSCON, IIEE-CSC KIRSTEL PICAR

[Difficult] 90 seconds
At approximately what time before the hours of 12: 00 noon and 1: 00 pm would the angle between the hour and the minute
hand of a continuously driven clock be exactly 1800 ? Round your answer to the nearest minute.
Answer: 𝟏𝟐: 𝟑𝟑𝐩𝐦
Solution: Angle between the hour and the minute hand
𝜃 = 30h − 5.5m

180 = 30(12) − 5.5m

180 = 360 − 5.5m
5.5 = m

Minute hand

180
𝑚=
m
180
= 5.5
= 32.72 or 32 minutes and 43.64 seconds

Therefore, at 𝟏𝟐: 𝟑𝟑𝐩𝐦, the two hands will be in opposition to one another.

[Difficult] 90 seconds
A regular octagon is inscribed in a circle. How many of the octagon’s diagonals do not pass through the center of the circle?
Answer: 𝟏𝟔
Solution: 8 diagonals 8 diagonals

[Easy] 60 seconds
In mathematics, two quantities are said to be in the golden ratio if their ratio is the same as the ratio of their sum to the larger
of the two quantities. This has been used by many architects in their structural plans for some famous buildings, including the
Parthenon. What is the closest value of this ratio?
a. 1.10011010001101110111
b. 1.618073988749894
c. 1.9𝐸3779𝐵97𝐹4𝐴7𝐶15
1+√5
d. 𝜃=
3
e. All of the choices

Answer: 𝒄. 𝟏. 𝟗𝟓𝟑𝟕𝟕𝟗𝑩𝟗𝟕𝑭𝟒𝑨𝟕𝑪𝟏𝟓
1+√5
Solution: Golden Ratio =
2
21st National Math Wizard, 21st NSCON, IIEE-CSC KIRSTEL PICAR

Binary form = 1.10011110001101111

Decimal form = 1.6180339887498948
Hexadecimal form = 1.9𝐸3779𝐵97𝐹4𝐴7𝐶15

[Difficult] 90 seconds
Find all five-digit numbers whose digits are reversed when multiplied by 4.
Answer: 𝟐𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟖
Solution:

[Easy] 20 seconds
The graph of 𝑟 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 is called?
Answer: Limacon

21st National Math Wizard, 21st NSCON, IIEE-CSC KIRSTEL PICAR