New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

PART 1 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes
F23SB01 Let a and b be digits of the 8-digit number 27,34a,b62. If this number is divisible by 99, find a and b.
25
F23SB02 Let ⌊x⌋ be defined as the greatest integer less than or equal to x. If 2x + ⌊x⌋ = 2
, solve for x.

PART 2 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB03 Let ABCD be a parallelogram. Let point E lie on DC and let AE intersect BD at F .

If the area of △AF B is 6 and the area of △DF E is 2, compute the area of parallelogram ABCD.

F23SB04 How many integers x, where 100 ≤ x ≤ 999 are there such that the sum of the digits of x is 7?

PART 3 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB05 Compute the value of:
(25)3 − 3(25)2 + 3(25) − 1
(7)3 + 3(7)2 + 3(7) + 1

F23SB06 Find the three values of c such that cy + x = 2 and y = x2 + x + 1 has only one point of intersection.

1
 New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

PART 1 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes
F23SB07 Let h and m be positive integers. If hm has 11 positive integer divisors and mh has 16 positive integer
divisors, find the value of h.

F23SB08 Let AB be a diameter of a circle centered at O. Let C lie on AO and let D lie on the circle such that
AO ⊥ CD, and AC = 1 and DC = 4. Find the radius of the circle.

PART 2 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB09 Let a, b, c, d and e be distinct (different) positive integers less than 100 with a < b < c < d < e. If the
arithmetic mean of these numbers is 8 more than the median, find the maximum possible value of c.

F23SB10 Let r and t be the roots of x2 + 3x + 25. Compute the value of r3 + t3 .

PART 3 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB11 If 13|x| + 7x = 23, find all real values of x.

F23SB12 Kenny the Kangaroo is standing at the bottom of a large staircase on step #0. Each step of the staircase
is numbered with consecutive integers 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .. At any instant, Kenny can hop either 1 or 2 steps up
the staircase. He never goes backwards. How many different paths could Kenny take to get to step #10?

For instance, hops of 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1 or the step sequence 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 is one such path.

2
 New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

PART 1 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes
F23SB13 Two lines intersect at the point (20, 23). If the distance between the y -intercepts is 420, and if the lines
have slopes m and n, compute |m − n|.

F23SB14 An isosceles triangle with integer side lengths has a perimeter of 8. Find its area.

PART 2 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB15 Find the smallest positive integer x such that x has 8 positive integer divisors while x2 has 21 positive
integer divisors.

F23SB16 ABCDEF is an equiangular (all equal angles) hexagon with AB = 7, BC = 3, EF = 2, and F A = 6.

Find the length of ED .

PART 3 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB17 Clio is starting at point H on the following 4 × 4 grid. At any moment Clio can move either 1 unit up or
1 unit to the right. She never moves in any other way. How many different paths could Clio take to travel
from H to J ?

F23SB18 In △ABC , let D lie on AC such that BD ⊥ AC , and let E lie on BC such that AE ⊥ BC . If AE
intersects BD at H , and if HE = 1, HD = 2, and DC = 3, find the length of BE .

3
 New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

PART 1 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes
F23SB19 Let x be an integer such that 200 ≤ x < 300. When x is divided by 7, the remainder is 4. When x is
divided by 11, the remainder is 3. Find x.

F23SB20 A bag contains red, purple and yellow marbles. Two marbles are selected with replacement (i.e. the first
marble selected is put back in the bag before the second pick is made.) If the probability of selecting 2
red marbles is 1/4, and if the probability of selecting 2 purple marbles is 1/9, compute the probability of
selecting 2 yellow marbles.

PART 2 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB21 Let ⌊x⌋ be the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Find the largest integer x such that
√
q 
⌊ x⌋ = 3.

F23SB22 Compute the value of

2
1+ 2
1+ 2
1+ 1+···

PART 3 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB23 If log7 6, log7 y and log7 24 form an arithmetic progression in that order, compute the value of y .

F23SB24 If r is a root of x4 − x3 + x2 − x + 1 = 0, compute the value of

x2025 − x2024 + x2023 − x2022 + x2021 − x2020 + 2019.

4
 New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

PART 1 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes
F23SB25 Let point P lie inside square ABCD such that the area of △AP D = 6, the area of △AP B = 8, and
the area of △DP C = 10. Find the area of △BP C .

F23SB26 Solve for x:

x2 + 6 |x| − 16 = 0

PART 2 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB27 Compute the value of:
(2023)3 + 3(2023)2 + 3(2023)1 + 1
(2023)2 + 2(2023)1 + 1

F23SB28 Find all four positive integers x such that:

|||x − 4| − 6| − 8| = 5

PART 3 Fall 2023 Time: 10 Minutes

F23SB29 If x2 and 13x both represent angles in degrees, find the smallest positive real number x such that:

sin x2 = cos (13x)

F23SB30 If f (x) = x2 − 4x − 2, what is the sum of the roots of f (f (f (x)))

5
 New York City Interscholastic Mathematics League

Senior B Division Fall 2023

Contest 1 Solutions
F23SB01 Let a and b be digits of the 8-digit number 27,34a,b62. If this number is divisible by 99, find a and b.
Answer: a = 7, b = 5 Solve Rate: 14%
Solution: The number must satisfy divisibility by 9 and by 11. Thus, 9|(2 + 7 + 3 + 4 + a + b + 6 + 2)
or 9|(24 + a + b). We know 0 ≤ a + b ≤ 18, so a + b = 3 or a + b = 12. This gives us the following
a 0 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
possible pairs:
b 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 For divisibility by 11, 11|(2 − 7 + 3 − 4 + a −
b + 6 − 2) or 11|(a − b − 2). Since −9 ≤ a − b ≤ 9, a − b = −9 or a − b = 2. This gives the pairs:
a 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
b 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Only a = 7 and b = 5 satisfy both rules.
25
F23SB02 Let ⌊x⌋ be defined as the greatest integer less than or equal to x. If 2x + ⌊x⌋ = 2
, solve for x.
17
Answer: 4
Solve Rate: 29%
Solution: x must be positive to solve the equation. Also, as x increases, 2x + ⌊x⌋ increases. By inspection,
if we test x = 4, 2(4) + ⌊4⌋ = 12 < 25 2
, while x = 5 yields 2(5) + ⌊5⌋ = 15 > 252
. Thus 4 < x < 5 and
25 17 17
for all these values ⌊x⌋ = 4. So, 2x + 4 = 2 , and 2x = 2 . Therefore, x = 4 .
Alternatively, let x = n+α where n = ⌊x⌋ and 0 ≤ α < 1. So 2x+⌊x⌋ becomes 2(n+α)+n = 3n+2α.
Because 0 ≤ 2α < 2, and 3n is a multiple of 3, 3n will be the closest multiple of 3 less than or equal to
25
2
. Thus 3n = 12 < 25 2
and 2α = 252
− 12. So n = 4 and 2α = 12 , making alpha = 14 . Therefore
1 17
x=4+ 4
= 4

F23SB03 Let ABCD be a parallelogram. Let point E lie on DC and let AE intersect BD at F .

△AF B is 6 and the area of △DF E is 2, compute the area of parallelogram ABCD.
If the area of
√
Answer: 12 + 4 3 Solve Rate: 9%
Solution: We can deduce that√ △AF B ∼ △EF D. We also know that because [AF B] : [EF D] = 6 : 2
or 3 : 1, the dimensions
√ are in a √ If we let DE = x and let △EF D have height h √
3 : 1 ratio. to base DE ,
we get that AB = 3(DE) or AB = x 3, and the height to base AB of △AF B will be h 3.

6
 1
2
xh = 2, so xh = 4.
[ABCD] = (AB)(height)
√ √
[ABCD] = (x 3)(h + h 3)
√ √
[ABCD] = 3(xh)(1 + 3)
√ √ √
[ABCD] = 3(4)(1 + 3) = 4(3 + 3
√
[ABCD] = 12 + 4 3
F23SB04 How many integers x, where 100 ≤ x ≤ 999 are there such that the sum of the digits of x is 7?
Answer: 28 Solve Rate: 54%
Solution: One method is to list out all possible sums:
7+0+0 6+1+0 5+2+0
5+1+1 4+3+0 4+2+1
3+3+1 3+2+2
We need to be careful not to count any numbers with leading 0’s so 700, 610, 601, 520, 502, 430, 403, 160,
106, 250, 205, 340, 304 are the numbers with 0’s. 511, 151, 115, 331, 313, 133, 322, 232, 223 are the
numbers with two digits the same. 421, 412, 241, 214, 142, 124 are the six ways with 3 different digits. This
gives us 28 numbers total.
Alternatively, if we let x be the 3-digit number abc, we know a ≥ 1. Letting a = â + 1, we have â, b, c are
integers ≥ 0 and so we need only to solve â + b + c = 6. We can use the counting technique of rearranging
six 1’s and two D ’s: 111111DD where the 1’s in each group correspond to the values of â, b, and c. So,
11D1D111 would have â = 2, b = 1, and c = 3. Thus a = 2 + 1
= 3 and so this arrangement would
8 8!
correspond to the number 313. The total number of arrangements is 2 = 6!2! = 28.
F23SB05 Compute the value of:
(25)3 − 3(25)2 + 3(25) − 1
(7)3 + 3(7)2 + 3(7) + 1

Answer: 27 Solve Rate: 49%

Solution: If we use the fact that (x − 1) = x − 3x + 3x − 1 and (x + 1) = x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 1,
3 3 2 3

the numerator is the expansion of (25 − 1)3 or (24)3 . The denominator is (7 + 1)3 or (8)3 . Thus we get
243
83
= 33 = 27
F23SB06 Find the three values of c such that cy + x = 2 and y = x2 + x + 1 has only one point of intersection.
√
Answer: 0, 5±23 7
Solve Rate: 6%
Solution: Essentially we have a parabola and a line that is tangent to the parabola (2 cases) or a vertical
line that is parallel to the parabola’s axis of symmetry. Substituting the parabola’s equation into the linear

7
 equation, we get c(x2 + x + 1) + x = 2 or cx2 + (c + 1)x + (c − 2) = 0. This is a quadratic in x, and we
want a double root, so we need a discriminant of 0.
p
−(c + 1) ± (c + 1)2 − 4(c)(c − 2)
x=
2(c)
Thus (c + 1)2 − 4(c)(c − 2) = 0.
c2 + 2c + 1 − 4c2 + 8c = 0
3c2 − 10c − 1 = 0
√ √ √
−10± 100−4(−3)(1) 10± 112 5± 28
c= −6
= 6
= 3
√
c = 5±23 7
If c = 0, we get the vertical line x = 2

Contest 2 Solutions
F23SB07 Let h and m be positive integers. If hm has 11 positive integer divisors and mh has 16 positive integer divisors,
find the value of h.
Answer: 3 Solve Rate: 23%
Solution: Let p be prime. If hm has 11 factors, only p10 satisfies this. Thus, ph is prime, and m = 10.
Now, mh = 10h = 2h · 5h . This has (h + 1)(h + 1) factors. So, (h + 1)2 = 16, and h = 3.

F23SB08 Let AB be a diameter of a circle centered at O. Let C lie on AO and let D lie on the circle such that
AO ⊥ CD, and AC = 1 and DC = 4. Find the radius of the circle.

17
Answer: 2
Solve Rate: 29%
Solution: Let CO = x. Thus, the radius AO = DO = x + 1. Using the Pythagorean theorem on triangle
OCD, x2 + 42 = (x + 1)2 , or x2 + 16 = x2 + 2x + 1. Therefore x = 15
2
, and the radius is 15
2
+ 1 = 17
2
.
F23SB09 Let a, b, c, d and e be distinct (different) positive integers less than 100 with a < b < c < d < e. If the
arithmetic mean of these numbers is 8 more than the median, find the maximum possible value of c.
Answer: 77 Solve Rate: 3%
Solution: The median of the set is c. So we have a+b+c+d+e
5
= c + 8, or a + b + c + d + e = 5c + 40,
or a + b + d + e = 4c + 40. If we wish to maximize c, then we must maximize a, b, d and e.
So, a = c − 2, b = c − 1, d = 98, and e = 99. Thus, c − 2 + c − 1 + 98 + 99 = 4c + 40, so
2c + 194 = 4c + 40, and therefore c = 77.

8
F23SB10 Let r and t be the roots of x2 + 3x + 25. Compute the value of r3 + t3 .
Answer: 198 Solve Rate: 14%
Solution: We know r + t = −3 and rt = 25 from Viéte formula. We can generate r2 + t2 by
(r + t)2 = (−3)2
r2 + 2rt + t2 = 9
r2 + t2 + 2(25) = 9
∴ r2 + t2 = −41.

To generate r 3 + t3 , we can expand

(r2 + t2 )(r + t) = (−41)(−3)
r3 + r2 t + rt2 + t3 = 123
r3 + t3 + rt(r + t) = 123
r3 + t3 = 123 + 75 = 198.
Alternatively, we can expand

(r + t)3 = r3 + 3r2 t + 3rt2 + t3 = (−3)3

r3 + 3rt(r + t) + t3 = −27
r3 + t3 + 3(25)(−3) = −27
∴ r3 + t3 = 225 − 27 = 198.

Finally, if r and t are roots of x2 + 3x + 25, they are alos roots of x(x2 + 3x + 25) or x3 + 3x2 + 25x. Thus,
r3 + 3r2 + 25r = 0 and t3 + 3t2 + 25t = 0. Adding these yields r3 + t3 + 3(r2 + t2 ) + 25(r + t) = 0,
or r 3 + t3 = −3(r 2 + t2 ) − 25(r + t) = −3(−41) − 25(−3) = 123 + 75 = 198.
F23SB11 If 13|x| + 7x = 23, find all real values of x.
Answer: − 23 , 23
6 20
Solve Rate: 54%
Solution: There are two cases. First, if x ≥ 0, then |x| = x, and so
13|x| + 7x = 23
13x + 7x = 23
20x = 23
23
x= .
20
Second, if x < 0, then |x| = −x, and so
13|x| + 7x = 23
−13x + 7x = 23
−6x = 23
23
x=− .
6
Therefore, x = − 23 , 23 .
6 20

F23SB12 Kenny the Kangaroo is standing at the bottom of a large staircase on step #0. Each step of the staircase is
numbered with consecutive integers 1, 2, 3, 4, . . .. At any instant, Kenny can hop either 1 or 2 steps up the
staircase. He never goes backwards. How many different paths could Kenny take to get to step #10?

9
 For instance, hops of 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1 or the step sequence 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 is one such path.
Answer: 89 Solve Rate: 6%
Solution: At any step past step #1, Kenny has 2 ways to immediately arrive there, using a hop of 11 or
using a hope of 2. This, if K(n) is the number of ways to get to spte n, then K(n) = K(n − 1) + K(n − 2).
We can make a chart to get the number of paths.

Step # # Paths
0 1
1 1
2 1+1=2
3 2+1=3
4 3+2=5
5 5+3=8
6 8+5=13
7 13+8=21
8 21+13=34
9 34+21=55
10 55+34

Note that these are the Fibonacci numbers.

Alternatively, you can consider each way to add “1”s and “2”s to get 10.
2,2,2,2,2 1 way
6!
1,1,2,2,2,2 2!4!
= 15 ways
7!
1,1,1,1,2,2,2 4!3!
= 35 ways
8!
1,1,1,1,1,1,2,2 6!2!
= 28 ways
9!
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2 8!1!
= 9 ways
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 1 way

1 + 15 + 35 + 28 + 9 + 1 = 89 total ways.
This problem is in honor of Jan Siwanowicz who showed me this in 2003.

Contest 3 Solutions
F23SB13 Two lines intersect at the point (20, 23). If the distance between the y -intercepts is 420, and if the lines have
slopes m and n, compute |m − n|.
Answer: 21 Solve Rate: 40%
Solution: Let the slopes be m and n. The lines are thus y − 23 = m(x − 20) and y − 23 = n(x − 20).
Letting x = 0 for both gives us the y -intercepts of each line: y1 − 23 = m(−20) and y2 − 23 = n(−20).
Substituting yields y1 − y2 = (m − n)(−20). So 420 = (m − n)(−2), which implies −21 = m − n.
Therefore, the positive difference is 21.
F23SB14 An isosceles triangle with integer side lengths has a perimeter of 8. Find its area.
√
Answer: 2 2 Solve Rate: 47%
Solution: Of 1 + 1 + 6, 2 + 2 + 4, and 3 + 3 + 2, only the lengths 3, 3, 2 satisfy the triangle inequality.

10
 Dropping the altitude h from the vertex allows us to use the Pythagorean theorem to find h:
12 + h2 = 32
h2 = 8
√
h=2 2
1 √ √
∴ A△ = (2 2)(2) = 2 2.
2

Alternatively, we could use Heron’s law with semiperimeter 82 = 4.

p p √ √
A△ = s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c) = (4)(4 − 3)(4 − 3)(4 − 2) = 8 = 2 2.

F23SB15 Find the smallest positive integer x such that x has 8 positive integer divisors while x2 has 21 positive integer
divisors.
Answer: 576 Solve Rate: 43%
Solution: Let p, q, and r be distinct primes. If x has 8 divisors, then x can have the form p7 , p3 q 1 , or
p1 q 1 r1 . Thus x2 would have the form p14 , p6 q 2 , or p2 q 2 r2 . p14 has 15 factors, p2 q 2 r2 has 27 factors, and
p6 q 2 has (6 + 1)(2 + 1) = 21 factors. To minimize p6 q 2 , let p = 2 and q = 3, so 26 · 32 = (64)(9) = 576.
F23SB16 ABCDEF is an equiangular (all equal angles) hexagon with AB = 7, BC = 3, EF = 2, and F A = 6.
Find the length of ED .

Answer: 8 Solve Rate: 30%

Solution: Because all of the angles are equal, each must equal 120◦ . Let CD = y and ED = x.

11
 √ P QRS ,√we get 30-60-90 triangle at each corner,
If we create rectangle √ and we can
√ use the ratios to get
P A = 3, P F = 3 3, F S = 3, SE = 1, BQ = 3/2, QC = 3 3/2, CR = y 3/2, and DR = y/2.
√ √ √
3 3
√
y 3
Since P S = QR, we have 3 3 + 3 = 2 + 2 , thus y = 5.
Also, P Q = SR, so 3 + 7 + 3/2 = 1 + x + 5/2, 23/2 = 7/2 + x, and therefore x = 8.
Alternatively, we can extend AF , BC , and ED to form a large equilateral triangle.

The three triangles formed in the corners will also be equilateral triangles, and so the sides of the large triangle
will be 2 + 6 + 7 = 15. Thus, 7 + 3 + y = 15, and thus y = 5, and 2 + x + y = 15, and so x = 8.

F23SB17 Clio is starting at point H on the following 4 × 4 grid. At any moment Clio can move either 1 unit up or 1
unit to the right. She never moves in any other way. How many different paths could Clio take to travel from
H to J ?

12
 Answer: 70 Solve Rate: 13%
Solution: Clio needs to make 4 up moves and 4 right moves. However, it does not matter the order that she
makes these moves. Thus, if U represents up and R represents right, then we must count the number of ways
8!
to arrange U U U U RRRR. This is 4!4! = 70.
F23SB18 In △ABC , let D lie on AC such that BD ⊥ AC , and let E lie on BC such that AE ⊥ BC . If AE
intersects BD at H , and if HE = 1, HD = 2, and DC = 3, find the length of BE .

√
3+ 3
Answer: 4
Solve Rate: 7%
Solution: Let AD = x, AH = y, BE = a, and BH = b. If we draw HC , we can use the Pythagorean
theorem to find EC : (EC)2 + (HE)2 = (HC)
√
2
and (DC)2 + (HD)2 = (HC)2 . Thus, (EC)2 + 12 =
22 + 32 , so (EC)2 = 12, and thus EC = 2 3.
Moreover, △ADH ∼ △AEC ∼ △BEH ∼ △BDC . Using △ADH ∼ △BEH , we set 1 : a : b =
2 : x : y . Thus, x = 2a, y = 2b.

√
Using △BEH ∼ △BDC , we get 1 : a : b = 3 : b + 2 : a + 2 3, thus 3a = b + 2.
√
Using △ADH ∼ △AEC we get 2 : x : y = 2 3 : y + 1 : x + 3. Thus,
√
2 3x = 2(y + 1)
√
3(2a) = 2b + 1
√
2 3a = 2b + 1.
√
Solving the system 3a = b + 2 and 2 3a = 2b + 1 for a yields
√
2 3a = 2(3a − 2) + 1
√
2 3a = 6a − 4 + 1
√
3 = 6a − 2 3a.
So √ √ √
3 3(6 + 2 3) 3(6 + 2 3) 3+ 3
a= √ = = = .
6−2 3 36 − 12 24 4

13
 Contest 4 Solutions
F23SB19 Let x be an integer such that 200 ≤ x < 300. When x is divided by 7, the remainder is 4. When x is divided
by 11, the remainder is 3. Find x.
Answer: 256 Solve Rate: 63%
Solution: One way to attack the problem is to list out numbers that satisfy each condition and find the overlap.
For the first rule, 916 is a multiple of 7, so we want multiples of 7 plus 4. These are 200, 207, 214, 221, 228, 235, 242, 2
For the second rule, 198 is a multiple of 11, so our numbers are 201, 212, 223, 234, 245, 256. Thus 256 is
our answer.
Note: the Chinese remainder Theorem states that there will be a unique number (mod 77),. Thus we could
have started with

4, 11, 18, 25, 32, 39, 46, 53, . . .

3, 14, 25, 36, 47, 58, . . .
and so x ≡ 25 (mod 77).
Using modular arithmetic, we need to solve

x ≡ 4 (mod 7)
x ≡ 3 (mod 11)
The first rule states that x = 7k + 4 for some integer k . By substitution,
7k + 4 ≡ 3 (mod 11)
7k ≡ −1 (mod 11)
7k ≡ 21 (mod 11)
∴ k ≡ 3 (mod 11)
or k = 11j + 3 for an integer j .
x = 7(11j + 3) + 4 = 77j + 21 + 4 = 77j + 25
∴ x ≡ 25 (mod 77)
x = 25, 102, 179, 256, . . .
∴ x = 256.

F23SB20 A bag contains red, purple and yellow marbles. Two marbles are selected with replacement (i.e. the first marble
selected is put back in the bag before the second pick is made.) If the probability of selecting 2 red marbles is
1/4, and if the probability of selecting 2 purple marbles is 1/9, compute the probability of selecting 2 yellow
marbles.
1
Answer: 36
Solve Rate: 43%
Solution: Let r be the number of red marbles, p the number of purple marbles, y the number of yellow
marbles, and T the total number of marbles. Then the probability of selecting two reds is P (r) · P (r) =
2 2
r
T
· Tr = Tr 2 , so Tr = 21 . The probability of selecting two purples is Tp · Tp = Tp 2 = 19 , so Tp = 13 .
y
Since T + Tr + Tp = 1, we have y
T
= 1− 1
3
− 1
2
= 16 . Therefore, the probability of selecting two yellows is
y y
T
· T
= 16 · 16 = 36
1
.

F23SB21 Let ⌊x⌋ be the greatest integer less than or equal to x. Find the largest integer x such that
√
q 
⌊ x⌋ = 3.

14
 Answer: 255 Solve Rate: 23%
p √ p √
Solution: Let Q = ⌊ x⌋. If ⌊Q⌋ = 3, then 3 ≤ Q < 4. If 3 ≤ √ ⌊x⌋ < 4, then 9 ≤ ⌊ x⌋ < 16.
Using a similar technique, if the goal is to maximize x, then 15 ≤ x < 16. Thus 225 ≤ x < 256.
Therefore the maximum value of x is 255.
F23SB22 Compute the value of
2
1+ 2
1+ 2
1+ 1+···

Answer: 2 Solve Rate: 50%

Solution: Let x equal the expression. Thus we get x = 1 + x2 . Solving this, we get

x2 = x + 2
x2 − x − 2 = 0
(x − 2)(x + 1) = 0
x = 2, −1.
Since x > 0, we have that x = 2.
F23SB23 If log7 6, log7 y and log7 24 form an arithmetic progression in that order, compute the value of y .
Answer: 12 Solve Rate: 57%
a+c
Solution: If a, b, c form an arithmetic progression, then b = 2
. Thus,

log7 6 + log7 24 1
log7 y = = (log7 (6 · 24)) = log7 (144)1/2 = log7 12.
2 2
Therefore, y = 12.
F23SB24 If r is a root of x4 − x3 + x2 − x + 1 = 0, compute the value of
x2025 − x2024 + x2023 − x2022 + x2021 − x2020 + 2019.

Answer: 2018 Solve Rate: 20%

4 3 2
Solution: We know r − r + r − r + 1 = 0 as r is a root. We also know r ̸= −1. Thus we can say that
r + 1 ̸= 0, but (r + 1)(r4 − r3 + r2 − r + 1) = 0. Expanding and simplifying yields r5 + 1 = 0. In other
words, r is a complex root of x5 + 1 = 0. Thus, r 5 = −1.
Then

(r5 )404 = r2020 = (−1)404 = 1

r2020 (r4 − r3 + r2 − r + 1) = r2024 − r2023 + r2022 − r2021 + r2020 = (1)(0) = 0.
Thus,

r2025 − r2024 + r2023 − r2022 + r2021 − r2020 + 2019 = r2025 − 0 + 2019 = −1 + 2019 = 2018.

Contest 5 Solutions
F23SB25 Let point P lie inside square ABCD such that the area of △AP D = 6, the area of △AP B = 8, and the
area of △DP C = 10. Find the area of △BP C .

15
 Answer: 12 Solve Rate: 64%
Solution: Let the side of the square equal x. Let h be the altitude of △AP B to AB and let q be the
altitude of △DP C to DC .

Thenh + q = x, and 12 hx + 12 qx = 12 (h + q)x = 12 x2 . Thus, A△AP B + A△DP C = 12 AABCD . Similarly,

A△AP D + A△BP C = 12 AABCD , so 6 + A△BP C = 8 + 10
∴ A△BP C = 12
F23SB26 Solve for x:
x2 + 6 |x| − 16 = 0
Answer: 2, −2 Solve Rate: 52%
Solution: There are two cases to consider.
Case 1: x ≥ 0
Here, |x| = x, and so
x2 + 6x − 16 = 0
(x + 8)(x − 2) = 0
x = −8, 2
We reject −8 as x ≥ 0
Case 2: x < 0
Here, |x| = −x, and so
x2 − 6x − 16 = 0
(x − 8)(x + 2) = 0
x = 8, −2
We reject 8 as x ≥ 0
∴ x = −2, 2
Note: f (x) = x2 + 6 |x| − 16 is an even function, so its roots are symmetric about the y -axis.
F23SB27 Compute the value of:
(2023)3 + 3(2023)2 + 3(2023)1 + 1
(2023)2 + 2(2023)1 + 1
Answer: 2024 Solve Rate: 52%
Solution: Let x = 2023 and the expression becomes:
x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 1 (x + 1)3
= = x + 1 = 2023 + 1 = 2024
x2 + 2x + 1 (x + 1)2

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F23SB28 Find all four positive integers x such that:

|||x − 4| − 6| − 8| = 5

Answer: 1, 7, 13, 23 Solve Rate: 56%

Solution: Let H = ||x − 4| − 6|
Thus, |H − 8| = 5, so H − 8 = 5 or −5.
H = 13 or 3 Next, let J = |x − 4|, so |J − 6| = 13 or 3, or J − 6 = −13, 13, −3, or 3, which leads to
J = −7, 19, 3 or 9. We reject J = −7 because J ≥ 0. Finally if |x − 4| = 3, 9, or19,
x − 4 = −3, 3, −9, 9, −19, 19
x = 1, 7, −5, 13, −15, 23
Because x > 0, x = 1, 7, 13, 23
F23SB29 If x2 and 13x both represent angles in degrees, find the smallest positive real number x such that:

sin x2 = cos (13x)

Answer: 5 Solve Rate: 36%

◦ 2 ◦
Solution: We use the fact that cos θ = sin (90 − θ) to get sin (x ) = sin (90 − 13x)
Let x2 = 90 − 13x
x2 + 13x − 90 = 0
(x + 18)(x − 5) = 0
x = −18 or x = 5
We reject x = −18. Moreover no positive value less than 5 will work. Thus x = 5
F23SB30 If f (x) = x2 − 4x − 2, what is the sum of the roots of f (f (f (x)))
Answer: 16 Solve Rate: 4%
Solution: If we put f (x) in vertex form, we get f (x) = (x − 2)2 − 6. f (f (x)) is thus:

2
(x − 2)2 − 6 − 2 − 6
 

= (x − 2)4 − 12 (x − 2)2 + 36 − 2 − 6
= (x − 2)4 − 12 (x − 2)2 + 28
Note that f (f (x)) is also symmetric about x = 2!
Finally, f (f (f (x))) =
2
(x − 2)4 − 12 (x − 2)2 + 28 − 2 − 6


2
= (x − 2)4 − 12 (x − 2)2 + 26 − 6


= (x − 2)8 + 144 (x − 2)2 + 262 − 24 (x − 2)6 + 52 (x − 2)4 − 2(12)(26) (x − 2)2 − 6

2
Note: (A + B + C) = A2 + B 2 + C 2 + 2AB + 2AC + 2BC
Of all these terms, only the first term produces terms with x8 and x7 . Thus, f (f (f (x))) = x8 − 16x7 + . . .
∴ Sum of the roots is − (−16)
1
= 16

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