The Eighth Colonial Mathematics Challenge took place Thursday, 24 April 2008.

There were 79 students repre-

senting nine schools participating. The individual contest winners, in a 3-way tie for First Place, were Van Dinh,

Masterman, Yongfeng Gao, South Philadelphia and Tex Kubacki, Masterman. The Team Contest winners were from

Masterman Team #2: Manjima Dhar, Patrick Henry, Robert Johnson, Spencer Katz
 9:
8:
7:
6:
5:
4:
3:
2:
1:

10:
Name:
M
M athe
M athe mat
i
M athe mat cs C
at i
M he mat cs C hal
M at
h m ic
s h le
a n
at em tics Ch alle ge
he a a n
b

m tics Ch lle ge
at
ic C a l ng

Sex (Optional):
s C hal leng e
h le e
Ch alle nge Ei
Ch alle nge Ei ghth
al n
b

l e ge Ei ghth
ng
e Ei ghth Co
Ei ghth Co loni
b

Ei ghth Co loni al
Ei ghth Co loni al
gh l a
t h Col oni a l
Co on lM
Co lon ial M ath
Co lon ial M ath ema
Co lon al M ath ema tics i
b

lo ial at em tics
ni
al Mat hem atic
M he at s
i
b

M athe mat cs C
i
M athe mat cs C hal
i
M athe mat cs C hal leng
i

Mathematics Department
at
he mat cs C hal leng e
m ic l
at s C hal eng e
ic
b

s C hal leng e
h le e
Ch alle nge Ei
Ch alle nge Ei ghth
Ch alle nge Ei ghth
al n Ei ghth
l e ge g
ng
e Ei hth Co
g lo
Ei h th C o ni
Ei ghth Co loni al
Ei ghth Co loni al
gh l a
t h Col oni a l M
Co on l M ath
Co lon ial M ath ema
Co lon ial M ath ema tics
lo ial at em tics
ni
al Mat hem atic
M he at s
i
M athe mat cs
i
M athe mat cs C
i
M athe mat cs C hal
i
M athe mat cs C hal leng
at i
he mat cs C hal leng e
m i l
at cs C hal eng e
ic
s C hal leng e
h le e
Ch alle nge Ei
Ch l l e nge a Ei ghth
al ng E gh
le t
ng e E i gh h
e ig th
Ei hth Co
g
Ei hth Co loni
Ei ghth Co loni al
24 April 2008

gh C lo al
th o n
Co lon ial M
Co lon ial M ath
Co lon ial M ath ema

20:
19:
18:
17:
16:
15:
14:
13:
12:
11:
Co lon ial M ath ema tics
lo ial at em tics
ni
al Mat hem atic
M he at s
i
M athe mat cs C
i
M athe mat cs C hal
a m i l
M t he at cs C hal eng
i
School:

at
he mat cs C hal leng e
m i l
at cs C hal eng e
ic
s C hal leng e
h le e
Ch alle nge Ei
Ch alle nge Ei ghth
al n Ei ghth
l e ge
ng
e Ei ghth
Ei ghth Co
gh l
t h Col oni a
Co on l
lo ial
ni
al
Age (Optional):

M
at
he
m
at
ic
s
b
b

Community College of Philadelphia

1 Find the value of

1
.
1
1+
1
1+
1
1+
1

2 In the magic square, the three numbers in each row, in each column, and in each diagonal add up to the same

number. When the magic square below is completed, what is the sum of the missing entries?

13
10
9 7

3 Given that there is a unique digit d ∈ {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} so that the nine-digit number 19700019d is prime,

find it.

4 Gabriel walks along a level road and then up a mountain. Upon reaching the summit, he immediately turns and

walks back to his starting point. He walks 4 km/h on level ground, 3 km/h uphill, and 6 km/h downhill. If the

entire walk takes 6 hours, what was the distance covered, in km, over the entire trajectory?

5 A greyhound chases a rabbit which is 60 rabbit-jumps ahead of it. Three greyhound-jumps are equivalent in

length to seven rabbit-jumps. While the greyhound executes 6 jumps, the rabbit executes 9. How many greyhound-

jumps must the greyhound execute in order to catch up the rabbit?

3
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Individual Contest

6 The positive integers a, b, c satisfy the equations

a2 − b2 − c2 = 101, bc = 72.

Find the value of their sum a + b + c.

7 Determine the sum of the 23 fractions:

2 2 2 2
+ + + ···+ .
1·2·3 2·3·4 3·4·5 23 · 24 · 25

8 How many different sums can be made when two non-necessarily distinct numbers from the set {1, 3, 4, 5, 7} are

taken?

9 How many degrees does the hour hand travel when running from 2 : 30 AM to 2 : 50 AM?

10 In the figure below, the segment AE bisects ∠A of 4ABC. Given that DE k AB, CD = 4, CE = 3 and DE = 6,

find the length of EB.

C
b

D b b
E

b b

A B

4
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Individual Contest

11 Find the least positive integer n satisfying the inequality

√ √ 1
n+1− n< .
10

12 Judith was imprisoned by a band of mathematicians and sent to Guantánamo for crimes against Mathematics.

Through the mercy of the Brahmin mathematician, she was given the choice of being released after 10 years or be

given freedom if she climbed the 100 steps of a 100-step staircase subject to the following rules:

1. She climbs up or down only one step per day.

2. She climbs up on every day of January, March, May, July, September, and November.

3. She goes down on every day of February, April, June, August, October, and December.

Being adept at climbing, she chose this later option. If Judith started on January 1 2001, when will she gain her

freedom? Give the date in the form MM-DD-YYYY.

. . 9} and B = |9 .{z
13 Let A = |9 .{z . . 9} . How many 8’s are in the product AB?
30 nines 20 nines

14 Find the least value of abc + def , where {a, b, c, d, e, f } = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6}.

15 A rep-digit is an integer all whose digits are the same. For example, 1, 222, and 9999999 are rep-digits. How

many digits has the smallest positive rep-digit that is divisible by 847?

5
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Individual Contest

16 The set S is formed according to the following rules:

1. 2 belongs to S;

2. if n is in S then n + 5 is also in S;

3. if n is in S then 3n is also in S.

Find the largest integer in the set

{1, 2, 3, . . . , 2008}

that does not belong to S.

17 How many polynomials p(x) of degree at least one and integer coefficients satisfy

16p(x2 ) = (p(2x))2 ,

for all real numbers x?

18 The gluttonous race of Sweet-toothers is planning to conquer planet Caramel. Planet Caramel is in the form of a

cube, with an edge of 1 km. The planet is enveloped by a dense anti-glutton foam atmosphere in order to impede

1
the landing of the Sweet-toothers to at least km from the surface of the planet. What is the least volume of the
2

foam that will accomplish this?

6
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Individual Contest

19 Recall that in a triangle, the orthocenter is the point of concurrency of the altitudes of the triangle and the

circumcenter is the point of concurrency of the perpendicular bisectors to the sides of the triangle. 4ABC has

orthocenter H, circumcenter O, M as the midpoint of segment BC and F as the foot of the altitude from A. If

HOM F is a rectangle with HO = 11 and OM = 5, compute the length of BC.

20 Five burglars stole a purse with gold coins. The five burglars took each different amounts according to their

meanness, with the meanest among the five taking the largest amount of coins and the meekest of the five taking

the least amount of coins. Unfair sharing caused a fight that was brought to an end by an arbitrator. He ordered

that the meanest burglar should double the shares of the other four burglars below him. Once this was accom-

plished, the second meanest burglar should double the shares of the other three burglars below him. Once this was

accomplished, the third meanest burglar should double the shares of the two burglars below him. Once this was

accomplished, the fourth meanest burglar should double the shares of the meekest burglar. After this procedure

was terminated, each burglar received the same amount of money. How many coins were in a purse if the meanest

of the burglars took 240 coins initially?

7
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2006 Group Contest

21 (3 minutes) Find the smallest positive integer n for which for which n2 + n + 11 is a composite integer.

22 (3 minutes) The two circles below are concentric. The chord shown is tangent to the inner circle and has length

2a. What is the area of the annular region shaded?

b b

23 (4 minutes) Compute
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 − 3 4 − 5 6 − 7 48 − 49
1 1 · 1 1 · 1 1 ··· 1 1 .
3 − 4 5 − 6 7 − 8 49 − 50

24 (6 minutes) Given that 232 − 1 has exactly two divisors a and b satisfying the inequalities

50 < a < b < 100,

find the product ab.

25 (4 minutes) If 49x + 49−x = 7, find 7x + 7−x .

26 (7 minutes) Suppose there are constants A, B, C, D such that the equality

x3 = A + B(x − 3) + C(x − 3)(x − 2) + D(x − 3)(x − 2)(x − 1)

holds for all real values of x. Find the value of A + B + C + D.

27 (3 minutes) Consider three circles as shown in the figure below. The two smaller circles are congruent and

8
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2006 Group Contest

mutually tangential, their point of tangency being the center of the large circle. They are also internally tangent to

the larger circle. If the area of the shaded region is 2π, find the area of the larger circle.

9
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2006 Group Contest

28 (5 minutes) The positive real numbers r, s, t, u satisfy

5r + s 6r + s 7r + s
= , = 9.
5t + u 6t + u 7t + u

Find the value of

29 (4 minutes) Find all real numbers x satisfying the equation

√ √
x+1+ x−1
√ √ = 3.
x+1− x−1

30 (7 minutes) The circle with center O below has radius 15. The radius EO is perpendicular to the diameter AB.

AD meets OE at C. If OC = 8, find the length of CD.

E
b

b
D
b
C

A b b b
B
O

31 (5 minutes) Let a and b be, respectively, the largest and the smallest integers in the set {1, 2, 3, . . . , 100} for which

x2009 + x2008 is a square. Find a + b.

32 3 minutes A textbook is opened at random. If the product of the numbers of the two facing pages is 930, what

is the sum of the page numbers?

33 3 minutes The students in Ms. Smith’s gym class stand equally spaced around a circle. John is standing directly

across from Linda. They count off around the circle starting with Mary. That is, Mary says “one” and the next

person says “two” and continue counting off all the way around the circle. If John says “seven” and Linda says

10
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2006 Group Contest

“thirty-three”, how many students are in the circle?

34 3 minutes Multiply and simplify the product

(x − a)(x − b)(x − c) · · · (x − y)(x − z).

11
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

1 Plainly,

1 1 1 1 1 3
= = = = = .
1 1 1 2 5 5
1+ 1+ 1+ 1+
1 1 3 3 3
1+ 1+
1 2 2
1+
1
2 The completed square follows.

13 6 11

8 10 12
9 14 7

The sum of the missing entries is thus 6 + 8 + 12 + 14 + 11 = 51.

3 d cannot be even, as then the number would be divisible by 2. Now, 1 + 9 + 7 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 1 + 9 + d = 27 + d. If

d ∈ {3, 6, 9}, then the sum of the digital sum would be divisible by 3, and so the number would be divisible by 3. If

d = 5, the number would be divisible by 5. If d = 7, the number would be divisible by 197. This leaves d = 1 as the

only possible digit, and so it must be this one.

4 Let d be the distance covered from the starting point along the level road to the foot of the mountain, and d0 the

distance from the foot of the mountain to the summit. We want 2(d + d0 ). Now,

2d d0 d0 d + d0
6= + + =⇒ 6 = =⇒ 2(d + d0 ) = 24.
4 3 6 2

He covered 24 km.

5 Let g be the number of greyhound-jumps that it takes the greyhound to catch up the rabbit, and let r be the

number of rabbit-jumps that the rabbit executes until it is caught. The given data yields

g r g 3
= , = =⇒ g = 72, r = 108.
6 9 60 + r 7

So, 72 greyhound-jumps.

12
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

6 We have

a2 − b2 − 2bc − c2 = 101 − 2 · 72 = −43 =⇒ a2 − (b + c)2 = −43 =⇒ (a − b − c)(a + b + c) = −43.

Since 43 is prime, we must have a + b + c = 43.

7 Observe that

2 1 1
= − ,
(k − 1)k(k + 1) (k − 1)k k(k + 1)

from where
     
2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + + ···+ = − + − + ··· −
1·2·3 2·3·4 3·4·5 23 · 24 · 25 1·2 2·3 2·3 3·4 23 · 24 24 · 25
1 1
= −
1 · 2 24 · 25

299
= .
600

8 From the addition table

+ 1 3 4 5 7

1 2 4 5 6 8

3 4 6 7 8 10

4 5 7 8 9 11

5 6 8 9 10 12

7 8 10 11 12 14

the different sums belong to the set {2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14}, and so there are eleven different sums.

20 1
9 10◦ . When running from 2 : 30 AM to 2 : 50 AM, the minute hand travels = of a circumference. The hour
60 3
1
hand, proportionally, travels of the way of the 30◦ that there are between 2 and 3, that is, 10◦ .
3

13
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

AB DC 6 3
10 We have 4ABC ∼ 4DEC and so corresponding sides are proportional. Thus = = = . By the
CA DE 4 2

angle bisector theorem,

AB BE AB 3 9
= =⇒ BE = · EC = · 3 = .
CA EC CA 2 2

√ √
11 From the identity x2 − y 2 = (x − y)(x + y) and using the fact that n< n + 1, we obtain

√ √ √ √ √ √ 1 1
n + 1 − n = 1 =⇒ ( n + 1 − n)( n + 1 + n) = 1 =⇒ n + 1 − n = √ √ > √ .
n+1+ n 2 n+1

Hence,

1 1 √
√ < =⇒ 5 < n + 1 =⇒ 25 < n + 1 =⇒ n > 24.
2 n+1 10

√
Since 5.12 = 26.01 > 26, we have 26 < 5.1. Hence,

√ √ 1
26 − 25 < 5.1 − 5 = ,
10

and so n = 25 fulfills the inequality.

12 Let us see what happens in a typical non-leap year, and in a typical leap year.

In a non-leap year

14
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

by the end of she has climbed

31 January 31 steps

28 February 31 − 28 = 3 steps

31 March 3 + 31 = 34 steps

30 April 34 − 30 = 4 steps

31 May 31 + 4 = 35 steps

30 June 35 − 30 = 5 steps

31 July 31 + 5 = 36 steps

31 August 36 − 31 = 5 steps

30 September 30 + 5 = 35 steps

31 October 35 − 31 = 4 steps

30 November 30 + 4 = 34 steps

31 December 34 − 31 = 3 steps

15
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

In a leap year

by the end of she has climbed

31 January 31 steps

29 February 31 − 29 = 2 steps

31 March 2 + 31 = 33 steps

30 April 33 − 30 = 3 steps

31 May 31 + 3 = 34 steps

30 June 34 − 30 = 4 steps

31 July 31 + 4 = 35 steps

31 August 35 − 31 = 4 steps

30 September 30 + 4 = 34 steps

31 October 34 − 31 = 3 steps

30 November 30 + 3 = 33 steps

31 December 33 − 31 = 2 steps

Now, 100 − 36 = 64. Let us see how many years it takes her to climb 64 steps. By the end of the four-year range

2001 − 2004, she climbs 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 11 steps. By the end of the four-year range 2005 − 2008, she has climbed 22

steps. By the end of the four-year range 2009 − 20012, she has climbed 33 steps. By the end of the four-year range

2013 − 2016, she has climbed 44 steps. By the end of the four-year range 2017 − 2020, she has climbed 55 steps. By

the end of the four-year range 2021 − 2024, she has climbed 66 steps. In fact, by 31 December 2023 she has climbed

64 steps, and by 31 July 2024 she has climbed 64 + 35 = 99 steps. This means that she needs to go into 2025. By 31

March 2025 she has climbed 66 + 34 = 100 steps and she is now free. Answer: 03-31-2025.

16
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

13 We have

A = 1030 − 1, B = 1020 − 1 =⇒ AB = (1030 − 1)(1020 − 1) = 1050 − 1030 − 1020 + 1.

Now,

T := (1050 + 1) − 1030 = |9 .{z

and

T − 1020 = |9 .{z
. . 9} 89999999999 |0 .{z
. . 0} 1,
19 nines 19 zeroes

so there is only one 8.

14 By the Arithmetic-Mean-Geometric Inequality,

√ p √
M + N ≥ 2 M N = 2 abcdef = 2 6! ≈ 53.67,

√
and thus M ≈ N ≈ 26.83. There will never be equality, since M + N is an integer and 2 6! irrational. One achieves

the minimum by letting {a, b, c} = {1, 5, 6} and {d, e, f } = {2, 3, 4}, giving

√
1 · 5 · 6 + 2 · 3 · 4 = 54 = d 2 6! e.

We also obtain 54 on taking {a, b, c} = {1, 4, 6} and {d, e, f } = {2, 3, 5}.

15 Let a > 0 be a digit. The integer sought has the form

a
N=a . . a} = · (10n − 1).
| .{z 9
n times

Since 847 = 7 · 112 , the integer sought must be divisible by 7 and by 11. Since it is divisible by 11, n must be even,

N
say n = 2k. But then is also divisible by 11 and
11

N
= 0a0a . . . 0a
11 | {z }
k times

indicates that k must be a multiple of 11. Thus the smallest possible n is n = 2 · 11 = 22.

17
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

16 Observe that applying k times the second rule, n + 5k is in S. Similarly, 3k · 2 is in S by applying k times the third

rule. Since 2 is in S, 2 + 5k is in S, that is, numbers that leave remainder 2 upon division by 5 are in S. This means

that

{2, 7, 12, · · · 2002, 2007} ⊆ S.

Since 3 · 2 = 6 is in S, then the numbers 6 + 5k = 1 + 5(k + 1) are in S, that is, numbers 6 or higher that leave

remainder 1 upon division by 5. Thus the numbers

{6, 11, 16, · · · 2001, 2006} ⊆ S.

Since 3 · 6 = 18 is in S, then the numbers 18 + 5k = 3 + 5(k + 3) are in S, that is, numbers 18 or higher that leave

remainder 3 upon division by 5. Thus the numbers

{18, 23, 28, · · · 2003, 2008} ⊆ S.

Since 3 · 18 = 54 is in S, then the numbers 54 + 5k = 4 + 5(k + 10) are in S, that is, numbers 54 or higher that leave

remainder 4 upon division by 5. Thus the numbers

{54, 59, 64, · · · 2004} ⊆ S.

Now, we claim that there are no multiples of 5 in S. For by combining the rules every number in S has the form

3a · 2 + 5b, with a ≥ 0, b ≥ 0 integers. Since 3a · 2 is never a multiple of 5, this establishes the claim. Hence the largest

element of

{1, 2, 3, . . . , 2008}

not in S is 2005.

17 Let p(x) = an xn + an−1 xn−1 + · · · + a1 x + a0 with an 6= 0, n ≥ 1. Then

2
16p(x2 ) = (p(2x))2 =⇒ 16(an x2n + an−1 x2n−2 + · · · + a1 x2 + a0 ) = 2n an xn + 2n−1 an−1 xn−1 + · · · + 2a1 x + a0

18
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

Since the coefficients on both sides of the equality must agree, we must have

16an = 22n a2n =⇒ 24 = 22n an

since an 6= 0. As an is an integer, we must have the following cases: n = 1, an = 4, n = 2, an = 1. Clearly we may

not have n ≥ 3. Thus such polynomials are either linear or quadratic. Also, for x = 0, 16p(0) = (p(0))2 and therefore

either p(0) = 0 or p(0) = 16.

For n = 1 we seek p(x) = 4x + a. Solving

16(4x2 + a) = (8x + a)2 =⇒ a = 0,

whence p(x) = 4x.

For n = 2, let p(x) = x2 + ax + b. Solving

16(x4 + ax2 + b) = (4x2 + 2ax + b)2 =⇒ a = 0.

Since p(0) = 0 or p(0) = 16, we must test p(x) = x2 and p(x) = x2 + 16. It is easy to see that only p(x) = x2 satisfies

the desired properties.

In conclusion, 4x and x2 are the only two such polynomials..

1
18 The cloud must be made of at least six parallelepipeds of dimension · 1 · 1 km3 , contiguous to each face of
2
1
the cube; twelve quarter-cylinders of height 1 km and radius km, each aligned to the edges of the cube; and eight
2
1
eights-of-a-sphere, each of radius km, with center at the eight vertices of the cube. Thus the minimum volume is
2

1 1 1 1 4 1 11
6· · 1 · 1 + 12 · · π · 12 · 2 + 8 · · · π · 3 = 3 + π km3 .
2 4 2 8 3 2 12

←→ 1 1
19 The centroid G lies on the line HO (this is the Euler line) and since GM = 3 AM , we must have HF = 3 AF ,

whence AF = 15. Triangles 4BF H and 4AF C are similar because they are both right triangles with ∠HBC =

19
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

90◦ − ∠BCA = ∠CAF . This yields

BF · F C = F H · AF = 75.

Hence,

BC 2 = (BF − F C)2 + 4BF · F C = (2M F )2 + 4 · 75 = 222 + 300 = 784

√
and so BC = 784 = 28.

20 Let there be a coins in the purse. There are five stages. The fifth stage is when all the burglars have the same

amount of money. Let

ak , bk , ck , dk , ek

be the amount of money that each burglar has, decreasing lexicographically, with the a’s denoting the amount of

the meanest burglar and ek denoting the amount of the meekest burglar. Observe that for all k we have

ak + bk + ck + dk + ek = a.

On stage five we are given that

a
a5 = b5 = c5 = d5 = e5 = .
5

On stage four

a a a 3a a
a 4 = b 4 = c4 = , d4 = + = e4 = .
5 5 10 10 10

On stage three we have

a a 3a a 2a 3a a
a3 = b 3 = , c3 = + + = d3 = e3 = .
5 5 20 20 5 20 20

On stage two we have

a a a 3a a a a 3a a
a2 = , b2 = + + + = , c2 = d2 = e2 = .
5 5 5 40 40 2 5 40 40

20
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

On stage one we have

a a a 3a a 3a a a 3a a
a1 = + + + + = , b1 = , c1 = d1 = e1 = .
5 4 10 80 80 5 4 10 80 80

3a
Since a1 = 240, we deduce = 240 =⇒ a = 400.
5

Check: On the first stage the distribution is (from meanest to meekest):

240, 100, 40, 15, 5.

On the second stage we have

80, 200, 80 30, 10.

On the third stage we have

80, 80, 160, 60, 20.

On the fourth stage we have

80, 80, 80, 120, 40.

On the fifth stage we have

80, 80, 80, 80, 80.

21 For n = 0 through n = 10 the sequence of outputs is

11, 13, 17, 23, 31, 41, 53, 67, 83, 101, 121,

of which all are prime, except 121. Thus the smallest such n is n = 10.

22 Let R be the radius of the larger circle, and r the radius of the smaller circle. The area of the annulus is π(R2 −r2 ).

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, R2 = r2 + a2 , whence the area is

π(R2 − r2 ) = πa2 .

21
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

b b

23 We have,
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2 − 3 4 − 5 6 − 7 48 − 49 2·3 4·5 6·7 48·49
1 1 · 1 1 · 1 1 ··· 1 1 = 1 · 1 · 1 ··· 1
3 − 4 5 − 6 7 − 8 49 − 50 3·4 5·6 7·8 49·50
1
2
= 1
50

= 25.

24 We have

232 − 1 = (216 − 1)(216 + 1)

= (28 − 1)(28 + 1)(216 + 1)

= (24 − 1)(24 + 1)(28 + 1)(216 + 1)

= (22 − 1)(22 + 1)(24 + 1)(28 + 1)(216 + 1)

= (2 − 1)(2 + 1)(22 + 1)(24 + 1)(28 + 1)(216 + 1).

Since 28 + 1 = 257, a and b must be part of the product

(2 − 1)(2 + 1)(22 + 1)(24 + 1) = 255 = 3 · 5 · 17.

The only divisors of 255 in the desired range are 3 · 17 = 51 and 5 · 17 = 85, whence the desired product is

51 · 85 = 4335.

25 We have

2
7x + 7−x = 49x + 49−x + 2 = 7 + 2 = 9 =⇒ 7x + 7−x = 3,

22
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

since 7x + 7−x is positive.

26 If x = 3 then

27 = A.

If x = 2 then

8 = A − B =⇒ B = A − 8 = 19.

If x = 1 then

1 − A + 2B 1 − 27 + 38
1 = A − 2B + 2C =⇒ C = = = 6.
2 2

Now, D must be equal to 1, since it is the coefficient of x3 in both dextral and sinistral side. Hence,

A + B + C + D = 27 + 19 + 6 + 1 = 53.

27 Let the smaller circles have radius r. Then the large circle has radius 2r and area π(2r)2 = 4πr2 . Double the

shaded area is 4π, which is the area of the larger circle minus the area of the smaller circles. Thus

4π = 4πr2 − 2(πr2 ) = 2πr2 =⇒ 4πr2 = 8π,

whence the area of the larger circle is 8π.

a c a+c c
28 If = then ad = bc and (a + c)d = (b + d)c and so = , that is adding the numerators and denominators
b d b+c d
5r + s 6r + s
of fractions in proportion, keeps the proportion. Hence, if =k= , then
5t + u 6t + u

(6r + s) − (5r + s) r
k= = .
(6t + u) − (5t + u) t

5r
Since then = k, this in turn gives
5t
5r + s − 5r s
k= = .
5t + u − 5t t

7r + s 9t + u 1 1
From 9 = we deduce k = 9 and so = = .
7t + u 9r + s k 9

23
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

29 We have
√ √
x+1+ x−1 √ √ √ √
√ √ =3 =⇒ x+1+ x−1 = 3 x+1−3 x−1
x+1− x−1
√ √
=⇒ x+1=2 x−1

=⇒ x + 1 = 4x − 4

5
=⇒ x = .
3

30 By considering 4AOC, by the Pythagorean Theorem, AC = 17. CE = OE − OC = 15 − 8 = 7. Let E 0 be

diametrically opposite to E. Then E 0 C = 23.

E
b

b
D
b
C

A b b

E0

From the power of a point formulæ or by arguing that 4DCE ∼ 4E 0 CA,

7 · 23 161
AC · CD = EC · CE 0 =⇒ CD = = .
17 17

31 Since x2009 + x2008 = x2008 (1 + x) and x and 1 + x are relatively prime, 1 + x must be a square. Thus a = 99 and

b = 3.

24
Community College of Philadelphia Colonial Maths Challenge Spring 2008 Solutions

32 If x and x + 1 are the pages, then x(x + 1) = 930. Roughly, x2 ≈ 930 =⇒ x ≈ 30. One can easily check that

30 · 31 = 930 and the desired sum is 30 + 31 = 61.

33 Draw a line passing through John and Linda. Persons 8 through 32 constitute 32 − 8 + 1 = 25 people on one side

of the John and Linda line. There must be another 25 on the other side of the line, so there is a total of 25+25+2 = 52

students.

34 The 24th term of the expression is x − x, hence the product is 0.

25