Solutions to the ARML Individual Questions – 2004

I–1. Multiply the second and fourth equations by –1 to obtain: a-b = 2

b-c = 3
c-d = 4
d-e = 5

Add the equations to obtain a - e = 14 , then add 2e to both sides, obtaining a + e = 2e + 14 . Since the
minimum value of 2e is –20, then the minimum of a + e = -20 + 14 = -6 . This occurs for a = 4 ,
b = 2 , c = -1 , d = -5 , and e = -10 .

Method #2: Adding the equations in the original system gives a - 2 b + 2c - 2d + e = -2 Æ

a + 2( c - b - d) + e = -2 . Since c - b = -3 we have a + 2( -3 - d) + e = -2 Æ a + e = 2d + 4 . To
minimize a + e , pick d as small as possible, but make sure all other conditions are satisfied. For example, if
d = -10 , then a + e = -16 , but e - d = -5 makes e = -15 which lies outside the set. The smallest value
of d that gives a valid value for e is d = -5 . This makes a + e = -6 as above.

I–2. Let the radius of any of the small circles be r and note that PC M
lies on chord FC , MD on AD , and PM on BE . MNP is an
equilateral triangle by the symmetries in the problem. Let O 2r
OT = r , then ON = 2r , RS = r , and RN = 2r . Thus, the P r

radius of the large circle OS equals 5r . Since 5r = 1 , T N 2r

2
Ê 1ˆ p R C
the area of a small circle is pÁ ˜ = . r
Ë 5¯ 25
S
D

Ê ( x - k)2 ˆ Ê x2 ˆ k
I–3. From Á + y 2 = 1˜ - Á + y 2 = 1˜ we obtain ( x - k ) 2 - x 2 = 0 Æ x = . Substituting into
Á 9 ˜ Á 9 ˜ 2
Ë ¯ Ë ¯

k2 36 - k 2
the second equation yields + y2 = 1 Æ y = as the y-coordinate of A. In general, ABCD is
36 6
a rhombus since AC is the perpendicular bisector of BD and vice versa. It is a square if BD = AC . Given
36 - k 2 36 - k 2
B( -3 + k , 0) and D(3, 0) then BD = 6 - k ; AC = 2 y = . Thus, 6 - k = Æ
3 3
24
10k 2 - 108k + 288 = 0 Æ (5k - 24)( k - 6) = 0 . Thus, k = 6 or . We reject 6 since that makes the
5
24
ellipses tangent. Answer: .
5
( x - k)2 y2 x2 y2 2a( a 2 - b 2 )
Note: for the general case + = 1 and + = 1 the answer is .
a2 b2 a2 b2 a2 + b2
 1 1 1
I–4. Since 1 < 3 2 < 2 , then a = 1, giving 3 2 - 1 = . Thus, 3 2 - 1 < Æ > b
1 b 32 - 1
b+
1
c+
d +K

È 1 ˘ È 3 2 ˘ È3 2 3 ˘
2 + 3 2 + 1˙ 2 + 2 + 1˙
˙ = Í = Í = È 3 4 + 3 2 + 1˘ . Since
1
Æ b= Í ◊
ÍÎ 2 - 1 ˙˚
3 Í 3 ˙ Í 2-1 ˙ ÍÎ ˙˚
ÍÎ 2 - 1 3 2 3
2 + 2 + 1 ˙˚ ÎÍ ˙˚

1 < 3 2 < 3 4 < 2 , then b must equal 3 or 4. Since 2 < 1.33 = 2.197 and 4 < 1.6 3 = 4.096 , then
3 2 + 3 4 < 2.9
, so b = 3.9 [ ] = 3.

Method #2: As above obtain 3 4 + 3 2 + 1 > b and the conclusion that b must equal 3 or 4. Let

x + 1 = 3 4 + 3 2 + 1 Æ x = 3 4 + 3 2 Æ x 3 = 4 + 33 32 + 33 16 + 2 = 6 + 3 ◊ 2Ê 3 4 + 3 2 ˆ . Thus,
Ë ¯

x 3 = 6 + 6 x Æ x 3 - 6 x - 6 = 0 . Let f ( x) = x 3 - 6 x - 6 . Since f (2) = -10 and f (3) = 3 , then

2 < x < 3 Æ 3 < x + 1 < 4 . Thus, b < 4 , so b = 3 .

I–5. Let P( x) = x 7 + x 6 + x5 + x 4 + x 3 + x 2 + x + 1 . Let C

D 1 B
Q( x) = ( x - 1)P( x) = x 8 - 1. The solutions in the complex 1
1 45° 45°
plane to Q( x) = 0 are the vertices of regular octagon ABCDEFGH. E A (1, 0)
The solutions to P( x) = 0 are the solutions to Q( x) = 0 except for 1 O 1
x = 1. Thus, we seek the area of heptagon BCDEFGH. The 1 1
heptagon can be divided into six triangles each of which has the F H
G
1 2 1 1 2 1
area ◊ 1 ◊ 1 ◊ sin 45∞ = and right triangle BOH whose area is ◊ 1 ◊ 1 = . The total area is 6 ◊ +
2 4 2 2 4 2
3 2 +1
= .
2

501 2004 Ê 2004 - a ˆ 2004

i2004 = Ê i4 ˆ Â Â
1
= 1 , so ˜ =
j
I–6.
Ë ¯ Ái . Writing out the Fibonacci sequence modulo 4 we
j =1 Ë ¯ a
j =1 i j

2004
have 1, 1, 2, 3, 1, 0, 1, 1, 2, . . . so the sequence mod 4 repeats itself every six terms. Since = 334 , the
6
Ê1 1 1 1 1 1ˆ
sum is 334Á + + + + + ˜ = 334 ◊ ( -2i) = -668i .
Ë i i i2 i3 i i0 ¯
 nx n n nx n 2004 2004
I–7. -1 < Æ - < -1 < Æ -1 < x < + 1. The width of this
2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 n n

Ê 2004 ˆ Ê 2004 ˆ
interval is Á + 1˜ - Á - 1˜ = 2 . If n is a divisor of 2004, then x is bounded by two integers and
Ë n ¯ Ë n ¯
there is only 1 integer solution. For example, if n = 2 then 1001 < x < 1003 and the only integer solution is
1002. However, if n is not a divisor of 2004, then x is bounded by two non-integers and two integers can be
fit into an interval of length 2. For example, if n = 5 , then 399.8 < x < 401.8 and x can equal 400 and 401.

Thus, we reject all positive values of n which are factors of 2004. Since 2004 = 2 2 ◊ 3 ◊ 167 , there are 3 · 2 ·
2 = 12 positive factors of 2004. The number of values of n for which the inequality has two integer
solutions is, therefore, 2004 – 12 = 1992 .

I–8. In each case we'll calculate the probability of A's outcome times the probability of B's outcome times the
probability that A wins given those outcomes of A and B. There are 4 cases:

1) Suppose A flips HH. That has a probability of 1/4. B will flip TT with probability 1/4 and TH with
probability 1/4. However, if B's first flip is H, then B continues flipping until a T comes up, so B flips HT
with probability 1/2. The probability of A flipping HH and winning is:
i) A = HH, B = TT. By symmetry the probability is 1/2.
ii) A = HH, B = TH. If a T is flipped first, then A loses. If an H is flipped first, then A's chance of
winning is 1/2, so A can win 1/4 of the time.
iii) A = HH, B = HT. The coin is flipped until an H comes up. Then A wins with a probability of 1/2
on the next flip.

1 Ê 1 1 1 1 1 1ˆ 7
Thus, if A flips HH, A can win with probability ◊Á ◊ + ◊ + ◊ ˜ = .
4 Ë 4 2 4 4 2 2¯ 64

7
2) Suppose A flips TT, then the letters are reversed, so the probability that A wins stays the same and is .
64

3) Suppose A flips HT with probability 1/4. Then B will flip HH with probability 1/4. The TT case is a bit
trickier. B can flip TT right away with probability 1/4, but B could also flip HT and then flip a T, generating
the TT outcome. This happens with probability 1/8, so B can flip TT with probability 3/8. Similarly, B can flip
TH as TH or HTH with probability 3/8. The probability of A flipping HT and winning is:

i) A = HT, B = HH. The coin is flipped until an H appears. Then A wins with probability 1/2 on the
next toss.
ii) A = HT, B = TT. If an H is flipped first, then A wins. If a T is flipped first, then A's chance of
subsequently winning is 1/2, so A wins with probability 1/2 + 1/4 = 3/4.
iii) A = HT, B = TH. If an H is flipped first, then A wins. If a T is flipped first, then A loses, so A
wins with probability 1/2.
 1 Ê 1 1 3 3 3 1ˆ 19
Thus, if A flips HT, the probability of A winning is Á ◊ + ◊ ◊ ◊ ˜ = .
4 Ë 4 4 8 4 8 2 ¯ 128

19
4) Suppose A flips TH, then the letters are reversed, so A wins with probability .
128
Ê 7 19 ˆ 33
Thus, the probability that A wins is 2Á + ˜ = .
Ë 64 128 ¯ 64