MT

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MT

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UKMT

United Kingdom
Mathematics Trust

Senior Mathematical Challenge

Tuesday 4 October 2022

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For reasons of space, these solutions are necessarily brief.

There are more in-depth, extended solutions available on the UKMT website,
which include some exercises for further investigation.
There is also a version of this document available on the UKMT website
which includes each of the questions alongside its solution:

www.ukmt.org.uk

3 × 8 × 15 × 24
1. D The expression simplifies to . Cancelling common factors
(2 × 3) × (3 × 4) × (4 × 5) × (5 × 6)
gives 51 .
2. C For the sum of five different primes to be prime, each of those five primes must be odd, Listing
the primes starting with 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, . . . and working systematically through possible
sums gives a smallest sum of 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 13 = 39 which is not prime. However, the next
smallest sum 3 + 5 + 7 + 11 + 17 = 43 which is prime as required.
3. C Each of the possible parallelograms is formed from two adjacent equilateral
triangles: 𝑃 and 𝑄, 𝑄 and 𝑅, 𝑅 and 𝑆, 𝑆 and 𝑇, 𝑇 and 𝑈 and finally 𝑈 and 𝑃. Q
P R
Therefore there are six possible parallelograms.
U S
T

4. D The area of the small square is 2 × 2 = 4. The area of the shaded region is then 12 × 5 × 5 − 12 × 2 × 2
= 25−4 21
2 = 2 . Therefore the ratio of the area of the small square to the area of the shaded region is
4 : 21
2 = 8 : 21.
100 10
5. C Rewriting the calculation as 101 + 11 + 11 + 1
11 + 1
101 shows that we can reorder the sum to give
101 11 1
101 + 11 + 1 = 3.

4800 (22 ) 800 21600

6. E Rewriting 400
using a base of 2 gives 3 400
= 1200 = 2400 using rules of indices.
8 (2 ) 2
7. C Consider first the units digits of 85 and 66. Multiples of 5 can only end in 5 or 0. No multiples
of 6, an even number, can end in 5. So in order that the units digit of our sum can be 0, each of
the multiples of 85 and 66 must individually have units digits of 0. The smallest multiples of 85
and 66 with this property, 2 × 85 = 170 and 5 × 66 = 330, have sum 500. So 7 is the smallest
number of stamps and they cost £5.
8. E By drawing extra lines from the centre of the outer hexagon to each of its
vertices and from the centre to the midpoint of each edge of the outer hexagon,
12 in total, the diagram can be shown to be made of 36 congruent triangles
each with angles 30°, 60° and 90°. Twelve of these triangles are shaded
giving a shaded area of 13 × 216 = 72.

distance 𝑑
9. B Using speed = gives 3 × 108 = −9 . Therefore 𝑑 = 3 × 10−1 m = 0.3 m = 30 cm.
time 10
10. D Rearranging the equation gives 1 + 2𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 = 9 + 6𝑥 + 3𝑥 2 so 1 + 2𝑥 = 9 + 6𝑥 and 4𝑥 = −8.
Therefore 𝑥 = −2.
11. A When expressed as the product of its prime factors, 2022 = 2 × 3 × 337. However, the integer 𝑛
must be a factor of each integer in the middle row and so 𝑛2 must be a factor of their product
2022. Therefore 𝑛 = 1.
12. E Using the difference of two squares, the calculation we are given can be written in the form
66666662 − 33333332 = (6666666 + 3333333)(6666666 − 3333333) = 9999999 × 3333333 =
10000000 × 3333333 − 1 × 3333333 = 33333330000000 − 3333333 = 33333326666667. The
sum of the digits of this integer is 63.
13. C Let the area of floor covered by exactly one rug be 𝑎, the area of floor covered by exactly two
rugs be 𝑏 and the area of floor covered by three rugs be 𝑐. Therefore, 𝑎 + 2𝑏 + 3𝑐 = 90 and
𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐 = 60. Subtracting the second equation from the first leaves 𝑏 + 2𝑐 = 30 and using
𝑏 = 12 gives 𝑐 = 9.
14. A Let 𝐾 𝐿 be 3 units long. Then 𝐾 𝑃 = 1, 𝑃𝐿 = 2 and area 𝐾 𝐿𝑀 𝑁 = 1 P 2
K L
3 × 3 = 9. Removing four right-angled triangles congruent to 𝑃𝐿𝑄 T
from square 𝐾 𝐿𝑀 𝑁 gives area 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆 = 9 − 4 × 12 × 1 × 2 = 5.The √ 1
5 Q
area of 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆 is 59 of the area of 𝐾 𝐿𝑀 𝑁. By the same reasoning
the area of 𝑇𝑈𝑉𝑊 is 95 of the area of 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆.

5 5 25
Combining these proportions gives the shaded area as 9 × 9 = 81 of the area of 𝐾 𝐿𝑀 𝑁.
15. B When the hare and tortoise are moving in the same direction, the hare completes 100 m while the
tortoise completes 25 m. After the hare reverses direction and the hare and tortoise are moving
towards one another, the hare is still moving four times as fast.

0 25 m M 100 m

4
Therefore the meeting point, 𝑀, is 5 of 75 m = 60 m away from the finish line.
16. B As 𝑥 and 𝑦 are interchangeable in the equation, the graph must be symmetric about the line 𝑦 = 𝑥.
This excludes options 𝐶 and 𝐷. Substituting 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑥 = 1 into the equation shows that the
graph crosses the axes at (0, 1) and (1, 0). Note that in option E the line 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 1 meets 𝑦 = 𝑥
at ( 12 , 21 ) whereas our curve meets 𝑦 = 𝑥 at ( 14 , 41 ) and must therefore lie below the straight line
shown in option E. The only possible option then is B.
17. B We enclose the regular octagon within a square as shown. Since √
2
√
2
the side-length of the octagon is 1, the right-angled isosceles
√ 2 1 2
triangles in the corners have two short sides of length 22 and
√
so the square has side-length
√ √
1 + 2. Each of the right-angled
1 2 2 1
triangles has area 2 × 2 × 2 = 4 . Each of the equilateral triangles
√
which were removed has base 1 and so height 23 . The shaded
area can be obtained as the area of the square minus that of the
four isosceles corners and √the four equilateral triangles; that is 1 1
√ √ √ √ √ 2 2
(1 + 2) 2 − 4 × 14 − 4 × 12 × 23 = 3 + 2 2 − 1 − 3 = 2 + 2 2 − 3. √
2
√
3
2 1 1 2

√ √
18. B Let 3𝑥 = 𝑋 and 3𝑦 = 𝑌 . The two equations can then be written as 𝑋 +3𝑌 = 5 3 and 3𝑋 +𝑌 = 3 √3.
√
Subtracting three lots of the second equation from the first gives −8𝑋 = −4 3 so 𝑋 = 23 .
√ √
Subtracting three lots of the first equation from the second gives −8𝑌 = −12 3 so 𝑌 = 3 2 3 . The
√ √ √
value of 3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 23 + 3 2 3 = 2 3. Alternatively, we could add the two equations giving
√ √
4𝑋 + 4𝑌 = 8 3. Dividing by 4, 𝑋 + 𝑌 = 3𝑥 + 3𝑦 = 2 3 without knowing the value of either 3𝑥 or
3𝑦 individually.
19. E The first equation can be rearranged to the form 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 − 2022 which y
is a translation of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 down 2022 units. The second equation is
a reflection of the first, in the line 𝑦 = 𝑥. There are four points of
intersection of these two parabolas. x

20. D Let 𝑂 be the centre of the circle, 𝑀 and 𝑁 be the midpoints of O

two sides of the square and 𝑉 and 𝑃 be vertices of two sides of
the square as shown. Line 𝑂𝑁 𝑀 is a line of symmetry. Let x
P
𝑂𝑁 = 𝑥. Therefore 𝑁 𝑃 = 𝑥 as 𝑂𝑁 and 𝑁 𝑃 are sides of the N
right-angled isosceles triangle 𝑂𝑁 𝑃. Also, 𝑃𝑉 = 𝑀 𝑁 = 2𝑥.
2x
Consider right-angled triangle 𝑂𝑉 𝑀. The radius of the circle is
given as 10, therefore (3𝑥) 2 + 𝑥 2 = 102 so 10𝑥 2 = 100 and 𝑥 2 = 10. x M
Hence the area of the square is (2𝑥) 2 = 4𝑥 2 = 4 × 10 = 40. V

21. D Half the diagram is shown here. In it, the shaded area equals the area √
of a right-angled isosceles triangle of side-length 2 plus the area of a 2
large semicircle minus the area of a small semicircle of radius 1. Using √ 2
Pythagoras’ Theorem, √ the diameter of the large semicircle has length 2 2
and so the radius is √ 2. Therefore the shaded area of the full diagram is 1 1
2[ 12 × 2 × 2 + 12 𝜋 × ( 2) 2 − 21 𝜋 × 12 ] = 2(2 + 𝜋 − 12 𝜋) = 4 + 𝜋.
 √ √
22. B Squaring
√ both sides of the equation
√ gives 𝑥 − 𝑥 + 23 = 8 − 4 2𝑦 + 𝑦 2 which can be rearranged
to √𝑥 + 23 = (𝑥 − 8 − 𝑦 2 ) + 4 2𝑦 [1]. Squaring equation [1] gives 𝑥 + 23 = (𝑥 − 8 − 𝑦 2 ) 2 +
2(4 2𝑦)(𝑥 − 8 − 2 2
√ 𝑦 ) + 32𝑦 [2]. We are given that both 𝑥 and 𝑦 are integers and so the surd
component, 2(4 2𝑦)(𝑥 − 8 − 𝑦 2 ), must equal 0. Therefore either 𝑦 = 0 or (𝑥 − 8 − 𝑦 2 ) = 0 [3].
Consider first the case 𝑦 = 0. Here, equation [2] reduces to 𝑥 + 23 = (𝑥 − 8) 2 . This expands to
𝑥 2 − 17𝑥 + 41 = 0 which has no integer solutions as its discriminant is (−17) 2 − 4√× 1 × 41 = √ 125,
2
which is not square. Secondly considering (𝑥 − 8 − 𝑦 ) = 0 [3] reduces [1] to 𝑥 + 23 = 4 2𝑦
and therefore 𝑥 + 23 = 32𝑦 2 . Using [3] again gives 𝑥 = 8 + 𝑦 2 and so 31 + 𝑦 2 = 32𝑦 2 . Therefore
𝑦 2 = 1. Hence 𝑦 = ±1 and in either case, 𝑥 = 8 + 1 = 9. Because equations have been squared,
some solutions could be spurious. Substituting in the original equation, we see that (9, 1) is a
solution but (9, −1) is not. Hence there is just one solution.
√
23. A The
√ lengths of
√ the sides of the three squares are √10, I
3 10 and √ 2 10 respectively. Therefore 𝐻𝑄 = 2 10
H J
and √𝑅𝐽 = 10. In triangle 𝐺𝑄𝐻, the gradient of 𝐺𝐻
K
is 2√ 10 = 2. In triangle 𝐽 𝑅𝐾, the gradient of 𝐽𝐾 is 90 R
√ 10
G Q 40
−√ 10 −1
= 2 . Therefore lines 𝐹 𝐼 (on which 𝐺𝐻 lies) and 10
2 10 FP O N M L
𝐼 𝐿 (on which 𝐽𝐾 lies) are perpendicular.

All five right-angled triangles around the edge of the figure and triangle√ 𝐹 𝐼 𝐿 itself are similar as
they contain the same angles. They all have sides in the ratio 1 : 2 : 5. To calculate the area of
triangle 𝐹 𝐼 𝐿 we need the length 𝐼 𝐿, as the area of 𝐹 𝐼 𝐿 = 12 × 𝐼 𝐿 × 12 𝐼 𝐿. The length 𝐼 𝐿 is made
√ √ √ √ √
of three sections: 𝐽𝐾 = 10 × 5, 𝐾 𝐿 = 2𝐽𝐾 = 2 × 10 × 5 and 𝐼𝐽 = √2 × 𝐻𝐽 = √2 × 3 10.
√ √ √ √ 5 5
Therefore 𝐼 𝐿 √= 𝐼𝐽 + √𝐽𝐾 + 𝐾 𝐿 = 6 2 + 50 + 2 50 = 21 2. Hence the area of triangle
𝐹 𝐼 𝐿 = 21 × 21 2 × 212 2 = 220.5.
24. D Rearranging 𝑥𝑦 = 𝑝𝑥 + 𝑞𝑦 to make 𝑦 the subject, gives 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑞𝑦 = 𝑝𝑥 so y
𝑝𝑥 𝑝𝑞
𝑦(𝑥 − 𝑞) = 𝑝𝑥 and therefore 𝑦 = 𝑥−𝑞 which rearranges to 𝑦 = 𝑝 + 𝑥−𝑞 .
A sketch of the graph of this function for real values of 𝑥 and 𝑦 is shown.
As 𝑥 and 𝑦 are both integers in this question, 𝑦 takes its maximum value p
when 𝑥 − 𝑞 is as small as possible therefore 𝑥 − 𝑞 = 1 so 𝑥 = 𝑞 + 1. The q x
𝑝𝑥
expression 𝑦 − 𝑥 then becomes − 𝑥 = ( 𝑝 − 1)𝑥 = ( 𝑝 − 1)(𝑞 + 1).
1

25. A Q R R
10 2
2
√
96
M S N h

P M √ S M √ S
96 96

Let 𝑀 be the midpoint of 𝑄𝑃. The volume of the carton is 13 × base area of triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑆 ×
the perpendicular
√ height
√ from R to the plane 1containing
√ 𝑃𝑄𝑆.√Triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑆 is isosceles and
2 2
𝑀𝑆 = 10 − 2 = 96. So area of 𝑃𝑄𝑆 = 2 × 4 × 96 = 8 6. Consider isosceles triangle
q √ √
𝑀 𝑅𝑆 and let 𝑁 be the midpoint of 𝑅𝑆. 𝑀 𝑁 = ( 96) 2 − 22 = 92, so with 𝑅𝑆 as the base,
√ √
area of 𝑀 𝑅𝑆 = 12 × 4 × 92 = 4 23. Now with 𝑀𝑆 as the base, area of 𝑀 𝑅𝑆 = 12 × 𝑀𝑆 × ℎ.
√ √ √ √ √ √
Therefore 4 23 = 21 × 96 × ℎ and ℎ = 2√23 . Finally, the volume = 13 × 8 6 × 2√23 = 16 3 23 .
6 6