I wrote the first Round of the South African Mathematics Olympiad today. I wanted to share the problems with the rest of you. I am eager to compare my answers.
This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science
related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should
explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments
should further the discussion of math and science.
When posting on Brilliant:
Use the emojis to react to an explanation, whether you're congratulating a job well done , or just really confused .
Ask specific questions about the challenge or the steps in somebody's explanation. Well-posed questions can add a lot to the discussion, but posting "I don't understand!" doesn't help anyone.
Try to contribute something new to the discussion, whether it is an extension, generalization or other idea related to the challenge.
Stay on topic — we're all here to learn more about math and science, not to hear about your favorite get-rich-quick scheme or current world events.
Markdown
Appears as
*italics* or _italics_
italics
**bold** or __bold__
bold
- bulleted - list
bulleted
list
1. numbered 2. list
numbered
list
Note: you must add a full line of space before and after lists for them to show up correctly
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.
print "hello world"
# I indented these lines
# 4 spaces, and now they show
# up as a code block.
print "hello world"
Math
Appears as
Remember to wrap math in \( ... \) or \[ ... \] to ensure proper formatting.
2 \times 3
2×3
2^{34}
234
a_{i-1}
ai−1
\frac{2}{3}
32
\sqrt{2}
2
\sum_{i=1}^3
∑i=13
\sin \theta
sinθ
\boxed{123}
123
Comments
A four-digit even number ABCD is formed by using four of the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 without repetition. How many even numbers less than 2014 can be formed in this way?
Clearly, A<3. Consider A=2. But then B>0, so it is greater than 2014. This leaves our one case, A=1. To make our number even, we choose 2,4, or 6 as the last digit. Otherwise, we can choose whatever digit we want. This gives 3×5×4=60.
Points P and Q are on line segment AB on the same side of the midpoint of AB. Point P divides AB in the ratio 2:3 and Q divides AB in the ratio 3:4. If PQ = 2, then the length of the segment AB is:
When the tens digit of a three digit number "abc" is deleted, a two-digit number "ac" is formed. How many numbers "abc" are there such that "abc" = 9 x "ac" + 4c. For example, 245 = 9 x 25 + 4 x 5
Note the bijection between rolls that sum to 15 and rolls that sum to 6.
Thus, we count the probability of getting a 6: Since each die must be at least one, we can count instead the number of ways to put 3 balls in 3 urns, namely (35)=10.
The total number of outcomes (assuming distinct dice) is 63=216.
Easy Math Editor
This discussion board is a place to discuss our Daily Challenges and the math and science related to those challenges. Explanations are more than just a solution — they should explain the steps and thinking strategies that you used to obtain the solution. Comments should further the discussion of math and science.
When posting on Brilliant:
*italics*
or_italics_
**bold**
or__bold__
paragraph 1
paragraph 2
[example link](https://brilliant.org)
> This is a quote
\(
...\)
or\[
...\]
to ensure proper formatting.2 \times 3
2^{34}
a_{i-1}
\frac{2}{3}
\sqrt{2}
\sum_{i=1}^3
\sin \theta
\boxed{123}
Comments
A four-digit even number ABCD is formed by using four of the digits 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7 without repetition. How many even numbers less than 2014 can be formed in this way?
Log in to reply
Clearly, A<3. Consider A=2. But then B>0, so it is greater than 2014. This leaves our one case, A=1. To make our number even, we choose 2,4, or 6 as the last digit. Otherwise, we can choose whatever digit we want. This gives 3×5×4=60.
Log in to reply
My solution, word-for-word
WOW Michael! Thanks for such clear answers with explanations. I think you also deserve STAR solver.
(a)...60
Log in to reply
Good!
The answer is definitely A) 60
Points P and Q are on line segment AB on the same side of the midpoint of AB. Point P divides AB in the ratio 2:3 and Q divides AB in the ratio 3:4. If PQ = 2, then the length of the segment AB is:
Log in to reply
(c)...70 looks correct here
Log in to reply
Yeah, I also got that.
∣74−53∣x=2→x=70
Rectangle ABCD has sides AB = 5 and CB = 3. Points E and F lie on diagonal AC such that AE = EF = FC. What is the area of triangle BEF?
A 3/2
B 5/8
C 5/2
D (1/2)∗34
E (1/3)∗68
Log in to reply
(c)...5/2...cause the 3 triangles have equal areas(length of altitude and base are same)
Log in to reply
Correct! I've awarded you the STAR SOLVER (see note description).
Log in to reply
C)5/2 because the there are 3 same triangles which means same area.
Note that [BAE]=[BEF]=[BFC], since they have equal bases and the same altitude. Thus, [BEF]=61[ABCD]=25
A right angled triangle has an area of 5. The altitude perpendicular to the hypotenuse has a length of 2. The perimeter of the triangle is:
A 55+5
B CUBEROOT(3) + 3
C 53+3
D 35+53
E 35+5
Log in to reply
(E)....Take out length of hypotenuse using the information it comes out to be 5 units
Let one side be a
the other side=25−a2
Given:
21a25−a2=5
On solving...a=25
while the other side=5
Log in to reply
I got the same answer!
When the tens digit of a three digit number "abc" is deleted, a two-digit number "ac" is formed. How many numbers "abc" are there such that "abc" = 9 x "ac" + 4c. For example, 245 = 9 x 25 + 4 x 5
Log in to reply
(d)..6
The numbers are-155,515,245,425,335,605
Log in to reply
I got 6 (i.e. option D) as my answer. The numbers I found were: 155, 245, 335, 425, 515 and 605.
Log in to reply
The details of the problem are useless. We just need the algebra. 100a+10b+c=9(10a+c)+4c
100a+10b+c=90a+13c
10(a+b)=12c
Thus c=5. a+b=6, since a=0 we get 6 solutions, namely 155,245,335,425,515,605.
Log in to reply
It is no details. It is just an example!
Three standard dice are rolled and the numbers thrown are added. The probability of getting a sum of 15 is:
Log in to reply
Note the bijection between rolls that sum to 15 and rolls that sum to 6.
Thus, we count the probability of getting a 6: Since each die must be at least one, we can count instead the number of ways to put 3 balls in 3 urns, namely (35)=10.
The total number of outcomes (assuming distinct dice) is 63=216.
The desired probability is 1085
(d)...5/108 looks like the correct one..
Total possibilities=6^3=216
Favourable possibilities:-(3,6,6)-'3" from here
no of favourable possibilities=10
Probability=10/216=5/108
Log in to reply
Yeah, that's correct!