Thinking about Possibilities!

Logic Level 3

At the Brilliant's annual Math Competition, five members Andrew , Brian , Calvin , Daniel and Eugene , each take part in five events, namely Algebra Challenge , Number Theory Challenge , Geometry Challenge , Calculus Challenge and Logic Challenge .

In each challenge, scores of 5,4,3,2 and 1 are awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, respectively. There are no ties. Andrew scores a total of 24 24 points, Calvin scores the same in each of four challenges, Daniel scores 4 4 in Algebra Challenge , and Eugene scores 5 5 in Number Theory Challenge and 3 3 in Geometry Challenge .

Surprisingly, their overall positions are in the alphabetical order of their names. There are no ties in the final standings.


Choose the correct option among the following:

  • A ) \large A) This information is not enough to find the scores of the members in each of the challenges.

  • B ) \large B) This information is enough to find the scores of the members in each of the challenges, and there is only one such solution.

  • C ) \large C) This information is enough to find the scores of the members in each of the challenges, and there is more than one solution.

C B A

This section requires Javascript.
You are seeing this because something didn't load right. We suggest you, (a) try refreshing the page, (b) enabling javascript if it is disabled on your browser and, finally, (c) loading the non-javascript version of this page . We're sorry about the hassle.

1 solution

First note that the scores of the five members must total to 5 ( 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 ) = 75. 5*(1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5) = 75. So since we are given that Andrew scores 24 24 points, the scores of the other four must total to 51. 51. Now since we are given that Eugene has 5 + 3 = 8 5 + 3 = 8 points from two of the events, the minimum total score he can get is 11 11 points. Since there are no ties, this means that the respective minimums for Daniel, Calvin and Brian are 12 , 13 12,13 and 14 , 14, respectively. Since 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 = 50 , 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 = 50, there is one point left to distribute. If this point were distributed to anyone other than Brian then the total score of at least one of the others would have to be increased by one as well, which would make the sum of all scores exceed 75. 75. Thus we know that the final scores of Eugene, Daniel, Calvin and Brian must be 11 , 12 , 13 11, 12, 13 and 15 , 15, respectively, (if, in fact, there ends up being any solution to this problem).

Now since Eugene scores 5 5 points in Number Theory, and since Andrew scores 24 24 points in total, we can conclude that Andrew's scores in the five events must be ( 5 , 4 , 5 , 5 , 5 ) , (5,4,5,5,5), (in the order that the events are listed). Also, since Eugene already has 8 8 points but only receives 11 11 points in total, his scores in the five events must be ( 1 , 5 , 3 , 1 , 1 ) . (1,5,3,1,1).

Next, for Calvin to receive the same scores in four events and to receive 13 13 points in total, he must receive 3 3 points in four events and 1 1 point in the fifth. (This is because he cannot receive 4 4 points in four events as his final score would then exceed 13 , 13, and he cannot receive 2 2 points in four events as he would then need to receive 5 5 points in the fifth, and all the 5 5 point scores have already been distributed.) Now since Eugene receives 3 3 points in Geometry, this implies that Calvin's scores in the five events must be ( 3 , 3 , 1 , 3 , 3 ) . (3,3,1,3,3).

Now since Daniel receives 4 4 points in Algebra, Brian must receive 2 2 points in this subject, as this will be the only score in this subject left to distribute. For Brian to reach a total of 15 15 points, he must then receive 13 13 points in the other four subjects. If he were to then receive only two of the remaining 4 4 -point scores left to distribute, then he would have to receive 5 5 points in the remaining two subjects. But since all the 3 3 -point scores have already been distributed, there would be no way for two scores to add to 5. 5. Thus Brian must receive 4 4 points in three subjects and 1 1 point in a fifth subject. Given that 4 4 -point scores have already been awarded in Algebra and Number Theory, we can conclude that Brian's scores in the five events are ( 2 , 1 , 4 , 4 , 4 ) . (2,1,4,4,4).

This forces Daniel to have a score sheet of ( 4 , 2 , 2 , 2 , 2 ) , (4,2,2,2,2), which does add to the required 12 12 points. We have thus established a unique solution, and hence the answer is B . \boxed{B}.

I just loved the solution. Brilliant. Nicely written as well :)

Satyajit Mohanty - 5 years, 8 months ago

Log in to reply

Thanks! Great problem. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 8 months ago

Same approach!

Arjen Vreugdenhil - 5 years, 8 months ago

Same approach! Excellent question.

Vinayak Verma - 5 years, 7 months ago

Shouldn't the other scores sum to 51

Sofia Fitzgerald - 5 years, 7 months ago

Log in to reply

Yes, you're right. I should have typed 51 51 rather than 49 49 and 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 = 50 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 = 50 rather than equalling 48. 48. The logic from that point on will still be the same since we still end up with just one point left to distribute, so my mistakes ended up being harmless typos, (phew!). Thanks for pointing out my mistake. :)

Brian Charlesworth - 5 years, 7 months ago

0 pending reports

×

Problem Loading...

Note Loading...

Set Loading...