SECONDARY 3 SET 4

LOGICAL THINKING
1. Andrew goes northeast for 51km, then goes southeast for 21km and goes southwest for 31km. How
far is he now from the original position?
2. There are 200 black, 325 white and 375 red balls in a bag. Andy randomly picks balls from the bag
continuously. Also, he can exchange 2 different colour balls with the third colour ball. At least how
many ball(s) is/are needed to pick to ensure there are 100 balls of each color?
3. Find the sum of digits of ⏟
666 … 666 × ⏟999 … 999.
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
3
4. Determine the integer closest to √12052024.
5. We define 𝑛! = 𝑛 × (𝑛 − 1) × (𝑛 − 2) × … × 3 × 2 × 1. Determine the largest possible value of 𝑛 such
that 𝑛! is not divisible by 732.

ALGEBRA
6. Find the sum of all possible value(s) of 𝑥 that satisfies 2𝑥 4 + 10𝑥 3 − 30𝑥 2 − 90𝑥 + 108 = 0.
1
7. If 𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 1 = 0, find the value of 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 4 .
(𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 4
8. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are real numbers that satisfy { , find the sum of all possible values of
(4𝑥 + 9𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 26
𝑥.
20
9. It is known that 𝑥 < 0 and 𝑥 = 5 − 8 . Find the value of 𝑥. (Answer in surd form)
4+ 20
5−
4+⋯
10. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑓(−1) = 10, 𝑓(2) = 1 and 𝑓(−3) = 36, find 𝑓(−4).

NUMBER THEORY
11. Find the value of the last two digits of 3 + 28 + 103 + 1128 + 11103 + ⋯ + ⏟
111 … 128.
2024 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑠
61
12. Find the remainder when 39 is divided by 12.
1 1 1
13. Find the number of sets of positive integral solution(s) of 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 18.
14. It is known that 𝑘 is a positive odd number less than 500. If 9𝑘 2 + 22𝑘 + 13 is divisible by 4, find
the number of possible value(s) of 𝑘.
15. A four-digit number 𝑥 has a remainder of 3 when divided by 7, has a remainder of 4 when divided
by 9 and has a remainder of 5 when divided by 11. Determine the minimum value of 𝑥.
GEOMETRY
16. The lengths of a cuboid are in ratio 3: 5: 9. If the volume of the cuboid is 46305, find the shortest
length of the cuboid.
17. If the area of a triangle with side lengths 27,31 and 40 is 𝑛√11, find the value of 𝑛.
18. The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 2024. Find the maximum length of the altitude
with respect to the hypotenuse.
19. If the sides of a triangle are 27, 29 and 52, find the radius of inscribed circle of the triangle.
20. Find the area of the convex quadrilateral formed using the coordinates
(−7,3), (−3,1), (2,6), (1,1)
as vertices in the coordinate system.

COMBINATORICS
21. There are 3 blue balls, 6 red balls, and 9 white balls in a bag. Brian randomly picks a ball from the
bag. It is known that the ball drawn is not blue. What is the probability that the ball drawn is blue
or red?
22. Ben and Shawn sit in a row with 5 classmates and take a photo. If Ben and Shawn cannot sit next to
each other, how many different arrangement(s) is/are there?
23. Suppose four cards are drawn from an ordinary poker deck of 52 playing cards without
replacement. Find the probability of getting two Aces and two Queens.
24. A fair 6-faced die is thrown 2 times. Find the probability that the sum of numbers obtained is a
multiple of 4.
25. How many different way(s) is/are there to line up 3 identical black balls, 4 identical white balls and
4 identical red balls in a row from left to right such that no black ball is adjacent to another black
ball?
 SECONDARY 3 SET 4
Solution Manual

LOGICAL THINKING
1. Andrew goes northeast for 51km, then goes southeast for 21km and goes southwest for 31km. How
far is he now from the original position?
Answer: 29
Solution:
√(51 − 31)2 + 212
= √202 + 212
= 29

2. There are 200 black, 325 white and 375 red balls in a bag. Andy randomly picks balls from the bag
continuously. Also, he can exchange 2 different colour balls with the third colour ball. At least how
many ball(s) is/are needed to pick to ensure there are 100 balls of each color?
Answer: 575
Solution:
Worst-case scenario:
375 𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 + 200 𝑏𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 = 575
(Note: we can exchange excess 100 red balls and 100 black/white balls into 100 white/black
balls)

3. Find the sum of digits of ⏟

666 … 666 × ⏟
999 … 999.
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
Answer: 18216
Solution:
999 … 999 = 102024 − 1.
⏟
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
Now,
666 … 666 × (102024 − 1)
⏟
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
=⏟
666 … 666 ⏟
000 … 000 − ⏟
666 … 666
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
=⏟
666 … 666 5 ⏟
333 … 333 4.
2023 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠 2023 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
Hence, we have
6(2023) + 5 + 3(2023) + 4
= 18216.
 3
4. Determine the integer closest to √12052024.
Answer: 229
Solution:
Setting close approximations:
2203 = 10648000
2303 = 12167000
It can be presumed at this point that it should be close to 230.
2293 = 12008989
Since 12052024 is closer to 2293 than 2303 , we have 229.

5. We define 𝑛! = 𝑛 × (𝑛 − 1) × (𝑛 − 2) × … × 3 × 2 × 1. Determine the largest possible value of 𝑛 such

that 𝑛! is not divisible by 732.
Answer: 60
Solution:
732 = 22 × 3 × 61
𝑛! is not divisible by 732 when 𝑛 < 61.
Hence, 𝑛 = 60.

ALGEBRA
6. Find the sum of all possible value(s) of 𝑥 that satisfies 2𝑥 4 + 10𝑥 3 − 30𝑥 2 − 90𝑥 + 108 = 0.
Answer: −5
Solution:
Using Vieta’s formulas, we have
10
− = −5.
2
1
7. If 𝑥 2 − 9𝑥 + 1 = 0, find the value of 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 4 .
Answer: 6239
Solution:
𝑥 2 + 1 = 9𝑥
1
𝑥+ =9
𝑥
1 2
(𝑥 + ) = 92
𝑥
1
𝑥 2 + 2 = 81 − 2 = 79
𝑥
1 2
(𝑥 2 + 2 ) = 792
𝑥
1
𝑥 4 + 4 = 6241 − 2 = 6239
𝑥
 (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 4
8. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are real numbers that satisfy { , find the sum of all possible values of
(4𝑥 + 9𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 26
𝑥.
Answer: 0
Solution:
Taking the root of the first equation, we can have two equations,
𝑥 + 𝑦 = ±2, or 𝑦 = ±2 − 𝑥.
Substituting both, we have:
(4𝑥 + 9(2 − 𝑥))(2) = 26
4𝑥 + 18 − 9𝑥 = 13
5𝑥 = 5
𝑥=1
(4𝑥 + 9(−2 − 𝑥))(−2) = 26
4𝑥 − 18 − 9𝑥 = −13
5𝑥 = −5
𝑥 = −1.
Hence, we have 0.
20
9. It is known that 𝑥 < 0 and 𝑥 = 5 − 8 . Find the value of 𝑥. (Answer in surd form)
4+ 20
5−
4+⋯
Answer: −1 − √11 𝑜𝑟 − √11 − 1
Solution:
20
𝑥 = 5−
8
4+𝑥
20𝑥
𝑥 =5−
4𝑥 + 8
4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 = 20𝑥 + 40 − 20𝑥
4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 40 = 0
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 10 = 0
Using quadratic formula, we have
−2 ± √22 − 4(1)(−10)
𝑥=
2(1)
−2 ± √44
𝑥=
2
𝑥 = −1 ± √11.
Hence, we have −1 − √11 𝑜𝑟 − √11 − 1.

10. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, 𝑓(−1) = 10, 𝑓(2) = 1 and 𝑓(−3) = 36, find 𝑓(−4).
Answer: 55
Solution:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(𝑥 + 1) + 𝐶(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2).
When 𝑥 = −1,
𝑓(−1) = 𝐴 + 0 + 0 = 𝐴 = 10.
When 𝑥 = 2,
𝑓(2) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(2 + 1) + 0 = 10 + 3𝐵 = 1
3𝐵 = 1 − 10 = −9
𝐵 = −3.
 When 𝑥 = −3,
𝑓(−3) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(−3 + 1) + 𝐶(−3 + 1)(−3 − 2) = 10 + (−3)(−2) + 10𝐶 = 36
10𝐶 = 36 − 10 − 6
𝐶 = 2.
Hence,
𝑓(𝑥) = 10 − 3(𝑥 + 1) + 2(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 2).
Therefore,
𝑓(−4) = 10 − 3(−4 + 1) + 2(−4 + 1)(−4 − 2) = 10 + 9 + 36 = 55.

NUMBER THEORY
11. Find the value of the last two digits of 3 + 28 + 103 + 1128 + 11103 + ⋯ + ⏟
111 … 128.
2024 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑠
Answer: 72
Solution:
(3 + 28 + 103 + 1128 + 11103 + ⋯ + ⏟
111 … 128) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 100
2024 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠
≡ (1012(3) + 1012(28)) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 100
≡ 12(3) + 12(28) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 100
≡ 36 + 336 𝑚𝑜𝑑 100
≡ 72 𝑚𝑜𝑑 100
This means that the value of the last two digits is 72.

12. Find the remainder when 3961 is divided by 12.

Answer: 3
Solution:
Note that
391 ≡ 3 𝑚𝑜𝑑 12
392 ≡ 32 ≡ 9 𝑚𝑜𝑑 12
39 ≡ 33 ≡ 27 ≡ 3 𝑚𝑜𝑑 12
3

We can see that the pattern formed by the remainders is {3,9}.

Now,
61 ≡ 1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 2.
Hence, the remainder is 3.
1 1 1
13. Find the number of sets of positive integral solution(s) of 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 18.
Answer: 15
Solution:
1 1 1
+ =
𝑎 𝑏 18
𝑎+𝑏 1
=
𝑎𝑏 18
𝑎𝑏 = 18𝑎 + 18𝑏
𝑎𝑏 − 18𝑎 − 18𝑏 = 0
(𝑎 − 18)(𝑏 − 18) = 182
Note that
182 = 22 × 34 .
Hence, the number of positive integral solutions is (2 + 1)(4 + 1) = 3(5) = 15.
 14. It is known that 𝑘 is a positive odd number less than 500. If 9𝑘 2 + 22𝑘 + 13 is divisible by 4, find
the number of possible value(s) of 𝑘.
Answer: 250
Solution:
9𝑘 2 + 22𝑘 + 13 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
𝑘 2 + 2𝑘 + 1 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
(𝑘 + 1)2 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
Hence, we have
(𝑘 + 1)2 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
𝑘 + 1 ≡ 0 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
𝑘 ≡ −1 ≡ 3 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
and
(𝑘 + 1)2 ≡ 4 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
𝑘 + 1 ≡ 2 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4
𝑘 ≡ 1 ≡ 1 𝑚𝑜𝑑 4.
Therefore, the possible values of 𝑘 are all positive odd numbers less than 500, which has a total of
250 values.

15. A four-digit number 𝑥 has a remainder of 3 when divided by 7, has a remainder of 4 when divided
by 9 and has a remainder of 5 when divided by 11. Determine the minimum value of 𝑥.
Answer: 1039
Solution:
𝑥 ≡ 3 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7
𝑥 ≡ 4 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9
𝑥 ≡ 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
Using CRT, we have
3 𝑚𝑜𝑑 7 4 𝑚𝑜𝑑 9 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 11
𝑥≡ 9 × 11 × 3 7 × 11 × (−1) 7×9×2
𝑥≡ 297 −77 126
Now,
𝑥 ≡ (297 − 77 + 126) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 (𝐿𝐶𝑀(7,9,11)) ≡ 346 𝑚𝑜𝑑 693
𝑥 ≡ 1039 𝑚𝑜𝑑 693.
Therefore, the minimum value of 𝑥 is 1039.

GEOMETRY
16. The lengths of a cuboid are in ratio 3: 5: 9. If the volume of the cuboid is 46305, find the shortest
length of the cuboid.
Answer: 21
Solution:
𝑉 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ = 3𝑥(5𝑥)(9𝑥) = 135𝑥 3 = 46305
Now,
𝑥 3 = 343
𝑥 = 7.
Hence, the shortest length of the cuboid is 3(7) = 21.
17. If the area of a triangle with side lengths 27,31 and 40 is 𝑛√11, find the value of 𝑛.
Answer: 126
Solution:
27 + 31 + 40
𝑠= = 49
2
Using Heron’s Formula,
𝐴 = √49(49 − 27)(49 − 31)(49 − 40)
𝐴 = √49(22)(18)(9) = 7(18)√11 = 126√11.
Hence, 𝑛 = 126.

18. The length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle is 2024. Find the maximum length of the altitude
with respect to the hypotenuse.
Answer: 1012
Solution:
Note that in order for us to have the maximum altitude length, the right triangle must be an
isosceles right triangle.
Let 𝑥 be the length of the legs.
Since the hypotenuse is 2024, then the length of the legs is
𝑥√2 = 2024
𝑥 = 1012√2.
Let 𝑎 be the altitude of the right triangle with respect to the hypotenuse.
The altitude is perpendicular to the hypotenuse, thus creating two smaller isosceles right triangles
with hypotenuse equal to the length of the legs of the original right triangle.
Hence, we have
𝑎√2 = 1012√2
𝑎 = 1012.

19. If the sides of a triangle are 27, 29 and 52, find the radius of inscribed circle of the triangle.
Answer: 5
Solution:
27 + 29 + 52
𝑠= = 54
2
𝐴 = √54(54 − 27)(54 − 29)(54 − 52)
𝐴 = √54(27)(25)(2)
𝐴 = 54(5) = 270.

Now,
𝐴 = 𝑟𝑠
270 = (54)𝑟
𝑟 = 5.
 20. Find the area of the convex quadrilateral formed using the coordinates
(−7,3), (−3,1), (2,6), (1,1)
as vertices in the coordinate system.
Answer: 25
Solution:
Using shoelace method, we have
1 −7 −3 1 2 −7
𝐴= | |
2 3 1 1 6 3
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = |(−7)(1) + (−3)(1) + 1(6) + 2(3) − [(−3)(3) + 1(1) + 2(1) + (−7)(6)]|
2
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = |−7 − 3 + 6 + 6 − (−9 + 1 + 2 − 42)|
2
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = |2 − (−48)|
2
1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = |50|
2
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 25.

COMBINATORICS
21. There are 3 blue balls, 6 red balls, and 9 white balls in a bag. Brian randomly picks a ball from the
bag. It is known that the ball drawn is not blue. What is the probability that the ball drawn is blue
or red?
2
Answer: 5
Solution:
𝑃(𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑑) = 𝑃(𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒) + 𝑃(𝑟𝑒𝑑) − 𝑃(𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑑)
Note that a ball cannot be blue and red at the same time.
Also, it is given that the ball is not blue.
Hence, we have
6
𝑃(𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑑) = 0 + −0
(6 + 9)
6 2
𝑃(𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑑) = = .
15 5

22. Ben and Shawn sit in a row with 5 classmates and take a photo. If Ben and Shawn cannot sit next to
each other, how many different arrangement(s) is/are there?
Answer: 3600
Solution:
7! − 2! (7 − 1)!
= 7! − 2(6!)
= 6! (7 − 2)
= 720(5)
= 3600
23. Suppose four cards are drawn from an ordinary poker deck of 52 playing cards without
replacement. Find the probability of getting two Aces and two Queens.
36
Answer:
270725
Solution:
(42)(42)
(52
4
)
6(6)
=
270725
36
=
270725

24. A fair 6-faced die is thrown 2 times. Find the probability that the sum of numbers obtained is a
multiple of 4.
1
Answer: 4
Solution:
𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 4: (1,3), (2,2), (3,1)
𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 8: (2,6), (3,5), (4,4), (5,3), (6,2)
𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 12: (6,6)
Hence, we have
9 9 1
2
= = .
6 36 4

25. How many different way(s) is/are there to line up 3 identical black balls, 4 identical white balls and
4 identical red balls in a row from left to right such that no black ball is adjacent to another black
ball?
Answer: 5880
Solution:
You can arrange the white and red balls first.
There are
(4 + 4)! 8!
= = 70
4! 4! 4! 4!
possible arrangements from left to right.
Note that we have a total of 9 spaces that we can choose to place the black balls individually.
Hence, we have
9 9!
( )= = 84.
3 3! 6!
Therefore, we have
70(84) = 5880
total ways.