IOQM 2025 COURSE

ALGEBRA
75 PROBLEMS HANDOUT
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 1 WHAT IS ALGEBRA
Algebra is the branch of mathematics that studies certain abstract

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systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of
statements within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic
that introduces variables and algebraic operations other than the

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standard arithmetic operations such as addition and multiplication.

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THIS IS HANDOUT FOR MATH OLYMPIAD ALGEBRA:-
ALL QUESTIONS ARE HAVING A GREAT CHANCE
TO COME IN IOQM 2025 AS ALL OF THEM ARE

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FROM BEST OF THE MATH CONTESTS AND
BOOKS OF RENOWNED MATHEMATICIANS
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SYLLABUS
Basic Algebraic Manipulations:
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Simplification of algebraic expressions Factorization of polynomials
Solving algebraic equations Polynomials:
Fundamental theorem of algebra Vieta’s formulas Newton’s
identities Eisenstein’s criterion Complex Numbers:
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Operations with complex numbers De Moivre’s Theorem Roots of

unity Sequences and Series:
Arithmetic progressions Geometric progressions Convergent and
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divergent series Infinite series summation (e.g., geometric series)

Binomial Theorem and Combinatorics:
Binomial coefficients Multinomial coefficients Combinatorial
/t.

identities Polynomial Equations:

Roots and coefficients of polynomial equations Factor theorem
Rational root theorem
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 QUESTIONS
1. If r and s are the roots of the equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, the

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value of r12 + s12 is:
b2 −4ac b2 −4ac b2 −2ac
(A) b2 −4ac (B) 2a
(C) c2
(D) c2
(E) none of these

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2. Tom, Dick and Harry started out on a 100-mile journey. Tom
and Harry went by automobile at the rate of 25 mph, while
Dick walked at the rate of 5 mph. After a certain distance,
Harry got off and walked on at 5 mph, while Tom went back

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for Dick and got him to the destination at the same time that
Harry arrived. The number of hours required for the trip was:
(A) 5 (B) 6 (C) 7 (D) 8 (E) none of these answers

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3. In order to draw a graph of ax2 +bx+c, a table of values was con-
structed. These values of the function for a set of equally spaced
increasing values of x were 3844, 3969, 4096, 4227, 4356, 4489, 4624,

(B) 4356
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and 4761. The one which is incorrect is:
(A) 4096 (C) 4489 (D) 4761 (E) none of these
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4. A line initially 1 inch long grows according to the
√ following √law,
where the first term is the initial length. 1 + 14 2 + 41 + 16
1
2+
1 1
√ 1
16
+ 64 2 + 64 + · · ·
If the growth process continues forever, the limit of the length
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of the line is:

21n+4
5. Prove that the fraction 14n+3
is irreducible for every natural
number n.
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21n+4
6. Prove that the fraction 14n+3
is irreducible for every natural
number n.
/t.

7. Determine all real numbers a such that the two polynomials

x2 + ax + 1 and x2 + x + a have at least one root in common.
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8. Show that, for all integers n, n2 + 2n + 12 is not a multiple of

121.
9. For x2 + 2x + 5 to be a factor of x4 + px2 + q, the values of p
and q must be, respectively:
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(A) −2, 5 (B) 5, 25 (C) 10, 20 (D) 6, 25 (E) 14, 25

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 10. Let x, y and z all exceed 1 and let w be a positive number such
that logx w = 24, logy w = 40 and logxyz w = 12. Find logz w.

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11. What is
√the product of the real roots of the equation x +18x+
30 = 2 x2 + 18x + 45?

02
12. Find the value of a2 + a4 + a6 + a8 + . . . + a98 if a1 , a2 , a3 . . .
is an arithmetic progression with common difference 1, and
a1 + a2 + a3 + . . . + a98 = 137.
13. Mary told John her score on the American High School Mathe-

_2
matics Examination (AHSME), which was over 80. From this,
John was able to determine the number of problems Mary
solved correctly. If Mary’s score had been any lower, but
still over 80, John could not have determined this. What was

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Mary’s score? (Recall that the AHSME consists of 30 multiple
choice problems and that one’s score, s, is computed by the
formula s = 30 + 4c − w, where c is the number of correct
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answers and w is the number of wrong answers. (Students are
not penalized for problems left unanswered.)
14. Determine x2 + y 2 + z 2 + w2 if
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2 2
x2 2 2 x2 2 2
22 −1
+ 22y−32 + 22z−52 + 22w−72 = 1 42 −1
+ 42y−32 + 42z−52 + 42w−72 = 1
2 2
x2 2 2 x2 2 2
62 −1
+ 62y−32 + 62z−52 + 62w−72 = 1 82 −1
+ 82y−32 + 82z−52 + 82w−72 = 1
15. Let S be a list of positive integers–not necessarily distinct–in
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which the number 68 appears. The average (arithmetic mean)

of the numbers in S is 56. However, if 68 is removed, the
average of the remaining numbers drops to 55. What is the
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largest number that can appear in S?

16. Determine the value of ab if log8 a + log4 b2 = 5 and log8 b +
/t.

log4 a2 = 7.
17. In the polynomial x4 − 18x3 + kx2 + 200x − 1984 = 0, the
product of 2 of its roots is −32. Find k.
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18. A sequence of integers a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . is chosen so that an =

an−1 − an−2 for each n ≥ 3. What is the sum of the first
2001 terms of this sequence if the sum of the first 1492 terms
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is 1985, and the sum of the first 1985 terms is 1492?

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 19. Let p(x) = x2 + bx + c, where b and c are integers. If p(x) is a
factor of both x4 + 6x2 + 25 and 3x4 + 4x2 + 28x + 5, what is

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p(1)?
20. The polynomial 1−x+x2 −x3 +· · ·+x16 −x17 may be written in
the form a0 + a1 y + a2 y 2 + · · · + a16 y 16 + a17 y 17 , where y = x + 1

02
and the ai ’s are constants. Find the value of a2 .
21. Evaluate the product
√ √ √  √ √ √  √ √ √  √ √ √ 

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5+ 6+ 7 5+ 6− 7 5− 6+ 7 − 5+ 6+ 7 .

22. Al walks down to the bottom of an escalator that is moving up

and he counts 150 steps. His friend, Bob, walks up to the top

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of the escalator and counts 75 steps. If Al’s speed of walking
(in steps per unit time) is three times Bob’s walking speed,
how many steps are visible on the escalator at a given time?
(Assume that this value is constant.)
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23. What is the largest positive integer n for which there is a unique
8 n 7
integer k such that 15 < n+k < 13 ?
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24. Find a if a and b are integers such that x2 − x − 1 is a factor
of ax17 + bx16 + 1.
25. Suppose that |xi | < 1 for i = 1, 2, . . . , n. Suppose further that
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|x1 | + |x2 | + · · · + |xn | = 19 + |x1 + x2 + · · · + xn |. What is the

smallest possible value of n?
26. Assume that x1 , x2 , . . . , x7 are real numbers such that
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x1 + 4x2 + 9x3 + 16x4 + 25x5 + 36x6 + 49x7 = 1,

4x1 + 9x2 + 16x3 + 25x4 + 36x5 + 49x6 + 64x7 = 12,
/t.

9x1 + 16x2 + 25x3 + 36x4 + 49x5 + 64x6 + 81x7 = 123.

Find the value of 16x1 +25x2 +36x3 +49x4 +64x5 +81x6 +100x7 .
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27. Compute (31)(30)(29)(28) + 1.
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 28. Find ax5 + by 5 if the real numbers a, b, x, and y satisfy the
equations

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ax + by = 3,
ax2 + by 2 = 7,

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ax3 + by 3 = 16,
ax4 + by 4 = 42.

29. Find the positive solution to

_2
1 1 2
x2 −10x−29
+ x2 −10x−45
− x2 −10x−69
=0
30. Find x2 + y 2 if x and y are positive integers such that

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xy + x + y = 71,
x2 y + xy 2 = 880.
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31. Jones covered a distance of 50 miles on his first trip. On a later
trip he traveled 300 miles while going three times as fast. His
new time compared with the old time was:
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32. The sum to infinity of 71 + 722 + 713 + 724 + · · · is:
 
a c
33. f the expression has the value ab − cd for all values of
d b
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2x 1
a, b, c and d, then the equation = 3:
x x
(A) Is satisfied for only 1 value of x
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(B) Is satisified for only 2 values of x

(C) Is satisified for no values of x
(D) Is satisfied for an infinite number of values of x
/t.

(E) None of these.

34. If the parabola y = −x2 + bx − 8 has its vertex on the x-axis,
then b must be:
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(A) a positive integer

(B) a positive or a negative rational number
(C) a positive rational number
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(D) a positive or a negative irrational number

(E) a negative irrational number
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 35. Indicate in which one of the following equations y is neither directly
nor inversely proportional to x:

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(A) x+y √ =0 (B) 3xy = 10 (C) x = 5y (D) 3x+y = 10
(E) xy = 3
36. 2 is a solution (root) of x3 + hx + 10 = 0, then h equals:

02
(A) 10 (B) 9 (C) 2 (D) − 2 (E) − 9
37. Determine 3x4 + 2x5 if x1 , x2 , x3 , x4 , and x5 satisfy the system of
equations below.

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2x1 +x2 +x3 +x4 +x5 = 6 x1 +2x2 +x3 +x4 +x5 = 12 x1 +x2 +2x3 +
x4 + x5 = 24 x1 + x2 + x3 + 2x4 + x5 = 48 x1 + x2 + x3 + x4 + 2x5 = 96
38. The equation 22x − 8 · 2x + 12 = 0 is satisfied by:

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(A) log(3) (B) 21 log(6) (C) 1+log( 32 ) (D) 1+ log(3)
log(2)
(E) none of these
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39. 5×104
=
(A) .002 (B) .2 (C) 20 Q (D) 200 (E) 2000
40. King Middle School has 600 students. Each student takes 5 classes
a day. Each teacher teaches 4 classes. Each class has 30 students
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and 1 teacher. How many teachers are there at King Middle School?
41. Find the number of triples of nonnegative integers (a, b, c) satisfying
a + b + c = 300 and
a2 b + a2 c + b2 a + b2 c + c2 a + c2 b = 6, 000, 000.
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42. Let x, y, and z be real numbers satisfying the system of equations

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xy + 4z = 60
yz + 4x = 60
zx + 4y = 60.
/t.

Let S be the set of possible values of x. Find the sum of the squares
of the elements of S.
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43. Let c be a real number, and let z1 and z2 be the two complex numbers
satisfying the equation z 2 − cz + 10 = 0. Points z1 , z2 , z11 , and z12
are the vertices of (convex) quadrilateral Q in the complex plane.
When the area of Q obtains its maximum possible value, c is closest
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to which of the following?

(A) 4.5 (B) 5 (C) 5.5 (D) 6 (E) 6.5
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 44. In the Queen’s croquet, a game begins with the ball at the bottom
wicket. All players hit the same ball. Each player hits the ball from

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the place the previous player has left it. When the ball is hit from
the bottom wicket, it has a 50
(a) If Alice makes the first hit and alternates hits with the Queen,

02
what is the probability that Alice is the first player to hit the goal
post with the ball?
(b) Suppose Alice, the King, and the Queen take turns hitting the
ball, with Alice playing first. Now what is the probability that Alice

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is the first player to hit the goal post with the ball?
45. How many triples (x, y, z) of rational numbers satisfy the following
system of equations?

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x+y+z =0
xyz + 4z = 0
xy + xz + yz + 2y = 0
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46. (a) Give an example of a polyhedron whose faces can be colored in
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such a way that each face is either blue or gold, no two gold faces
meet along an edge, and the total area of all the blue faces is half the
total area of all the gold faces. A blue face may meet another blue
face along an edge, and any colors may meet at vertices. Describe
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your polyhedron and also describe how to assign colors to the faces.
(b) Show that if the faces of a polyhedron are colored in such a
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way that each face is either blue or gold and no two gold faces meet
along an edge, and if the polyhedron contains a sphere inside it that
is tangent to each face, then the total area of all the blue faces is at
least as large as the total area of all the gold faces.
/t.

47. All the roots of the polynomial z 6 −10z 5 +Az 4 +Bz 3 +Cz 2 +Dz +16
are positive integers, possibly repeated. What is the value of B?
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(A) −88 (B) −80 (C) −64 (D) −41 (E) −40
48. If (1 + i)100 is expanded and written in the form a + bi where a and
b are real numbers, then a =
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100! 100! 1 1


(A) −250 (B) 2050 − 50!50! (C) (25!) 2 50! (D) 100! − 50!50! + 25!75! (E) 0
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 49. For what real values of x is
p √ p √
x + 2x − 1 + x − 2x − 1 = A,
√

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given (a) A = 2, (b) A = 1, (c) A = 2, where only non-negative
real numbers are admitted for square roots?
what real values of x is

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p √ p √
x + 2x − 1 + x − 2x − 1 = A,
√
given (a) A = 2, (b) A = 1, (c) A = 2, where only non-negative
real numbers are admitted for square roots?

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50. For what values of the variable x does the following inequality hold:

4x2
√ < 2x + 9 ?
(1 − 2x + 1)2

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51. (Hungary) Solve the system of equations:
x+y+z =a Q
x 2 + y 2 + z 2 = b2
xy = z 2
where a and b are constants. Give the conditions that a and b
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must satisfy so that x, y, z (the solutions of the system) are distinct
positive numbers.
52. Consider the system of equations
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ax21 + bx1 + c = x2
ax22 + bx2 + c = x3
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···
ax2n−1 + bxn−1 + c = xn
ax2n
/t.

+ bxn + c = x1
with unknowns x1 , x2 , · · · , xn where a, b, c are real and a ̸= 0. Let
∆ = (b − 1)2 − 4ac. Prove that for this system
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(a) if ∆ < 0, there is no solution,

(b) if ∆ = 0, there is exactly one solution,
(c) if ∆ > 0, there is more than one solution.
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53. Find all number triples (x, y, z) such that when any of these numbers
is added to the product of the other two, the result is 2.
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 54. Let a, b, and c denote three distinct integers, and let P denote a
polynomial having all integral coefficients. Show that it is impossible

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that P (a) = b, P (b) = c, and P (c) = a.
55. If a and b are two of the roots of x4 + x3 − 1 = 0, prove that ab is a
root of x6 + x4 + x3 − x2 − 1 = 0.

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56. P (x) is a polynomial of degree 3n such that

P (0) = P (3) = · · · = P (3n) = 2,

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P (1) = P (4) = · · · = P (3n − 2) = 1,
P (2) = P (5) = · · · = P (3n − 1) = 0, and
P (3n + 1) = 730.

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Determine n.
57. (Czech Republic) Four real numbers p, q, r, s satisfy
p + q + r + s = 9 and p2 + q 2 + r2 + s2 = 21.
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Prove that ab − cd ≥ 2 holds for some permutation (a, b, c, d) of
(p, q, r, s).
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58. (Poland) The sequence of real number a0 , a1 , a2 , . . . is defined recur-
sively by
a0 = −1, nk=0 ak+1
P n−k
= 0 for n ≥ 1.
Show that an > 0 for n ≥ 1.
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This was also Problem 6 of the 2007 Poland Math Olympiad.

59. Find the largest real number C such that for any positive integer n
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and any real numbers x1 , x2 , . . . , xn , the following inequality holds:

n X
X n n
X
(n − |j − i|)xi xj ≥ C x2i
/t.

i=1 j=1 i=1

60. (Hojoo Lee, South Korea) Let a, b, c be the sides of a triangle. Prove
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that
√ √ √
b+c−a c+a−b a+b−c
√ √ √ +√ √ √ +√ √ √ ≤ 3.
b+ c− a c+ a− b a+ b− c
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This problem also appeared on the 2007 IMO TSTs of Italy and
Bangladesh.
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 61. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be distinct positive integers and let M be a set of
n − 1 positive integers not containing s = a1 + a2 + . . . + an . A

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grasshopper is to jump along the real axis, starting at the point 0
and making n jumps to the right with lengths a1 , a2 , . . . , an in some
order. Prove that the order can be chosen in such a way that the

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grasshopper never lands on any point in M .
Author: Dmitry Khramtsov, Russia
62. Let (x, y, z) be an ordered triplet of real numbers that satisfies the
following system of equations:

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x + y 2 + z 4 = 0,
y + z 2 + x4 = 0,
z + x2 + y 4 = 0.

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If m is the minimum possible value of ⌊x3 +y 3 +z 3 ⌋, find the modulo
2007 residue of m.
√ Q
63. If 4x+ 2x = 1, then x: (A) is an integer (B) is fractional (C) is irrational (D)
64. For positive real numbers a, b, c, d,
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p
2a2 + (a2 + b2 )(a2 + c2 ) = 2bc
p
2a2 + (a2 + c2 )(a2 + d2 ) = 2cd
p
2a2 + (a2 + d2 )(a2 + b2 ) = 2db
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p p p
(a2 + b2 )(a2 + c2 )+ (a2 + c2 )(a2 + d2 )+ (a2 + d2 )(a2 + b2 ) = 2
Compute ab + ac + ad
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65. The points that satisfy the system x+y = 1, x2 +y 2 < 25, constitute
the following set:
(A) only two points
/t.

(B) an arc of a circle

(C) a straight line segment not including the end-points
(D) a straight line segment including the end-points
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(E) a single point

66. Given the line 3x + 5y = 15 and a point on this line equidistant
from the coordinate axes. Such a point exists in:
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(A) none of the quadrants (B) quadrant I only (C) quadrants I, II only
(D) quadrants I, II, III only (E) each of the quadrants
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 √ √ √
67. The first three terms of a geometric progression are 2, 3 2, 6 2.
Find the fourth term.
√ √ √ √

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(A) 1 (B) 7 2 (C) 8 2 (D) 9 2 (E) 10 2
68. Points P and Q are both in the line segment AB and on the same

02
side of its midpoint. P divides AB in the ratio 2 : 3, and Q divides
AB in the ratio 3 : 4. If P Q = 2, then the length of AB is:
(A) 60 (B) 70 (C) 75 (D) 80 (E) 85
69. Thirty-one books are arranged from left to right in order of increas-

_2
ing prices. The price of each book differs by $2 from that of each
adjacent book. For the price of the book at the extreme right a
customer can buy the middle book and the adjacent one. Then:

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(A) The adjacent book referred to is at the left of the middle book
(B) The middle book sells for $36
(C) The cheapest book sells for $4
(D) The most expensive book sells for $64
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(E) None of these is correct
70. Let S be the set of values assumed by the fraction 2x+3
x+2
. When x
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is any member of the interval x ≥ 0. If there exists a number M
such that no number of the set S is greater than M , then M is an
upper bound of S. If there exists a number m such that such that
no number of the set S is less than m, then m is a lower bound of
S. We may then say:
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(A) m is in S, but M is not in S

(B) M is in S, but m is not in S
m

(C) Both m and M are in S

(D) Neither m nor M are in S
(E) M does not exist either in or outside S
/t.

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71. When 1 − a1 is expanded the sum of the last three coefficients is:
(A) 22 (B) 11 (C) 10 (D) − 10 (E) − 11
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72. Let x, y be positive integers such that

x4 = (x − 1)(y 3 − 23) − 1

Find the maximum possible value of x + y.

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 73. Let {an }n≥0 be a non-decreasing, unbounded sequence of non-negative
integers with a0 = 0. Let the number of members of the sequence

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not exceeding n be bn . Prove that for all positive integers m and n,
we have
a0 + a1 + · · · + am + b0 + b1 + · · · + bn ≥ (m + 1)(n + 1).

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74. On an auto trip, the distance read from the instrument panel was
450 miles. With snow tires on for the return trip over the same
route, the reading was 440 miles. Find, to the nearest hundredth

_2
of an inch, the increase in radius of the wheels if the original radius
was 15 inches.
(A) .33 (B) .34 (C) .35 (D) .38 (E) .66

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75. Consider the set
S = {(a, b, c, d, e) : 0 < a < b < c < d < e < 100}
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where a, b, c, d, e are integers. If D is the average value of the fourth
element of such a tuple in the set, taken over all the elements of S,
find the largest integer less than or equal to D.
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CONGRATULATIONS YOU
HAVE SOLVED ALL 75
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PROBLEM OF THIS
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HANDOUT! :)
/t.
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