2021 AMC

46 2021 AMC Junior Solutions

Junior Solutions

Junior Solutions
Solutions – Junior Division
1. 2021 − 1202 = 819,
hence (C).

2. The horizontal segments are 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 14.

The vertical segments are 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 5 = 12.
Therefore the total perimeter is 14 + 12 = 26,
hence (B).

1 1
3. With b = 6 and h = 4, the area is A = × b × h = × 6 × 4 = 12 cm2 ,
2 2
hence (B).

4. There are 4 intervals between 0 and 1, so these are quarters. Each quarter can be each cut
3 1 1
in half to make eighths, and then is between = Q and = R,
8 4 2
hence (B).

5. The numbers are (A) 20 200, (B) 22 000, (C) 2020, (D) 202 and (E) 220. Of these, the
closest to 2021 is 2020,
hence (C).

6. Let X and Y be the points of intersection, as shown.

Due to supplementary angles, ∠DXB = 180◦ − 43◦ = 137◦ .
Due to corresponding angles, ∠DEF = ∠DXB = 137◦ .
Due to corresponding angles x◦ = ∠BY F = ∠DEF = 137◦ .

B
D ◦
F
137 x◦
43◦
> 137◦ >> Y
>> X >
A C
E
hence (E).

7. The correct calculation is 5 × 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14, but Mr Meow’s calculation is 5 + 2 × 4 =

5 + 8 = 13, which is one less,
hence (B).

8. From 11:49 am, there are 11 minutes until midday. Since 75 − 11 = 64, the cake should
come out of the oven at 1:04 pm,
hence (A).

9. The number of people who now know the joke is 1 + 3 + 3 × 3 = 13,

hence (C).

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10. (Also MP12, UP11)

In (B), the five cards can’t be dropped in any order, since 2, 7, 6, 4, 9 is a cycle of 5 cards
where each is on top of the next one, so no single card is on top.
Several of the other options have cycles with fewer cards: (A) has 2, 9, 4; (C) has 4, 9, 7,
6 and (D) has 2, 7, 6.
The remaining option is (E), which is possible in the order 4, 7, 9, 2, 6 or in the order 7,
4, 9, 2, 6,
hence (E).
Note: Another way of eliminating (B) and (D) is to observe that the last card dropped
must be on top, not under another card. However, in (B) each card is under another card,
and likewise for (D). Further, (A) and (C) can also be eliminated. Each has a top (last)
card, but once this is removed none of the other four cards is on top, so none of these can
be the second-last card.

11. (Also I8)

Alternative 1
There are four bags, and one-fifth of a bag is lucerne. Let the lucerne be one unit, then
one bag has 5 units and four bags has 20 units. So the lucerne is 1 part in 20 in the total
mix, which is 5%,
hence (B).
Alternative 2
Each bag is one-quarter or 25% of the mix. The lucerne is one-fifth of one bag, which is
5% of the mix,
hence (B).

12. Alternative 1
The squares have sides 3 cm, 5 cm and 4 cm, so we can find all lengths in the perimeter:

5
1 4
3 2

3 4

3 5 4

Then the perimeter is 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 = 34,

hence (A).
Alternative 2
The original squares have combined perimeter 12+20+16 = 58 cm and sides 3 cm, 5 cm and
4 cm. The join on the left is 3 cm long, so reduces the combined perimeter by 2 × 3 = 6 cm.
Similarly the join on the right reduces the combined perimeter by 8 cm. The perimeter of
the shape is then 58 − 6 − 8 = 34 cm,
hence (A).

13. The next palindrome after 199 786 is 199 991. Then 199 991 − 199 786 = 991 − 786 = 205,
hence (D).

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14. The sum of all four distances, which is 10 cm, is equal to the width plus the height of the
square, which is twice length of the square’s side. So the square has sides of length 5 cm.
The diagram suggests that there are 8 possible points. Indeed, if we
choose one side to be of distance 1 (a choice from 4 sides) and an adjacent
side to be of distance 2 (a choice from 2 sides), there is a unique position
for the point. There are 4 × 2 = 8 such choices.
From these 8 possible points, one of them is P , so there are 7 other points
with these distances,
hence (D).

 2 1
15. Consider x = . If x is less than , then x + will be less than 1; and if x is greater than
10 3 3
2 1
or equal to , then x + will be greater than or equal to 1. So we just consider whether
3 3
 2 2
< . But = 0.6̇ ≈ 0.67 so that  = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are the possible values,
10 3 3
hence (D).

16. (Also UP22)

The top face of the left block is 3 cm wide with area 27 cm2 , 9 28
27
so is 9 cm deep, as labelled on the diagram. h
On this diagram, the solution h = 6, w = 7, a = 5 and b = 4
can be found by exploring possible factorisations. However, 42 30
there may be other solutions. b
3 a
The height h is a factor of both 30 and 42, which means w
h = 1, 2, 3 or 6. Then the depth of the front-right block is
a = 30, 15, 10 or 5. However, a must be less than 9, so the only possibility is a = 5. Then
h = 6, b = 4 and w = 7, and so our first solution is the only solution.
The combined volume is (3 + 7) × 9 × 6 = 10 × 9 × 6 = 540 cm3 ,
hence (B).

17. (Also I11)

Let x be the smallest number, so that the four numbers are x, x + 2, x + 4 and x + 6.
Then x + 6 = 2x − 1. Solving, x + 7 = 2x and then x = 7.
Consequently the numbers are 7, 9, 11, 13 and the largest is 13,
hence (C).
18. Label some more side lengths, then evaluate the areas, using 3 7
the grid shown and area formulas for rectangles and triangles:
1 A B
A=3×6 + × 1 × 6 = 18 + 3 = 21 m2 4
2 6 6 C
1
B= × 7 × 6 = 21 m2
2
1 3 1 6
C = × 4 × 6 = 12 m2 D 6
2 4 4
E
1
D = × 6 × 6 = 18 m2
2 4 6
1
E = 4 × 4 + × 6 × 4 = 16 + 12 = 28 m2
2
Then region E has the largest area,
hence (E).

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19. Alternative 1
Together, Rachel and Sandy have 180 cars. Thandie has the other 300 − 180 = 120.
Together, Rachel and Thandie have 200 cars. So Rachel has 200 − 120 = 80 cars,
hence (A).
Alternative 2
Let the number of cars that Rachel, Sandy and Thandie have be R, S and T .
Then R + S + T = 300, R + S = 180 and R + T = 200.
Then R + S + R + T = 180 + 200 so that 2R + S + T = 380. Subtracting R + S + T = 300
gives R = 80,
hence (A).

20. (Also I15)

Here is the result of rolling the dice. Note that the corner of the dice in the centre of the
2 × 2 square remains there, and it is the corner common to the faces with 4, 5, and 6 pips.

Then the upward-facing side is ,

hence (C).

21. A puzzle with two clues is possible: place 1 and 3 in opposite corners as shown, then the
top row can’t be 1,2,3 so must be 1,3,2. Similarly the bottom row must be 2,1,3. Finally
the middle row must be 3,2,1.

clues 1 1 3 2 1 3 2
3 2 1
3 2 1 3 2 1 3

A puzzle with only one clue will not have a unique solution. This is because a solution for
this clue can always be turned into a different solution for the same clue. For instance, if
we rewrite our solution but completely swap the two rows that don’t include the clue, we
get a different solution.

1 2 3 3 1 2
clue 2 2 3 1 2 3 1
3 1 2 1 2 3

So the smallest number of clues that Leonhard could include is 2,

hence (B).

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22. The seating has to be cAcAc where A means adult and c means child.
The adults can be placed two ways.
For each of these two ways, the grandchildren can be placed 6 ways: 3 choices for the first
child, then 2 choices for the second and third children.
In all there are 12 arrangements,
hence (B).

23. There are two cases, whether two painted faces are parallel or not.
Case 1: no painted faces are parallel, so that the three painted faces have a common vertex.
Removing the painted cubes leaves a 3 × 3 × 3 cube, so the number of unpainted unit cubes
is 33 = 27 unit cubes.
Case 2: a pair of painted faces are parallel. Removing the painted cubes leaves a block
that is 2 × 3 × 4 = 24 unit cubes.
These two cases are shown, with the painted cubes (blue paint) partially separated from
the block of unpainted cubes.

Case 1 Case 2

Paint Paint Paint

So the number of unpainted cubes is either 27 or 24. However, only 24 is one of the choices
in the question,
hence (C).

24. Alternative 1
1
The probability that they both roll the same is , because whatever number Ben rolls
6
there is a 1 in 6 chance that Jerry rolls the same. So the probability they roll different
5
scores is .
6
5
Half of those times Ben will have the higher score, therefore ,
12
hence (C).
Alternative 2 Jerry
Draw a 6 × 6 grid representing the 36 possibilities for both rolls, then 123456
shade those squares where Ben wins. There are 15 such squares. 1
2
3
Ben

Since all 36 pairs are equally likely, the probability that Ben wins is
15 5 4
= , 5
36 12 6

hence (C).

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25. Alternative 1
Let ∠P ST = x and ∠QT S = ∠QST = a.
Q
Then ∠T P S = a − x.
Then from the exterior angle of QRS, we get 180 − 2a
20
a + x = 20 + a − x
T a
So 2x = 20 and x = 10,
a−x x a
P S R
hence (A).
Alternative 2
The two isosceles triangles QP R and QT S each have a line of symmetry through Q.
This solution first aligns them. Rotate the QT S by 10◦ about point Q to get QT  S 
with ∠P QT  = ∠RQS  = 10◦ .

Q
|

10◦ 10◦ 

T S
P R
M

Then the diagram is symmetric about QM , the angle bisector of ∠P QR, and also of
∠T QS. Thus P R ⊥ QM and S  T  ⊥ QM so that P RS  T  . Since the angle between ST
and S  T  is 10◦ , the angle between ST and P R is 10◦ ,
hence (A).

26. Alternative 1
3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Following instructions, the 43 × 47 rectangle is cut into
a 43 × 43 square and a 43 × 4 rectangle.
Then the 43 × 4 rectangle has ten 4 × 4 squares cut off,
leaving a 3 × 4 rectangle.
Then the 3 × 4 square has a 3 × 3 square cut off, leaving
a 3 × 1 rectangle. 43
This is cut into into three 1 × 1 squares.
In total:

Side Perimeter Count Total

43 172 1 172
4 16 10 160
3 12 1 12
1 4 3 12
356

Then the combined perimeter is 356 units,

hence (356).

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Alternative 2
Working backwards, if the final square is a × a, then the size (side length) of each square
is a multiple of a. Hence the width and the height of every rectangle is a multiple of a.
In particular, a is a divisor of both 43 and 47. However, 43 and 47 are both prime, so
gcd(43, 47) = 1, and a = 1.
As we work from the 47 × 43 rectangle to the final 1 × 1 square, each cut reduces either
the width or the height of the rectangle by the size of the square that is cut off. Since the
width is reduced by 47 − 1 = 46 and the height is reduced by 43 − 1 = 42, the sum of the
sizes of all removed squares is 88. Including the 1 × 1 square left at the end, the sum of
the sizes of all squares is 89. The sum of perimeters is then 4 × 89 = 356,
hence (356).
Note: The process of cutting off squares is a geometric representation of the Euclidean
algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers. The argument in this
solution then generalises to an m × n rectangle, where the total perimeter of all squares is
4(m + n − gcd(m, n)).

27. Consider first choosing the two chairs in order. There are 14 choices of the first chair. After
that choice, there are 12 choices of the second chair, since both the first chair and the chair
opposite can’t be chosen. So there are 14 × 12 = 168 ways of choosing the two chairs in
order. However, each pair of chairs is counted twice by this method, so the number of ways
of choosing a pair that are not opposite each other is 168 ÷ 2 = 84,
hence (84).

28. Alternative 1
Whatever the freestyle time is, the breaststroke time is 3 times longer, the butterfly 1.5
times longer and backstroke 2 times longer. So the complete race is 7.5 times the freestyle
leg.
Since the full medley is 360 seconds, the freestyle leg is 360 ÷ 7.5 = 48 seconds, and we
can work out each other leg as follows:
Leg butterfly backstroke breaststroke freestyle
Time (seconds) 72 96 144 48
Then 240 seconds into the race, I have swum 100 metres of butterfly in 72 seconds, 100
metres of backstroke in 96 seconds and breaststroke for 240 − 72 − 96 = 72 seconds. This
is half-way through the backstroke leg, so I will have swum 50 metres of breaststroke. In
all, I have swum 100 + 100 + 50 = 250 metres after 4 minutes,
hence (250).
Alternative 2
Suppose my freestyle time is x minutes. Then my breaststroke time is 3x minutes, my
butterfly time is 1.5x minutes and my backstroke time is 2x minutes. My total time for
the relay is 7.5x minutes.
6
Then 7.5x = 6 =⇒ x = = 0.8. Consequently the times for butterfly, backstroke,
7.5
breaststroke and freestyle are 1.2 + 1.6 + 2.4 + 0.8 = 6 minutes.
Considering the first 4 minutes, note that 4 = 1.2 + 1.6 + 1.2 so that after 4 minutes I have
swum 100 m of butterfly, 100 m of backstroke and 50 m of breaststroke, a total distance of
100 + 100 + 50 = 250 metres,
hence (250).

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29. Label the vertices A, B, C, D, E and F , and consider first the paths that start AB, as
shown in the first diagram. The third vertex is F , C or E.

A A A A

D D D D
E C E C E C E C
B B B B
F F F F

If the third vertex is F , then the rest of the path is either CDE or EDC, so there are two
possible paths.
If the third vertex is C, then the rest of the path is one of DEF , DF E, F DE or F ED,
which is four possible paths. By symmetry, if the third vertex is E there are also four
possible paths.
Thus there are 2 + 4 + 4 = 10 paths that start AB.
Due to the symmetry of the octahedron, there will be 10 paths that start AC, 10 that
start AD and 10 that start AE. In all there are 4 × 10 = 40 paths,
hence (40).

30. Alternative 1 1 2 3 14 15
1 1 2 3 14 15
The pattern of white and black squares is as shown. The white
2 2 4 6 28 30
squares are those with odd row and odd column along with those
3 3 6 9 42 45
with even row and even column.
Consider first the odd-odd sum of the numbers with odd row
14 14 28 42 196 210
and odd column. We add one row at a time. If k is odd, the
15 15 30 45 210 225
sum of the numbers in row k with odd column is

k×1 + k×3 + k×5 + k×7 + k×9 + k×11 + k×13 + k×15

= k(1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15) = 64k

The odd-odd sum is then found by adding 64k for k = 1, 3, . . . , 15:

64×1 + 64×3 + 64×5 + 64×7 + 64×9 + 64×11 + 64×13 + 64×15

= 64 × (1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15) = 642 = 4096

Similarly, consider the even-even sum. For even k, row k includes

k(2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14) = 56k

and the sum across all even rows is then

56(2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14) = 562 = 3136

Finally, the sum of the numbers in all white squares is 4096 + 3136 = 7232,
hence (232).

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Alternative 2 1 2 3 14 15
1 1 2 3 14 15
The pattern of white and black squares is as shown. In the first
2 2 4 6 28 30
two rows, the white squares can be added:
3 3 6 9 42 45
(1 + 15) + (3 + 13) + (5 + 11) + (7 + 9) = 4 × 16 = 64
(4 + 28) + (8 + 24) + (12 + 20) + 16 = 3 × 32 + 16 = 112 14 14 28 42 196 210
15 15 30 45 210 225
In row 3, the white squares’ total is 3 times the total in row 1,
so 3 × 64. Similarly for odd k = 5, 7, . . . , 15, the white squares add to 64k.
k
Similarly, in even rows k = 4, 6, . . . , 14, the white squares add to 112 × .
2
Over the whole grid, the white squares add to

64 + 64 × 3 + 64 × 5 + · · · + 64 × 15 + 112 + 112 × 2 + · · · + 112 × 7

= 64(1 + 3 + · · · + 15) + 112(1 + 2 + · · · + 7)
= 64 × 64 + 112 × 28
= 7232

The last three digits of this total are 232,

hence (232).

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Junior Solutions
Solutions – Junior Division
1. 2021 − 1202 = 819,
hence (C).

2. The horizontal segments are 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 14.

The vertical segments are 2 + 1 + 2 + 2 + 5 = 12.
Therefore the total perimeter is 14 + 12 = 26,
hence (B).

1 1
3. With b = 6 and h = 4, the area is A = × b × h = × 6 × 4 = 12 cm2 ,
2 2
hence (B).

4. There are 4 intervals between 0 and 1, so these are quarters. Each quarter can be each cut
3 1 1
in half to make eighths, and then is between = Q and = R,
8 4 2
hence (B).

5. The numbers are (A) 20 200, (B) 22 000, (C) 2020, (D) 202 and (E) 220. Of these, the
closest to 2021 is 2020,
hence (C).

6. Let X and Y be the points of intersection, as shown.

Due to supplementary angles, ∠DXB = 180◦ − 43◦ = 137◦ .
Due to corresponding angles, ∠DEF = ∠DXB = 137◦ .
Due to corresponding angles x◦ = ∠BY F = ∠DEF = 137◦ .

B
D ◦
F
137 x◦
43◦
> 137◦ >> Y
>> X >
A C
E
hence (E).

7. The correct calculation is 5 × 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14, but Mr Meow’s calculation is 5 + 2 × 4 =

5 + 8 = 13, which is one less,
hence (B).

8. From 11:49 am, there are 11 minutes until midday. Since 75 − 11 = 64, the cake should
come out of the oven at 1:04 pm,
hence (A).

9. The number of people who now know the joke is 1 + 3 + 3 × 3 = 13,

hence (C).

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10. (Also MP12, UP11)

In (B), the five cards can’t be dropped in any order, since 2, 7, 6, 4, 9 is a cycle of 5 cards
where each is on top of the next one, so no single card is on top.
Several of the other options have cycles with fewer cards: (A) has 2, 9, 4; (C) has 4, 9, 7,
6 and (D) has 2, 7, 6.
The remaining option is (E), which is possible in the order 4, 7, 9, 2, 6 or in the order 7,
4, 9, 2, 6,
hence (E).
Note: Another way of eliminating (B) and (D) is to observe that the last card dropped
must be on top, not under another card. However, in (B) each card is under another card,
and likewise for (D). Further, (A) and (C) can also be eliminated. Each has a top (last)
card, but once this is removed none of the other four cards is on top, so none of these can
be the second-last card.

11. (Also I8)

Alternative 1
There are four bags, and one-fifth of a bag is lucerne. Let the lucerne be one unit, then
one bag has 5 units and four bags has 20 units. So the lucerne is 1 part in 20 in the total
mix, which is 5%,
hence (B).
Alternative 2
Each bag is one-quarter or 25% of the mix. The lucerne is one-fifth of one bag, which is
5% of the mix,
hence (B).

12. Alternative 1
The squares have sides 3 cm, 5 cm and 4 cm, so we can find all lengths in the perimeter:

5
1 4
3 2

3 4

3 5 4

Then the perimeter is 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 5 = 34,

hence (A).
Alternative 2
The original squares have combined perimeter 12+20+16 = 58 cm and sides 3 cm, 5 cm and
4 cm. The join on the left is 3 cm long, so reduces the combined perimeter by 2 × 3 = 6 cm.
Similarly the join on the right reduces the combined perimeter by 8 cm. The perimeter of
the shape is then 58 − 6 − 8 = 34 cm,
hence (A).

13. The next palindrome after 199 786 is 199 991. Then 199 991 − 199 786 = 991 − 786 = 205,
hence (D).

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14. The sum of all four distances, which is 10 cm, is equal to the width plus the height of the
square, which is twice length of the square’s side. So the square has sides of length 5 cm.
The diagram suggests that there are 8 possible points. Indeed, if we
choose one side to be of distance 1 (a choice from 4 sides) and an adjacent
side to be of distance 2 (a choice from 2 sides), there is a unique position
for the point. There are 4 × 2 = 8 such choices.
From these 8 possible points, one of them is P , so there are 7 other points
with these distances,
hence (D).

 2 1
15. Consider x = . If x is less than , then x + will be less than 1; and if x is greater than
10 3 3
2 1
or equal to , then x + will be greater than or equal to 1. So we just consider whether
3 3
 2 2
< . But = 0.6̇ ≈ 0.67 so that  = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are the possible values,
10 3 3
hence (D).

16. (Also UP22)

The top face of the left block is 3 cm wide with area 27 cm2 , 9 28
27
so is 9 cm deep, as labelled on the diagram. h
On this diagram, the solution h = 6, w = 7, a = 5 and b = 4
can be found by exploring possible factorisations. However, 42 30
there may be other solutions. b
3 a
The height h is a factor of both 30 and 42, which means w
h = 1, 2, 3 or 6. Then the depth of the front-right block is
a = 30, 15, 10 or 5. However, a must be less than 9, so the only possibility is a = 5. Then
h = 6, b = 4 and w = 7, and so our first solution is the only solution.
The combined volume is (3 + 7) × 9 × 6 = 10 × 9 × 6 = 540 cm3 ,
hence (B).

17. (Also I11)

Let x be the smallest number, so that the four numbers are x, x + 2, x + 4 and x + 6.
Then x + 6 = 2x − 1. Solving, x + 7 = 2x and then x = 7.
Consequently the numbers are 7, 9, 11, 13 and the largest is 13,
hence (C).
18. Label some more side lengths, then evaluate the areas, using 3 7
the grid shown and area formulas for rectangles and triangles:
1 A B
A=3×6 + × 1 × 6 = 18 + 3 = 21 m2 4
2 6 6 C
1
B= × 7 × 6 = 21 m2
2
1 3 1 6
C = × 4 × 6 = 12 m2 D 6
2 4 4
E
1
D = × 6 × 6 = 18 m2
2 4 6
1
E = 4 × 4 + × 6 × 4 = 16 + 12 = 28 m2
2
Then region E has the largest area,
hence (E).

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19. Alternative 1
Together, Rachel and Sandy have 180 cars. Thandie has the other 300 − 180 = 120.
Together, Rachel and Thandie have 200 cars. So Rachel has 200 − 120 = 80 cars,
hence (A).
Alternative 2
Let the number of cars that Rachel, Sandy and Thandie have be R, S and T .
Then R + S + T = 300, R + S = 180 and R + T = 200.
Then R + S + R + T = 180 + 200 so that 2R + S + T = 380. Subtracting R + S + T = 300
gives R = 80,
hence (A).

20. (Also I15)

Here is the result of rolling the dice. Note that the corner of the dice in the centre of the
2 × 2 square remains there, and it is the corner common to the faces with 4, 5, and 6 pips.

Then the upward-facing side is ,

hence (C).

21. A puzzle with two clues is possible: place 1 and 3 in opposite corners as shown, then the
top row can’t be 1,2,3 so must be 1,3,2. Similarly the bottom row must be 2,1,3. Finally
the middle row must be 3,2,1.

clues 1 1 3 2 1 3 2
3 2 1
3 2 1 3 2 1 3

A puzzle with only one clue will not have a unique solution. This is because a solution for
this clue can always be turned into a different solution for the same clue. For instance, if
we rewrite our solution but completely swap the two rows that don’t include the clue, we
get a different solution.

1 2 3 3 1 2
clue 2 2 3 1 2 3 1
3 1 2 1 2 3

So the smallest number of clues that Leonhard could include is 2,

hence (B).

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22. The seating has to be cAcAc where A means adult and c means child.
The adults can be placed two ways.
For each of these two ways, the grandchildren can be placed 6 ways: 3 choices for the first
child, then 2 choices for the second and third children.
In all there are 12 arrangements,
hence (B).

23. There are two cases, whether two painted faces are parallel or not.
Case 1: no painted faces are parallel, so that the three painted faces have a common vertex.
Removing the painted cubes leaves a 3 × 3 × 3 cube, so the number of unpainted unit cubes
is 33 = 27 unit cubes.
Case 2: a pair of painted faces are parallel. Removing the painted cubes leaves a block
that is 2 × 3 × 4 = 24 unit cubes.
These two cases are shown, with the painted cubes (blue paint) partially separated from
the block of unpainted cubes.

Case 1 Case 2

Paint Paint Paint

So the number of unpainted cubes is either 27 or 24. However, only 24 is one of the choices
in the question,
hence (C).

24. Alternative 1
1
The probability that they both roll the same is , because whatever number Ben rolls
6
there is a 1 in 6 chance that Jerry rolls the same. So the probability they roll different
5
scores is .
6
5
Half of those times Ben will have the higher score, therefore ,
12
hence (C).
Alternative 2 Jerry
Draw a 6 × 6 grid representing the 36 possibilities for both rolls, then 123456
shade those squares where Ben wins. There are 15 such squares. 1
2
3
Ben

Since all 36 pairs are equally likely, the probability that Ben wins is
15 5 4
= , 5
36 12 6

hence (C).

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25. Alternative 1
Let ∠P ST = x and ∠QT S = ∠QST = a.
Q
Then ∠T P S = a − x.
Then from the exterior angle of QRS, we get 180 − 2a
20
a + x = 20 + a − x
T a
So 2x = 20 and x = 10,
a−x x a
P S R
hence (A).
Alternative 2
The two isosceles triangles QP R and QT S each have a line of symmetry through Q.
This solution first aligns them. Rotate the QT S by 10◦ about point Q to get QT  S 
with ∠P QT  = ∠RQS  = 10◦ .

Q
|

10◦ 10◦ 

T S
P R
M

Then the diagram is symmetric about QM , the angle bisector of ∠P QR, and also of
∠T QS. Thus P R ⊥ QM and S  T  ⊥ QM so that P RS  T  . Since the angle between ST
and S  T  is 10◦ , the angle between ST and P R is 10◦ ,
hence (A).

26. Alternative 1
3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Following instructions, the 43 × 47 rectangle is cut into
a 43 × 43 square and a 43 × 4 rectangle.
Then the 43 × 4 rectangle has ten 4 × 4 squares cut off,
leaving a 3 × 4 rectangle.
Then the 3 × 4 square has a 3 × 3 square cut off, leaving
a 3 × 1 rectangle. 43
This is cut into into three 1 × 1 squares.
In total:

Side Perimeter Count Total

43 172 1 172
4 16 10 160
3 12 1 12
1 4 3 12
356

Then the combined perimeter is 356 units,

hence (356).

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Alternative 2
Working backwards, if the final square is a × a, then the size (side length) of each square
is a multiple of a. Hence the width and the height of every rectangle is a multiple of a.
In particular, a is a divisor of both 43 and 47. However, 43 and 47 are both prime, so
gcd(43, 47) = 1, and a = 1.
As we work from the 47 × 43 rectangle to the final 1 × 1 square, each cut reduces either
the width or the height of the rectangle by the size of the square that is cut off. Since the
width is reduced by 47 − 1 = 46 and the height is reduced by 43 − 1 = 42, the sum of the
sizes of all removed squares is 88. Including the 1 × 1 square left at the end, the sum of
the sizes of all squares is 89. The sum of perimeters is then 4 × 89 = 356,
hence (356).
Note: The process of cutting off squares is a geometric representation of the Euclidean
algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two numbers. The argument in this
solution then generalises to an m × n rectangle, where the total perimeter of all squares is
4(m + n − gcd(m, n)).

27. Consider first choosing the two chairs in order. There are 14 choices of the first chair. After
that choice, there are 12 choices of the second chair, since both the first chair and the chair
opposite can’t be chosen. So there are 14 × 12 = 168 ways of choosing the two chairs in
order. However, each pair of chairs is counted twice by this method, so the number of ways
of choosing a pair that are not opposite each other is 168 ÷ 2 = 84,
hence (84).

28. Alternative 1
Whatever the freestyle time is, the breaststroke time is 3 times longer, the butterfly 1.5
times longer and backstroke 2 times longer. So the complete race is 7.5 times the freestyle
leg.
Since the full medley is 360 seconds, the freestyle leg is 360 ÷ 7.5 = 48 seconds, and we
can work out each other leg as follows:
Leg butterfly backstroke breaststroke freestyle
Time (seconds) 72 96 144 48
Then 240 seconds into the race, I have swum 100 metres of butterfly in 72 seconds, 100
metres of backstroke in 96 seconds and breaststroke for 240 − 72 − 96 = 72 seconds. This
is half-way through the backstroke leg, so I will have swum 50 metres of breaststroke. In
all, I have swum 100 + 100 + 50 = 250 metres after 4 minutes,
hence (250).
Alternative 2
Suppose my freestyle time is x minutes. Then my breaststroke time is 3x minutes, my
butterfly time is 1.5x minutes and my backstroke time is 2x minutes. My total time for
the relay is 7.5x minutes.
6
Then 7.5x = 6 =⇒ x = = 0.8. Consequently the times for butterfly, backstroke,
7.5
breaststroke and freestyle are 1.2 + 1.6 + 2.4 + 0.8 = 6 minutes.
Considering the first 4 minutes, note that 4 = 1.2 + 1.6 + 1.2 so that after 4 minutes I have
swum 100 m of butterfly, 100 m of backstroke and 50 m of breaststroke, a total distance of
100 + 100 + 50 = 250 metres,
hence (250).

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29. Label the vertices A, B, C, D, E and F , and consider first the paths that start AB, as
shown in the first diagram. The third vertex is F , C or E.

A A A A

D D D D
E C E C E C E C
B B B B
F F F F

If the third vertex is F , then the rest of the path is either CDE or EDC, so there are two
possible paths.
If the third vertex is C, then the rest of the path is one of DEF , DF E, F DE or F ED,
which is four possible paths. By symmetry, if the third vertex is E there are also four
possible paths.
Thus there are 2 + 4 + 4 = 10 paths that start AB.
Due to the symmetry of the octahedron, there will be 10 paths that start AC, 10 that
start AD and 10 that start AE. In all there are 4 × 10 = 40 paths,
hence (40).

30. Alternative 1 1 2 3 14 15
1 1 2 3 14 15
The pattern of white and black squares is as shown. The white
2 2 4 6 28 30
squares are those with odd row and odd column along with those
3 3 6 9 42 45
with even row and even column.
Consider first the odd-odd sum of the numbers with odd row
14 14 28 42 196 210
and odd column. We add one row at a time. If k is odd, the
15 15 30 45 210 225
sum of the numbers in row k with odd column is

k×1 + k×3 + k×5 + k×7 + k×9 + k×11 + k×13 + k×15

= k(1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15) = 64k

The odd-odd sum is then found by adding 64k for k = 1, 3, . . . , 15:

64×1 + 64×3 + 64×5 + 64×7 + 64×9 + 64×11 + 64×13 + 64×15

= 64 × (1 + 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 11 + 13 + 15) = 642 = 4096

Similarly, consider the even-even sum. For even k, row k includes

k(2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14) = 56k

and the sum across all even rows is then

56(2 + 4 + 6 + 8 + 10 + 12 + 14) = 562 = 3136

Finally, the sum of the numbers in all white squares is 4096 + 3136 = 7232,
hence (232).

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Alternative 2 1 2 3 14 15
1 1 2 3 14 15
The pattern of white and black squares is as shown. In the first
2 2 4 6 28 30
two rows, the white squares can be added:
3 3 6 9 42 45
(1 + 15) + (3 + 13) + (5 + 11) + (7 + 9) = 4 × 16 = 64
(4 + 28) + (8 + 24) + (12 + 20) + 16 = 3 × 32 + 16 = 112 14 14 28 42 196 210
15 15 30 45 210 225
In row 3, the white squares’ total is 3 times the total in row 1,
so 3 × 64. Similarly for odd k = 5, 7, . . . , 15, the white squares add to 64k.
k
Similarly, in even rows k = 4, 6, . . . , 14, the white squares add to 112 × .
2
Over the whole grid, the white squares add to

64 + 64 × 3 + 64 × 5 + · · · + 64 × 15 + 112 + 112 × 2 + · · · + 112 × 7

= 64(1 + 3 + · · · + 15) + 112(1 + 2 + · · · + 7)
= 64 × 64 + 112 × 28
= 7232

The last three digits of this total are 232,

hence (232).

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