1
Learning Math With Mister Tan
[Link]
Worked Solution to Exercise Problems
§1.1 Number Patterns
Exercise 1.1
Question 1 (Modified from SMO/J/2005/Q3)
1 + 2 + 3 + … + 2022 + 2023
2023 2024
=
2
23 24
Hence, the last digit is 6 because = 276 .
2
3 4 74 75
Note: We cannot just take = 6 . This is because = 2775 but
2 2
45
= 10 which has a different last digit as 2775.
2
Question 2
Observe that the terms on the left side of the equation has first term 2 and a
common difference of 3. Also, the term before x is x – 3.
We need to first work out an expression for n – 1.
x = 2 + 3(n − 1)
x −2
n −1=
3
x +1
n=
3
Next,
x + 1
3
Sn = 2+ x
( )
2
1
= ( x + 1) ( x + 2)
6
1
( x + 1) ( x + 2) = 1027
6
( x + 1) ( x + 2) = 6162
Observe that x + 1 and x + 2 are consecutive integers and we can use 6162 to
help us deduce the value of x without solving a quadratic equation. Since 6162
is between 78 and 79 and 78 × 79 = 6162, we conclude that x is 77.
BASIC MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD TRAINING NOTES (FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION) | Number Theory I
2
Learning Math With Mister Tan
[Link]
Question 3
n
Sn = 2 ( 2 ) + ( n − 1)( 2 )
2
n
= ( 4 + 2n − 2 )
2
n
= ( 2n + 2 )
2
= n(n + 1)
Question 4 (Modified from SMO/J/2006/Q19)
n(n + 1)
Sn = . Unit digits of S can only be 0, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8.
2
Hence, the number is 8.
Remark: In a later topic on modular arithmetic, we will use the concept of modulo
10 to find unit digits and considering all possible combinations of n and n + 1 we
will realise the unit digits can only be 0, 1, 3, 5, 6 and 8.
Question 5 (SMO/J/2014/Q6)
By rearranging the terms, we have
1 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 27 28
+ + + + + + + + + + ... + + + + ... + +
29 29
.
2 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 29 29 29
1
Note: Let’s take n to be the position of the terms in the series, e.g. a1 = .
2
Explanation: Observe that for each n = 1, 2, 3, … , 29, the denominators follow
the pattern n + 1. Since the denominators of the fractions in the terms are common,
we can simply add the numerator.
Therefore, we can see that the numerator follows an A.P with first term 1 and
common difference 1 for each of n = 1, 2, 3, … , 29.
1 2 3 4 1+ 2 + 3 + 4
To illustrate this, we consider + + + = . The numerator is
5 5 5 5 5
clearly a sum of an AP.
n(n + 1)
2 n(n + 1) n
Therefore we sum = = over n = 1, 2, 3, … , 28. This is
(n + 1) 2 ( n + 1) 2
equivalent to taking half of the sum of 1 + 2 + 3 + … + 28.
1 28(29)
So we have = 203
2 2
BASIC MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD TRAINING NOTES (FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION) | Number Theory I
3
Learning Math With Mister Tan
[Link]
§1.2 Divisibility
Exercise 1.2
Question 6 (SMO/J/2012/Q2)
(E) is the answer.
Consider n2012 + n2010 = n2010(n2 + 1). We shall use Result (d) in page 4.
For n = 2, n2 + 1 = 5 and clearly 2 | n2010 hence n2010(n2 + 1) is divisible by 10.
For n = 13 and 47, n2 + 1 is divisible by 10.
For n = 35, 2 | n2 + 1 as n2 is odd and n2 + 1 must be even. Since 35 contains a
factor of 5, we can write 352010 as 52010 × 72010 and conclude 5 | n2010.
This leaves us with option (E) as the only value of n that is not possible.
Question 7 (Modified from SMO/J/2006/Q15)
The remainder is 0.
There are even numbers of 8’s and 4’s for both 888 888 888 ... 888
and 444 444 444 ... 444 . This means that the sum of the digits in odd place and
the sum of digits in even place is 0, i.e. both 888 888 888 ... 888
and 444 444 444 ... 444 is divisible by 11.
Question 8
Tueday.
2024 gives a remainder of 1 when divided by 7. Therefore, 20242024 will also give
a remainder of 1 when divided by 7.
Question 9
Observe that 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 gives a remainder of 4, 5, 6, 7 when
divided by 9 respectively.
Therefore, 2020 2021 2022 2023 has the same remainder as 4 × 5 × 6 × 7
when divided by 9.
The remainder of 4 × 5 × 6 × 7 when divided by 9 is 3.
Question 10
We have 2244 – 1758 = 486 and 1758 – 1029 = 729 both divisible by n.
Since 729 ÷ 3 = 243 and 486 ÷ 2 = 243, we have n = 243.
Next, 1029 = 243 × 4 + 57 so m = 57.
Therefore, the sum of m and n is 300.
BASIC MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD TRAINING NOTES (FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION) | Number Theory I