Reasoning Math Problems (Classes 7–10)
1. Disappearing Numbers
The four■digit number 9ABC (where A, B, C are digits) is divisible by 3 and by 11. If the sum of its digits
is 24, find all possible values of A, B, C.
2. Matchstick Squares
You arrange identical matchsticks to form a long row of connected squares (each side uses one stick).
a) Derive a formula for the number of sticks S(n) needed to make n squares in a row.
b) For what positive integer n does S(n) = 100 ?
3. Angle Chase in a Hexagon
Regular hexagon ABCDEF has side length 6 cm. Diagonals AD and BE meet at P.
a) Prove that ■ABP is equilateral.
b) Find the area of ■ABP.
4. Missing Tile Puzzle
A 6 × 6 chessboard has one corner square removed. Can you still cover the board completely with
twelve 1 × 2 dominoes? Justify your answer.
5. Mystery Mixture
A chemist mixes a 12 % saline solution with a 20 % saline solution to obtain 15 L of an 18 % solution.
How many litres of each original solution were used? Explain why only one ratio works.
6. Consecutive Product
The product of three consecutive integers is 120 times their sum. Find the integers.
7. Walk■Around Clock
Starting at 12 o’clock, a bug moves clockwise along the circumference of a clock, advancing 135° each
minute. At what time (in minutes and seconds) will it first land exactly on the 12 again?
8. Rope Around the World
Earth’s radius is 6 400 km. A tight rope is wrapped around the equator. It is then lengthened uniformly so
that it hovers 1 m above ground everywhere.
a) How much extra rope is needed?
b) Why does the answer not depend on Earth’s radius?
9. Pyramid of Pebbles
Level 1 of a square pyramid has n² pebbles, level 2 has (n−1)², and so on to the top. Prove that the total
number of pebbles is n(n+1)(2n+1)/6.
10. Parity Path
On a 5 × 5 grid of lattice points, how many different shortest paths go from the bottom■left point to the
top■right point while never moving up after an even■numbered step? (A shortest path uses exactly 10
steps.)
11. Train Meet■Up
Train A leaves Delhi for Jaipur at 8 a.m. at 60 km/h. Train B leaves Jaipur for Delhi at 10 a.m. at 90 km/h.
The stations are 270 km apart. When and where do they meet? Explain two different solution methods
and why they agree.
12. Broken Calculator
A calculator’s “7” key is jammed and always prints 7. Using only the keys 1, 7, +, ×, and =, show how to
display exactly 100 by pressing as few keys as possible. Prove your sequence is optimal.
13. Square■Circle Ratio
A square of side a contains an inscribed circle. From one vertex, a line meets the opposite side at P such
that ∠15° is formed with an adjacent side; it cuts a chord of length b in the circle. Find a : b (no
coordinate geometry).
14. Locker Doors
In a school corridor with 200 lockers, all doors are initially closed. A student toggles every locker, a
second toggles every second locker, and so on up to the 200■th student.
a) Which lockers remain open?
b) How many times is locker 144 toggled?
15. Sum of Digits Rule
Prove that an integer is divisible by 9 iff the sum of its digits is divisible by 9. Then create a three■digit
number that is divisible by 9 but not by 3 × 11.
16. Cube Nets
Exactly 11 distinct nets fold into a cube. Explain why there cannot be 12, then design a flow■chart
algorithm (in words) that would test whether a given hexomino net folds into a cube.
17. Party Handshakes
At a party, every pair of guests shakes hands exactly once. If there were 66 handshakes in total, how
many guests attended? Extend the formula to find the number of handshakes for n guests and show why
it works.
18. Function Mystery
A function f : ■ → ■ satisfies f(x+2) = f(x) + x + 1 for all integers x, and f(0) = 3. Determine a closed■form
expression for f(x).
19. Two■Digit Swap
Pick any two■digit number whose digits differ by at least 2. Reverse its digits and subtract the smaller
from the larger. Prove the result is always a multiple of 9, and explain why the property fails if the digits
differ by 1.
20. Triangle Medians
Triangle ABC has side lengths 7, 8, 9. Medians AD, BE, CF meet at G.
a) Show that G divides each median in a 2 : 1 ratio.
b) Without using coordinates, find the area of ■AGF.