SECONDARY 2 SET 1
LOGICAL THINKING
8−5𝑥
1. Find the number of integral solution(s) for 𝑥 given that 4 < < 13.
6
2. Determine the average of the following sequence:
1123, 1129, 1135, 1141, 1147, … , 2077, 2083, 2089, 2095
3. There are 90 balls. Rolex and Jo need to pick 3 to 8 balls by turns. The person picking up the last
ball will be the winner. Rolex is picking the ball in the first turn. If he can add balls before the game
starts, at least how many ball(s) does he need to add to ensure his victory?
4. Given that 𝐴: 𝐵 = 2: 5, 𝐵: 𝐶 = 3: 4, 𝐶: 𝐷 = 1: 2 and 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 + 𝐷 = 1377. Find the value of 𝐶.
5. There are 15 pieces of red socks, 22 pieces of white socks and 33 pieces of blue socks in the box. If
you want to get 5 pairs of blue socks and 7 pairs of non-blue socks, at least how many piece(s) of
sock(s) is/are needed to be drawn?
ALGEBRA
12
6. If 𝑥 = 3 + 7 , find the integer value of 𝑥.
4− 12
3+ 7
4−
3+⋯
7. Factorize 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 2 + 3𝑦.
8. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 and 𝑓(−2) = 2, 𝑓(−1) = −7 and 𝑓(1) = −1. Determine the value
of 𝑓(2).
9. Given that 𝑎 > 7 and the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 28𝑥 − 2𝑐 = 0 has real root(s). What is the minimum value
of integer 𝑐?
10. Find the value of 𝑦 if
|2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 5| + |2𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 1| = 0.
NUMBER THEORY
11. If the highest common factor of a 4-digit number and 3496 is 437, find the largest possible value
of this number.
12. If 4𝑥 ≡ 7(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15), find the maximum value of 2-digit number 𝑥.
13. Find the remainder when 6535 is divided by 7.
14. Find the sum of all positive factor(s) of 510.
15. Find the last digit of 𝑋 if
𝑋 = 7 + 50 + 345 + ⋯ + (710 + 9) + (711 + 10).
GEOMETRY
16. If the area of a triangle with side lengths 20,23 and 27 is 𝑛√14, find the value of 𝑛.
17. If a straight line 𝐿 passes through 𝐴(1, −7) and 𝐵(−3,13), determine the 𝑥-intercept of 𝐿.
18. Given that there is a pair of right-angled triangles ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐷𝐸𝐹 and two right-angled sides 𝐴𝐵 =
𝐷𝐸
40, 𝐴𝐶 = 42. Find the value of .
𝐸𝐹
19. The hypotenuse of a triangle is 32. Find the maximum area of the triangle. (Answer in surd form)
20. An interior angle of a regular 𝑛-sided polygon is (9𝑛 + 21)°. Find the maximum value of 𝑛.
COMBINATORICS
21. Three identical red pens, 5 identical green pens and 5 identical blue pens are put from left to right.
How many different arrangement(s) is/are there?
22. A fair 6-faced die is thrown three times. Find the probability that the product of the numbers
obtained is a multiple of 27.
23. Use 1,2,3,5,6,7,9 to form 5-digit numbers without repetition. The odd digits cannot be next to each
other. How many number(s) can be formed in this way?
24. Fifty cards are marked from 1 to 50 and 2 cards are drawn at random. Find the probability that
the two cards drawn are both multiples of 7.
25. There are 4 balls in a box including 3 black balls and 1 white balls. One black ball is added every 6
seconds (0:06, 0:12, 0:18, …, 1:00). Also at 45 seconds, 1 white ball will be added into the box. If it
needs to wait 20 seconds after each draw, find the maximum value of the probability to draw the
white ball within 1 minute.
SECONDARY 2 SET 1
Solution Manual
LOGICAL THINKING
8−5𝑥
1. Find the number of integral solution(s) for 𝑥 given that 4 < < 13.
6
Answer: 10
Solution:
8 − 5𝑥
4< < 13
6
24 < 8 − 5𝑥 < 78
16 < −5𝑥 < 70
16
−14 < 𝑥 < −
5
1
−14 < 𝑥 < −3
5
−13 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ −4
We have 10 integral solutions from −13 to −4.
2. Determine the average of the following sequence:
1123, 1129, 1135, 1141, 1147, … , 2077, 2083, 2089, 2095
Answer: 1609
Solution:
Note that this is an arithmetic sequence with common difference 6.
This means that the average is
1123 + 2095
= 1609.
2
3. There are 90 balls. Rolex and Jo need to pick 3 to 8 balls by turns. The person picking up the last
ball will be the winner. Rolex is picking the ball in the first turn. If he can add balls before the game
starts, at least how many ball(s) does he need to add to ensure his victory?
Answer: 1
Solution:
𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 + 𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 = 3 + 8 = 11
The strategy here is whenever Jo picks a certain number of balls, Rolex must pick a number of
balls that will add up to 11.
By this way, we can ensure that the last person will get all the remaining balls in his/her last turn.
Hence, we have
90
= 8 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 2.
11
Since we have a remainder of 2 and the least number of balls to be picked is 3, then Rolex must
add 1 ball so that he can pick these 3 balls in the first turn.
4. Given that 𝐴: 𝐵 = 2: 5, 𝐵: 𝐶 = 3: 4, 𝐶: 𝐷 = 1: 2 and 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 + 𝐷 = 1377. Find the value of 𝐶.
Answer: 340
Solution:
Establishing ratio 𝐴: 𝐵: 𝐶 ∶
2(3): 5(3): 4(5) = 6: 15: 20
Establishing ratio 𝐴: 𝐵: 𝐶: 𝐷 ∶
6: 15: 20: 2(20) = 6: 15: 20: 40
Now,
1377 1377
= = 17.
6 + 15 + 20 + 40 81
Hence, the value of 𝐶 is 20(17) = 340.
5. There are 15 pieces of red socks, 22 pieces of white socks and 33 pieces of blue socks in the box. If
you want to get 5 pairs of blue socks and 7 pairs of non-blue socks, at least how many piece(s) of
sock(s) is/are needed to be drawn?
Answer: 48
Solution:
Worst-case scenario:
33 𝑏𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑠 + 7 𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑠 + 7 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑘𝑠 + 1 𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑘 = 48
ALGEBRA
12
6. If 𝑥 = 3 + 7 , find the integer value of 𝑥.
4− 12
3+ 7
4−
3+⋯
Answer: 7
Solution:
12
𝑥 = 3+
7
4−𝑥
12
𝑥 =3+
4𝑥 − 7
𝑥
12𝑥
𝑥 =3+
4𝑥 − 7
4𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 = 12𝑥 − 21 + 12𝑥
4𝑥 2 − 31𝑥 + 21 = 0
(4𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 7) = 0
3
𝑥 = ,7
4
Hence, the value of 𝑥 is 7.
7. Factorize 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 2𝑦 2 + 3𝑦.
Answer: (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3) 𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
Solution:
𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 2 − 3𝑥 + 3𝑦
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦) − 3(𝑥 − 𝑦)
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3)𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
OR
Treat this as a quadratic expression with respect to 𝑥.
𝑥 2 + (𝑦 − 3)𝑥 − 2𝑦 2 + 3𝑦
Remember that (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏) = 𝑥 2 + (𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏.
Hence, we have
𝑥 2 + (𝑦 − 3)𝑥 − 𝑦(2𝑦 − 3)
= (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3) 𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 + 2𝑦 − 3)(𝑥 − 𝑦).
8. Given that 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 and 𝑓(−2) = 2, 𝑓(−1) = −7 and 𝑓(1) = −1. Determine the value
of 𝑓(2).
Answer: 14
Solution:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(𝑥 + 2) + 𝐶(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1).
When 𝑥 = −2,
𝑓(−2) = 𝐴 + 0 + 0 = 𝐴 = 2.
When 𝑥 = −1,
𝑓(−1) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(−1 + 2) + 0 = 2 + 𝐵 = −7
𝐵 = −7 − 2 = −9.
When 𝑥 = 1,
𝑓(1) = 𝐴 + 𝐵(1 + 2) + 𝐶(1 + 2)(1 + 1) = 2 − 9(3) + 6𝐶 = −1
6𝐶 = −1 − 2 + 27
𝐶 = 4.
Hence,
𝑓(𝑥) = 2 − 9(𝑥 + 2) + 4(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 1).
Therefore,
𝑓(2) = 2 − 9(2 + 2) + 4(2 + 2)(2 + 1) = 2 − 36 + 48 = 14.
9. Given that 𝑎 > 7 and the equation 𝑎𝑥 2 + 28𝑥 − 2𝑐 = 0 has real root(s). What is the minimum value
of integer 𝑐?
Answer: −13
Solution:
We will use the discriminant since it is given that it has real root(s).
𝐷 = 282 − 4(𝑎)(−2𝑐) ≥ 0
784 + 8𝑎𝑐 ≥ 0
8𝑎𝑐 ≥ −784
𝑎𝑐 ≥ −98
7𝑐 > −98
𝑐 > −14
Hence, the minimum value of integer 𝑐 is −13.
10. Find the value of 𝑦 if
|2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 5| + |2𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 1| = 0.
Answer: −1
Solution:
The addends are all nonnegative, which means that in order to have a sum of 0, each addend must
also be equal to 0.
2𝑥 + 3𝑦 + 5 = 0
2𝑦 − 3𝑥 − 1 = 0
We eliminate 𝑥 by multiplying the first equation by 3 and the second equation by 2.
6𝑥 + 9𝑦 + 15 = 0
4𝑦 − 6𝑥 − 2 = 0
We then add them together, that is
13𝑦 + 13 = 0
𝑦 = −1.
NUMBER THEORY
11. If the highest common factor of a 4-digit number and 3496 is 437, find the largest possible value
of this number.
Answer: 9177
Solution:
3496 = 437 × 23
Now,
9999
⌊ ⌋ = 22.
437
So, in order for us to have 437 as the highest common factor, we must pick the largest value less
than or equal to 22 that doesn’t have any common factor with 23 , that is 21.
Hence, we have
437 × 21 = 9177.
12. If 4𝑥 ≡ 7(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15), find the maximum value of 2-digit number 𝑥.
Answer: 88
Solution:
4𝑥 ≡ 7(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15)
4𝑥 ≡ −8(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15)
𝑥 ≡ −2(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15)
𝑥 ≡ 13(𝑚𝑜𝑑 15)
Now,
𝑥 = 15𝑘 + 13, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑘
15𝑘 + 13 ≤ 99
86 11
𝑘≤ =5 .
15 15
Using 𝑘 = 5, we have
𝑥 = 15(5) + 13 = 88.
13. Find the remainder when 6535 is divided by 7.
Answer: 4
Solution:
65 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 2(𝑚𝑜𝑑 7)
6535 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 235 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7)
235 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 23(11)+2 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 811 (4) (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 111 (4) (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7) ≡ 4 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 7)
Hence, we have 4.
14. Find the sum of all positive factor(s) of 510.
Answer: 1296
Solution:
510 = 2 × 3 × 5 × 17
We have
(20 + 21 )(30 + 31 )(50 + 51 )(170 + 171 )
= (3)(4)(6)(18)
= 1296.
15. Find the last digit of 𝑋 if
𝑋 = 7 + 50 + 345 + ⋯ + (710 + 9) + (711 + 10).
Answer: 4
Solution:
𝑋 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10 ≡ 71 + 72 + ⋯ + 710 + 711 + (1 + 2 + 3 + ⋯ + 10) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10
10(11)
𝑋 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10 ≡ (7 + 9 + 3 + 1)(2) + (7 + 9 + 3) + ( ) 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10
2
𝑋 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10 ≡ 0(2) + 9 + 5 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10 ≡ 4 𝑚𝑜𝑑 10
GEOMETRY
16. If the area of a triangle with side lengths 20,23 and 27 is 𝑛√14, find the value of 𝑛.
Answer: 60
Solution:
20 + 23 + 27
𝑠= = 35
2
Using Heron’s Formula, we have
𝐴 = √35(35 − 20)(35 − 23)(35 − 27)
𝑛√14 = √35(15)(12)(8)
𝑛√14 = √7(5)(5)(3)(3)(4)(4)(2)
𝑛√14 = 5(3)(4)√14
𝑛 = 5(3)(4) = 60.
17. If a straight line 𝐿 passes through 𝐴(1, −7) and 𝐵(−3,13), determine the 𝑥-intercept of 𝐿.
2 2
Answer: − 5 𝑜𝑟 − 0.4 𝑜𝑟 (− 5 , 0) 𝑜𝑟 (−0.4,0)
Solution:
13 − (−7) 13 − (0)
𝑚= =
−3 − 1 −3 − 𝑥
20 13
=
−4 −3 − 𝑥
20(−3 − 𝑥) = 13(−4)
−60 − 20𝑥 = −52
−20𝑥 = −52 + 60
8 2
𝑥= = − = −0.4.
−20 5
18. Given that there is a pair of right-angled triangles ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐷𝐸𝐹 and two right-angled sides 𝐴𝐵 =
𝐷𝐸
40, 𝐴𝐶 = 42. Find the value of .
𝐸𝐹
20
Answer: 29
Solution:
Solving for 𝐵𝐶 using Pythagorean Theorem, we have
𝐵𝐶 = √402 + 422 = √3364 = 58.
Since ∆𝐴𝐵𝐶~∆𝐷𝐸𝐹, then
𝐷𝐸 𝐴𝐵
=
𝐸𝐹 𝐵𝐶
𝐷𝐸 40
=
𝐸𝐹 58
𝐷𝐸 20
= .
𝐸𝐹 29
19. The hypotenuse of a triangle is 32. Find the maximum area of the triangle. (Answer in surd form)
Answer: 256
Solution:
An isosceles right triangle will yield you the maximum area of the given triangle.
We have
𝑎2 + 𝑎2 = 322
2𝑎2 = 1024
𝑎2 = 512.
Hence, the area is
1 2 1
𝐴= 𝑎 = (512) = 256.
2 2
20. An interior angle of a regular 𝑛-sided polygon is (9𝑛 + 21)°. Find the maximum value of 𝑛.
Answer: 15
Solution:
180(𝑛 − 2)
= 9𝑛 + 21
𝑛
180𝑛 − 360 = 9𝑛2 + 21𝑛
9𝑛2 − 159𝑛 + 360 = 0
3𝑛2 − 53𝑛 + 120 = 0
(3𝑛 − 8)(𝑛 − 15) = 0
𝑛 = 15
COMBINATORICS
21. Three identical red pens, 5 identical green pens and 5 identical blue pens are put from left to right.
How many different arrangement(s) is/are there?
Answer: 72072
Solution:
(3 + 5 + 5)! 13!
= = 72072
3! 5! 5! 3! 5! 5!
22. A fair 6-faced die is thrown three times. Find the probability that the product of the numbers
obtained is a multiple of 27.
1
Answer: 27
Solution:
Since the product is 27, then each value in the die must be divisible by 3.
Hence, we have
2×2×2
63
8
=
216
1
= .
27
23. Use 1,2,3,5,6,7,9 to form 5-digit numbers without repetition. The odd digits cannot be next to each
other. How many number(s) can be formed in this way?
Answer: 120
Solution:
We have the following arrangement:
𝑂𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑂𝑑𝑑 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑂𝑑𝑑
Counting the total number of arrangements, we have
5×2×4×1×3
= 120.
24. Fifty cards are marked from 1 to 50 and 2 cards are drawn at random. Find the probability that
the two cards drawn are both multiples of 7.
3
Answer: 175
Solution:
We have seven multiples of 7 from 1 to 50.
Hence,
7 6
×
50 49
1 3
= ×
25 7
3
= .
175
25. There are 4 balls in a box including 3 black balls and 1 white balls. One black ball is added every 6
seconds (0:06, 0:12, 0:18, …, 1:00). Also at 45 seconds, 1 white ball will be added into the box. If it
needs to wait 20 seconds after each draw, find the maximum value of the probability to draw the
white ball within 1 minute.
209
Answer: 384
Solution:
We need to find the probability such that for each draw, we just get black balls.
(Denote 𝐵 for black and 𝑊 for white)
0𝑠 20 𝑠 40 𝑠 60 𝑠
3𝐵 (3 − 1) + 3 (5 − 1) + 3 7+3
= 5𝐵 =7𝐵 = 10 𝐵
1𝑊 1𝑊 1𝑊 2𝑊
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 3 5 7 10 5
=
4 6 8 12 6
Hence,
𝑚𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑢𝑚 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
3 5 7 5
=1−( × × × )
4 6 8 6
175
=1−
384
209
= .
384