2025 AMC 10A Exam Problems

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1.

Andy and Betsy both live in Mathville. Andy leaves Mathville on his bicycle at 1:30, traveling due north at a steady 88 miles per hour. Betsy leaves on her bicycle from the same point at 2:30, traveling due east at a steady 1212 miles per hour. At what time will they be exactly the same distance from their common starting point?

3:30

3:45

4:00

4:15

4:30

Answer: E
Concepts:distance rate and timelinear equation

Difficulty rating: 860

Solution:

Let tt be the hours since 1:30. Andy has gone 8t8t miles north. Betsy starts an hour later, so she's gone 12(t1)12(t-1) miles east. We want these equal: 8t=12(t1).8t = 12(t-1). That gives 4t=12,4t = 12, so t=3.t = 3. Three hours past 1:30 is 4:30. Thus, E is the correct answer.

2.

A box contains 1010 pounds of a nut mix that is 5050 percent peanuts, 2020 percent cashews, and 3030 percent almonds. A second nut mix containing 2020 percent peanuts, 4040 percent cashews, and 4040 percent almonds is added to the box, resulting in a new nut mix that is 4040 percent peanuts. How many pounds of cashews are now in the box?

3.53.5

44

4.54.5

55

66

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 980

Solution:

The starting 1010-pound mix holds 55 pounds of peanuts and 22 pounds of cashews. Add xx pounds of the second mix, which is 20%20\% peanuts. We want the new peanut fraction to be 40%,40\%, so 5+0.2x10+x=0.4.\frac{5 + 0.2x}{10 + x} = 0.4. This means 5+0.2x=4+0.4x,5 + 0.2x = 4 + 0.4x, giving x=5.x = 5. Those 55 pounds bring 0.45=20.4 \cdot 5 = 2 more pounds of cashews, so the box now has 2+2=4.2 + 2 = 4. Therefore, the answer is B.

3.

How many isosceles triangles are there with positive area whose side lengths are all positive integers and whose longest side has length 2025?2025?

20252025

20262026

30123012

30373037

40504050

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1130

Solution:

Split into two cases. Say two sides both equal 2025.2025. Then the third side can be any integer from 11 to 2025,2025, which is 20252025 triangles. Now suppose 20252025 is the unique longest side. The two equal legs ss must satisfy 2s>20252s \gt 2025 by the triangle inequality, and s2024.s \le 2024. So ss runs from 10131013 to 2024,2024, giving 10121012 triangles. Adding up, 2025+1012=3037.2025 + 1012 = 3037. Thus, D is the correct answer.

4.

A team of students is going to compete against a team of teachers in a trivia contest. The total number of students and teachers is 15.15. Ash, a cousin of one of the students, wants to join the contest. If Ash plays with the students, the average age on that team will increase from 1212 to 14.14. If Ash plays with the teachers, the average age on that team will decrease from 5555 to 52.52. How old is Ash?

2828

2929

3030

3232

3333

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 1160

Solution:

Let ss be the number of students. If Ash joins them, his age is 14(s+1)12s=2s+14.14(s+1) - 12s = 2s + 14. If he joins the teachers instead (there are 15s15 - s of them), his age is 52(16s)55(15s)=3s+7.52(16 - s) - 55(15 - s) = 3s + 7. Both describe the same Ash, so 2s+14=3s+7.2s + 14 = 3s + 7. That gives s=7,s = 7, and Ash is 27+14=28.2 \cdot 7 + 14 = 28. Therefore, the answer is A.

5.

Consider the sequence of positive integers

1,2,1,2,3,2,1,2,3,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,5,4,3,2,1,2,3,4,5,6,5,4,3,2,1,2,1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 2, \ldots

What is the 20252025th term in this sequence?

55

1515

1616

4444

4545

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 1200

Solution:

Group the sequence into blocks. Block kk reads k,k1,,2,1,2,,k1,k,k, k-1, \ldots, 2, 1, 2, \ldots, k-1, k, which is 2k12k - 1 terms and ends on k.k. So after block kk we've used 1+3++(2k1)=k21 + 3 + \cdots + (2k-1) = k^2 terms. Notice 2025=452.2025 = 45^2. That's exactly the end of block 45,45, whose last term is 45.45. Thus, E is the correct answer.

6.

In an equilateral triangle each interior angle is trisected by a pair of rays. The intersection of the interiors of the middle 2020^\circ-angle at each vertex is the interior of a convex hexagon. What is the degree measure of the smallest angle of this hexagon?

8080

9090

100100

110110

120120

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1310

Solution:

Label the equilateral triangle ABC.ABC. Each 6060^\circ angle splits into three 2020^\circ pieces. Take the outermost trisectors from AA and BB: they meet at base angles 2360=40,\tfrac23 \cdot 60^\circ = 40^\circ, so the hexagon vertex there has angle 180240=100.180^\circ - 2\cdot 40^\circ = 100^\circ. The innermost trisectors from AA and BB meet at base angles 20,20^\circ, giving apex 180220=140,180^\circ - 2\cdot 20^\circ = 140^\circ, and by vertical angles that's the opposite hexagon angle. So the six angles alternate 100100^\circ and 140.140^\circ. The smallest is 100.100^\circ. Therefore, the answer is C.

7.

Suppose aa and bb are real numbers. When the polynomial x3+x2+ax+bx^3 + x^2 + ax + b is divided by x1,x - 1, the remainder is 4.4. When the polynomial is divided by x2,x - 2, the remainder is 6.6. What is ba?b - a?

1414

1515

1616

1717

1818

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 1250

Solution:

By the Remainder Theorem, just plug in. We get p(1)=1+1+a+b=4,p(1) = 1 + 1 + a + b = 4, so a+b=2.a + b = 2. And p(2)=8+4+2a+b=6,p(2) = 8 + 4 + 2a + b = 6, so 2a+b=6.2a + b = -6. Subtract the first from the second: a=8,a = -8, hence b=10.b = 10. Then ba=10(8)=18.b - a = 10 - (-8) = 18. Thus, E is the correct answer.

8.

Agnes writes the following four statements on a blank piece of paper.

• At least one of these statements is true.

• At least two of these statements are true.

• At least two of these statements are false.

• At least one of these statements is false.

Each statement is either true or false. How many false statements did Agnes write on the paper?

00

11

22

33

44

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1350

Solution:

Number them: (1) at least one true, (2) at least two true, (3) at least two false, (4) at least one false. Suppose (3) is true. Then at least two statements are false. But then (1), (2), and (4) all read as true, which leaves at most one false statement. That's a contradiction, so (3) must be false. Now (1), (2), and (4) are all true, and each matches reality with just one false statement. So exactly 11 statement is false. Therefore, the answer is B.

9.

Let f(x)=100x3300x2+200x.f(x) = 100x^3 - 300x^2 + 200x. For how many real numbers aa does the graph of y=f(xa)y = f(x - a) pass through the point (1,25)?(1, 25)?

11

22

33

44

more than 44

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1440

Solution:

The graph passes through (1,25)(1,25) exactly when f(1a)=25.f(1 - a) = 25. Let t=1a,t = 1 - a, so we just need the number of solutions to f(t)=25.f(t) = 25. Factor f(x)=100x(x1)(x2),f(x) = 100x(x-1)(x-2), with roots 0,1,2.0, 1, 2. Its local maximum on (0,1)(0,1) is f(0.5)=37.5,f(0.5) = 37.5, which beats 25.25. So the line y=25y = 25 cuts the cubic in 33 points. Each one gives a single a,a, so there are 33 values. Thus, C is the correct answer.

10.

A semicircle has diameter ABAB and chord CDCD of length 1616 parallel to AB.AB. A smaller semicircle with diameter on ABAB and tangent to CDCD is cut from the larger semicircle, as shown below.

What is the area of the resulting figure, shown shaded?

16π16\pi

24π24\pi

32π32\pi

48π48\pi

64π64\pi

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 1440

Solution:

Let OO be the center on ABAB and PP the midpoint of chord CD.CD. Set r=OPr = OP for the small radius and R=ODR = OD for the large one. Since PD=8,PD = 8, the Pythagorean theorem in triangle OPDOPD gives R2r2=64.R^2 - r^2 = 64. The shaded area is the big semicircle minus the small one: 12πR212πr2=12π(R2r2)=32π.\tfrac12\pi R^2 - \tfrac12\pi r^2 = \tfrac12\pi(R^2 - r^2) = 32\pi. Therefore, the answer is C.

11.

The sequence 1,x,y,z1, x, y, z is arithmetic. The sequence 1,p,q,z1, p, q, z is geometric. Both sequences are strictly increasing and contain only integers, and zz is as small as possible. What is the value of x+y+z+p+q?x + y + z + p + q?

6666

9191

103103

132132

149149

Answer: E
Solution:

From the arithmetic sequence, z=1+3d,z = 1 + 3d, so z1(mod3).z \equiv 1 \pmod 3. From the geometric one, z=p3z = p^3 for some integer ratio p2.p \ge 2. We want the smallest such z,z, so test p=2,3,4.p = 2, 3, 4. Only p=4p = 4 works, since p3=641(mod3).p^3 = 64 \equiv 1 \pmod 3. That forces d=21,d = 21, and the sequences are 1,22,43,641, 22, 43, 64 and 1,4,16,64.1, 4, 16, 64. So x+y+z+p+q=22+43+64+4+16=149.x + y + z + p + q = 22 + 43 + 64 + 4 + 16 = 149. Thus, E is the correct answer.

12.

Carlos uses a 44-digit passcode to unlock his computer. In his passcode, exactly one digit is even, exactly one (possibly different) digit is prime, and no digit is 0.0. How many 44-digit passcodes satisfy these conditions?

176176

192192

432432

464464

608608

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1560

Solution:

No digit is 0,0, so digits run from 11 to 9.9. Put the single even digit in the first slot for now and multiply by 44 at the end to place it. Split on that even digit. If it's the prime 2,2, then the three odd digits all have to be non-prime, so each is 11 or 9,9, giving 23=82^3 = 8 ways. Otherwise the even digit is 4,6,4, 6, or 88 (33 choices), and exactly one of the odd digits is prime, worth 3,5,3, 5, or 77 (33 choices) in one of the 33 odd positions, while the other two odds come from {1,9}\{1, 9\} (222^2 ways). That's 3334=108.3 \cdot 3 \cdot 3 \cdot 4 = 108. Altogether, 4(8+108)=464.4(8 + 108) = 464. Therefore, the answer is D.

13.

In the figure below, the outside square contains infinitely many squares, each of them with the same center and sides parallel to the outside square. The ratio of the side length of a square to the side length of the next inner square is k,k, where 0<k<1.0 \lt k \lt 1. The spaces between squares are alternately shaded, as shown in the figure (which is not necessarily drawn to scale).

The area of the shaded portion of the figure is 64%64\% of the area of the original square. What is k?k?

35\dfrac{3}{5}

1625\dfrac{16}{25}

23\dfrac{2}{3}

34\dfrac{3}{4}

45\dfrac{4}{5}

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1560

Solution:

Let the outer side be 1.1. The squares have sides 1,k,k2,,1, k, k^2, \ldots, and the shaded rings alternate, so the shaded area is 1k2+k4k6+=11+k2.1 - k^2 + k^4 - k^6 + \cdots = \frac{1}{1 + k^2}. We're told this equals 64%=1625,64\% = \frac{16}{25}, so 1+k2=2516.1 + k^2 = \frac{25}{16}. Then k2=916,k^2 = \frac{9}{16}, giving k=34.k = \frac{3}{4}. Thus, D is the correct answer.

14.

Six chairs are arranged around a round table. Two students and two teachers randomly select four of the chairs to sit in. What is the probability that the two students will sit in two adjacent chairs and the two teachers will also sit in two adjacent chairs?

16\dfrac{1}{6}

15\dfrac{1}{5}

29\dfrac{2}{9}

313\dfrac{3}{13}

14\dfrac{1}{4}

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1600

Solution:

Seat the first student anywhere. The second student lands next to them with probability 25,\tfrac{2}{5}, since two of the remaining five chairs are adjacent. Now the teachers fill two of the four leftover chairs. Of the (42)=6\binom{4}{2} = 6 ways to do that, exactly 33 are adjacent pairs. So the probability is 2536=15.\tfrac{2}{5} \cdot \tfrac{3}{6} = \tfrac{1}{5}. Therefore, the answer is B.

15.

In the figure below, ABEFABEF is a rectangle, ADDE,AD \perp DE, AF=7,AF = 7, AB=1,AB = 1, and AD=5.AD = 5. What is the area of ABC?\triangle ABC?

38\dfrac{3}{8}

49\dfrac{4}{9}

1813\dfrac{1}{8}\sqrt{13}

715\dfrac{7}{15}

1815\dfrac{1}{8}\sqrt{15}

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 1730

Solution:

Let x=BC.x = BC. Since ABEFABEF is a rectangle with AB=1AB = 1 and AF=7,AF = 7, and AD=5,AD = 5, we get AC=1+x2,AC = \sqrt{1 + x^2}, CE=7x,CE = 7 - x, and CD=51+x2.CD = 5 - \sqrt{1 + x^2}. The triangles ABC\triangle ABC and EDC\triangle EDC are similar, so 7x1+x2=51+x2x.\frac{7 - x}{\sqrt{1 + x^2}} = \frac{5 - \sqrt{1 + x^2}}{x}. Clear denominators and square to get 24x2+14x24=0,24x^2 + 14x - 24 = 0, which factors as (4x3)(3x+4)=0.(4x - 3)(3x + 4) = 0. The positive root is x=34.x = \tfrac{3}{4}. So the area is 12341=38.\tfrac12 \cdot \tfrac34 \cdot 1 = \tfrac{3}{8}. Thus, A is the correct answer.

16.

There are three jars. Each of three coins is placed in one of the three jars, chosen at random and independently of the placements of the other coins. What is the expected number of coins in a jar with the most coins?

43\dfrac{4}{3}

3927\dfrac{39}{27}

53\dfrac{5}{3}

179\dfrac{17}{9}

22

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 1630

Solution:

There are 33=273^3 = 27 equally likely placements. Of these, 33 pile all coins into one jar (max 33), and 66 put one coin in each jar (max 11). The other 1818 split 22-11 (max 22). So the expected maximum is 33+218+1627=5127=179.\frac{3 \cdot 3 + 2 \cdot 18 + 1 \cdot 6}{27} = \frac{51}{27} = \frac{17}{9}. Therefore, the answer is D.

17.

Let NN be the unique positive integer such that dividing 273436273436 by NN leaves a remainder of 16,16, and dividing 272760272760 by NN leaves a remainder of 15.15. What is the tens digit of N?N?

00

11

22

33

44

Answer: E

Difficulty rating: 1730

Solution:

Subtract off the remainders. Both 273420=27343616273420 = 273436 - 16 and 272745=27276015272745 = 272760 - 15 are multiples of N,N, so their difference 675675 is too. Now 272745=404675+45,272745 = 404 \cdot 675 + 45, which makes 4545 a multiple of NN as well. The remainder 1616 means N>16,N \gt 16, and the only divisor of 4545 bigger than 1616 is 4545 itself. So N=45,N = 45, and its tens digit is 4.4. Thus, E is the correct answer.

18.

The harmonic mean of a collection of numbers is the reciprocal of the arithmetic mean of the reciprocals of the numbers in the collection. For example, the harmonic mean of 4,4,54, 4, 5 is

113(14+14+15)=307.\frac{1}{\frac{1}{3}\left(\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{5}\right)} = \frac{30}{7}.

What is the harmonic mean of all the real roots of the 40504050th degree polynomial

k=12025(kx24x3)=(x24x3)(2x24x3)(3x24x3)(2025x24x3)?\prod_{k=1}^{2025}(kx^2 - 4x - 3) = (x^2 - 4x - 3)(2x^2 - 4x - 3)(3x^2 - 4x - 3)\cdots(2025x^2 - 4x - 3)?

53-\dfrac{5}{3}

32-\dfrac{3}{2}

65-\dfrac{6}{5}

56-\dfrac{5}{6}

23-\dfrac{2}{3}

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 1840

Solution:

Look at one factor kx24x3.kx^2 - 4x - 3. Its discriminant 16+12k16 + 12k is positive, so it has two distinct real roots. By Vieta, their reciprocals sum to x1+x2x1x2=4/k3/k=43,\frac{x_1 + x_2}{x_1 x_2} = \frac{4/k}{-3/k} = -\tfrac{4}{3}, and notice the kk cancels. Summing over all 20252025 factors, the reciprocals total 2025(43)=2700.2025 \cdot \left(-\tfrac{4}{3}\right) = -2700. There are 40504050 roots in all, so the harmonic mean is 40502700=32.\frac{4050}{-2700} = -\tfrac{3}{2}. Therefore, the answer is B.

19.

An array of numbers is constructed beginning with the numbers 1,3,1-1, 3, 1 in the top row. Each adjacent pair of numbers is summed to produce a number in the next row. Each row begins and ends with the numbers 1-1 and 1,1, respectively. The first three rows are shown below.

If the process continues, one of the rows will sum to 12,288.12{,}288. In that row, what is the third number from the left?

29-29

21-21

14-14

8-8

3-3

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 1910

Solution:

Each interior entry feeds two entries below, and the end values 1-1 and 11 cancel in the sum. So every row's total doubles the one above. The top row sums to 3,3, and 12,288=3212,12{,}288 = 3 \cdot 2^{12}, so this is the 1212th row (counting the top as row 00). Track the diagonals from the left. The second diagonal is 3,2,1,0,1,,3, 2, 1, 0, -1, \ldots, dropping by 11 each row. The third diagonal adds these up: for n4n \ge 4 it equals 7(0+1++(n4))=7(n4)(n3)2.7 - (0 + 1 + \cdots + (n-4)) = 7 - \frac{(n-4)(n-3)}{2}. Plug in n=12n = 12: 7892=29.7 - \frac{8 \cdot 9}{2} = -29. Thus, A is the correct answer.

20.

A silo (right circular cylinder) with diameter 2020 meters stands in a field. MacDonald is located 2020 meters west and 1515 meters south of the center of the silo. McGregor is located 2020 meters east and g>0g \gt 0 meters south of the center of the silo. The line of sight between MacDonald and McGregor is tangent to the silo. The value of gg can be written as abcd,\dfrac{a\sqrt{b} - c}{d}, where a,b,c,a, b, c, and dd are positive integers, bb is not divisible by the square of any prime, and dd is relatively prime to the greatest common divisor of aa and c.c. What is a+b+c+d?a + b + c + d?

119119

120120

121121

122122

123123

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 2080

Solution:

Put the silo's center at the origin with radius 10.10. Then MacDonald is at D=(20,15)D = (-20, -15) and McGregor at G=(20,g).G = (20, -g). The tangent length from DD is DT=DS2102=252100=525,DT = \sqrt{DS^2 - 10^2} = \sqrt{25^2 - 100} = \sqrt{525}, and from GG it's TG=g2+202102.TG = \sqrt{g^2 + 20^2 - 10^2}. The tangent point TT sits between the two men, so DG=DT+TG.DG = DT + TG. But also DG=402+(15g)2.DG = \sqrt{40^2 + (15 - g)^2}. Square twice and simplify: 3g2+150g925=0,3g^2 + 150g - 925 = 0, which gives g=2021753.g = \frac{20\sqrt{21} - 75}{3}. So a+b+c+d=20+21+75+3=119.a + b + c + d = 20 + 21 + 75 + 3 = 119. Therefore, the answer is A.

21.

A set of numbers is called sum-free if whenever xx and yy are (not necessarily distinct) elements of the set, x+yx + y is not an element of the set. For example, {1,4,6}\{1, 4, 6\} and the empty set are sum-free, but {2,4,5}\{2, 4, 5\} is not. What is the greatest possible number of elements in a sum-free subset of {1,2,3,,20}?\{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 20\}?

88

99

1010

1111

1212

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2120

Solution:

We can reach 10.10. The odds {1,3,5,,19}\{1, 3, 5, \ldots, 19\} are sum-free, since two odds sum to an even. So is {11,12,,20},\{11, 12, \ldots, 20\}, since any two of those sum past 20.20. Each has 1010 elements. Now we show you can't beat 10.10. Let mm be the largest element of a sum-free subset. Pair up 1,2,,m11, 2, \ldots, m-1 as {i,mi}.\{i, m-i\}. A pair can't contribute both elements, or their sum mm would be in the set. There are (m1)/2\lfloor (m-1)/2 \rfloor such pairs, so the subset has at most (m1)/2+119/2+1=10\lfloor (m-1)/2 \rfloor + 1 \le \lfloor 19/2 \rfloor + 1 = 10 elements. Thus, C is the correct answer.

22.

A circle of radius rr is surrounded by three circles, whose radii are 1,2,1, 2, and 3,3, all externally tangent to the inner circle and to each other, as shown.

What is r?r?

14\dfrac{1}{4}

623\dfrac{6}{23}

311\dfrac{3}{11}

517\dfrac{5}{17}

310\dfrac{3}{10}

Answer: B

Difficulty rating: 2120

Solution:

The three outer centers A,B,CA, B, C are pairwise AB=1+2=3,AB = 1 + 2 = 3, AC=1+3=4,AC = 1 + 3 = 4, and BC=2+3=5BC = 2 + 3 = 5 apart, a 33-44-55 right triangle. Now apply Descartes' Circle Theorem with curvatures 1,12,13,1, \tfrac12, \tfrac13, and 1r,\tfrac1r, all mutually tangent: 1r=1+12+13+212+16+13=116+21=236.\frac1r = 1 + \tfrac12 + \tfrac13 + 2\sqrt{\tfrac12 + \tfrac16 + \tfrac13} = \tfrac{11}{6} + 2\sqrt{1} = \tfrac{23}{6}. Inverting, r=623.r = \tfrac{6}{23}. Therefore, the answer is B.

23.

Triangle ABCABC has side lengths AB=80,AB = 80, BC=45,BC = 45, and AC=75.AC = 75. The bisector of B\angle B and the altitude to side ABAB intersect at point P.P. What is BP?BP?

1818

1919

2020

2121

2222

Answer: D

Difficulty rating: 2270

Solution:

Let the bisector of B\angle B hit ACAC at D.D. By the Angle Bisector Theorem, ADDC=ABBC=8045,\frac{AD}{DC} = \frac{AB}{BC} = \frac{80}{45}, and since AC=75,AC = 75, we get AD=48AD = 48 and CD=27.CD = 27. Triangles BCDBCD and ACBACB share C,\angle C, with sides in ratio 4575=35,\tfrac{45}{75} = \tfrac35, so they're similar. That gives BD=3580=48,BD = \tfrac35 \cdot 80 = 48, which equals AD.AD. So ADB\triangle ADB is isosceles. Writing DAB=DBA=θ,\angle DAB = \angle DBA = \theta, a short angle chase shows DPC=DCP,\angle DPC = \angle DCP, so CDP\triangle CDP is isosceles too, with PD=CD=27.PD = CD = 27. Since PP is on segment BD,BD, BP=BDPD=4827=21.BP = BD - PD = 48 - 27 = 21. Thus, D is the correct answer.

24.

Call a positive integer fair if no digit is used more than once, it has no 00s, and no digit is adjacent to two greater digits. For example, 23,196,23, 196, and 1246312463 are fair, but 1546,320,1546, 320, and 3432134321 are not. How many fair positive integers are there?

511511

2,5842{,}584

9,8419{,}841

17,71117{,}711

19,68219{,}682

Answer: C

Difficulty rating: 2380

Solution:

In a fair number the digits climb up to the largest digit mm and then fall; otherwise some digit would be trapped between two bigger ones. So count by size. For kk digits, pick the digit set from 11 to 99 in (9k)\binom{9}{k} ways. The largest is m,m, and each of the remaining k1k - 1 digits chooses to sit left or right of mm (2k12^{k-1} ways), which pins down the number. Sum over kk: k=19(9k)2k1=12((1+2)91)=3912=9841.\sum_{k=1}^{9}\binom{9}{k}2^{k-1} = \tfrac12\big((1 + 2)^9 - 1\big) = \tfrac{3^9 - 1}{2} = 9841. Therefore, the answer is C.

25.

A point PP is chosen at random inside square ABCD.ABCD. The probability that APAP is neither the shortest nor the longest side of APB\triangle APB can be written as a+bπcde,\dfrac{a + b\pi - c\sqrt{d}}{e}, where a,b,c,d,a, b, c, d, and ee are positive integers, gcd(a,b,c,e)=1,\gcd(a, b, c, e) = 1, and dd is not divisible by the square of a prime. What is a+b+c+d+e?a + b + c + d + e?

2525

2626

2727

2828

2929

Answer: A

Difficulty rating: 2600

Solution:

Place A=(0,0)A = (0,0) and B=(1,0)B = (1,0) on the unit square. APAP is the middle length when BP<AP<ABBP \lt AP \lt AB or AB<AP<BP.AB \lt AP \lt BP. These two conditions carve out regions bounded by the circle of radius 11 centered at AA (where AP=ABAP = AB) and the perpendicular bisector x=12x = \tfrac12 (where AP=BPAP = BP). Let SS be where that circle meets x=12.x = \tfrac12. Then ABS\triangle ABS is equilateral, so QAS=60.\angle QAS = 60^\circ. Working out the pieces, the larger region has area 4π3324\frac{4\pi - 3\sqrt3}{24} and the smaller 122π3324.\frac{12 - 2\pi - 3\sqrt3}{24}. They add to 6+π3312.\frac{6 + \pi - 3\sqrt3}{12}. So a+b+c+d+e=6+1+3+3+12=25.a + b + c + d + e = 6 + 1 + 3 + 3 + 12 = 25. Thus, A is the correct answer.