2017 AMC 12A Exam Solutions

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All of the real AMC 8, AMC 10, AMC 12, and AIME problems in our complete solution collection are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

1.

Pablo buys popsicles for his friends. The store sells single popsicles for $1\$1 each, 33-popsicle boxes for $2,\$2, and 55-popsicle boxes for $3.\$3. What is the greatest number of popsicles that Pablo can buy with $8?\$8?

88

1111

1212

1313

1515

Concepts:optimizationrate

Difficulty rating: 890

Solution:

The cheapest popsicles come from the 55-popsicle box, at $35=$0.60\dfrac{\$3}{5}=\$0.60 each. Even at that rate, 1414 popsicles would cost 14$0.60=$8.40,14\cdot\$0.60=\$8.40, more than $8.\$8.

So Pablo can buy at most 13,13, and he achieves this with two 55-boxes for $6\$6 and one 33-box for $2,\$2, giving 25+3=132\cdot5+3=13 popsicles.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2.

The sum of two nonzero real numbers is 44 times their product. What is the sum of the reciprocals of the two numbers?

11

22

44

88

1212

Difficulty rating: 1020

Solution:

Let the numbers be xx and y,y, so x+y=4xy.x+y=4xy.

Dividing both sides by xyxy gives x+yxy=4, \dfrac{x+y}{xy}=4, and the left side is exactly 1y+1x.\dfrac{1}{y}+\dfrac{1}{x}. So the sum of the reciprocals is 4.4.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

3.

Ms. Carroll promised that anyone who got all the multiple choice questions right on the upcoming exam would receive an A on the exam. Which one of these statements necessarily follows logically?

If Lewis did not receive an A, then he got all of the multiple choice questions wrong.

If Lewis did not receive an A, then he got at least one of the multiple choice questions wrong.

If Lewis got at least one of the multiple choice questions wrong, then he did not receive an A.

If Lewis received an A, then he got all of the multiple choice questions right.

If Lewis received an A, then he got at least one of the multiple choice questions right.

Difficulty rating: 1100

Solution:

The promise is "all right \Rightarrow A." An implication is equivalent only to its contrapositive: "not A \Rightarrow not all right."

"Not all right" means at least one question was wrong, which is exactly statement B. The converse and inverse do not follow, and getting "all wrong" is a much stronger claim than the negation.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

4.

Jerry and Silvia wanted to go from the southwest corner of a square field to the northeast corner. Jerry walked due east and then due north to reach the goal, but Silvia headed northeast and reached the goal walking in a straight line. Which of the following is closest to how much shorter Silvia's trip was, compared to Jerry's trip?

30%30\%

40%40\%

50%50\%

60%60\%

70%70\%

Difficulty rating: 1200

Solution:

If the square has side x,x, Jerry walks x+x=2x,x+x=2x, while Silvia walks the diagonal x2+x2=x2.\sqrt{x^2+x^2}=x\sqrt2.

The fraction by which Silvia's trip is shorter is 2xx22x=12210.707=0.293. \dfrac{2x-x\sqrt2}{2x}=1-\dfrac{\sqrt2}{2}\approx 1-0.707=0.293.

This is closest to 30%.30\%.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

5.

At a gathering of 3030 people, there are 2020 people who all know each other and 1010 people who know no one. People who know each other hug, and people who do not know each other shake hands. How many handshakes occur?

240240

245245

290290

480480

490490

Difficulty rating: 1270

Solution:

Each of the 2020 people who know each other shakes hands with only the 1010 strangers. Each of the 1010 strangers shakes hands with all 2929 other people.

Summing handshake counts and dividing by 22 (each handshake involves two people) gives 12(2010+1029)=12(200+290)=245. \dfrac{1}{2}(20\cdot10+10\cdot29)=\dfrac{1}{2}(200+290)=245.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

6.

Joy has 3030 thin rods, one each of every integer length from 11 cm through 3030 cm. She places the rods with lengths 33 cm, 77 cm, and 1515 cm on a table. She then wants to choose a fourth rod that she can put with these three to form a quadrilateral with positive area. How many of the remaining rods can she choose as the fourth rod?

1616

1717

1818

1919

2020

Difficulty rating: 1350

Solution:

Four lengths form a quadrilateral with positive area if and only if the longest is strictly less than the sum of the other three. With a fourth rod of length n,n, this requires 15<3+7+n15\lt 3+7+n and n<3+7+15,n\lt 3+7+15, so 5<n<25. 5\lt n\lt 25.

The integers from 66 to 2424 give 1919 values, but the rods of length 77 and 1515 are already on the table, leaving 192=1719-2=17 choices.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

7.

Define a function on the positive integers recursively by f(1)=2,f(1)=2, f(n)=f(n1)+1f(n)=f(n-1)+1 if nn is even, and f(n)=f(n2)+2f(n)=f(n-2)+2 if nn is odd and greater than 1.1. What is f(2017)?f(2017)?

20172017

20182018

40344034

40354035

40364036

Difficulty rating: 1380

Solution:

Listing values: f(1)=2,f(1)=2, f(2)=f(1)+1=3,f(2)=f(1)+1=3, f(3)=f(1)+2=4,f(3)=f(1)+2=4, f(4)=f(3)+1=5,f(4)=f(3)+1=5, suggesting f(n)=n+1.f(n)=n+1.

Both rules are consistent with f(n)=n+1:f(n)=n+1: for even n,n, (n1)+1+1=n+1,(n-1)+1+1=n+1, and for odd n,n, (n2)+1+2=n+1.(n-2)+1+2=n+1. Since the recursion determines ff uniquely, f(2017)=2018.f(2017)=2018.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

8.

The region consisting of all points in three-dimensional space within 33 units of line segment ABAB has volume 216π.216\pi. What is the length AB?AB?

66

1212

1818

2020

2424

Difficulty rating: 1440

Solution:

Let h=AB.h=AB. The region is a cylinder of radius 33 and height hh with a hemisphere of radius 33 on each end.

The cylinder has volume π32h=9πh,\pi\cdot3^2\cdot h=9\pi h, and the two hemispheres together form a sphere of volume 43π33=36π.\dfrac{4}{3}\pi\cdot3^3=36\pi. So 9πh+36π=216π, 9\pi h+36\pi=216\pi, giving h=20.h=20.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

9.

Let SS be the set of points (x,y)(x,y) in the coordinate plane such that two of the three quantities 3,3, x+2,x+2, and y4y-4 are equal and the third of the three quantities is no greater than this common value. Which of the following is a correct description of S?S?

a single point

two intersecting lines

three lines whose pairwise intersections are three distinct points

a triangle

three rays with a common endpoint

Difficulty rating: 1500

Solution:

Consider which two of 3,3, x+2,x+2, y4y-4 are the (equal) larger pair.

If 3=x+2y4:3=x+2\ge y-4: then x=1x=1 and y7,y\le7, a downward ray from (1,7).(1,7). If 3=y4x+2:3=y-4\ge x+2: then y=7y=7 and x1,x\le1, a leftward ray from (1,7).(1,7). If x+2=y43:x+2=y-4\ge3: then y=x+6y=x+6 and x1,x\ge1, a ray from (1,7)(1,7) going up and to the right.

All three rays share the endpoint (1,7),(1,7), so SS is three rays with a common endpoint.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

10.

Chloé chooses a real number uniformly at random from the interval [0,2017].[0,2017]. Independently, Laurent chooses a real number uniformly at random from the interval [0,4034].[0,4034]. What is the probability that Laurent's number is greater than Chloé's number?

12\dfrac{1}{2}

23\dfrac{2}{3}

34\dfrac{3}{4}

56\dfrac{5}{6}

78\dfrac{7}{8}

Solution:

With probability 12,\dfrac{1}{2}, Laurent's number lies in [2017,4034],[2017,4034], which exceeds any number Chloé could choose, so he wins for certain.

With the other probability 12,\dfrac{1}{2}, Laurent's number lies in [0,2017],[0,2017], matching Chloé's interval; by symmetry he is larger half the time. The total probability is 121+1212=34. \dfrac{1}{2}\cdot1+\dfrac{1}{2}\cdot\dfrac{1}{2}=\dfrac{3}{4}.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

11.

Claire adds the degree measures of the interior angles of a convex polygon and arrives at a sum of 2017.2017. She then discovers that she forgot to include one angle. What is the degree measure of the forgotten angle?

3737

6363

117117

143143

163163

Difficulty rating: 1570

Solution:

If the polygon has nn sides and the forgotten angle is α,\alpha, then (n2)180=2017+α.(n-2)180=2017+\alpha. Since 0<α<180,0\lt\alpha\lt180, 2017<(n2)180<2197. 2017\lt(n-2)180\lt2197.

The only multiple of 180180 in this range is 2160=(142)180,2160=(14-2)180, so n=14n=14 and α=21602017=143. \alpha=2160-2017=143.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

12.

There are 1010 horses, named Horse 1,1, Horse 2,2, ,\ldots, Horse 10.10. They get their names from how many minutes it takes them to run one lap around a circular race track: Horse kk runs one lap in exactly kk minutes. At time 00 all the horses are together at the starting point on the track. The horses start running in the same direction, and they keep running around the circular track at their constant speeds. The least time S>0,S\gt0, in minutes, at which all 1010 horses will again simultaneously be at the starting point is S=2520.S=2520. Let T>0T\gt0 be the least time, in minutes, such that at least 55 of the horses are again at the starting point. What is the sum of the digits of T?T?

22

33

44

55

66

Difficulty rating: 1630

Solution:

Horse kk is at the starting point at time tt precisely when kt.k\mid t. So we want the smallest tt with at least 55 divisors among 1,2,,10.1,2,\ldots,10.

Checking small values, t=12t=12 is divisible by 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4, and 6,6, giving exactly 55 such horses, and no smaller tt reaches 5.5. Thus T=12,T=12, and the sum of its digits is 1+2=3.1+2=3.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

13.

Driving at a constant speed, Sharon usually takes 180180 minutes to drive from her house to her mother's house. One day Sharon begins the drive at her usual speed, but after driving 13\dfrac{1}{3} of the way, she hits a bad snowstorm and reduces her speed by 2020 miles per hour. This time the trip takes her a total of 276276 minutes. How many miles is the drive from Sharon's house to her mother's house?

132132

135135

138138

141141

144144

Difficulty rating: 1660

Solution:

Let the distance be dd miles and the usual speed rr mph. Since the usual trip is 33 hours, d=3r.d=3r.

The first 13\dfrac{1}{3} of the drive takes 13180=60\dfrac{1}{3}\cdot180=60 minutes at speed r,r, so the remaining 23\dfrac{2}{3} takes 27660=216276-60=216 minutes =185=\dfrac{18}{5} hours at speed r20.r-20.

That final portion covers 23d=2r\dfrac{2}{3}d=2r miles, so 2r=(r20)185. 2r=(r-20)\cdot\dfrac{18}{5}. Solving gives 10r=18r360,10r=18r-360, so r=45r=45 and d=345=135.d=3\cdot45=135.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

14.

Alice refuses to sit next to either Bob or Carla. Derek refuses to sit next to Eric. How many ways are there for the five of them to sit in a row of 55 chairs under these conditions?

1212

1616

2828

3232

4040

Solution:

Let X,X, Y,Y, ZZ be the seatings where Alice-Bob, Alice-Carla, and Derek-Eric are adjacent, respectively. The answer is 5!XYZ.5!-|X\cup Y\cup Z|.

Treating a forbidden pair as a block gives X=Y=Z=24!=48.|X|=|Y|=|Z|=2\cdot4!=48. For intersections, XY=23!=12|X\cap Y|=2\cdot3!=12 (Alice between Bob and Carla), XZ=YZ=223!=24,|X\cap Z|=|Y\cap Z|=2\cdot2\cdot3!=24, and XYZ=222!=8.|X\cap Y\cap Z|=2\cdot2\cdot2!=8.

By inclusion-exclusion, XYZ=(483)(12+24+24)+8=92,|X\cup Y\cup Z|=(48\cdot3)-(12+24+24)+8=92, so the answer is 12092=28.120-92=28.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

15.

Let f(x)=sinx+2cosx+3tanx,f(x)=\sin x+2\cos x+3\tan x, using radian measure for the variable x.x. In what interval does the smallest positive value of xx for which f(x)=0f(x)=0 lie?

(0,1)(0,1)

(1,2)(1,2)

(2,3)(2,3)

(3,4)(3,4)

(4,5)(4,5)

Concepts:trigonometry

Difficulty rating: 1800

Solution:

For 0<x<π20\lt x\lt\dfrac{\pi}{2} all three terms are positive, so f(x)>0.f(x)\gt0. For π2<x<π,\dfrac{\pi}{2}\lt x\lt\pi, tanx\tan x is negative and dominates, keeping f(x)<0.f(x)\lt0. So no root occurs before x=π.x=\pi.

At x=π,x=\pi, f(π)=0+2(1)+0=2<0.f(\pi)=0+2(-1)+0=-2\lt0. At x=5π4,x=\dfrac{5\pi}{4}, tanx=1\tan x=1 so f=22+3>0.f=-\dfrac{\sqrt2}{2}+3\gt0. By the intermediate value theorem the smallest positive root lies in (π,5π4).\left(\pi,\dfrac{5\pi}{4}\right).

Since π>3\pi\gt3 and 5π4<4,\dfrac{5\pi}{4}\lt4, this interval sits inside (3,4).(3,4).

Thus, the correct answer is D.

16.

In the figure below, semicircles with centers at AA and BB and with radii 22 and 1,1, respectively, are drawn in the interior of, and sharing bases with, a semicircle with diameter JK.\overline{JK}. The two smaller semicircles are externally tangent to each other and internally tangent to the largest semicircle. A circle centered at PP is drawn externally tangent to the two smaller semicircles and internally tangent to the largest semicircle. What is the radius of the circle centered at P?P?

34\dfrac{3}{4}

67\dfrac{6}{7}

123\dfrac{1}{2}\sqrt3

582\dfrac{5}{8}\sqrt2

1112\dfrac{11}{12}

Solution:

The large semicircle has radius 33 and center C,C, the midpoint of JK.\overline{JK}. Placing JJ at the origin, A=2,A=2, B=5,B=5, C=3,C=3, K=6K=6 along the base. Let rr be the radius of the circle at P.P.

By tangency, PA=2+r,PA=2+r, PB=1+r,PB=1+r, and PC=3r.PC=3-r. Dropping a perpendicular from PP to the base at horizontal position 3+x3+x with height h,h, the Pythagorean theorem gives h2=(2+r)2(1+x)2=(3r)2x2=(1+r)2(2x)2. h^2=(2+r)^2-(1+x)^2=(3-r)^2-x^2=(1+r)^2-(2-x)^2.

These reduce to two linear equations in rr and x,x, whose solution is r=67r=\dfrac{6}{7} (and x=97x=\dfrac{9}{7}).

Thus, the correct answer is B.

17.

There are 2424 different complex numbers zz such that z24=1.z^{24}=1. For how many of these is z6z^6 a real number?

00

44

66

1212

2424

Difficulty rating: 1910

Solution:

The 2424 solutions are the 2424th roots of unity, z=eπik/12z=e^{\pi i k/12} for k=0,1,,23.k=0,1,\ldots,23.

Then z6=eπik/2=coskπ2+isinkπ2,z^6=e^{\pi i k/2}=\cos\dfrac{k\pi}{2}+i\sin\dfrac{k\pi}{2}, which is real exactly when sinkπ2=0,\sin\dfrac{k\pi}{2}=0, i.e. when kk is even. There are 1212 even values of kk in the range.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

18.

Let S(n)S(n) equal the sum of the digits of positive integer n.n. For example, S(1507)=13.S(1507)=13. For a particular positive integer n,n, S(n)=1274.S(n)=1274. Which of the following could be the value of S(n+1)?S(n+1)?

11

33

1212

12391239

12651265

Difficulty rating: 1990

Solution:

Adding 11 to nn increases the digit sum by 1,1, except that each trailing 99 turns into a 0,0, losing 9.9. If nn ends in exactly kk nines, then S(n+1)=S(n)+19k=12759k.S(n+1)=S(n)+1-9k=1275-9k.

So the possible values are 1275,1266,1257,1275,1266,1257,\ldots Among the choices, only 1239=1275941239=1275-9\cdot4 fits (for example, nn ending in four 99s preceded by enough 11s).

Thus, the correct answer is D.

19.

A square with side length xx is inscribed in a right triangle with sides of length 3,3, 4,4, and 55 so that one vertex of the square coincides with the right-angle vertex of the triangle. A square with side length yy is inscribed in another right triangle with sides of length 3,3, 4,4, and 55 so that one side of the square lies on the hypotenuse of the triangle. What is xy?\dfrac{x}{y}?

1213\dfrac{12}{13}

3537\dfrac{35}{37}

11

3735\dfrac{37}{35}

1312\dfrac{13}{12}

Difficulty rating: 2040

Solution:

For the first square, the two smaller triangles it cuts off are similar to the whole triangle, giving x3x=4xx,\dfrac{x}{3-x}=\dfrac{4-x}{x}, so x=127.x=\dfrac{12}{7}. (Equivalently, a square in the right angle has side 343+4.\dfrac{3\cdot4}{3+4}.)

For the second square, take the hypotenuse of length 55 as base; the altitude to it is h=345=125.h=\dfrac{3\cdot4}{5}=\dfrac{12}{5}. A square with a side on a base bb and height hh has side bhb+h,\dfrac{bh}{b+h}, so y=51255+125=12375=6037. y=\dfrac{5\cdot\tfrac{12}{5}}{5+\tfrac{12}{5}}=\dfrac{12}{\tfrac{37}{5}}=\dfrac{60}{37}.

Therefore xy=1273760=3735.\dfrac{x}{y}=\dfrac{12}{7}\cdot\dfrac{37}{60}=\dfrac{37}{35}.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

20.

How many ordered pairs (a,b)(a,b) such that aa is a positive real number and bb is an integer between 22 and 200,200, inclusive, satisfy the equation (logba)2017=logb(a2017)?(\log_b a)^{2017}=\log_b(a^{2017})?

198198

199199

398398

399399

597597

Difficulty rating: 2110

Solution:

Let u=logba.u=\log_b a. Since logb(a2017)=2017logba,\log_b(a^{2017})=2017\log_b a, the equation is u2017=2017u,u^{2017}=2017u, so u=0u=0 or u2016=2017.u^{2016}=2017.

If u=0,u=0, then a=1,a=1, valid for every one of the 199199 bases. If u2016=2017,u^{2016}=2017, then u=±20171/2016,u=\pm2017^{1/2016}, giving 22 values of aa for each base, i.e. 2199=3982\cdot199=398 pairs.

In total there are 199+398=597199+398=597 ordered pairs.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

21.

A set SS is constructed as follows. To begin, S={0,10}.S=\{0,10\}. Repeatedly, as long as possible, if xx is an integer root of some polynomial anxn+an1xn1++a1x+a0a_nx^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0 for some n1,n\ge1, all of whose coefficients aia_i are elements of S,S, then xx is put into S.S. When no more elements can be added to S,S, how many elements does SS have?

44

55

77

99

1111

Difficulty rating: 2130

Solution:

Using 10x+10,10x+10, the root 1-1 enters S.S. Then 11 enters as a root of x10x9x+10,-x^{10}-x^9-\cdots-x+10, and 10-10 enters from x+10.x+10.

Now x3+x10x^3+x-10 has root 2,2, and x+2x+2 gives 2;-2; then 2x102x-10 and 2x+102x+10 give ±5.\pm5. At this point S={0,±1,±2,±5,±10}.S=\{0,\pm1,\pm2,\pm5,\pm10\}.

No further integer can appear: by the Rational Root Theorem any integer root divides the constant term, which is always a factor of 10.10. So SS has 99 elements.

Thus, the correct answer is D.

22.

A square is drawn in the Cartesian coordinate plane with vertices at (2,2),(2,2), (2,2),(-2,2), (2,2),(-2,-2), and (2,2).(2,-2). A particle starts at (0,0).(0,0). Every second it moves with equal probability to one of the eight lattice points closest to its current position, independently of its previous moves. In other words, the probability is 18\dfrac{1}{8} that the particle will move from (x,y)(x,y) to each of (x,y+1),(x,y+1), (x+1,y+1),(x+1,y+1), (x+1,y),(x+1,y), (x+1,y1),(x+1,y-1), (x,y1),(x,y-1), (x1,y1),(x-1,y-1), (x1,y),(x-1,y), or (x1,y+1).(x-1,y+1). The particle will eventually hit the square for the first time, either at one of the 44 corners of the square or at one of the 1212 lattice points in the interior of one of the sides of the square. The probability that it will hit at a corner rather than at an interior point of a side is mn,\dfrac{m}{n}, where mm and nn are relatively prime positive integers. What is m+n?m+n?

44

55

77

1515

3939

Difficulty rating: 2270

Solution:

By symmetry, group the relevant interior points into three types: C={(0,0)},C=\{(0,0)\}, the "axis" points A={(±1,0),(0,±1)},A=\{(\pm1,0),(0,\pm1)\}, and the "diagonal" points I={(±1,±1)}.I=\{(\pm1,\pm1)\}. Let a,c,ia,c,i be the probabilities of eventually hitting a corner starting from a point of type A,C,I.A,C,I.

Reading off the transition probabilities (a point in AA goes to AA with prob 28,\tfrac28, to CC with 18,\tfrac18, to II with 28,\tfrac28, and to a side interior with 38,\tfrac38, etc.) gives a=28a+18c+28i,c=48a+48i,i=28a+18c+18. a=\tfrac28 a+\tfrac18 c+\tfrac28 i,\quad c=\tfrac48 a+\tfrac48 i,\quad i=\tfrac28 a+\tfrac18 c+\tfrac18.

Solving yields a=114,a=\dfrac{1}{14}, c=435,c=\dfrac{4}{35}, i=1170.i=\dfrac{11}{70}. The required probability is c=435,c=\dfrac{4}{35}, so m+n=4+35=39.m+n=4+35=39.

Thus, the correct answer is E.

23.

For certain real numbers a,a, b,b, and c,c, the polynomial g(x)=x3+ax2+x+10g(x)=x^3+ax^2+x+10 has three distinct roots, and each root of g(x)g(x) is also a root of the polynomial f(x)=x4+x3+bx2+100x+c.f(x)=x^4+x^3+bx^2+100x+c. What is f(1)?f(1)?

9009-9009

8008-8008

7007-7007

6006-6006

5005-5005

Difficulty rating: 2380

Solution:

Since gg has three distinct roots all shared by the quartic f,f, we can write f(x)=(xq)g(x)f(x)=(x-q)g(x) for some remaining root q.q. Expanding, f(x)=x4+(aq)x3+(1qa)x2+(10q)x10q. f(x)=x^4+(a-q)x^3+(1-qa)x^2+(10-q)x-10q.

Matching the xx coefficient, 10q=100,10-q=100, so q=90.q=-90. Matching the x3x^3 coefficient, aq=1,a-q=1, so a=89.a=-89.

Then g(1)=1+a+1+10=1289=77g(1)=1+a+1+10=12-89=-77 and 1q=91,1-q=91, so f(1)=(1q)g(1)=91(77)=7007. f(1)=(1-q)g(1)=91\cdot(-77)=-7007.

Thus, the correct answer is C.

24.

Quadrilateral ABCDABCD is inscribed in circle OO and has sides AB=3,AB=3, BC=2,BC=2, CD=6,CD=6, and DA=8.DA=8. Let XX and YY be points on BDBD such that DXBD=14\dfrac{DX}{BD}=\dfrac{1}{4} and BYBD=1136.\dfrac{BY}{BD}=\dfrac{11}{36}. Let EE be the intersection of line AXAX and the line through YY parallel to AD.AD. Let FF be the intersection of line CXCX and the line through EE parallel to AC.AC. Let GG be the point on circle OO other than CC that lies on line CX.CX. What is XFXG?XF\cdot XG?

1717

59523\dfrac{59-5\sqrt2}{3}

911234\dfrac{91-12\sqrt3}{4}

671023\dfrac{67-10\sqrt2}{3}

1818

Difficulty rating: 2520

Solution:

Because YEADYE\parallel AD and EFAC,EF\parallel AC, we get XEYXAD\triangle XEY\sim\triangle XAD and XEFXAC,\triangle XEF\sim\triangle XAC, giving XYXE=XDXA\dfrac{XY}{XE}=\dfrac{XD}{XA} and XFXE=XCXA.\dfrac{XF}{XE}=\dfrac{XC}{XA}. Hence XCXD=XFXY,\dfrac{XC}{XD}=\dfrac{XF}{XY}, so XFXD=XCXY.XF\cdot XD=XC\cdot XY.

Power of a Point at XX gives XCXG=XDXB,XC\cdot XG=XD\cdot XB, and combining yields XFXG=XBXY.XF\cdot XG=XB\cdot XY. With d=BD,d=BD, DX=14dDX=\dfrac14 d and BY=1136d,BY=\dfrac{11}{36}d, so XFXG=(d14d)(d14d1136d)=34d49d=d23. XF\cdot XG=\left(d-\tfrac14 d\right)\left(d-\tfrac14 d-\tfrac{11}{36}d\right)=\dfrac34 d\cdot\dfrac49 d=\dfrac{d^2}{3}.

Since ABCDABCD is cyclic, BAD\angle BAD and BCD\angle BCD are supplementary. The Law of Cosines on ABD\triangle ABD and CBD\triangle CBD gives 73d248=d24024,\dfrac{73-d^2}{48}=\dfrac{d^2-40}{24}, so d2=51.d^2=51. Therefore XFXG=513=17.XF\cdot XG=\dfrac{51}{3}=17.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

25.

The vertices VV of a centrally symmetric hexagon in the complex plane are given by V={2i,  2i,  18(1+i),  18(1+i),  18(1i),  18(1i)}.V=\left\{\sqrt2 i,\;-\sqrt2 i,\;\tfrac{1}{\sqrt8}(1+i),\;\tfrac{1}{\sqrt8}(-1+i),\;\tfrac{1}{\sqrt8}(1-i),\;\tfrac{1}{\sqrt8}(-1-i)\right\}. For each j,j, 1j12,1\le j\le12, an element zjz_j is chosen from VV at random, independently of the other choices. Let P=j=112zjP=\prod_{j=1}^{12}z_j be the product of the 1212 numbers selected. What is the probability that P=1?P=-1?

511310\dfrac{5\cdot11}{3^{10}}

52112310\dfrac{5^2\cdot11}{2\cdot3^{10}}

51139\dfrac{5\cdot11}{3^9}

57112310\dfrac{5\cdot7\cdot11}{2\cdot3^{10}}

22511310\dfrac{2^2\cdot5\cdot11}{3^{10}}

Difficulty rating: 2650

Solution:

Let A={2i,2i}A=\{\sqrt2 i,-\sqrt2 i\} (each of magnitude 2\sqrt2) and BB be the other four elements (each of magnitude 12\dfrac12). Since P=(2)#A(12)#B=1|P|=(\sqrt2)^{\#A}\left(\tfrac12\right)^{\#B}=1 forces #A=8\#A=8 and #B=4,\#B=4, exactly 88 factors must come from AA and 44 from B.B.

A product of 88 elements of AA equals ±16\pm16 (real), and a product of 44 elements of BB equals one of ±116,±i16.\pm\tfrac{1}{16},\pm\tfrac{i}{16}. Their product is one of ±1,±i,\pm1,\pm i, each equally likely, so exactly 14\tfrac14 of these configurations give P=1.P=-1.

The chance of landing in the 88-from-AA, 44-from-BB pattern is (124)(13)8(23)4=880310.\binom{12}{4}\left(\tfrac13\right)^8\left(\tfrac23\right)^4=\dfrac{880}{3^{10}}. Multiplying by 14\tfrac14 gives P=14880310=220310=22511310. P=\dfrac{1}{4}\cdot\dfrac{880}{3^{10}}=\dfrac{220}{3^{10}}=\dfrac{2^2\cdot5\cdot11}{3^{10}}.

Thus, the correct answer is E.