2025 AMC 12A Solutions | LIVE by Po-Shen Loh

1.

Andy and Betsy both live in Mathville. Andy leaves Mathville on his bicycle at $1{:}30,$ traveling due north at a steady $8$ miles per hour. Betsy leaves on her bicycle from the same point at $2{:}30,$ traveling due east at a steady $12$ miles per hour. At what time will they be exactly the same distance from their common starting point?

$3{:}30$

$3{:}45$

$4{:}00$

$4{:}15$

$4{:}30$

Concepts:distance rate and time linear equation

Difficulty rating: 890

Small Hint:

Measure time from $1{:}30$ ; Betsy has been riding one hour less than Andy

Big Hint:

If Andy has ridden $t$ hours, set $8t = 12(t-1)$

Solution:

Let $t$ be the number of hours since $1{:}30.$ Andy has traveled $8t$ miles north, and Betsy, who started an hour later, has traveled $12(t-1)$ miles east.

Setting the distances equal, $8t = 12(t-1),$ so $4t = 12$ and $t = 3.$

Three hours after $1{:}30$ is $4{:}30.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

2.

A box contains $10$ pounds of a nut mix that is $50$ percent peanuts, $20$ percent cashews, and $30$ percent almonds. A second nut mix containing $20$ percent peanuts, $40$ percent cashews, and $40$ percent almonds is added to the box resulting in a new nut mix that is $40$ percent peanuts. How many pounds of cashews are now in the box?

$3.5$

$4$

$4.5$

$5$

$6$

Concepts:mixture percentage linear equation

Difficulty rating: 1020

Small Hint:

The first box holds $5$ lb peanuts, $2$ lb cashews, and $3$ lb almonds

Big Hint:

If $x$ pounds of the second mix are added, solve $\dfrac{5+0.2x}{10+x}=0.4$

Solution:

The first box has $5$ lb peanuts, $2$ lb cashews, and $3$ lb almonds. Adding $x$ pounds of the second mix contributes $0.2x$ lb peanuts and $0.4x$ lb cashews.

The new peanut fraction is $40\%,$ so $\frac{5+0.2x}{10+x}=0.4.$ This gives $5+0.2x=4+0.4x,$ so $x=5.$

The cashews now total $2 + 0.4(5) = 4$ pounds.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

3.

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 $15.$ 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 $12$ to $14.$ If Ash plays with the teachers, the average age on that team will decrease from $55$ to $52.$ How old is Ash?

$28$

$29$

$30$

$32$

$33$

Concepts:system of equations mean ages

Difficulty rating: 1130

Small Hint:

Let $s$ be the number of students; their ages total $12s$

Big Hint:

Adding Ash gives $12s + a = 14(s+1)$ and $55(15-s) + a = 52(16-s)$

Solution:

Let $s$ be the number of students and $a$ be Ash’s age. The students’ ages total $12s,$ and adding Ash gives $\begin{aligned} 12s + a &= 14(s+1) \\ &\implies a = 2s + 14. \end{aligned}$

There are $15 - s$ teachers with ages totaling $55(15-s),$ and adding Ash gives $\begin{aligned} 55(15-s) + a &= 52(16-s) \\ &\implies a = 3s + 7. \end{aligned}$

Setting $2s+14 = 3s+7$ gives $s = 7,$ so $a = 2(7)+14 = 28.$

Thus, the correct answer is A.

4.

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?

$0$

$1$

$2$

$3$

$4$

Concepts:logical deduction casework

Difficulty rating: 1200

Small Hint:

Let $T$ be the number of true statements; the four claims say $T\ge1,$ $T\ge2,$ $T\le2,$ $T\le3$

Big Hint:

Find the value of $T$ for which exactly $T$ of the four conditions hold

Solution:

Let $T$ be the number of true statements. The statements assert $T \ge 1,$ $T \ge 2,$ $T \le 2,$ and $T \le 3,$ respectively.

Testing $T = 3$ : the conditions $T\ge1,$ $T\ge2,$ $T\le3$ hold (statements one, two, four) and $T\le2$ fails (statement three). Exactly $3$ statements are true, matching $T = 3.$

For $T=0,1,2,3,4,$ the respective numbers of true conditions are $2,3,4,3,2,$ so no other value is self-consistent. Therefore exactly one statement is false.

Thus, the correct answer is B.

5.

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 $k,$ where $0 \lt k \lt 1.$ 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 $64\%$ of the area of the original square. What is $k?$

$\dfrac{3}{5}$

$\dfrac{16}{25}$

$\dfrac{2}{3}$

$\dfrac{3}{4}$

$\dfrac{4}{5}$

Concepts:geometric sequence area ratio

Difficulty rating: 1270

Small Hint:

Take the outer square to have area $1$ ; the squares have areas $1, k^2, k^4, \ldots$

Big Hint:

The shaded rings form a geometric series that sums to $\dfrac{1}{1+k^2}$

Solution:

Let the outer square have area $1.$ The nested squares have areas $1, k^2, k^4, \ldots,$ so the ring between the $n$ th and $(n+1)$ th squares has area $k^{2n}(1-k^2).$

The shaded rings are the alternate ones $n = 0, 2, 4, \ldots,$ with total area $\begin{aligned} \sum_{j=0}^{\infty} k^{4j}(1-k^2) &= \frac{1-k^2}{1-k^4} \\ &= \frac{1}{1+k^2}. \end{aligned}$

Setting $\dfrac{1}{1+k^2} = \dfrac{16}{25}$ gives $1 + k^2 = \dfrac{25}{16},$ so $k^2 = \dfrac{9}{16}$ and $k = \dfrac{3}{4}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

6.

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?

$\dfrac{1}{6}$

$\dfrac{1}{5}$

$\dfrac{2}{9}$

$\dfrac{3}{13}$

$\dfrac{1}{4}$

Concepts:circular arrangements basic probability

Difficulty rating: 1350

Small Hint:

Count the ways to give the students one pair of chairs and the teachers another pair

Big Hint:

There are $6$ adjacent pairs; after fixing the students’ pair, count the adjacent pairs left for the teachers

Solution:

Choosing $2$ chairs for the students and $2$ for the teachers gives $\binom{6}{2}\binom{4}{2} = 15 \cdot 6 = 90$ equally likely outcomes.

A round table has $6$ adjacent pairs of chairs. Give the students any adjacent pair; among the remaining $4$ chairs there are exactly $3$ adjacent pairs for the teachers. That is $6 \cdot 3 = 18$ favorable outcomes.

The probability is $\dfrac{18}{90} = \dfrac{1}{5}.$

Thus, the correct answer is B.

7.

In a certain alien world, the maximum running speed $v$ of an organism is dependent on its number of toes $n$ and number of eyes $m.$ The relationship can be expressed as $v = k n^a m^b$ centimeters per hour, where $k,$ $a,$ and $b$ are integer constants. In a population where all organisms have $5$ toes, $\log v = 4 + 2\log m;$ and in a population where all organisms have $25$ eyes, $\log v = 4 + 4\log n,$ where the logarithms are base $10.$ What is $k + a + b?$

$20$

$21$

$22$

$23$

$24$

Concepts:logarithm system of equations

Difficulty rating: 1380

Small Hint:

Take logs: $\log v = \log k + a\log n + b\log m$

Big Hint:

Setting $n = 5$ gives $b = 2$ and $\log k + a\log 5 = 4$ ; setting $m = 25$ gives $a = 4$

Solution:

Taking logarithms, $\log v = \log k + a\log n + b\log m.$

With $n = 5,$ this reads $\log v = (\log k + a\log 5)$ $+ b\log m,$ matching $4 + 2\log m,$ so $b = 2$ and $\log k + a\log 5 = 4.$

With $m = 25,$ it reads $\log v = (\log k + b\log 25)$ $+ a\log n,$ matching $4 + 4\log n,$ so $a = 4$ and $\log k + 2\log 25 = 4.$

Then $\log k = 4 - \log 625$ $= \log\dfrac{10000}{625}$ $= \log 16,$ so $k = 16.$ Hence $k + a + b = 16 + 4 + 2 = 22.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

8.

Pentagon $ABCDE$ is inscribed in a circle, and $\angle BEC = \angle CED = 30^\circ.$ Let $AC$ and $BD$ intersect at point $F,$ and suppose that $AB = 9$ and $AD = 24.$ What is $BF?$

$\dfrac{57}{11}$

$\dfrac{59}{11}$

$\dfrac{60}{11}$

$\dfrac{61}{11}$

$\dfrac{63}{11}$

Concepts:inscribed angle angle bisector theorem law of cosines

Difficulty rating: 1440

Small Hint:

$\angle BAC$ and $\angle CAD$ both subtend $30^\circ$ arcs, so $AC$ bisects $\angle BAD$

Big Hint:

Find $BD$ with the Law of Cosines in $\triangle ABD,$ then use the Angle Bisector Theorem

Solution:

The inscribed angle $\angle BEC = 30^\circ$ subtends arc $BC = 60^\circ,$ so $\angle BAC,$ which also subtends arc $BC,$ equals $30^\circ.$ Likewise $\angle CAD = 30^\circ.$

Thus $AC$ bisects $\angle BAD = 60^\circ.$ In $\triangle ABD,$ $\begin{aligned} BD^2 &= 9^2 + 24^2 \\ &\quad {}- 2(9)(24)\cos 60^\circ \\ &= 657 - 216 = 441, \end{aligned}$ so $BD = 21.$

Since $AF$ (along $AC$ ) bisects $\angle BAD,$ the Angle Bisector Theorem gives $\dfrac{BF}{FD} = \dfrac{AB}{AD} = \dfrac{9}{24} = \dfrac{3}{8}.$ Hence $BF = \dfrac{3}{11}\cdot 21 = \dfrac{63}{11}.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

9.

Let $w$ be the complex number $2 + i,$ where $i = \sqrt{-1}.$ What real number $r$ has the property that $r,$ $w,$ and $w^2$ are three collinear points in the complex plane?

$\dfrac{3}{4}$

$1$

$\dfrac{7}{5}$

$\dfrac{3}{2}$

$\dfrac{5}{3}$

Concepts:complex number slope

Difficulty rating: 1500

Small Hint:

Compute $w^2$ and treat $w = (2,1)$ and $w^2$ as points in the plane

Big Hint:

Find where the line through $w$ and $w^2$ meets the real axis

Solution:

Compute $w^2 = (2+i)^2 = 3 + 4i,$ so the points are $(2,1)$ and $(3,4).$

The line through them has slope $\dfrac{4-1}{3-2} = 3,$ giving $y = 3x - 5.$ Setting $y = 0$ yields $x = \dfrac{5}{3}.$

So $r = \dfrac{5}{3}.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

10.

In the figure shown below, major arc $AD$ and minor arc $BC$ have the same center, $O.$ Also, $A$ lies between $O$ and $B,$ and $D$ lies between $O$ and $C.$ Major arc $AD,$ minor arc $BC,$ and each of the two segments $AB$ and $CD$ have length $2\pi.$

What is the distance from $O$ to $A?$

$1$

$1 - \pi + \sqrt{1 + \pi^2}$

$\dfrac{1}{2}\pi$

$\dfrac{1}{2}\sqrt{1 + \pi^2}$

$2$

Concepts:arc quadratic

Difficulty rating: 1530

Small Hint:

Let $OA = R_1,$ $OB = R_2,$ and $\angle AOD = \alpha$ ; the arcs give $R_2\alpha = 2\pi$ and $R_1(2\pi - \alpha) = 2\pi$

Big Hint:

The segments give $R_2 - R_1 = 2\pi$ ; eliminating the radii yields $\alpha^2 - 2(1+\pi)\alpha + 2\pi = 0$

Solution:

Let $R_1 = OA = OD$ and $R_2 = OB = OC,$ and let $\alpha = \angle AOD = \angle BOC$ (the rays coincide). The minor arc $BC$ has length $R_2\alpha = 2\pi,$ and the major arc $AD$ is the reflex arc, so $R_1(2\pi - \alpha) = 2\pi.$

Each segment $AB = CD = R_2 - R_1 = 2\pi.$

From the first two equations, $R_2 = \dfrac{2\pi}{\alpha}$ and $R_1 = \dfrac{2\pi}{2\pi - \alpha}.$ Substituting into $R_2 - R_1 = 2\pi$ and dividing by $2\pi$ gives $\frac{1}{\alpha} - \frac{1}{2\pi - \alpha} = 1,$ which simplifies to $\alpha^2 - 2(1+\pi)\alpha + 2\pi = 0.$

The larger root is greater than $2\pi,$ so it cannot be an angle of this minor arc. Thus $\alpha = (1+\pi) - \sqrt{1+\pi^2}.$ Then $\begin{aligned} R_1 &= \frac{2\pi}{2\pi - \alpha} \\ &= \frac{2\pi}{\pi - 1 + \sqrt{1+\pi^2}} \\ &= 1 - \pi + \sqrt{1+\pi^2}, \end{aligned}$ after rationalizing (the denominator times $\sqrt{1+\pi^2} - (\pi-1)$ equals $2\pi$ ).

Thus, the correct answer is B.

11.

The orthocenter of a triangle is the concurrent intersection of the three (possibly extended) altitudes. What is the sum of the coordinates of the orthocenter of the triangle whose vertices are $A(2, 31),$ $B(8, 27),$ and $C(18, 27)?$

$5$

$17$

$10 + 4\sqrt{17} + 2\sqrt{13}$

$\dfrac{113}{3}$

$54$

Concepts:coordinate geometry altitude slope

Difficulty rating: 1570

Small Hint:

$B$ and $C$ share $y = 27,$ so the altitude from $A$ is the vertical line $x = 2$

Big Hint:

The altitude from $B$ is perpendicular to $AC$ ; intersect it with $x = 2$

Solution:

Since $B$ and $C$ both have $y = 27,$ side $BC$ is horizontal and the altitude from $A$ is the vertical line $x = 2.$

Side $AC$ has slope $\dfrac{27 - 31}{18 - 2} = -\dfrac{1}{4},$ so the altitude from $B$ has slope $4$ : $y - 27 = 4(x - 8).$

At $x = 2,$ $y = 27 + 4(2 - 8) = 3.$ The orthocenter is $(2, 3),$ with coordinate sum $5.$

Thus, the correct answer is A.

12.

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 $4,$ $4,$ and $5$ is $\frac{1}{\frac{1}{3}\left(\frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{4} + \frac{1}{5}\right)} = \frac{30}{7}.$ What is the harmonic mean of all the real roots of the $4050$ th degree polynomial $\begin{aligned} &\small \prod_{k=1}^{2025}(kx^2 - 4x - 3) \\ &= (x^2 - 4x - 3) \\ &\quad {}\cdot (2x^2 - 4x - 3) \\ &\quad {}\cdot (3x^2 - 4x - 3)\cdots \\ &\quad (2025x^2 - 4x - 3)? \end{aligned}$

$-\dfrac{5}{3}$

$-\dfrac{3}{2}$

$-\dfrac{6}{5}$

$-\dfrac{5}{6}$

$-\dfrac{2}{3}$

Concepts:Vieta’s Formulas quadratic harmonic mean

Difficulty rating: 1630

Small Hint:

The harmonic mean is $\dfrac{N}{\sum \frac{1}{r}},$ where $N$ is the number of roots

Big Hint:

For $kx^2 - 4x - 3,$ the two roots have reciprocal-sum $\dfrac{\frac{4}{k}}{-\frac{3}{k}} = -\dfrac{4}{3},$ the same for every $k$

Solution:

Each factor $kx^2 - 4x - 3$ has discriminant $16 + 12k \gt 0,$ so it has two real roots; there are $4050$ roots in all.

For the roots of $kx^2 - 4x - 3,$ the sum of reciprocals is $\dfrac{\text{sum}}{\text{product}} = \dfrac{\frac{4}{k}}{-\frac{3}{k}} = -\dfrac{4}{3},$ independent of $k.$

Summing over all $2025$ factors, $\displaystyle\sum \frac{1}{r} = 2025\left(-\frac{4}{3}\right) = -2700.$ The harmonic mean is $\frac{4050}{-2700} = -\frac{3}{2}.$

Thus, the correct answer is B.

13.

Let $C = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 13\}.$ Let $N$ be the greatest integer such that there exists a subset of $C$ with $N$ elements that does not contain five consecutive integers. Suppose $N$ integers are chosen at random from $C$ without replacement. What is the probability that the chosen elements do not include five consecutive integers?

$\dfrac{3}{130}$

$\dfrac{3}{143}$

$\dfrac{5}{143}$

$\dfrac{1}{26}$

$\dfrac{5}{78}$

Concepts:combinations basic probability extremal argument

Difficulty rating: 1660

Small Hint:

Removing two well-placed elements breaks every run of five, so $N = 11$

Big Hint:

Choosing $11$ means removing $2$ ; count removals whose two elements hit every block of five consecutive integers

Solution:

To avoid five consecutive integers, it suffices to remove two elements (for example $5$ and $10$ ), and no single removal can hit both disjoint blocks $\{1,\ldots,5\}$ and $\{9,\ldots,13\}.$ Thus $N = 11.$

Choosing $11$ of $13$ elements is the same as removing $2,$ which can be done in $\binom{13}{2} = 78$ ways. The chosen set avoids five consecutive integers exactly when the two removed elements together intersect every window $\{t, t+1, t+2, t+3, t+4\}$ for $t = 1, \ldots, 9.$

This forces one removed element in $\{1,\ldots,5\},$ the other in $\{9,\ldots,13\},$ and the two within $5$ of each other. The valid removals are $\{4,9\},$ $\{5,9\},$ and $\{5,10\},$ giving $3$ of them.

The probability is $\dfrac{3}{78} = \dfrac{1}{26}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

14.

Points $F,$ $G,$ and $H$ are collinear with $G$ between $F$ and $H.$ The ellipse with foci at $G$ and $H$ is internally tangent to the ellipse with foci at $F$ and $G,$ as shown below.

The two ellipses have the same eccentricity $e,$ and the ratio of their areas is $2025.$ (Recall that the eccentricity of an ellipse is $e = \dfrac{c}{a},$ where $c$ is the distance from the center to a focus, and $2a$ is the length of the major axis.) What is $e?$

$\dfrac{3}{5}$

$\dfrac{16}{25}$

$\dfrac{4}{5}$

$\dfrac{22}{23}$

$\dfrac{44}{45}$

Concepts:ellipse area ratio

Difficulty rating: 1730

Small Hint:

Equal eccentricity makes area proportional to $a^2,$ so $\dfrac{a_1}{a_2} = \sqrt{2025} = 45$

Big Hint:

The ellipses share focus $G$ ; equate their right vertices to get $a_1(1 - e) = a_2(1 + e)$

Solution:

With the same eccentricity, $b = a\sqrt{1 - e^2},$ so the area $\pi a b \propto a^2.$ The area ratio $2025$ gives $\dfrac{a_1}{a_2} = \sqrt{2025} = 45,$ where $a_1, a_2$ are the semi-major axes.

Both ellipses share focus $G.$ On the large ellipse $G$ is the right focus, so its right vertex lies $a_1 - c_1$ to the right of $G.$ On the small ellipse $G$ is the left focus, so its right vertex lies $a_2 + c_2$ to the right of $G.$ Internal tangency makes these coincide: $a_1 - c_1 = a_2 + c_2.$

Using $c = ea,$ $a_1(1 - e) = a_2(1 + e),$ so $45(1 - e) = 1 + e,$ giving $46e = 44$ and $e = \dfrac{22}{23}.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

15.

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

$8$

$9$

$10$

$11$

$12$

Concepts:subsets extremal argument

Difficulty rating: 1800

Small Hint:

The set $\{11, 12, \ldots, 20\}$ is sum-free

Big Hint:

If $a_1 \lt \cdots \lt a_k$ are in $S,$ the differences $a_k - a_i$ are not in $S,$ forcing $2k - 1 \le 20$

Solution:

The set $\{11, 12, \ldots, 20\}$ has $10$ elements and is sum-free, since any two elements sum to at least $22 \gt 20.$

For the upper bound, let $a_1 \lt a_2 \lt \cdots \lt a_k$ be a sum-free subset. Each difference $a_k - a_i$ for $i \lt k$ cannot lie in $S,$ because $(a_k - a_i) + a_i = a_k \in S$ would violate sum-freeness.

These $k - 1$ differences are distinct, lie in $\{1, \ldots, 19\},$ and are disjoint from the $k$ elements of $S.$ So $k + (k - 1) \le 20,$ giving $k \le 10.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

16.

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

$18$

$19$

$20$

$21$

$22$

Concepts:law of cosines angle bisector trigonometric identity

Difficulty rating: 1840

Small Hint:

$\cos B = \dfrac{80^2 + 45^2 - 75^2}{2 \cdot 80 \cdot 45} = \dfrac{7}{18}$

Big Hint:

The altitude’s foot is $BC\cos B = 17.5$ from $B$ along $AB,$ and $BP\cos\tfrac{B}{2} = 17.5$

Solution:

By the Law of Cosines, $\begin{aligned} \cos B &= \frac{80^2 + 45^2 - 75^2}{2 \cdot 80 \cdot 45} \\ &= \frac{2800}{7200} = \frac{7}{18}. \end{aligned}$

The altitude to $AB$ is drawn from $C,$ and its foot is at distance $BC\cos B = 45 \cdot \dfrac{7}{18} = 17.5$ from $B$ along $AB.$

Along the bisector from $B,$ the component parallel to $AB$ is $BP\cos\dfrac{B}{2},$ which must reach the altitude’s foot: $BP\cos\dfrac{B}{2} = 17.5.$

Since $\cos\dfrac{B}{2} = \sqrt{\dfrac{1 + \frac{7}{18}}{2}}$ $= \sqrt{\dfrac{25}{36}}$ $= \dfrac{5}{6},$ we get $BP = \dfrac{17.5}{\frac{5}{6}} = 21.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

17.

The polynomial $(z + i)(z + 2i)(z + 3i) + 10$ has three roots in the complex plane, where $i = \sqrt{-1}.$ What is the area of the triangle formed by these roots?

$6$

$8$

$10$

$12$

$14$

Concepts:complex number polynomial triangle area

Difficulty rating: 1930

Small Hint:

Shift by the centroid: let $z = u - 2i$ to center the roots at the origin

Big Hint:

The polynomial becomes $u^3 + u + 10$ $= (u + 2)(u^2 - 2u + 5)$

Solution:

The sum of the roots is $-6i,$ so the centroid is $-2i.$ Substituting $z = u - 2i,$ $\begin{gathered} (u - i)(u)(u + i) + 10 \\ = u(u^2 + 1) + 10 \\ = u^3 + u + 10. \end{gathered}$

Since $u = -2$ is a root, $u^3 + u + 10$ $= (u + 2)(u^2 - 2u + 5),$ giving roots $u = -2$ and $u = 1 \pm 2i.$

These are the points $(-2, 0),$ $(1, 2),$ $(1, -2).$ The base between $(1, 2)$ and $(1, -2)$ has length $4,$ at horizontal distance $3$ from $(-2, 0),$ so the area is $\dfrac{1}{2}(4)(3) = 6.$ Translation does not change the area.

Thus, the correct answer is A.

18.

How many ordered triples $(x, y, z)$ of distinct nonnegative integers less than or equal to $8$ satisfy $xy \gt z,$ $zx \gt y,$ and $yz \gt x?$

$36$

$84$

$186$

$336$

$486$

Concepts:inequality permutations symmetry

Difficulty rating: 2000

Small Hint:

None of $x, y, z$ can be $0,$ since then some product equals $0$ and cannot exceed a nonnegative value

Big Hint:

For distinct $a \lt b \lt c,$ the only binding condition is $ab \gt c$ ; count such $3$ -subsets, then multiply by $6$

Solution:

If any variable is $0,$ say $z = 0,$ then $zx = 0 \gt y$ is impossible. So $x, y, z \in \{1, \ldots, 8\}$ are distinct positive integers.

The conditions are symmetric. For distinct values $a \lt b \lt c,$ we have $ac \gt b$ and $bc \gt a$ automatically, so the only real constraint is $ab \gt c.$ When it holds, all $6$ orderings work.

For each possible smallest value $a,$ the numbers of pairs $a\lt b\lt c\le8$ satisfying $ab\gt c$ are $\begin{array}{c|rrrrrr} a&1&2&3&4&5&6\\ \hline \text{count}&0&11&10&6&3&1. \end{array}$ For fixed $a,b,$ this count comes from choosing $c$ between $b+1$ and $\min(8,ab-1).$ Thus there are $31$ unordered triples, and all $6$ orderings of each work. The answer is $6\cdot31=186.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

19.

Let $a,$ $b,$ and $c$ be the roots of the polynomial $x^3 + kx + 1.$ What is the sum

$\begin{aligned} &a^3b^2 + a^2b^3 + b^3c^2 \\ &\quad {}+ b^2c^3 + c^3a^2 + c^2a^3? \end{aligned}$

$-k$

$-k + 1$

$1$

$k - 1$

$k$

Concepts:Vieta’s Formulas symmetry (algebra)

Difficulty rating: 2020

Small Hint:

By Vieta, $a + b + c = 0,$ $ab + bc + ca = k,$ and $abc = -1$

Big Hint:

Group as $a^2b^2(a + b) + b^2c^2(b + c)$ $+ c^2a^2(c + a)$ and replace $a + b = -c$

Solution:

By Vieta’s formulas, $a + b + c = 0,$ $ab + bc + ca = k,$ and $abc = -1.$

Group the sum as $\begin{aligned} &a^2b^2(a + b) + b^2c^2(b + c) \\ &\quad {}+ c^2a^2(c + a). \end{aligned}$ Since $a + b + c = 0,$ we have $a + b = -c,$ $b + c = -a,$ $c + a = -b.$

So the sum equals $\begin{gathered} -a^2b^2 c - ab^2c^2 - a^2bc^2 \\ = -abc(ab + bc + ca) \\ = -(-1)(k) = k. \end{gathered}$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

20.

The base of the pentahedron shown below is a $13 \times 8$ rectangle, and its lateral faces are two isosceles triangles with base of length $8$ and congruent sides of length $13,$ and two isosceles trapezoids with bases of lengths $7$ and $13$ and nonparallel sides of length $13.$

What is the volume of the pentahedron?

$416$

$520$

$528$

$676$

$832$

Concepts:3D geometry volume polyhedron

Difficulty rating: 2110

Small Hint:

Place the ridge of length $7$ at height $h$ ; a slant edge gives $\sqrt{3^2 + 4^2 + h^2} = 13,$ so $h = 12$

Big Hint:

The cross-section at height $z$ is a $\left(13 - \tfrac{z}{2}\right) \times \left(8 - \tfrac{2z}{3}\right)$ rectangle

Solution:

The top is a ridge of length $7,$ centered above the base at some height $h.$ Its endpoints sit above $(3, 4)$ and $(10, 4)$ of the $13 \times 8$ base. A slant edge to a base corner has length $\sqrt{3^2 + 4^2 + h^2} = 13,$ so $h = 12.$

At height $z,$ the horizontal cross-section is a rectangle measuring $\left(13 - \dfrac{z}{2}\right)$ by $\left(8 - \dfrac{2z}{3}\right).$ At $z = 0$ its area is $104$ ; at $z = 6$ it is $10 \cdot 4 = 40$ ; at $z = 12$ the ridge has area $0.$

By the prismatoid formula, $\begin{aligned} V &= \frac{12}{6}\left(104 + 4 \cdot 40 + 0\right) \\ &= 2(264) = 528. \end{aligned}$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

21.

There is a unique ordered triple $(a, k, m)$ of nonnegative integers such that

$\begin{aligned} &\small \frac{4^a + 4^{a+k} + 4^{a+2k} + \cdots + 4^{a+mk}}{2^a + 2^{a+k} + 2^{a+2k} + \cdots + 2^{a+mk}} \\ &= 964. \end{aligned}$

What is $a + k + m?$

$8$

$9$

$10$

$11$

$12$

Concepts:geometric sequence exponent factoring

Difficulty rating: 2130

Small Hint:

Sum both geometric series and use $4^N - 1 = (2^N - 1)(2^N + 1)$

Big Hint:

The remaining fraction is odd over odd, so comparing powers of $2$ with $964=2^2\cdot241$ forces $a=2$

Solution:

If $k=0$ or $m=0,$ the original ratio is just $2^a,$ which cannot equal $964.$ Hence $k,m\gt0.$

Summing the geometric series, the numerator is $4^a\dfrac{4^{k(m+1)} - 1}{4^k - 1}$ and the denominator is $2^a\dfrac{2^{k(m+1)} - 1}{2^k - 1}.$ Using $4^N - 1 = (2^N - 1)(2^N + 1),$ the ratio simplifies to $2^a \cdot \frac{2^{k(m+1)} + 1}{2^k + 1} = 964.$

The fraction on the left is odd over odd, so its power of $2$ is $0.$ Since $964=2^2\cdot241,$ we must have $a=2,$ and $2^{k(m+1)}+1=241(2^k+1).$ Reducing this equation modulo $2^k$ shows that $240$ is divisible by $2^k,$ so $k\le4.$ For $k=1,2,3,$ the required powers of $2$ would be $722,1204,2168,$ none of which is a power of $2.$ For $k=4,$ however, $241(2^4+1)=4097=2^{12}+1,$ so $k(m+1)=12$ and $m=2.$ This also proves uniqueness.

Then $a + k + m = 2 + 4 + 2 = 8.$

Thus, the correct answer is A.

22.

Three real numbers are chosen independently and uniformly at random between $0$ and $1.$ What is the probability that the greatest of these three numbers is greater than $2$ times each of the other two numbers? (In other words, if the chosen numbers are $a \ge b \ge c,$ then $a \gt 2b.$ )

$\dfrac{1}{12}$

$\dfrac{1}{9}$

$\dfrac{1}{8}$

$\dfrac{1}{6}$

$\dfrac{1}{4}$

Concepts:geometric probability calculus

Difficulty rating: 2270

Small Hint:

With order statistics $x_1 \ge x_2 \ge x_3,$ the joint density is $6$ on the region $x_1 \gt x_2 \gt x_3$

Big Hint:

Integrate over $x_3 \in (0, x_2),$ $x_1 \in (2x_2, 1),$ and $x_2 \in (0, \tfrac{1}{2})$

Solution:

Order the values as $x_1 \gt x_2 \gt x_3$ ; the joint density of the order statistics is $6$ on this region. The event is $x_1 \gt 2x_2.$

Integrating $x_3$ from $0$ to $x_2$ contributes a factor of $x_2.$ Then $\begin{aligned} P &= 6\int_0^{\frac{1}{2}} x_2\int_{2x_2}^{1} dx_1\, dx_2 \\ &= 6\int_0^{\frac{1}{2}} x_2(1 - 2x_2)\, dx_2. \end{aligned}$

This equals $6\left(\dfrac{1}{8} - \dfrac{1}{12}\right) = 6 \cdot \dfrac{1}{24} = \dfrac{1}{4}.$

Thus, the correct answer is E.

23.

Call a positive integer fair if no digit is used more than once, it has no $0$ s, and no digit is adjacent to two greater digits. For example, $196,$ $23,$ and $12463$ are fair, but $1546,$ $320,$ and $34321$ are not fair. How many fair positive integers are there?

$511$

$2584$

$9841$

$17711$

$19682$

Concepts:arrangements with restrictions binomial theorem

Difficulty rating: 2340

Small Hint:

A fair number has no interior digit smaller than both of its neighbors

Big Hint:

Build a valid arrangement of a chosen digit set by placing digits largest-to-smallest, each at either end: $2^{n-1}$ ways for $n$ digits

Solution:

The digits are distinct and drawn from $\{1, \ldots, 9\},$ and “no digit adjacent to two greater digits” means no interior digit is smaller than both neighbors.

For a fixed set of $n$ digits, build the arrangement by inserting digits from largest to smallest; each new (smaller) digit must go to one of the two ends, giving $2^{n-1}$ valid arrangements.

Summing over all nonempty digit subsets, $\begin{gathered} \sum_{n=1}^{9}\binom{9}{n}2^{n-1} \\ = \frac{1}{2}\sum_{n=1}^{9}\binom{9}{n}2^{n} \\ = \frac{3^9 - 1}{2} = \frac{19682}{2} = 9841. \end{gathered}$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

24.

A circle of radius $r$ is surrounded by $12$ circles of radius $1,$ externally tangent to the central circle and sequentially tangent to each other, as shown. Then $r$ can be written as $\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b} + c,$ where $a,$ $b,$ and $c$ are integers. What is $a + b + c?$

$3$

$5$

$7$

$9$

$11$

Concepts:tangent circles regular polygon trigonometry

Difficulty rating: 2410

Small Hint:

The $12$ outer centers form a regular $12$ -gon of circumradius $r + 1,$ with adjacent centers $2$ apart

Big Hint:

So $2(r + 1)\sin 15^\circ = 2,$ and $\dfrac{1}{\sin 15^\circ} = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}$

Solution:

The centers of the $12$ outer circles lie on a circle of radius $r + 1,$ forming a regular $12$ -gon. Adjacent centers are $2$ apart (both circles have radius $1$ ), and the central angle between them is $30^\circ.$

Thus $2(r + 1)\sin 15^\circ = 2,$ so $r + 1 = \dfrac{1}{\sin 15^\circ}.$ Since $\sin 15^\circ = \dfrac{\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{2}}{4},$ $r + 1 = \frac{4}{\sqrt{6} - \sqrt{2}} = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2}.$

Then $r = \sqrt{6} + \sqrt{2} - 1,$ so $a + b + c = 6 + 2 - 1 = 7.$

Thus, the correct answer is C.

25.

Polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ each have degree $3$ and leading coefficient $1,$ and their roots are all elements of $\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}.$ The function $f(x) = \dfrac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$ has the property that there exist real numbers $a \lt b \lt c \lt d$ such that the set of all real numbers $x$ such that $f(x) \le 0$ consists of the closed interval $[a, b]$ together with the open interval $(c, d).$ How many functions $f(x)$ are possible?

$7$

$9$

$11$

$12$

$13$

Concepts:function polynomial casework

Difficulty rating: 2540

Small Hint:

The closed endpoints must be zeros of $P,$ and the open endpoints must be zeros of $Q$

Big Hint:

After those four endpoint factors are fixed, the remaining numerator and denominator factors must cancel; count distinct functions, not polynomial pairs

Solution:

This problem was voided: as written, its answer is not among the choices. Here is the count.

For $\{f \le 0\} = [a, b] \cup (c, d),$ the endpoints $a, b$ of the closed interval must be zeros of $P$ at which $Q\ne0,$ while $c,d$ must be poles. The required sign pattern is therefore that of $g(x)=\frac{(x-a)(x-b)}{(x-c)(x-d)}.$ The unused third factor of $P$ must match the unused third factor of $Q;$ otherwise there would be an extra zero, pole, or sign change.

If the common factor is the fifth value not among $a,b,c,d,$ it cannot make a hole inside either interval. In the ordered list of five values it may therefore occur before $a,$ between $b$ and $c,$ or after $d,$ giving $3$ functions.

Alternatively, the common factor can equal $c$ or $d.$ For each of the $\binom54=5$ choices of $a,b,c,d,$ these two polynomial pairs simplify to the same formula $g$ and have the same domain (both omit $c,d$ ), so they define only one function. This gives $5$ more functions, for a literal total of $3+5=8.$

Counting the two polynomial pairs separately in each of the last five cases gives $3+2\cdot5=13,$ the provisional answer (E), but that does not answer the stated question about functions. Thus none of the printed choices is correct.