2015 AMC 10A 考试答案

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

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1.

What is the value of (201+52+0)1×5?(2^0-1+5^2+0)^{-1} \times 5?

125-125

120-120

15\dfrac{1}{5}

524\dfrac{5}{24}

2525

Solution:

We can evaluate it as follows. (201+52+0)1×5=111+25×5=525=15\begin{align*} &(2^0-1+5^2+0)^{-1} \times 5 \\&=\dfrac{1}{1 - 1 + 25} \times 5 \\ &= \dfrac{5}{25}\\ &= \dfrac{1}{5} \end{align*}

Thus, C is the correct answer.

2.

A box contains a collection of triangular and square tiles. There are 2525 tiles in the box, containing 8484 edges total. How many square tiles are there in the box?

33

55

77

99

1111

Solution:

Let xx be the number of triangular tiles and yy be the number of square tiles. We then have that x+y=25 x + y = 25 and 3x+4y=84. 3x + 4y = 84. Multiplying the first equation by 33 gives us 3x+3y=75 3x + 3y = 75 and subtracting this from the other equation gives us y=9.y = 9.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

3.

Ann made a 33-step staircase using 1818 toothpicks as shown in the figure. How many toothpicks does she need to add to complete a 55-step staircase?

99

1818

2020

2222

2424

Solution:

Let us try to find a pattern between the number of toothpicks needed for the staircases.

For a 11-step staircase, we would only need 44 toothpicks (just a square).

For a 22-step staircase, we would need 1010 toothpicks according to the diagram.

Similarly, we would need 1818 toothpicks for a 33-step staircase.

A 22-step staircase needs 104=610 - 4 = 6 more toothpicks than a 11-step staircase. A 33-step staircase needs 1810=818 - 10 = 8 more toothpicks than a 22-step staircase.

Following this pattern, we can see that a 44-step staircase will need 18+10=2818 + 10 = 28 toothpicks, and a 55-step staircase will need 28+12=4028 + 12 = 40 toothpicks.

This means that Ann would need to add 4018=2240 - 18 = 22 more toothpicks.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

4.

Pablo, Sofia, and Mia got some candy eggs at a party. Pablo had three times as many eggs as Sofia, and Sofia had twice as many eggs as Mia. Pablo decides to give some of his eggs to Sofia and Mia so that all three will have the same number of eggs. What fraction of his eggs should Pablo give to Sofia?

112\dfrac{1}{12}

16\dfrac{1}{6}

14\dfrac{1}{4}

13\dfrac{1}{3}

12\dfrac{1}{2}

Solution:

Let mm be the number of candy eggs that Mia had. Then SofiaSofia had 2m2m eggs and PabloPablo had 6m6m eggs.

The total number of eggs is then m+2m+6m=9m. m + 2m + 6m = 9m. For all of them to have the same number of eggs, they each must have 9m÷3=3m9m \div 3 = 3m eggs.

Sofia needs 3m2m=m3m - 2m = m more eggs. This means Pablo must give m6m=16\dfrac{m}{6m} = \dfrac{1}{6} of his eggs to Sofia.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

5.

Mr. Patrick teaches math to 1515 students. He was grading tests and found that when he graded everyone's test except Payton's, the average grade for the class was 80.80. After he graded Payton's test, the test average became 81.81. What was Payton's score on the test?

8181

8585

9191

9494

9595

Solution:

The total for the first 1414 graded tests was 1480=112014\cdot 80=1120.

After Payton's test was included, the total became 1581=121515\cdot 81=1215. Therefore Payton's score was 12151120=951215-1120=95.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

6.

The sum of two positive numbers is 55 times their difference. What is the ratio of the larger number to the smaller number?

54\dfrac{5}{4}

32\dfrac{3}{2}

95\dfrac{9}{5}

22

52\dfrac{5}{2}

Solution:

Let xx and yy be the two numbers. Then we have that x+y=5(xy). x + y = 5(x - y). Note that we are assuming x>y.x \gt y. This gives us x+y=5x5y x + y = 5x - 5y 6y=4x. 6y = 4x.

Dividing through yields xy=64=32.\dfrac{x}{y} = \dfrac{6}{4} = \dfrac{3}{2}.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

7.

How many terms are in the arithmetic sequence 13,13, 16,16, 19,19, ,\dotsc, 70,70, 73?73?

2020

2121

2424

6060

6161

Solution:

Recall that the nn th term of an arithmetic sequence is a+d(n1),a + d(n - 1), where aa is the first term and dd is the common difference.

For us, a=13a = 13 and d=3.d = 3. Plugging these in, we get that 73=13+3(n1)20=n1n=21.\begin{align*} 73 &= 13 + 3(n - 1) \\ 20&= n - 1 \\ n &= 21. \end{align*} Thus, B is the correct answer.

8.

Two years ago Pete was three times as old as his cousin Claire. Two years before that, Pete was four times as old as Claire. In how many years will the ratio of their ages be 22 : 11 ?

22

44

55

66

88

Solution:

Let pp and cc be Pete's and Claire's current ages respectively.

Then we have that p2=3(c2) p - 2 = 3(c - 2) and p4=4(c4). p - 4 = 4(c - 4). Simplifying both equations gives us p=3c4 p = 3c - 4 and p=4c12. p = 4c - 12. Setting them equal, we have 3c4=4c12 3c - 4 = 4c - 12 c=8. c = 8.

This means that p=384=20. p = 3 \cdot 8 - 4 = 20.

Now, we need to find the number of years (yy) until 20+y=2(8+y), 20 + y = 2(8 + y), which gives us 20+y=16+2y 20 + y = 16 + 2y y=4. y = 4. Thus, B is the correct answer.

9.

Two right circular cylinders have the same volume. The radius of the second cylinder is 10%10\% more than the radius of the first. What is the relationship between the heights of the two cylinders?

The second height is 10%10\% less than the first.

The first height is 10%10\% more than the second.

The second height is 21%21\% less than the first.

The first height is 21%21\% more than the second.

The second height is 80%80\% of the first.

Solution:

Let r1r_1 and h1h_1 be the radius and height of the first cylinder and similarly define r2r_2 and h2h_2 for the second cylinder.

We know that r2=1110r1 r_2 = \dfrac{11}{10}r_1 and πr12h1=πr22h2. \pi r_1^2h_1 = \pi r_2^2h_2.

Substituting and simplifying gives us r12h1=121100r12h2, r_1^2h_1 = \dfrac{121}{100}r_1^2h_2, which tells us that h1=121100h2. h_1 = \dfrac{121}{100}h_2.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

10.

How many rearrangements of abcdabcd are there in which no two adjacent letters are also adjacent letters in the alphabet? For example, no such rearrangements could include either abab or ba.ba.

00

11

22

33

44

Solution:

The initial step would be to choose a letter that could work and build from there.

For instance, if we begin with a,a, the only letters that can be placed next to it are cc or d.d.

From here, we cannot proceed further since the combinations acbdacbd and acdbacdb are not allowed due to the presence of cbcb and cd,cd, respectively.

The same issue arises if we start with d,d, as a bb would have to be placed in the middle and end up being adjacent to either an aa or a c.c.

On the other hand, if we start with a b,b, the next letter would have to be d,d, and after that, an aa and a cc can be placed, making this arrangement possible.

The same methodology holds true for starting with a c.c. This gives us a total of 22 rearrangements.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

11.

The ratio of the length to the width of a rectangle is 44 : 3.3. If the rectangle has diagonal of length d,d, then the area may be expressed as kd2kd^2 for some constant k.k. What is k?k?

27\dfrac{2}{7}

37\dfrac{3}{7}

1225\dfrac{12}{25}

1625\dfrac{16}{25}

34\dfrac{3}{4}

Solution:

Let the side lengths be 4x4x and 3x.3x. Then the diagonal has length (4x)2+(3x)2=25x2=5x. \sqrt{(4x)^2 + (3x)^2} = \sqrt{25x^2} = 5x.

The area of the rectangle is 4x3x=12x2. 4x \cdot 3x = 12x^2. Then we get that kd2=12x2 kd^2 = 12x^2 k=12x225x2=1225. k = \dfrac{12x^2}{25x^2} = \dfrac{12}{25}.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

12.

Points (π,a)(\sqrt{\pi}, a) and (π,b)(\sqrt{\pi}, b) are distinct points on the graph of y2+x4=2x2y+1.y^2 + x^4 = 2x^2 y + 1. What is ab?|a-b|?

11

π2\dfrac{\pi}{2}

22

1+π\sqrt{1+\pi}

1+π1 + \sqrt{\pi}

Solution:

Substitute x=πx=\sqrt{\pi}. Then x2=πx^2=\pi and x4=π2x^4=\pi^2, so the equation becomes y22πy+π2=1.y^2-2\pi y+\pi^2=1.

Hence (yπ)2=1(y-\pi)^2=1, giving the two possible values y=π+1y=\pi+1 and y=π1y=\pi-1. Their distance is 22.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

13.

Claudia has 1212 coins, each of which is a 55-cent coin or a 1010-cent coin. There are exactly 1717 different values that can be obtained as combinations of one or more of his coins. How many 1010-cent coins does Claudia have?

33

44

55

66

77

Solution:

Let the number of 55-cent coins be xx and the number of 1010-cent coins be 12x.12 - x.

Then we have that any multiple of 55 between 55 and 5x+10(12x)=1205x 5x + 10(12 - x) = 120 - 5x can be achieved by a combination of coins.

There are 24x24 - x such multiples of 5,5, which means that x=7x = 7 to get 1717 possible different values.

The number of 1010-cent coins is therefore 127=5.12 - 7 = 5.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

14.

The diagram below shows the circular face of a clock with radius 2020 cm and a circular disk with radius 1010 cm externally tangent to the clock face at 1212 o' clock. The disk has an arrow painted on it, initially pointing in the upward vertical direction. Let the disk roll clockwise around the clock face. At what point on the clock face will the disk be tangent when the arrow is next pointing in the upward vertical direction?

22 o' clock

33 o' clock

44 o' clock

66 o' clock

88 o' clock

Solution:

The disk of radius 1010 rolls externally around the clock face of radius 2020. If the point of tangency moves through central angle θ\theta around the clock, the disk rotates through 20+1010θ=3θ\frac{20+10}{10}\theta=3\theta relative to its original direction.

The arrow next points upward when 3θ3\theta is a positive multiple of 2π2\pi. The first time this happens is θ=2π3\theta=\frac{2\pi}{3}, which is one-third of the way around the clock from 12 o'clock, namely 4 o'clock.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

15.

Consider the set of all fractions xy,\dfrac{x}{y}, where xx and yy are relatively prime positive integers. How many of these fractions have the property that if both numerator and denominator are increased by 1,1, the value of the fraction is increased by 10%?10\%?

00

11

22

33

infinitely many\text{infinitely many}

Solution:

The condition is x+1y+1=1110xy.\frac{x+1}{y+1}=\frac{11}{10}\cdot\frac{x}{y}. Cross-multiplying gives 10y(x+1)=11x(y+1)10y(x+1)=11x(y+1), or xy+11x10y=0xy+11x-10y=0.

Factoring by grouping after subtracting 110110 gives (x10)(y+11)=110.(x-10)(y+11)=-110. Since x,yx,y are positive, the useful negative factor pairs are (1,110)(-1,110), (2,55)(-2,55), and (5,22)(-5,22), producing (x,y)=(9,99),(8,44),(5,11)(x,y)=(9,99),(8,44),(5,11).

Only 511\frac{5}{11} has relatively prime numerator and denominator, so exactly one fraction works.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

16.

If we have that y+4=(x2)2,y+4 = (x-2)^2,x+4=(y2)2, x+4 = (y-2)^2, and xy,x \neq y, what is the value of x2+y2?x^2+y^2?

1010

1515

2020

2525

30\text{30}

Solution:

Adding the two equations gives us x2+y24x4y+8 x^2 + y^2 - 4x - 4y + 8 =x+y+8. = x + y + 8. We can rearrange this equation to get x2+y2=5(x+y). x^2 + y^2 = 5(x + y). We can then subtract them to get x2y24x+4y=yx. x^2 - y^2 - 4x + 4y = y - x. Once again rearranging, we can find x2y2=3(xy). x^2 - y^2 = 3(x - y). We have that xy,x \neq y, which means that we can divide both sides by xy.x - y. This gives us x+y=3 x + y = 3 x2+y2=15. x^2 + y^2 = 15.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

17.

A line that passes through the origin intersects both the line x=1x = 1 and the line y=1+33x.y=1+ \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} x. The three lines create an equilateral triangle. What is the perimeter of the triangle?

262\sqrt{6}

2+232 + 2\sqrt{3}

66

3+233 + 2\sqrt{3}

6+336 + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3}

Solution:

Since one of the sides of the equilateral triangle is a vertical line, the line of symmetry perpendicular to this side must be horizontal.

This means that the slope of the third side must be opposite the slope of the second side, which would be 33.-\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3}.

To find the perimeter, we only need to find the length of one of the sides of the triangle.

We can plug in x=1x = 1 into the two other equations to get the two vertices on the vertical line.

The two yy-values are then 1+33 and 33. 1 + \dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3} \text{ and } -\dfrac{\sqrt{3}}{3}. The distance between the two is 1+233,1 + \dfrac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}, which makes the perimeter 3(1+233)=3+23. 3 \cdot \left(1 + \dfrac{2\sqrt{3}}{3}\right) = 3 + 2\sqrt{3}. Thus, D is the correct answer.

18.

Hexadecimal (base-16) numbers are written using numeric digits 00 through 99 as well as the letters AA through FF to represent 1010 through 15.15. Among the first 10001000 positive integers, there are nn whose hexadecimal representation contains only numeric digits. What is the sum of the digits of n?n?

1717

1818

1919

2020

2121

Solution:

Note that 10001000 converted to hexadecimal is 3E8.3E8. Now we need to count the number of numbers that have only numerical digits in their hexadecimal.

The first digit can be 0,1,20, 1, 2 or 3.3. The second and third digits can be any number from 09.0 - 9. This gives us 41010=400 4 \cdot 10 \cdot 10 = 400 numbers. This, however, includes 0,0, which is not a positive integer so we have to subtract one.

The sum of the digits in 399399 is 21.21.

Thus, E is the correct answer.

19.

The isosceles right triangle ABCABC has right angle at CC and area 12.5.12.5. The rays trisecting ACB\angle ACB intersect ABAB at DD and E.E. What is the area of CDE?\triangle CDE?

523\dfrac{5\sqrt{2}}{3}

503754\dfrac{50\sqrt{3}-75}{4}

1538\dfrac{15\sqrt{3}}{8}

502532\dfrac{50-25\sqrt{3}}{2}

256\dfrac{25}{6}

Solution:

Since ABC\triangle ABC is isosceles right with area 12.512.5, its legs have length 55. The trisectors make ACD=30\angle ACD=30^\circ and BCE=30\angle BCE=30^\circ, so ACD\triangle ACD and BCE\triangle BCE have equal area.

In the diagram, let AF=DF=hAF=DF=h. Then CF=5hCF=5-h, and the 3030^\circ angle gives CFDF=3.\frac{CF}{DF}=\sqrt{3}. Thus 5h=h35-h=h\sqrt{3}, so h=51+3=5352h=\frac{5}{1+\sqrt{3}}=\frac{5\sqrt{3}-5}{2}.

Therefore [ACD]=125h=253254.[ACD]=\frac12\cdot 5\cdot h=\frac{25\sqrt{3}-25}{4}. Subtracting the two congruent corner triangles from ABC\triangle ABC, [CDE]=2522253254=502532.[CDE]=\frac{25}{2}-2\cdot\frac{25\sqrt{3}-25}{4}=\frac{50-25\sqrt{3}}{2}.

Thus, D is the correct answer.

20.

A rectangle with positive integer side lengths in cm\text{cm} has area AA cm2\text{cm}^2 and perimeter PP cm.\text{cm}. Which of the following numbers cannot equal A+P?A+P?

100100

102102

104104

106106

108108

Solution:

Let the side lengths be positive integers xx and yy. Then A+P=xy+2x+2y=(x+2)(y+2)4.A+P=xy+2x+2y=(x+2)(y+2)-4. Hence A+P+4A+P+4 must factor into two integers both at least 33.

The answer choices plus 44 are 104,106,108,110,112104,106,108,110,112. All except 106106 have a factorization with both factors at least 33: 104=426,108=912,110=1011,112=716.104=4\cdot26, \quad 108=9\cdot12, \quad 110=10\cdot11, \quad 112=7\cdot16. But 106=253106=2\cdot53, so it cannot equal (x+2)(y+2)(x+2)(y+2).

Thus, B is the correct answer.

21.

Tetrahedron ABCDABCD has AB=5,AB=5, AC=3,AC=3, BC=4,BC=4, BD=4,BD=4, AD=3,AD=3, and CD=1252.CD=\tfrac{12}5\sqrt2. What is the volume of the tetrahedron?

323\sqrt2

252\sqrt5

245\dfrac{24}5

333\sqrt{3}

2452\dfrac{24}5\sqrt2

Solution:

We claim that triangles ABCABC and ABDABD are perpendicular to each other.

We can show this be dropping the altitudes from CC to ABAB and from DD to ABAB in each triangle.

Since AC=ADAC = AD and BC=BD,BC = BD, we have that the feet of these altitudes will coincide at point P.P.

Then we have that CP=DP=345=125. CP = DP = \dfrac{3 \cdot 4}{5} = \dfrac{12}{5}. We then have that CD=CP2,CD = CP\sqrt{2}, which shows that CPDCPD is an isosceles right triangle.

This proves the above claim. Finally, the volume of the tetrahedron is 13[ABD]CP=63125=245. \dfrac{1}{3}[ABD] \cdot CP = \dfrac{6}{3} \cdot \dfrac{12}{5} = \dfrac{24}{5}.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

22.

Eight people are sitting around a circular table, each holding a fair coin. All eight people flip their coins and those who flip heads stand while those who flip tails remain seated. What is the probability that no two adjacent people will stand?

47256\dfrac{47}{256}

316\dfrac{3}{16}

49256\dfrac{49}{256}

25128\dfrac{25}{128}

51256\dfrac{51}{256}

Solution:

Count the possible sets of people who stand. For 00 and 11 people standing, there are 11 and 88 possibilities.

For 22 people standing, choose any pair and subtract the 88 adjacent pairs: (82)8=20\binom82-8=20.

For 33 people standing, first choose one standing person. Among the remaining five non-neighbor seats, 1010 pairs are possible, but 44 of those pairs are adjacent, leaving 66. This counts each final set three times, so there are 86/3=168\cdot6/3=16 possibilities.

For 44 people standing, the only possibilities are the two alternating sets. Thus the number of favorable coin-flip outcomes is 1+8+20+16+2=471+8+20+16+2=47. Since all 28=2562^8=256 outcomes are equally likely, the probability is 47256\frac{47}{256}.

Thus, A is the correct answer.

23.

The zeroes of the function f(x)=x2ax+2af(x)=x^2-ax+2a are integers. What is the sum of the possible values of a?a?

77

88

1616

1717

1818

Solution:

Let the zeroes be rr and s.s. Using Vieta's formulas, we have that a=r+sa = r + s and 2a=rs.2a = rs.

Then we get that rs=2(r+s), rs = 2(r + s), which rearranges to rs2r2s=0 rs - 2r - 2s = 0 rs2r2s+4=4 rs - 2r - 2s + 4 = 4 (r2)(s2)=4. (r - 2)(s - 2) = 4.

The only possible pairs (r2,s2)(r - 2, s - 2) that work are (1,4),(1,4),(4,1),(4,1), (1, 4), (-1, -4), (4, 1), (-4, -1), (2,2),(2,2). (2, 2), (-2, -2). For any of these pairs, we have that a=r2+s2+4. a = r - 2 + s - 2 + 4. We want all the such unique values of a.a. We get that they are 1,0,8,9. -1, 0, 8, 9. The sum of these values is 1+8+9=16.-1 + 8 + 9 = 16.

Thus, C is the correct answer.

24.

For some positive integers p,p, there is a quadrilateral ABCDABCD with positive integer side lengths, perimeter p,p, right angles at BB and C,C, AB=2,AB=2, and CD=AD.CD=AD. How many different values of p<2015p < 2015 are possible?

3030

3131

6161

6262

6363

Solution:

Let BC=xBC=x and CD=AD=yCD=AD=y. Dropping the altitude from AA to CDCD gives a right triangle with legs xx and y2y-2, and hypotenuse yy. Therefore (y2)2+x2=y2,(y-2)^2+x^2=y^2, so x2=4(y1)x^2=4(y-1).

Since xx is an integer, write x=2kx=2k. Then y=k2+1y=k^2+1, and the perimeter is p=2+x+y+y=2k2+2k+4.p=2+x+y+y=2k^2+2k+4.

We need 2k2+2k+4<20152k^2+2k+4<2015, or k2+k<1005.5k^2+k<1005.5. This holds for k=1,2,,31k=1,2,\ldots,31, while k=32k=32 is too large. Thus there are 3131 possible perimeters.

Thus, B is the correct answer.

25.

Let SS be a square of side length 1.1. Two points are chosen independently at random on the sides of S.S. The probability that the straight-line distance between the points is at least 12\dfrac{1}{2} is abπc,\dfrac{a-b\pi}{c}, where a,a, b,b, and cc are positive integers with gcd(a,b,c)=1.\gcd(a,b,c)=1. What is a+b+c?a+b+c?

5959

6060

6161

6262

6363

Solution:

Fix one of the two points. The second point is on the same side with probability 14\frac14, on an adjacent side with probability 12\frac12, and on the opposite side with probability 14\frac14.

On the same side, two coordinates a,b[0,1]a,b\in[0,1] are at distance at least 12\frac12 when ab12|a-b|\ge\frac12. This region consists of two right triangles with total area 14\frac14.

On adjacent sides, the distance has the form a2+b2\sqrt{a^2+b^2}. The failing region is a quarter circle of radius 12\frac12, so the success probability is 1π161-\frac{\pi}{16}.

On opposite sides, the distance is always at least 11, so the success probability is 11. Therefore the desired probability is 1414+12(1π16)+14=26π32.\frac14\cdot\frac14+\frac12\left(1-\frac{\pi}{16}\right)+\frac14=\frac{26-\pi}{32}. Hence a+b+c=26+1+32=59a+b+c=26+1+32=59.

Thus, A is the correct answer.