POTWC 11 Combined7 8

The problems in this booklet are organized into strands.
A
problem often appears in multiple strands. The problems are
suitable for most students in Grade 7 or higher.
WWW.C E M C .U WAT E R LO O.C A | T h e C E N T R E fo r E D U C AT I O N i n M AT H E M AT I C S a n d CO M P U T I N G
Problem of the Week

Problem C
What is the Deal Anyway?
Three playing cards are placed in a row, from left to right. One card is a club
(), one card is a diamond (), and one card is a heart (). The number on
each card is different. One card is a four, one card is a five and one card is an
eight.
Using the following clues, determine the exact order of the cards, from left to
right, including the suit and number.
1. The club is somewhere to the right of the heart.
2. The 5 is somewhere to the left of the heart.
3. The 8 is somewhere to the right of the 4.
Problem of the Week

Problem C and Solution
What is the Deal Anyway?
Problem
Three playing cards are placed in a row, from left to right. One card is a club
(), one card is a diamond (), and one card is a heart (). The number on
each card is different. One card is a four, one card is a five and one card is an
eight. Using the following clues, determine the exact order of the cards, from
left to right, including the suit and number.
1. The club is somewhere to the right of the heart.
2. The 5 is somewhere to the left of the heart.
3. The 8 is somewhere to the right of the 4.
Solution
There are six ways to order the suits:
(, , ), (, , ), (, , ), (, , ), (, , ), and (, , ).
The first clue tells us that the club is somewhere to the right of the heart. We
can eliminate the first three from the above list since the club is to the left of
the heart in each case. There are now only three ways to order the suits:
(, , ), (, , ), and (, , ).
The second clue says that the 5 is somewhere to the left of the heart. This
means that the heart cannot be the leftmost card. This eliminates the last two
possibilities from the above list. The only possibility is (, , ) and the 5
must be the five of diamonds giving us (5, , ).
The third clue tells us that the 8 is somewhere to the right of the 4. With only
two spots to decide, we can conclude that the 8 must be in the rightmost
(third) spot and the last two cards are the 4 of hearts and the 8 of clubs. This
gives us (5, 4, 8).
the cards are dealt in the following order: 5 of diamonds, 4 of hearts, and
8 of clubs.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Fractions to the Max
c
e
a
+ + , each letter is replaced by a different digit from
b
d
f
1,2,3,4,5,6. Each digit can be used exactly once.
In the expression
What is the largest possible value of this expression?
!
"
! !
#
&
Problem of the Week

Problem C and Solutions
Problem
c
e
a
+ + , each letter is replaced by a different digit from 1,2,3,4,5,6. Each
b
d
f
digit can be used exactly once. What is the largest possible value of this expression?
In the expression
Solution 1
The largest fractions will be created by putting the three smallest numbers, 1,
2, and 3, in the denominators and then placing the numbers 4, 5, and 6 in the
numerators. We will do this in every possible way, determine the sums and
choose the largest.
There are six different possible sums in which 1, 2, and 3 are the denominators
and 4, 5, 6 are the numerators.
(1)
4 5 6
24 15 12 51
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(2)
4 6 5
24 18 10 52
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(3)
5 4 6
30 12 12 54
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(4)
5 6 4
30 18 8 56
+ +
=
+
+ =
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(5)
6 4 5
36 12 10 58
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(6)
6 5 4
36 15 8 59
+ +
=
+
+ =
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
59
Therefore the largest possible value of the expression is . It should be noted
6
that this approach would not be practical if more numbers were involved. Be
sure to look at solution 2 for a more logical approach.
Solution 2
We can start by observing that to get a fraction with the highest value we need
a 6 in the numerator. The choice of denominators is possibly obvious as well.
6
6
6
6
6
6
1 = 6, 2 = 3, 3 = 2, 4 = 1.5, and 5 = 1.2. 1 is the largest fraction and any
numerator other than 6 will produce a lower value.
Now we have four numbers left to place: {2,3,4,5}.
Of these remaining numbers, since 5 is the largest it should go in the
.
numerator. Then 25 = 2.5, 53 = 1.7, and 45 = 1.25. 52 is the largest fraction and
any numerator other than 5 will produce a lower value.
Now we have two numbers left to place: {3,4}.
Our only two choices for the third fraction are
the third fraction.
4
3
.
= 1.3, and
3
4
= 0.75. So
4
3
is
We can now determine the largest possible sum.

6 5 4
+ +
1 2 3
36 15 8
=
+
+
6
6
6
59
5
=
or 9
6
6
the largest possible sum that can be made from the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
a
c
e
or 9 56 (approximately 9.83).
and 6 in the expression + + is 59
6
b
d
f
Largest Possible Sum =
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Can You DIGIT?
The three digit number 5A4 is divisible by 4 and the three digit number 37B is
divisible by 3.
Determine the largest positive difference between 5A4 and 37B.
Problem of the Week

Can You DIGIT?
Problem
divisible by 3. Determine the largest positive difference between 5A4 and 37B.
Solution
The largest positive difference will occur when 5A4 is a large as possible and
37B is as small as possible. We are therefore looking for the largest possible
value of A and the smallest possible value of B.
A number is divisible by 4 if the last two digits of the number are divisible
by 4. For 5A4 to be divisible by 4, the only possible values of A are 0, 2, 4, 6,
and 8 since 04, 24, 44, 64, and 84, respectively, are the only two digit numbers
that end in 4 and are divisible by 4. (04 is technically not a two-digit number
but a larger number could end in these two digits.) Since we want 5A4 to be as
large as possible, A = 8 and 5A4 = 584.
A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. For 37B to
be divisible by 3, the only possible values of B are 2, 5, and 8.
When B = 2 the number is 372. It is divisible by 3 since 3 + 7 + 2 = 12 is
divisible by 3.
divisible by 3.
divisible by 3.
No other three digit numbers of the form 37B will be divisible by 3 since no
other values of B, other than 2, 5, and 8, give a digit sum that is divisible by 3.
Since we want 37B to be as small as possible, B = 2 and 37B = 372.
The largest positive difference occurs when A = 8 and B = 2 so that
5A4 37B = 584 372 = 212.
the largest positive difference is 212.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Pressures On
Willy Makit is participating at the local level of a competition in which he
competes in 10 events. In each event the maximum possible score is 10 points.
To advance to the regional level a competitor must earn a minimum total score
of 75 points.
On the first five events, Willy had an average score of 6.8. On the next three
events his average score was 7.2.
What must Willy average on his final two events in order to have a total score
of exactly 75 points?
Problem of the Week

Pressures On
Problem
of 75 points. On the first five events, Willy had an average score of 6.8. On the
next three events his average score was 7.2. What must Willy average on his
final two events in order to have a total score of exactly 75 points?
Solution
To determine an average, we add the numbers together and divide the total by
the number of numbers.
Total
Average =
Number of Numbers
So to determine the total we would multiply the average by the number of
numbers.
Total = Average Number of Numbers
Total Score for First 5 Events = 6.8 5 = 34.0
Total Score for Next 3 Events = 7.2 3 = 21.6
Total Score to Move On = 75.0
Total Score Needed for Last Two Events = 75.0 34.0 21.6 = 19.4
Average Score for Final 2 Events = 19.4 2 = 9.7
Willy needs to average 9.7, near perfect scores, on his last two events to have a
total score of exactly 75 points in order to advance to the regional round of the
competition. The pressure is definitely on!
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Fair Game
Seven identical balls are numbered 1 to 7 and then placed in a bag. The bag is
shaken so the balls are mixed up. A player draws four of the balls from the bag
and then determines the sum of the numbers on the balls. The player wins the
game if the sum of the numbers on the balls is odd.
Determine the probability that a player wins the game. Express your answer in
fraction form.
Problem of the Week

Fair Game
Problem
Seven identical balls are numbered 1 to 7 and then placed in a bag. The bag is shaken so the
balls are mixed up. A player draws four of the balls from the bag and then determines the sum
of the numbers on the balls. The player wins the game if the sum of the numbers on the balls
is odd. Determine the probability that a player wins the game. Express your answer in fraction
form.
Solution
In order to determine the probability, we must determine the number of ways to obtain a sum that is
odd and divide it by the total number of possible selections of four balls from the bag.
We must systematically count all of the possibilities. One must be careful not to miss any of the
possibilities. We will systematically list the possible selections.
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
Select
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
4
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
2
3
4
5
3
4
5
4
5
5
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
and
two
two
two
two
two
two
two
two
two
two
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
higher
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
numbers:
1234,
1345,
1456,
1567.
2345,
2456,
2567.
3456,
3567.
4567.
1235, 1236, 1237, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1256, 1257, 1267.

1346, 1347, 1356, 1357, 1367.
1457, 1467.
2346, 2347, 2356, 2357, 2367.
2457, 2467.
3457, 3467.
By counting the outcomes from each case, there are 10 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 35

possible selections of four balls from the bag. We must now determine how many of these selections
have an odd sum. We could take each of the possibilities, determine the sum and then count the
number which produce an odd sum. However, it may be slightly easier to look at how a sum is odd
when adding four numbers. The sum of four numbers is odd in two instances: there are three even
numbers and one odd number or there are three odd numbers and one even number.
Selections with three even numbers and one odd number:
1246, 2346, 2456, 2467
Selections with three odd numbers and one even number:
1235, 1237, 1257, 1345, 1347, 1356, 1367, 1457, 1567, 2357, 3457, 3567
The total number of selections where the sum is odd is 4 + 12 = 16. Therefore the probability of
16
winning, by selecting four balls with an odd sum, is
. A game is considered f air if the probability
35
of winning is 50%. In this game the winning probability, as a percentage, is approximately 46%.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Pane - Filled Problem
A contractor is building new houses. Each house has a large window with
width 2 feet and height 6 feet to be made up of six identical 1 foot by 2 feet
glass panes.
The contractor wants each house to look slightly different. The window size is
fixed, but he plans on arranging the glass panes in the windows so that no two
windows have the same configuration. Two possible arrangements of the glass
panes are given below.
Assuming that the glass panes cannot be cut, how many different
arrangements can be made?
Problem of the Week

Problem
A contractor is building new houses. Each house has a large window with width 2 feet and
height 6 feet to be made up of six identical 1 foot by 2 feet glass panes. The contractor wants
each house to look slightly different. The window size is fixed, but he plans on arranging the
glass panes in the windows so that no two windows have the same configuration. Assuming
that the glass panes cannot be cut, how many different arrangements can be made?
Solution
Lets consider the ways that the glass panes can be arranged. First, notice that there must
always be an even number of window panes that have a vertical orientation (standing on end).
All glass panes are horizontal (and none are vertical)
This can only be done one way.
Four glass panes are horizontal and two are vertical
There could be 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 horizontal panes below the two vertical panes. So there are
5 ways that four glass panes are horizontal and two are vertical.
Two glass panes are horizontal and four are vertical
We need to consider sub cases:
Case 1: There are no horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
There could be 0, 1 or 2 horizontal panes below the four vertical panes. So there are
3 ways that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there are no
horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
Case 2: There is one horizontal pane between the vertical panes.
There could be 0 or 1 horizontal panes below the bottom two vertical panes. So
there are 2 ways that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there is
one horizontal pane between the vertical panes.
Case 3: There are two horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
There cannot be any horizontal panes below the bottom two vertical panes. So
there is 1 way that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there are
two horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
All glass panes are vertical
Therefore, the total number of different configurations of the glass panes is
1 + 5 + (3 + 2 + 1) + 1 = 13.
So the contractor can build 13 houses before he has to start duplicating window patterns.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Whats Your Angle Anyway I?
!
!"
"
In 4ABD, C is on AB such that AC = CB = CD and BCD = 70 .

Determine the measure of ADB.
If you want to solve a more general version of this problem, consider solving
this weeks Grade 9 and 10 Problem of the Week Whats Your Angle Anyway
II?.
If you want to further extend this problem, consider solving this weeks Grade
11 and 12 Problem of the Week Whats Your Angle Anyway III?.
Problem of the Week

!
Problem
In 4ABD, C is on AB such that AC = CB = CD and
BCD = 70 . Determine the measure of ADB.
Solution
Since ACB is a straight line, ACD + DCB = 180

but DCB = 70 so ACD = 110 .
In 4ACD, since AC = CD, 4ACD is isosceles and
CAD = CDA = x .
=
=
=
=
"
180
180
70
35
Similarly, in 4BCD, since CB = CD, 4BCD is isosceles and

CBD = CDB = y .
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4CBD
CBD + CDB + BCD
y + y + 70
2y
y
=
=
=
=
!"
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4ACD

CAD + CDA + ACD
x + x + 110
2x
x
180
180
110
55
Then ADB = CDA + CDB = x + y = 35 + 55 = 90 .

the measure of ADB is 90 .
See the next page for an interesting idea.
It turns out that it is not necessary to find the angles in the problem.
!
#
#
$
!"
"
Here is a second solution to the problem.

In 4CAD, since CA = CD, 4CAD is isosceles and CAD = CDA = x .
In 4CBD, since CB = CD, 4CBD is isosceles and CBD = CDB = y .
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4ABD
BAD + ADB + ABD
x + (x + y ) + y
2x + 2y
x + y
But ADB = ADC + CDB = x + y = 90 .
=
=
=
=
180
180
180
90
Problem of the Week

Problem C
A Griddy Performance
y
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
Three of the vertices of square ABCD are located at A(0,3), B(4,0), and
C(7,4).
(a) Determine the coordinates of the fourth vertex, D.
(b) Determine the area of square ABCD.
Problem of the Week

Problem
Three of the vertices of square ABCD are located at A(0,3),
B(4,0), and C(7,4).
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
Solution
To determine the coordinates of D, observe that to get from A to B, you would go down 3
units and right 4 units. To get from B to C, you move 3 units to the right and then 4 units up.
Continuing the pattern, go up 3 units and left 4 units you get to D(3,7). Continuing, as a
check, go left 3 units and down 4 units, and you arrive back at A.
y
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
Determining the area of ABCD without using the Pythagorean Theorem

Draw a box with horizontal and vertical sides so that each vertex of the square ABCD is on
one of the sides of the box. This creates a large square with sides of length 7 containing four
identical triangles and square ABCD. Each of the triangles has a base 4 units long and height
3 units long.
Area ABCD =
=
=
=
=
=
Area of Large Square 4 Area of One Triangle

Length Width 4 (Base Height 2)
7 7 4 (4 3 2)
49 4 6
49 24
25 units2
D is located at (3,7) and the area of the square is 25 units2 . (See the next page for a
solution to the area problem using the Pythagorean Theorem.)
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
O (0,0)
B (4,0)
Determining the area of ABCD using the Pythagorean Theorem

Since ABCD is a square, it is only necessary to find the length of one side. We can determine
the area by squaring the length of the side.
Let the origin be O(0,0). Then OAB forms a right triangle. OA, the distance from the origin
to point A on the y-axis, is 3 units. OB, the distance from the origin to point B on the x-axis,
is 4 units.
Using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can find AB 2 which is AB AB, the area of the square.
AB 2 =
=
=
=
the area of the square is 25 units2 .
OA2 + OB 2
3 2 + 42
9 + 16
25
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Stack Em Up
Three cubes with side lengths 1 m, 2 m and 3 m are stacked on top of each
other as shown.
Determine the total surface area of the stack, including the bottom.
Problem of the Week

Stack Em Up
Problem
other as shown. Determine the total surface area of the stack, including the
bottom.
Solution
To determine the areas we will primarily use Area = length width.
Each cube has four exposed square sides so the total area of all the sides is
4(11)+4(22)+4(33) = 4(1)+4(4)+4(9) = 4+16+36 = 56 m2 .
To determine the exposed top area of each of the cubes look down on the tower
and see a cross-section like the one below.
This exposed area is exactly the same as the side area of one face of the largest
cube. Therefore, the top exposed area is 3 3 = 9 m2 . The top area and the
bottom area are the same. Therefore, the bottom area is 9 m2 .
The total surface area is 56 + 9 + 9 = 74 m2 .
Extension: Three cubes with side lengths x, y and z are stacked on top of
each other in a similar manner to the original problem such that
0 < x < y < z. Show that the total surface area of the stack, including the
bottom, is 6z 2 + 4y 2 + 4x2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Irregular Area
x
The dots on the diagram are one unit apart, horizontally and vertically.
Determine the area of the figure.
Problem of the Week

Irregular Area
Problem
The dots on the diagram are one unit apart, horizontally and vertically. Determine the area of
the figure.
y
Solution
On the diagram, draw two horizontal lines and two vertical lines to
form a rectangle such that the vertices of the irregular area are on
the sides of the rectangle. Label the four vertices of the rectangle
and the four vertices of the irregular area as shown on the diagram.
"
To find the area of the irregular shape, determine the area of the
rectangle and subtract the area of the four triangles that are not
part of the area of the irregular shape.
'
&
Since the dots are one unit apart horizontally and vertically we can
determine the various lengths:
AB = 5, BC = 4, AC = 9
CD = 4, DE = 3, CE = 7
EF = 7, F G = 2, EG = 9
GH = 2, HA = 5, GA = 7
To find the area of the rectangle, multiply the length AC by the width CE obtaining
9 7 = 63 units2 .
Each of the corners of the rectangles has a right angle. So each of the four triangles is right
angled and we can use the lengths of the two sides that meet at the right angle in the
calculation of the area of the triangle. Using Area = base height 2, we calculate the areas:
AB HA
2
BC CD
Area 4BCD =
2
DE EF
Area 4DEF =
2
F G GH
Area 4F GH =
2
Area 4ABH =
55
2
44
=
2
37
=
2
22
=
2
25
= 12.5 units2
2
16
=
= 8 units2
2
21
=
= 10.5 units2
2
4
= = 2 units2
2
Therefore the area of the irregular shape is 63 12.5 8 10.5 2 = 63 33 = 30 units2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Be Mine Valentine
A valentine is constructed by pasting two white semi-circles, each with
radius 3 cm, and a white triangle onto a 12 cm square sheet of red paper as
shown below. (The dashed line and the right angle symbols will not actually be
on the finished card.)
You are going to write your valentine a message in red ink on the white region
of the card.
Determine the total amount of area available for your special valentine greeting.
Problem of the Week

Be Mine Valentine
Problem
radius 3 cm, and a white triangle onto a 12 cm square sheet of red paper. You
are going to write your valentine a message in red ink on the white region of
the card. Determine the total amount of area available for your special
valentine greeting.
Solution
Place the given information on the diagram.
12 cm
3 cm
12 cm
The total area for writing the message is the area of the two semi-circles plus
the area of the white triangle.
Since there are two semi-circles of radius 3 cm, the total area is the same as the
area of a full circle of radius 3 cm. The area of the two semi-circles is
r2 = (3)2 = 9 cm2 .
The height of the triangle is the length of the square minus the radius of the
semi-circle. Therefore the height of the triangle is 12 3 = 9 cm. The base of
the triangle is 12 cm, the width of the square. The area of the triangle is
1
1
2
2 base height = 2 (12)(9) = 54 cm .
The total area for writing the message is (9 + 54) cm2 . This area is
approximately 82.3 cm2 . Happy Valentines Day.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Check the Perimeter
A median is a line segment drawn from the vertex of a triangle to the
midpoint of the opposite side.
In 4ABC, a median is drawn from A meeting BC at M . The perimeter of
4ABC is 24. The perimeter of 4ABM is 18. The perimeter of 4ACM is 16.
Determine the length of the median AM .
Problem of the Week

Check the Perimeter
Problem
A median is a line segment drawn from the vertex
of a triangle to the midpoint of the opposite side.
In 4ABC, a median is drawn from A meeting
BC at M . The perimeter of 4ABC is 24. The
perimeter of 4ABM is 18. The perimeter of
4ACM is 16. Determine the length of the
median AM .
A
t
Solution 1
Let AB = t, BM = p, M C = q, CA = r, and AM = m.
The perimeter of 4ABM = t + p + m = 18.
The perimeter of 4ACM = q + r + m = 16.
The perimeter of 4ABC = t + p + q + r = 24.
Consider the perimeter of 4ABM plus the perimeter of 4ACM . This is equal
to (t + p + m) + (q + r + m) = t + p + m + q + r + m = (t + p + q + r) + 2 m.
So, if we add the perimeter of 4ABM to the perimeter of 4ACM , we will
obtain the perimeter of 4ABC plus two times the length of the median, m.
In other words, since the perimeter of 4ABM is 18, the perimeter of 4ACM
is 16 and the perimeter of 4ABC is 24, we find that 18 + 16 = 24 + 2 m. It
follows that 34 = 24 + 2 m and 2 m must be 10. Therefore m, the length of
the median, is 5.
In solution 2, we take a more algebraic approach to solving the problem. It
involves more formal equation solving.
Problem
A

median AM .
Solution 2
The perimeter of 4ABM = t + p + m = 18 or t + p = 18 m.
(1)
The perimeter of 4ACM = q + r + m = 16 or q + r = 16 m.
(2)
(3)
We will now combine the results.
So
t + p = 18 m
(1)
q + r = 16 m
(2)
t + p + q + r = 18 m + 16 m,
But the perimeter is t + p + q + r = 24.

24
24
24 34
10
10
2
5
18 m + 16 m
34 2m
34 34 2m
2m
2m
=
2
= m
=
=
=
=
The length of the median AM = m = 5.
by combining the two results.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Face It
A regular die has faces numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The numbers on the faces
are arranged so that opposite faces total seven. For example, the face
containing 2 is opposite the face containing five.
The four dice shown have been placed so that the two numbers on the faces
touching each other always total nine. The face labelled P is the front of one
die as shown. What is the number on the face labelled P ?
Problem of the Week

Face It
Problem
A regular die has faces numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The numbers on the faces are arranged so
that opposite faces total seven. For example, the face containing 2 is opposite the face
containing five. The four dice shown have been placed so that the two numbers on the faces
touching each other always total nine. The face labelled P is the front of one die as shown.
What is the number on the face labelled P ?
Solution
"#$%&!!
"#$%&"!
"#$%&#!
"#$%&$!
!
On Dice 1 , since 5 is on the front, there is a 2 on the back. Since 4 is on the top, there is a 3
on the bottom. That leaves a 6 and 1 for the sides. Since the sides facing each other add to 9,
the right side of dice 1 must be a 6. If it were a 1, the left face of dice 2 would have to be 8
and that is not possible. Therefore the right side of dice 1 must be a 6.
That means that the left side of dice 2 must be a 3 since the sides facing each other total 9. If
the left side of dice 2 is 3, then the right side of dice 2 must be a 4 since opposite sides add
to 7.
Then the left side of dice 3 must be a 5. If 5 is on the left side, 2 is on the right side. Since 4
is on the top of dice 3 , there is a 3 on the bottom. That leaves 1 and 6 for the front and back
of dice 3 . The front must be 6 in order for the numbers on the front of dice 3 and the back
of dice 4 to total 9.
Since the front of dice 3 is a 6, the back of dice 4 must be a 3. If the back of dice 4 is a 3,
then the front of dice 4 must be a four. But the front of dice 4 is P . Therefore P = 4.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
All Things Being Equal
!
"
&
Square BCDE and 4ACD have equal areas. Square BCDE has sides of
length 12 cm. AD intersects BE at F .
Determine the area of quadrilateral BCDF .
Problem of the Week

Problem
Square BCDE and 4ACD have equal areas. Square

BCDE has sides of length 12 cm. AD intersects BE at F .
"
Solution
&
!"#$%
The area of square BCDE = 12 12 = 144 cm2 . The area of 4ACD equals the area of square
BCDE. Therefore area 4ACD = 144 cm2 .
The area of a triangle is calculated using the formula base height 2. It follows that:
Area 4ACD
144
144
24 cm
But AC = AB + BC so 24 = AB + 12 and
= (CD) (AC) 2
= 12 AC 2
= 6 AC
= AC
it follows that AB = 12 cm.
Area 4ACD = Area Square BCDE

Area 4ABF + Area Quad. BCDF = Area 4DEF + Area Quad. BCDF
Since the area of quadrilateral BCDF is common to both sides of the equation, it follows that
the area of 4ABF equals the area of 4DEF .
Area 4ABF
(AB) (BF ) 2
12 BF 2
6 BF
BF
=
=
=
=
=
Area 4DEF
(DE) (EF ) 2
12 F E 2
6 FE
FE
But BF + F E = BE = CD = 12 so BF = F E = 6 cm. Then the area of

4DEF = DE F E 2 = 12 6 2 = 36 cm2 .
The area of quadrilateral BCDF = area of square BCDE area 4DEF
= 144 36
= 108 cm2
Therefore the area of quadrilateral BCDF is 108 cm2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
y
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
C(7,4).
Problem of the Week

Problem
B(4,0), and C(7,4).
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
Solution
y
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)

3 units long.
Area ABCD =
=
=
=
=
=

7 7 4 (4 3 2)
49 4 6
49 24
25 units2
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
O (0,0)
B (4,0)

is 4 units.
AB 2 =
=
=
=
OA2 + OB 2
3 2 + 42
9 + 16
25
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Stack Em Up
other as shown.
Problem of the Week

Stack Em Up
Problem
bottom.
Solution
4(11)+4(22)+4(33) = 4(1)+4(4)+4(9) = 4+16+36 = 56 m2 .
bottom, is 6z 2 + 4y 2 + 4x2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Always Have A Good Altitude
#
%
"
An altitude is a line segment drawn from a vertex of a triangle to the opposite

side such that the line segment is perpendicular to the opposite side.
In 4ABC, CD and BE are altitudes. AB = 16 cm, AC = 12 cm and
CD = 6 cm.
Determine the length of BE.
Problem of the Week

Problem
An altitude is a line segment drawn from a vertex of
a triangle to the opposite side such that the line
segment is perpendicular to the opposite side.
In 4ABC, CD and BE are altitudes. AB = 16 cm,
AC = 12 cm and CD = 6 cm. Determine the length
of BE.
#
%
"
Solution
The area of a triangle is determined using the formula base height 2. The
height of the triangle is the length of an altitude and the base of the triangle is
the length of the side to which a particular altitude is drawn.
(CD) (AB)
2
6 16
=
2
Area 4ABC =
= 48 cm2
(BE) (AC)
2
(BE) 12
48 =
2
48 = 6 BE
8 cm = BE
But, Area 4ABC =
Therefore, the length of altitude BE is 8 cm.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Irregular Area
x
The dots on the diagram are one unit apart, horizontally and vertically.
Determine the area of the figure.
Problem of the Week

Irregular Area
Problem
The dots on the diagram are one unit apart, horizontally and vertically. Determine the area of
the figure.
y
Solution
On the diagram, draw two horizontal lines and two vertical lines to
form a rectangle such that the vertices of the irregular area are on
the sides of the rectangle. Label the four vertices of the rectangle
and the four vertices of the irregular area as shown on the diagram.
"
To find the area of the irregular shape, determine the area of the
rectangle and subtract the area of the four triangles that are not
part of the area of the irregular shape.
'
&
Since the dots are one unit apart horizontally and vertically we can
determine the various lengths:
AB = 5, BC = 4, AC = 9
CD = 4, DE = 3, CE = 7
EF = 7, F G = 2, EG = 9
GH = 2, HA = 5, GA = 7
To find the area of the rectangle, multiply the length AC by the width CE obtaining
9 7 = 63 units2 .
Each of the corners of the rectangles has a right angle. So each of the four triangles is right
angled and we can use the lengths of the two sides that meet at the right angle in the
calculation of the area of the triangle. Using Area = base height 2, we calculate the areas:
AB HA
2
BC CD
Area 4BCD =
2
DE EF
Area 4DEF =
2
F G GH
Area 4F GH =
2
Area 4ABH =
55
2
44
=
2
37
=
2
22
=
2
25
= 12.5 units2
2
16
=
= 8 units2
2
21
=
= 10.5 units2
2
4
= = 2 units2
2
Therefore the area of the irregular shape is 63 12.5 8 10.5 2 = 63 33 = 30 units2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Be Mine Valentine
radius 3 cm, and a white triangle onto a 12 cm square sheet of red paper as
shown below. (The dashed line and the right angle symbols will not actually be
on the finished card.)
You are going to write your valentine a message in red ink on the white region
of the card.
Determine the total amount of area available for your special valentine greeting.
Problem of the Week

Be Mine Valentine
Problem
radius 3 cm, and a white triangle onto a 12 cm square sheet of red paper. You
are going to write your valentine a message in red ink on the white region of
the card. Determine the total amount of area available for your special
valentine greeting.
Solution
Place the given information on the diagram.
12 cm
3 cm
12 cm
The total area for writing the message is the area of the two semi-circles plus
the area of the white triangle.
Since there are two semi-circles of radius 3 cm, the total area is the same as the
area of a full circle of radius 3 cm. The area of the two semi-circles is
r2 = (3)2 = 9 cm2 .
The height of the triangle is the length of the square minus the radius of the
semi-circle. Therefore the height of the triangle is 12 3 = 9 cm. The base of
the triangle is 12 cm, the width of the square. The area of the triangle is
1
1
2
2 base height = 2 (12)(9) = 54 cm .
The total area for writing the message is (9 + 54) cm2 . This area is
approximately 82.3 cm2 . Happy Valentines Day.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Fund Raising - One Step at A Time
A temporary set of stairs has been constructed to get dignitaries on and off a
stage at a fundraising event. The steps are of equal depth and equal height.
The entire structure is 120 cm high, 120 cm from front to back and 100 cm
wide.
The stairs are to be carpeted and the two sides are to be painted. One of the
two sides that is to be painted is shaded in the diagram. The back and bottom
of the structure will not be seen and will not be carpeted or painted.
120 cm
100 cm
120 cm
Determine the total area to be carpeted and the total area to be painted.
Problem of the Week

Fund Raising - One Step at A Time
Problem
A temporary set of stairs has been constructed to get dignitaries on and off a stage at a
fundraising event. The steps are of equal depth and equal height. The entire structure is
120 cm high, 120 cm from front to back and 100 cm wide. The stairs are to be carpeted and
the two sides are to be painted. One of the two sides that is to be painted is shaded in the
diagram. The back and bottom of the structure will not be seen and will not be carpeted or
painted. Determine the total area to be carpeted and the total area to be painted.
Solution
In order to solve both parts of the problem, the depth and height of each individual step must
be calculated. The entire structure is 120 cm from front to back and four steps cover the entire
depth. Therefore, each step is 120 cm 4 = 30 cm wide and high.
The area to carpet is made up of 8 identical rectangles, each 30 cm wide and 100 cm long.
Using the formula Area = Length W idth, the area of one rectangle is 30 100 = 3 000 cm2 .
The area of all surfaces to be carpeted is 8 3 000 = 24 000 cm2 .
There are many different ways to find the area of the side pieces. One
solution would be to break the figure into four equal width rectangles,
one four steps high, one three steps high, one two steps high and the
final rectangle one step high.
The area of one side would then be
30 (4 30) + 30 (3 30) + 30 (2 30) + 30 (1 30)
= 30 120 + 30 90 + 30 60 + 30 30 = 3 600 + 2 700 + 1 800 + 900
= 9 000 cm2 .
120 cm
100 cm
120 cm
The total area of the two sides to be painted is 2 9 000 = 18 000 cm2 .
A second method to calculate the area of one side involves breaking
the figure into triangles. Draw a diagonal from the top left corner
to the bottom right corner. This diagonal line would hit the bottom
corner of each step as shown in the diagram. The larger triangle has
a base and height of 120 cm. Each of the four smaller triangles has a
base and a height of 30 cm, the width and height of each step.
Using the formula Area = Base Height 2, the area
= 120 120 2 + 4 30 30 2 = 7 200 + 1 800 = 9 000 cm2 .
The total area of the two sides to be painted is then
2 9 000 = 18 000 cm2 .
120 cm
100 cm
120 cm
the total area to carpet is 24 000 cm2 and the total area to paint is 18 000 cm2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Wired
A piece of wire 60 cm in length is to be cut into two parts in the ratio 3 : 2.
Each part is bent to form a square.
Determine the ratio of the area of the larger square to the smaller square.
Problem of the Week

Wired
Problem
A piece of wire 60 cm in length is to be cut into two parts in the ratio 3 : 2. Each part is bent
to form a square. Determine the ratio of the area of the larger square to the smaller square.
Solution
Let the length of the longer piece of wire be 3x cm and the length of the shorter piece of wire
be 2x cm. Then 3x + 2x = 60 or 5x = 60 and x = 12 follows.
Then the longer piece of wire is 3x = 3(12) = 36 cm and the smaller piece of wire is
2x = 2(12) = 24 cm. These two lengths correspond to the perimeters of the respective squares.
Each of the wires is bent to form a square. The length of each side of the square is the
perimeter of the square divided by 4. Therefore the side length of the larger square is
36 4 = 9 cm and the side length of the smaller square is 24 4 = 6 cm.
The area of a square is calculated by squaring the side length. The area of the larger square is
92 = 81 cm2 and the area of the smaller square is 62 = 36 cm2 .
The ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 81 : 36. This ratio
can be simplified by dividing each term by 9. The ratio in simplified form can then be written
as 9 : 4.
Therefore the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 9 : 4.
An observation:
The ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 9 : 4 = 32 : 22 . Is
it a coincidence that the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square
is equal to the squares of each term in the given ratio?
Also notice that the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is
equal to the ratio of the square of the perimeter of the larger square to the square of the
perimeter of the smaller square. In this case, the perimeter of the larger square is 36 cm and
: 576
= 9 : 4.
the perimeter of the smaller square is 24 cm. Then 362 : 242 = 1296 : 576 = 1296
144
144
It is left to the solver to see if these two results are true in general.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Tunnel Vision
A train 1000 metres long travels through a 3000 metre tunnel. Thirty seconds
pass from the time the last car has just completely entered the tunnel until the
time when the front of the engine emerges from the other end.
Determine the speed of the train, in kilometres per hour.
Problem of the Week

Tunnel Vision
Problem
time when the front of the engine emerges from the other end. Determine the
speed of the train, in kilometres per hour.
Solution
A diagram to represent the problem will make it very easy to visualize.
3000 m tunnel
1000 m train
At the time the entire train is just inside the tunnel, there is
3000 1000 = 2000 metres left to travel. The engine has to travel 2000 metres
in 30 seconds. We can calculate the speed of the train by dividing the distance
travelled by the time required to travel the distance.
200
m/s.
3
Now our task is to convert from m/s to km/h. We will do this in two steps:
first convert metres to kilometres and then convert seconds to hours.
The speed of the train is 2000 m 30 seconds =
(1)
(2)
200 m
1 km
200 km 1 km
200 m
=
=
=
3s
3s
1000 m
3000 s
15 s
1 km
1 km
60 s
60 min 3600 km 240 km
=
=
=
15 s
15 s
1 min
1h
15 h
1h
The train is travelling at a speed of 240 km/h.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
A contractor is building new houses. Each house has a large window with
width 2 feet and height 6 feet to be made up of six identical 1 foot by 2 feet
glass panes.
The contractor wants each house to look slightly different. The window size is
fixed, but he plans on arranging the glass panes in the windows so that no two
windows have the same configuration. Two possible arrangements of the glass
panes are given below.
Assuming that the glass panes cannot be cut, how many different
arrangements can be made?
Problem of the Week

Problem
A contractor is building new houses. Each house has a large window with width 2 feet and
height 6 feet to be made up of six identical 1 foot by 2 feet glass panes. The contractor wants
each house to look slightly different. The window size is fixed, but he plans on arranging the
glass panes in the windows so that no two windows have the same configuration. Assuming
that the glass panes cannot be cut, how many different arrangements can be made?
Solution
Lets consider the ways that the glass panes can be arranged. First, notice that there must
always be an even number of window panes that have a vertical orientation (standing on end).
All glass panes are horizontal (and none are vertical)
Four glass panes are horizontal and two are vertical
There could be 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 horizontal panes below the two vertical panes. So there are
5 ways that four glass panes are horizontal and two are vertical.
Two glass panes are horizontal and four are vertical
We need to consider sub cases:
Case 1: There are no horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
There could be 0, 1 or 2 horizontal panes below the four vertical panes. So there are
3 ways that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there are no
horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
Case 2: There is one horizontal pane between the vertical panes.
There could be 0 or 1 horizontal panes below the bottom two vertical panes. So
there are 2 ways that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there is
one horizontal pane between the vertical panes.
Case 3: There are two horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
There cannot be any horizontal panes below the bottom two vertical panes. So
there is 1 way that two glass panes are horizontal, four are vertical and there are
two horizontal panes between the vertical panes.
All glass panes are vertical
Therefore, the total number of different configurations of the glass panes is
1 + 5 + (3 + 2 + 1) + 1 = 13.
So the contractor can build 13 houses before he has to start duplicating window patterns.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Pushy Pushy
Manny Kerr runs a company that specializes in grooming and caring for lawns.
Manny has a push mower and powerful riding mower.
At one location it takes him five hours to cut the entire lawn with the push
mower but only 70 minutes with the powerful riding mower. After 90% of the
lawn was cut using the powerful riding mower, the remainder was cut using the
push mower.
How many minutes did it take Manny to cut the entire lawn?
Problem of the Week

Pushy Pushy
Problem
Manny has a push mower and powerful riding mower. At one location it takes
him five hours to cut the entire lawn with the push mower but only 70 minutes
with the powerful riding mower. After 90% of the lawn was cut using the
powerful riding mower, the remainder was cut using the push mower. How
many minutes did it take Manny to cut the entire lawn.
Solution
It takes Manny 70 minutes to cut 100% of the lawn with the powerful riding
mower. It would take him 90% of 70 minutes or 0.90 70 = 63 minutes to cut
90% of the lawn with the powerful riding mower.
Since he cuts 90% with the powerful riding mower, he cuts 100% 90% = 10%
using the push mower. It takes him 5 hours or 5 60 = 300 minutes to cut
100% of the lawn with the push mower. It would then take him
0.10 300 = 30 minutes to cut 10% of the lawn with the push mower.
It would then take him a total of 63 + 30 = 93 minutes to cut the entire lawn
using the powerful riding mower for 90% of the job and the push mower for
10% of the job.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
!
"
&
Problem of the Week

Problem

"
Solution
&
!"#$%
Area 4ACD
144
144
24 cm
= (CD) (AC) 2
= 12 AC 2
= 6 AC
= AC

Area 4ABF
(AB) (BF ) 2
12 BF 2
6 BF
BF
=
=
=
=
=
Area 4DEF
(DE) (EF ) 2
12 F E 2
6 FE
FE

4DEF = DE F E 2 = 12 6 2 = 36 cm2 .
= 144 36
= 108 cm2
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Wine Wine Wine
Vino is a winemaker. One day he filled a 45 litre container with wine. He
removed 9 litres of wine and replaced it with 9 litres of water. Next he
removed 9 litres of the mixture and replaced it with 9 litres of water.
Determine the ratio of wine to water in Vinos final mixture.
Problem of the Week

Wine Wine Wine
Problem
Vino is a winemaker. One day he filled a 45 litre container with wine. He
removed 9 litres of wine and replaced it with 9 litres of water. Next he
removed 9 litres of the mixture and replaced it with 9 litres of water.
Determine the ratio of wine to water in Vinos final mixture.
Solution
We need to determine the amount of wine and the amount of water in the final
mixture.
Vino starts with 45 litres of wine and no water. After removing 9 litres of wine
and adding 9 litres of water, he has 45 9 = 36 litres of wine and 9 litres of
9
1
36 4
= of the new mixture is wine and
= of the new mixture is
water. So
45 5
45 5
water.
4
1
He then removes 9 litres of the new mixture, of which is wine and of which
5
5
4
36
1
1
9
4
is water. So Vino removes 9 =
or 7 litres of wine and 9 = or 1
5
5
5
5
5
5
litres of water.
1 180 36 144
Before adding another 9 litres of water he has 36 7 =
=
5
5
5
5
4 45 9 36
1
4
=
or 7 litres of water.
or 28 litres of wine and 9 1 =
5
5
5
5
5
5
1
36 45 36 81
After adding the additional water he has 9 + 7 = 9 +
=
+
=
or
5
5
5
5
5
1
16 litres of water.
5
4
1 144 81
The final ratio of wine to water is 28 : 16 =
:
= 144 : 81 = 16 : 9.
5
5
5
5
the final ratio of wine to water is 16:9.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
c
e
a
+ + , each letter is replaced by a different digit from
b
d
f
1,2,3,4,5,6. Each digit can be used exactly once.
In the expression
What is the largest possible value of this expression?
!
"
! !
#
&
Problem of the Week

Problem
c
e
a
+ + , each letter is replaced by a different digit from 1,2,3,4,5,6. Each
b
d
f
digit can be used exactly once. What is the largest possible value of this expression?
In the expression
Solution 1
The largest fractions will be created by putting the three smallest numbers, 1,
2, and 3, in the denominators and then placing the numbers 4, 5, and 6 in the
numerators. We will do this in every possible way, determine the sums and
choose the largest.
There are six different possible sums in which 1, 2, and 3 are the denominators
and 4, 5, 6 are the numerators.
(1)
4 5 6
24 15 12 51
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(2)
4 6 5
24 18 10 52
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(3)
5 4 6
30 12 12 54
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(4)
5 6 4
30 18 8 56
+ +
=
+
+ =
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(5)
6 4 5
36 12 10 58
+ +
=
+
+
=
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
(6)
6 5 4
36 15 8 59
+ +
=
+
+ =
1 2 3
6
6
6
6
59
Therefore the largest possible value of the expression is . It should be noted
6
that this approach would not be practical if more numbers were involved. Be
sure to look at solution 2 for a more logical approach.
Solution 2
We can start by observing that to get a fraction with the highest value we need
a 6 in the numerator. The choice of denominators is possibly obvious as well.
6
6
6
6
6
6
1 = 6, 2 = 3, 3 = 2, 4 = 1.5, and 5 = 1.2. 1 is the largest fraction and any
numerator other than 6 will produce a lower value.
Now we have four numbers left to place: {2,3,4,5}.
Of these remaining numbers, since 5 is the largest it should go in the
.
numerator. Then 25 = 2.5, 53 = 1.7, and 45 = 1.25. 52 is the largest fraction and
any numerator other than 5 will produce a lower value.
Now we have two numbers left to place: {3,4}.
Our only two choices for the third fraction are
the third fraction.
4
3
.
= 1.3, and
3
4
= 0.75. So
4
3
is
We can now determine the largest possible sum.

6 5 4
+ +
1 2 3
36 15 8
=
+
+
6
6
6
59
5
=
or 9
6
6
the largest possible sum that can be made from the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
a
c
e
or 9 56 (approximately 9.83).
and 6 in the expression + + is 59
6
b
d
f
Largest Possible Sum =
Problem of the Week

Problem C
y
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
C(7,4).
Problem of the Week

Problem
B(4,0), and C(7,4).
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)
Solution
y
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
B (4,0)

3 units long.
Area ABCD =
=
=
=
=
=

7 7 4 (4 3 2)
49 4 6
49 24
25 units2
D (3,7)
C (7,4)
A (0,3)
x
O (0,0)
B (4,0)

is 4 units.
AB 2 =
=
=
=
OA2 + OB 2
3 2 + 42
9 + 16
25
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Stack Em Up
other as shown.
Problem of the Week

Stack Em Up
Problem
bottom.
Solution
4(11)+4(22)+4(33) = 4(1)+4(4)+4(9) = 4+16+36 = 56 m2 .
bottom, is 6z 2 + 4y 2 + 4x2 .
Problem of the Week

Problem C
#
%
"

CD = 6 cm.
Problem of the Week

Problem
of BE.
#
%
"
Solution
(CD) (AB)
2
6 16
=
2
Area 4ABC =
= 48 cm2
(BE) (AC)
2
(BE) 12
48 =
2
48 = 6 BE
8 cm = BE
But, Area 4ABC =
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Pressures On
of 75 points.
On the first five events, Willy had an average score of 6.8. On the next three
events his average score was 7.2.
What must Willy average on his final two events in order to have a total score
of exactly 75 points?
Problem of the Week

Pressures On
Problem
of 75 points. On the first five events, Willy had an average score of 6.8. On the
next three events his average score was 7.2. What must Willy average on his
final two events in order to have a total score of exactly 75 points?
Solution
To determine an average, we add the numbers together and divide the total by
the number of numbers.
Total
Average =
Number of Numbers
So to determine the total we would multiply the average by the number of
numbers.
Total = Average Number of Numbers
Total Score for First 5 Events = 6.8 5 = 34.0
Total Score for Next 3 Events = 7.2 3 = 21.6
Total Score to Move On = 75.0
Total Score Needed for Last Two Events = 75.0 34.0 21.6 = 19.4
Average Score for Final 2 Events = 19.4 2 = 9.7
Willy needs to average 9.7, near perfect scores, on his last two events to have a
total score of exactly 75 points in order to advance to the regional round of the
competition. The pressure is definitely on!
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Prime Picking
A natural number greater than 1 is said to be prime if its only factors are 1 and
itself. For example, the number 7 is prime since its only factors are 1 and 7.
A perf ect square is an integer created by multiplying an integer by itself. The
number 25 is a perfect square since it is 5 5 or 52 .
Determine the smallest perfect square that has three different prime numbers
as factors.
Problem of the Week

Prime Picking
Problem
A natural number greater than 1 is said to be prime if its only factors are 1
and itself. For example, the number 7 is prime since its only factors are 1 and
7. A perf ect square is an integer created by multiplying an integer by itself.
The number 25 is a perfect square since it is 5 5 or 52 . Determine the
smallest perfect square that has three different prime numbers as factors.
Solution
The problem itself is not very difficult once you determine what it is asking. So
before looking at the solution, let us examine some perfect squares.
The numbers 4 and 9 are both perfect squares that have only one prime
number as a factor, 4 = 22 and 9 = 32 .
The number 36 is a perfect square since 36 = 62 . However, the number
6 = 2 3 so 36 = (2 3)2 = 2 3 2 3 = 22 32 . So 36 is the product of the
square of each of two different prime numbers. In fact, since 2 and 3 are the
smallest prime numbers, 36 is the smallest perfect square that has two different
prime factors. In order to create a perfect square we must find the product of
the squares of prime numbers.
Using this idea, we can create the smallest perfect square with three different
prime factors by squaring each of the three smallest primes, 2, 3, and 5, and
then multiplying these squares together. So the smallest perfect square that
uses three different prime factors would be 22 32 52 = 4 9 25 = 900. It
should be noted that 900 = 302 = (2 3 5)2 .
the smallest perfect square with three different prime factors is 900.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Powerful Factorials At Work!
The product of the positive integers 1 to 3 is 3 2 1 = 6 and can be written
in an abbreviated form as 3!. We say 3 f actorial. So 3! = 6.
The product of the positive integers 1 to 17 is 17 16 15 3 2 1
and can be written in an abbreviated form as 17!. We say 17 f actorial.
The represents the product of all the missing integers between 15 and 3.
In general, the product of the positive integers 1 to n is n!. Note that 1! = 1.
Determine the units digit in the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + + 18! + 19! + 20!.
Problem of the Week

Problem
in an abbreviated form as 3!. We say 3 f actorial. So 3! = 6. The product of
the positive integers 1 to 17 is 17 16 15 3 2 1 and can be written
in an abbreviated form as 17!. We say 17 f actorial. The represents the
product of all the missing integers between 15 and 3. In general, the product of
the positive integers 1 to n is n!. Note that 1! = 1. Determine the units digit in
the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + + 18! + 19! + 20!.
Solution
At first glance it may look as if there is a great deal of work to do. However by
examining several factorials we will discover otherwise.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
=
=
=
=
=
1
21=2
321=6
4 3 2 1 = 24
5 4 3 2 1 = 120
Now 6! = 6 (5 4 3 2 1) = 6 5! = 6(120) = 720.

And 7! = 7 (6 5 4 3 2 1) = 7 6! = 7(720) = 5040.
An interesting observation surfaces, 8! = 8 7!, 9! = 9 8!, and so on.
Furthermore, 5! has a units digit of 0. Every factorial above 5! will also have a
units digit of 0 since multiplying a number by another number whose units digit
is zero produces a zero in the units digit of the product. So no factorials above
4! will have a units digit other than zero. Therefore, the units digit of the sum
1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 18! + 19! + 20! will come from the units digit of 1!, 2!, 3!
and 4!. Calculating the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! we obtain 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 = 33.
The units digit of the required sum is the units digit of 33, namely 3.
the units digit of the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + 18! + 19! + 20! is 3.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Puzzling Product
In the product shown below, the letters F and L represent different digits from
1 to 9. Determine the value of F and L.
F8
3L
2730
Problem of the Week

Puzzling Product
Problem
In the product shown below, the letters F and L represent different digits from
1 to 9. Determine the value of F and L.
F 8
3 L
2 7 3 0
Solution
In a multiplication question there are three parts: the multiplier, multiplicand
and product. In our problem, F 8 is the multiplier, 3L is the multiplicand, and
2730 is the product.
The units digit of the product 2730 is 0. The units digit of a product is equal
to the units digit of the result obtained by multiplying the units digit of the
multiplier and multiplicand.
So 8 L must equal a number with units digit 0. The only choices for L are 0
and 5 since no other single digit times 8 produces a number ending in zero.
However, if L = 0, the units digit of the product is 0 and the remaining three
digits of the product are produced by multiplying 3 F 8. But 3 F 8 produces
a number ending in 4, not 3 as required. Therefore L 6= 0 and L must equal 5.
We are then multiplying F 8 by 35 to create the product 2730. To determine F
we can work backwards. When we divide 2730 by 35, the quotient is 78. But
78 and F 8 are the same number so F = 7.
F = 7 and L = 5.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Tunnel Vision
time when the front of the engine emerges from the other end.
Determine the speed of the train, in kilometres per hour.
Problem of the Week

Tunnel Vision
Problem
time when the front of the engine emerges from the other end. Determine the
speed of the train, in kilometres per hour.
Solution
A diagram to represent the problem will make it very easy to visualize.
3000 m tunnel
1000 m train
At the time the entire train is just inside the tunnel, there is
3000 1000 = 2000 metres left to travel. The engine has to travel 2000 metres
in 30 seconds. We can calculate the speed of the train by dividing the distance
travelled by the time required to travel the distance.
200
m/s.
3
Now our task is to convert from m/s to km/h. We will do this in two steps:
first convert metres to kilometres and then convert seconds to hours.
The speed of the train is 2000 m 30 seconds =
(1)
(2)
200 m
1 km
200 km 1 km
200 m
=
=
=
3s
3s
1000 m
3000 s
15 s
1 km
1 km
60 s
60 min 3600 km 240 km
=
=
=
15 s
15 s
1 min
1h
15 h
1h
The train is travelling at a speed of 240 km/h.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Coin Collection
Mai (pronounced my) Zur has been saving quarters, loonies and toonies for
several years in her piggy bank. No other types of coins are in her bank. A
loonie is a Canadian one dollar coin and the toonie is a Canadian two dollar
coin.
One third of the coins in the bank are quarters and one fifth of the coins are
loonies. There are 14 toonies in the bank.
Determine how much money Mai Zur has saved in her piggy bank.
Problem of the Week

Coin Collection
Problem
Mai (pronounced my) Zur has been saving quarters, loonies and toonies for several years in
her piggy bank. No other types of coins are in her bank. A loonie is a Canadian one dollar coin
and the toonie is a Canadian two dollar coin. One third of the coins in the bank are quarters
and one fifth of the coins are loonies. There are 14 toonies in the bank. Determine how much
money Mai Zur has saved in her piggy bank.
Solution
One of the key sentences in the problem is No other types of coins are in her bank. Using the
fractions given it will be possible to determine what fraction of the whole is made up by
toonies.
The fraction of toonies = 1
15
5
3
7
1 1
=
= .
3 5
15 15 15
15
We can now determine the total number of coins in the bank. Since 14 toonies are in the bank
7
and 15
of the coins are toonies,
7
of the coins
15
1
Dividing by 7,
of the coins
15
15
Multiplying by 15,
of the coins
15
= 14 coins.
= 14 7 = 2 coins.
= 2 15 = 30 coins.
There are 30 coins in the bank. We can now determine the number of quarters and loonies.
1
1
The number of quarters = 30 = 10 and the number of loonies = 30 = 6.
3
5
To determine the amount of money in the bank we multiply the value of a particular coin by
the quantity of that coin and add the three values together.
Amount in the Bank = Value of Quarters + Value of Loonies + Value of Toonies
=
$0.25 10
+
$1.00 6 +
$2 14
=
$2.50
+
$6.00
+
$28.00
= $36.50
Mai Zur has a total of $36.50 in her bank.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
More for Less
Harry Wirks is currently paid $567 for working a 45 hour week. His weekly
salary is to be increased by 10% but his hours are to be reduced by 10%.
Calculate the change from his old hourly rate of pay to his new hourly rate of
pay.
Problem of the Week

More for Less
Problem
Harry Wirks is currently paid $567 for working a 45 hour week. His weekly salary is to be
increased by 10% but his hours are to be reduced by 10%. Calculate the change from his old
hourly rate of pay to his new hourly rate of pay.
Solution 1
To calculate the hourly rate of pay divide the weekly salary by the number of hours worked.
Harrys old hourly rate of pay is $567 45 h = $12.60/h.
New Weekly Salary
=
=
=
=
Old Weekly Salary + 10% of Old Weekly Salary

$567 + 0.1 $567
$567 + $56.70
$623.70
= Old Hours Worked 10% of Old Hours Worked

= 45 h 0.1 45 h
= 45 h 4.5 h
= 40.5 h
Harrys new hourly rate of pay is $623.70 40.5 h = $15.40/h.
The change in his hourly rate of pay is $15.40/h $12.60/h = $2.80/h.
Harrys hourly rate increased $2.80/h.
New Number of Hours Worked
Solution 2
In the second solution we will use a more concise calculation. Harrys weekly salary is 10%
more than his old weekly salary. So Harry earns 110% of his old weekly salary. Harrys hours
are reduced by 10% of his old hours so he now works 90% of his old hours. To calculate his
change in hourly rate we can take his new hourly rate and subtract his old hourly rate.
Change in Hourly Rate
=
=
=
=
=
=
New Hourly Rate Old Hourly Rate

New Salary Hours Worked Old Salary Old Hours Worked
($567 1.10) (45 0.9) $567 45
$623.70 40.5 $567 45
$15.40/h $12.60/h
$2.80/h
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Creating Order
Each of the digits 1, 2, 3, 4 are used once to create a four-digit number.
Twenty-four different four-digit numbers can be formed this way. If these
twenty-four numbers are then listed from the smallest to the largest, in what
position is the number 3 142?
Problem of the Week

Creating Order
Problem
Solution
We could list all twenty-four numbers and then arrange them in order to find
the position of 3 142, but there is an easier way to solve this problem.
The number 3 142 will be in the list after all the numbers that begin with a 1
and after all the numbers that begin with a 2.
How many of the numbers in the list begin with a 1?
There are 24 four-digit numbers that can be made from the digits 1, 2, 3 and 4.
There are 4 possibilities for the first digit so there are 24 4 = 6 numbers that
begin with a 1. The numbers are 1 234, 1 243, 1 324, 1 342, 1 423 and 1 432.
Similarly, there are 6 numbers in the list that begin with a 2, 6 that begin with
a 3, and 6 that begin with a 4. We could list all 6 of the numbers in the list
that begin with a 2, but this is not necessary.
So the first 6 numbers in the ordered list begin with a 1, the next 6 numbers
begin with a 2, and the following 6 numbers begin with a 3. There are 12
numbers in the ordered list before the first number beginning with a 3.
In order, the numbers that begin with a 3 are 3 124, 3 142, 3 214, 3 241, 3 412,
3 421. We see that 3 142 is the second number in the ordered list of numbers
beginning with a 3.
Therefore, the number 3 142 is in the fourteenth position in the ordered list.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Pushy Pushy
Manny has a push mower and powerful riding mower.
At one location it takes him five hours to cut the entire lawn with the push
mower but only 70 minutes with the powerful riding mower. After 90% of the
lawn was cut using the powerful riding mower, the remainder was cut using the
push mower.
How many minutes did it take Manny to cut the entire lawn?
Problem of the Week

Pushy Pushy
Problem
Manny has a push mower and powerful riding mower. At one location it takes
him five hours to cut the entire lawn with the push mower but only 70 minutes
with the powerful riding mower. After 90% of the lawn was cut using the
powerful riding mower, the remainder was cut using the push mower. How
many minutes did it take Manny to cut the entire lawn.
Solution
It takes Manny 70 minutes to cut 100% of the lawn with the powerful riding
mower. It would take him 90% of 70 minutes or 0.90 70 = 63 minutes to cut
90% of the lawn with the powerful riding mower.
Since he cuts 90% with the powerful riding mower, he cuts 100% 90% = 10%
using the push mower. It takes him 5 hours or 5 60 = 300 minutes to cut
100% of the lawn with the push mower. It would then take him
0.10 300 = 30 minutes to cut 10% of the lawn with the push mower.
It would then take him a total of 63 + 30 = 93 minutes to cut the entire lawn
using the powerful riding mower for 90% of the job and the push mower for
10% of the job.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
!
"
&
Problem of the Week

Problem

"
Solution
&
!"#$%
Area 4ACD
144
144
24 cm
= (CD) (AC) 2
= 12 AC 2
= 6 AC
= AC

Area 4ABF
(AB) (BF ) 2
12 BF 2
6 BF
BF
=
=
=
=
=
Area 4DEF
(DE) (EF ) 2
12 F E 2
6 FE
FE

4DEF = DE F E 2 = 12 6 2 = 36 cm2 .
= 144 36
= 108 cm2
Problem of the Week

Problem C
!
!"
"
In 4ABD, C is on AB such that AC = CB = CD and BCD = 70 .

Determine the measure of ADB.
If you want to solve a more general version of this problem, consider solving
this weeks Grade 9 and 10 Problem of the Week Whats Your Angle Anyway
II?.
If you want to further extend this problem, consider solving this weeks Grade
11 and 12 Problem of the Week Whats Your Angle Anyway III?.
Problem of the Week

!
Problem
In 4ABD, C is on AB such that AC = CB = CD and
BCD = 70 . Determine the measure of ADB.
Solution
Since ACB is a straight line, ACD + DCB = 180

but DCB = 70 so ACD = 110 .
In 4ACD, since AC = CD, 4ACD is isosceles and
CAD = CDA = x .
=
=
=
=
"
180
180
70
35
Similarly, in 4BCD, since CB = CD, 4BCD is isosceles and

CBD = CDB = y .
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4CBD
CBD + CDB + BCD
y + y + 70
2y
y
=
=
=
=
!"
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4ACD

CAD + CDA + ACD
x + x + 110
2x
x
180
180
110
55
Then ADB = CDA + CDB = x + y = 35 + 55 = 90 .

See the next page for an interesting idea.
It turns out that it is not necessary to find the angles in the problem.
!
#
#
$
!"
"
Here is a second solution to the problem.

In 4CAD, since CA = CD, 4CAD is isosceles and CAD = CDA = x .
In 4CBD, since CB = CD, 4CBD is isosceles and CBD = CDB = y .
The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4ABD
BAD + ADB + ABD
x + (x + y ) + y
2x + 2y
x + y
But ADB = ADC + CDB = x + y = 90 .
=
=
=
=
180
180
180
90
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Can You DIGIT?
divisible by 3.
Determine the largest positive difference between 5A4 and 37B.
Problem of the Week

Can You DIGIT?
Problem
divisible by 3. Determine the largest positive difference between 5A4 and 37B.
Solution
The largest positive difference will occur when 5A4 is a large as possible and
37B is as small as possible. We are therefore looking for the largest possible
value of A and the smallest possible value of B.
A number is divisible by 4 if the last two digits of the number are divisible
by 4. For 5A4 to be divisible by 4, the only possible values of A are 0, 2, 4, 6,
and 8 since 04, 24, 44, 64, and 84, respectively, are the only two digit numbers
that end in 4 and are divisible by 4. (04 is technically not a two-digit number
but a larger number could end in these two digits.) Since we want 5A4 to be as
large as possible, A = 8 and 5A4 = 584.
A number is divisible by 3 if the sum of its digits is divisible by 3. For 37B to
be divisible by 3, the only possible values of B are 2, 5, and 8.
divisible by 3.
divisible by 3.
divisible by 3.
No other three digit numbers of the form 37B will be divisible by 3 since no
other values of B, other than 2, 5, and 8, give a digit sum that is divisible by 3.
Since we want 37B to be as small as possible, B = 2 and 37B = 372.
The largest positive difference occurs when A = 8 and B = 2 so that
5A4 37B = 584 372 = 212.
the largest positive difference is 212.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
#
%
"

CD = 6 cm.
Problem of the Week

Problem
of BE.
#
%
"
Solution
(CD) (AB)
2
6 16
=
2
Area 4ABC =
= 48 cm2
(BE) (AC)
2
(BE) 12
48 =
2
48 = 6 BE
8 cm = BE
But, Area 4ABC =
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Prime Picking
A natural number greater than 1 is said to be prime if its only factors are 1 and
itself. For example, the number 7 is prime since its only factors are 1 and 7.
A perf ect square is an integer created by multiplying an integer by itself. The
number 25 is a perfect square since it is 5 5 or 52 .
Determine the smallest perfect square that has three different prime numbers
as factors.
Problem of the Week

Prime Picking
Problem
A natural number greater than 1 is said to be prime if its only factors are 1
and itself. For example, the number 7 is prime since its only factors are 1 and
7. A perf ect square is an integer created by multiplying an integer by itself.
The number 25 is a perfect square since it is 5 5 or 52 . Determine the
smallest perfect square that has three different prime numbers as factors.
Solution
The problem itself is not very difficult once you determine what it is asking. So
before looking at the solution, let us examine some perfect squares.
The numbers 4 and 9 are both perfect squares that have only one prime
number as a factor, 4 = 22 and 9 = 32 .
The number 36 is a perfect square since 36 = 62 . However, the number
6 = 2 3 so 36 = (2 3)2 = 2 3 2 3 = 22 32 . So 36 is the product of the
square of each of two different prime numbers. In fact, since 2 and 3 are the
smallest prime numbers, 36 is the smallest perfect square that has two different
prime factors. In order to create a perfect square we must find the product of
the squares of prime numbers.
Using this idea, we can create the smallest perfect square with three different
prime factors by squaring each of the three smallest primes, 2, 3, and 5, and
then multiplying these squares together. So the smallest perfect square that
uses three different prime factors would be 22 32 52 = 4 9 25 = 900. It
should be noted that 900 = 302 = (2 3 5)2 .
the smallest perfect square with three different prime factors is 900.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
in an abbreviated form as 3!. We say 3 f actorial. So 3! = 6.
The product of the positive integers 1 to 17 is 17 16 15 3 2 1
and can be written in an abbreviated form as 17!. We say 17 f actorial.
The represents the product of all the missing integers between 15 and 3.
In general, the product of the positive integers 1 to n is n!. Note that 1! = 1.
Determine the units digit in the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + + 18! + 19! + 20!.
Problem of the Week

Problem
in an abbreviated form as 3!. We say 3 f actorial. So 3! = 6. The product of
the positive integers 1 to 17 is 17 16 15 3 2 1 and can be written
in an abbreviated form as 17!. We say 17 f actorial. The represents the
product of all the missing integers between 15 and 3. In general, the product of
the positive integers 1 to n is n!. Note that 1! = 1. Determine the units digit in
the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + + 18! + 19! + 20!.
Solution
At first glance it may look as if there is a great deal of work to do. However by
examining several factorials we will discover otherwise.
1!
2!
3!
4!
5!
=
=
=
=
=
1
21=2
321=6
4 3 2 1 = 24
5 4 3 2 1 = 120
Now 6! = 6 (5 4 3 2 1) = 6 5! = 6(120) = 720.

And 7! = 7 (6 5 4 3 2 1) = 7 6! = 7(720) = 5040.
An interesting observation surfaces, 8! = 8 7!, 9! = 9 8!, and so on.
Furthermore, 5! has a units digit of 0. Every factorial above 5! will also have a
units digit of 0 since multiplying a number by another number whose units digit
is zero produces a zero in the units digit of the product. So no factorials above
4! will have a units digit other than zero. Therefore, the units digit of the sum
1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 18! + 19! + 20! will come from the units digit of 1!, 2!, 3!
and 4!. Calculating the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + 4! we obtain 1 + 2 + 6 + 24 = 33.
The units digit of the required sum is the units digit of 33, namely 3.
the units digit of the sum 1! + 2! + 3! + 18! + 19! + 20! is 3.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
A Crafty Little Problem
A knot is tied near one end of a piece of string and beads are strung to form a
necklace. The beads are placed on the string in the following sequence: 1 red, 1
green, 1 blue, 2 red, 2 green, 2 blue, 3 red, 3 green, 3 blue, with the number of
each colour increasing by one every time a new group of beads is placed. The
diagram illustrates how the first 18 beads are strung.
How many of the first 160 beads are blue?
B
R
G
G G
G
B B R R R G
Problem of the Week

A Crafty Little Problem
Problem
A knot is tied near one end of a piece of string and beads are strung to form a
necklace. The beads are placed on the string in the following sequence: 1 red, 1
green, 1 blue, 2 red, 2 green, 2 blue, 3 red, 3 green, 3 blue, with the number of
each colour increasing by one every time a new group of beads is placed. How
many of the first 160 beads are blue?
Solution
An equal number of red, green and blue beads occur after
3(1) = 3 beads are placed,
3(1) + 3(2) = 3 + 6 = 9 beads are placed,
3(1) + 3(2) + 3(3) = 3 + 6 + 9 = 18 beads are placed, and so on.
The greatest total that can be placed with equal numbers of red, green and
blue beads is 3(1) + 3(2) + 3(3) + + 3(9) = 3 + 6 + 9 + + 27 = 135. At
this point there are 135 3 = 45 beads of each colour. We are at a point where
we have strung 9 red beads, 9 green beads and 9 blue beads in the last three
groups.
The next groups will have 10 in them if there are enough beads. There are
160 135 = 25 beads left to place. We are able to place 10 red beads leaving 15
beads left to place. At this point there are 55 red beads. We can place 10 green
beads leaving 5 beads left to place. At this point there are 55 green beads. The
five remaining beads must be blue making the total number of blue beads 50.
there are 50 blue beads on the necklace.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Wired
A piece of wire 60 cm in length is to be cut into two parts in the ratio 3 : 2.
Each part is bent to form a square.
Determine the ratio of the area of the larger square to the smaller square.
Problem of the Week

Wired
Problem
A piece of wire 60 cm in length is to be cut into two parts in the ratio 3 : 2. Each part is bent
to form a square. Determine the ratio of the area of the larger square to the smaller square.
Solution
Let the length of the longer piece of wire be 3x cm and the length of the shorter piece of wire
be 2x cm. Then 3x + 2x = 60 or 5x = 60 and x = 12 follows.
Then the longer piece of wire is 3x = 3(12) = 36 cm and the smaller piece of wire is
2x = 2(12) = 24 cm. These two lengths correspond to the perimeters of the respective squares.
Each of the wires is bent to form a square. The length of each side of the square is the
perimeter of the square divided by 4. Therefore the side length of the larger square is
36 4 = 9 cm and the side length of the smaller square is 24 4 = 6 cm.
The area of a square is calculated by squaring the side length. The area of the larger square is
92 = 81 cm2 and the area of the smaller square is 62 = 36 cm2 .
The ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 81 : 36. This ratio
can be simplified by dividing each term by 9. The ratio in simplified form can then be written
as 9 : 4.
Therefore the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 9 : 4.
An observation:
The ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is 9 : 4 = 32 : 22 . Is
it a coincidence that the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square
is equal to the squares of each term in the given ratio?
Also notice that the ratio of the area of the larger square to the area of the smaller square is
equal to the ratio of the square of the perimeter of the larger square to the square of the
perimeter of the smaller square. In this case, the perimeter of the larger square is 36 cm and
: 576
= 9 : 4.
the perimeter of the smaller square is 24 cm. Then 362 : 242 = 1296 : 576 = 1296
144
144
It is left to the solver to see if these two results are true in general.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
At A Prime Age
A mother has three children. Each of their ages is a different prime number.
The sum of their ages is 41 and the difference between two of their ages is 16.
Determine the ages of the three children.
Problem of the Week

At A Prime Age
Problem
A mother has three children. Each of their ages is a different prime number.
The sum of their ages is 41 and the difference between two of their ages is 16.
Determine the ages of the three children.
Solution
A prime number is any number with exactly two different positive factors, 1
and the number itself. A composite number has at least three different positive
factors. The number one is neither prime nor composite.
We can start by listing all of the prime numbers less than 41. The possible
primes are 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, and 37. We could actually
eliminate some of the higher primes from this list since there are three different
primes in the sum.
Now we will look for all prime pairs from this list that differ by 16. The pairs
include 3 and 19, 7 and 23, and 13 and 29. We will look at each of these pairs
and determine the third number so that the sum of the three ages is 41.
For the pair 3 and 19, the sum is 22. The third age would be 41 22 = 19.
The ages of the three children would be 3, 19, and 19 but all three children
have a different age. Therefore this solution is not acceptable.
For the pair, 7 and 23, the sum is 30. The third age would be 41 30 = 11.
The ages of the three children would be 7, 11, and 23. Each of these numbers
is a different positive prime. Therefore this is a possible solution. But are there
other solutions?
For the pair, 17 and 33, the sum is 50. The sum is already over 41 so this is
not a possible solution.
Therefore the only possible ages for the children are 7, 11 and 23.
For further thought: How would the problem change if the word prime was
removed from the problem and replaced with a positive integer?
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Check the Perimeter
A median is a line segment drawn from the vertex of a triangle to the
midpoint of the opposite side.
In 4ABC, a median is drawn from A meeting BC at M . The perimeter of
4ABC is 24. The perimeter of 4ABM is 18. The perimeter of 4ACM is 16.
Determine the length of the median AM .
Problem of the Week

Check the Perimeter
Problem
median AM .
A
t
Solution 1
The perimeter of 4ABM = t + p + m = 18.
The perimeter of 4ACM = q + r + m = 16.
Consider the perimeter of 4ABM plus the perimeter of 4ACM . This is equal
to (t + p + m) + (q + r + m) = t + p + m + q + r + m = (t + p + q + r) + 2 m.
So, if we add the perimeter of 4ABM to the perimeter of 4ACM , we will
obtain the perimeter of 4ABC plus two times the length of the median, m.
In other words, since the perimeter of 4ABM is 18, the perimeter of 4ACM
is 16 and the perimeter of 4ABC is 24, we find that 18 + 16 = 24 + 2 m. It
follows that 34 = 24 + 2 m and 2 m must be 10. Therefore m, the length of
the median, is 5.
In solution 2, we take a more algebraic approach to solving the problem. It
involves more formal equation solving.
Problem
A

median AM .
Solution 2
The perimeter of 4ABM = t + p + m = 18 or t + p = 18 m.
(1)
The perimeter of 4ACM = q + r + m = 16 or q + r = 16 m.
(2)
(3)
We will now combine the results.
So
t + p = 18 m
(1)
q + r = 16 m
(2)
t + p + q + r = 18 m + 16 m,
But the perimeter is t + p + q + r = 24.

24
24
24 34
10
10
2
5
18 m + 16 m
34 2m
34 34 2m
2m
2m
=
2
= m
=
=
=
=
The length of the median AM = m = 5.
by combining the two results.
Problem of the Week

Problem C
More for Less
Harry Wirks is currently paid $567 for working a 45 hour week. His weekly
salary is to be increased by 10% but his hours are to be reduced by 10%.
Calculate the change from his old hourly rate of pay to his new hourly rate of
pay.
Problem of the Week

More for Less
Problem
Harry Wirks is currently paid $567 for working a 45 hour week. His weekly salary is to be
increased by 10% but his hours are to be reduced by 10%. Calculate the change from his old
hourly rate of pay to his new hourly rate of pay.
Solution 1
To calculate the hourly rate of pay divide the weekly salary by the number of hours worked.
Harrys old hourly rate of pay is $567 45 h = $12.60/h.
New Weekly Salary
=
=
=
=
Old Weekly Salary + 10% of Old Weekly Salary

$567 + 0.1 $567
$567 + $56.70
$623.70
= Old Hours Worked 10% of Old Hours Worked

= 45 h 0.1 45 h
= 45 h 4.5 h
= 40.5 h
Harrys new hourly rate of pay is $623.70 40.5 h = $15.40/h.
The change in his hourly rate of pay is $15.40/h $12.60/h = $2.80/h.
New Number of Hours Worked
Solution 2
In the second solution we will use a more concise calculation. Harrys weekly salary is 10%
more than his old weekly salary. So Harry earns 110% of his old weekly salary. Harrys hours
are reduced by 10% of his old hours so he now works 90% of his old hours. To calculate his
change in hourly rate we can take his new hourly rate and subtract his old hourly rate.
Change in Hourly Rate
=
=
=
=
=
=
New Hourly Rate Old Hourly Rate

New Salary Hours Worked Old Salary Old Hours Worked
($567 1.10) (45 0.9) $567 45
$623.70 40.5 $567 45
$15.40/h $12.60/h
$2.80/h
Problem of the Week

Problem C
Creating Order
Problem of the Week

Creating Order
Problem
Solution
We could list all twenty-four numbers and then arrange them in order to find
the position of 3 142, but there is an easier way to solve this problem.
The number 3 142 will be in the list after all the numbers that begin with a 1
and after all the numbers that begin with a 2.
How many of the numbers in the list begin with a 1?
There are 24 four-digit numbers that can be made from the digits 1, 2, 3 and 4.
There are 4 possibilities for the first digit so there are 24 4 = 6 numbers that
begin with a 1. The numbers are 1 234, 1 243, 1 324, 1 342, 1 423 and 1 432.
Similarly, there are 6 numbers in the list that begin with a 2, 6 that begin with
a 3, and 6 that begin with a 4. We could list all 6 of the numbers in the list
that begin with a 2, but this is not necessary.
So the first 6 numbers in the ordered list begin with a 1, the next 6 numbers
begin with a 2, and the following 6 numbers begin with a 3. There are 12
numbers in the ordered list before the first number beginning with a 3.
In order, the numbers that begin with a 3 are 3 124, 3 142, 3 214, 3 241, 3 412,
3 421. We see that 3 142 is the second number in the ordered list of numbers
beginning with a 3.
Therefore, the number 3 142 is in the fourteenth position in the ordered list.

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The problems in this booklet are organized into strands.

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

What is the largest possible value of this expression?

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We can now determine the largest possible sum.

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

1235, 1236, 1237, 1245, 1246, 1247, 1256, 1257, 1267.

By counting the outcomes from each case, there are 10 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 35

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

In 4ABD, C is on AB such that AC = CB = CD and BCD = 70 .

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Problem of the Week

Since ACB is a straight line, ACD + DCB = 180

Similarly, in 4BCD, since CB = CD, 4BCD is isosceles and

The angles in a triangle sum to 180 so in 4ACD

Then ADB = CDA + CDB = x + y = 35 + 55 = 90 .

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Here is a second solution to the problem.

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Problem of the Week

(a) Determine the coordinates of the fourth vertex, D.

(b) Determine the area of square ABCD.

Determining the area of ABCD without using the Pythagorean Theorem

Area of Large Square 4 Area of One Triangle

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Determining the area of ABCD using the Pythagorean Theorem

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Problem of the Week

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Problem of the Week

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Therefore the area of the irregular shape is 63 12.5 8 10.5 2 = 63 33 = 30 units2 .

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Problem of the Week