I.

BINOMIAL EXPANSION

rth term of (𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛

𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 = 𝑛𝐶𝑟−1 𝑥 𝑛−𝑟+1 𝑦 𝑟−1
𝑥 𝑛𝑦0 𝑛𝑥 𝑛−1 𝑦 1 𝑛(𝑛−1)𝑥 𝑛−2 𝑦 2
Maclaurians series: + + +⋯
0! 1! 2!

Problem 1:
Find the 3rd term of the expansion (𝑥 + 𝑦)4 .

CIVIL ENGINEERING REVIEWER

Vol. 1
Problem 2:
15
1
Find the constant term in the expansion of (𝑥 + 3 ) .
𝑥2

Problem 3:
In the expansion of (3𝑎𝑥 + 5𝑏)2019 where a and b are
relatively prime positive integers, the coefficient of 𝑥 2 and 𝑥 3 are
𝑎
equal. Find 𝑏 . Express your answer in fraction.

Problem 4:
1
Find the 3rd term of the expansion (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 .
 Problem 8:
Find the sum of the coefficients of the expansion of
Problem 5: (2𝑥 − 3𝑦)35.
Find the exponent of the ‘y’ variable of the 3rd term of the
3
1 −4
3
expansion (2 − 3𝑥 𝑦 ) .
2

Problem 9:
Find the sum of the coefficients of the expansion of
(2 − 3𝑦)35 .
II. SUM OF THE COEFFICIENTS

 Substitute 1 to variables
 If one of the terms is a constant, subtract the constant
raised to the exponent ‘n’ to the initial value.
III. SUM OF THE EXPONENTS
Problem 6:
𝑛
Find the sum of the coefficients of the expansion of (𝑥 ℎ + 𝑦 𝑘 )
3
(𝑥 + 𝑦) . 𝑛(𝑛 + 1)(ℎ + 𝑘)
𝑆𝑂𝐸 =
2

Problem 10:
Find the sum of the exponents of the expansion of
3
(𝑥 + 𝑦) .
Problem 7:
Find the sum of the coefficients of the expansion of
3
(𝑥 + 1) .
Problem 11: 49 passed GEO and ENG
Find the sum of the exponents of the expansion of 60 passed GEO and ENG
(𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 )3 . 51 passed GEO and CAL
19 passed CAL, PRO and ENG
20 passed GEO, PRO and ENG
15 passed GEO, CAL and ENG
16 passed GEO, CAL and PRO
6 passed all subjects
IV. VENN DIAGRAM
If 93 students who did not pass in any subjects, how many
Problem 12: students does the review center have?
In a certain group of consumers, each one may drink beer,
and/or brandy, and/or whisky or all. Also, 155 drink brandy, 173
drink beer, 153 drink whisky, 53 drink beer and brandy, 79 drink
beer and whisky, 66 drink brandy and whisky, 21 of then drink
beer, brandy and whisky. How many are there in the group?
V. ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑
𝑛
𝑆 = (𝑎1 + 𝑎𝑛 )
2
𝑛
Problem 13: 𝑆 = (2𝑎1 + (𝑛 − 1)𝑑)
2
A review center gave an examination of GEOmetry,
CALculus, PRObability and ENGineering Economy to the students. Problem 14:
The results are as follows: Find the 100th term of the arithmetic series 2, 5, 8, 11, 14,
…
178 passed ENG
172 passed PRO
177 passed CAL
161 passed GEO
65 passed PRO and ENG
63 passed CAL and ENG Problem 15:
56 passed CAL and PRO
 Find the sum of the first 100 terms of the arithmetic series Find the sum of the infinite geometric progression 18, -6,
2, 5, 8, 11, 14, … 2, -2/3, …

VI. GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION VII. HARMONIC PROGRESSION

𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎1 𝑟 𝑛−1  It is a sequence of numbers in which their reciprocals form

𝑎1 (𝑟 𝑛 − 1) an Arithmetic Progression.
𝑆= ;𝑟 > 1
𝑟−1
𝑛
𝑎1 (1 − 𝑟 ) Problem 19:
𝑆= ;𝑟 < 1
1−𝑟 Find the 10th term of the expansion 1, 1/5, 1/9, 1/13.
𝑎1
𝑆∞ =
1−𝑟

Problem 16:
A geometric series has a common ratio of 4. If the first
term in the series is 3. What is the 11th term?
Problem 20:
Find the sum of the first 20 terms of the progression 1,
1/5, 1/9, 1/13.

Problem 17:
If the third term is 12 and the ninth term is 768. Determine
the sum of the first 15 terms of the given geometric progression.
VIII. THEORY OF EQUATIONS

 Synthetic Division
 Remainder Theorem

Problem 18:
 If a polynomial 𝐹(𝑥) is divided by 𝑥 − 𝑟 until a remainder
which is free of x is obtained, the remainder is 𝐹(𝑟). If 𝐹(𝑟) =
0 then 𝑥 − 𝑟 is a factor of 𝐹(𝑥).
Problem 25:
Problem 21: Find the number of rational roots of 7𝑥 7 + 5𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 3 +
Compute the remainder when 4𝑥 3 + 18𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 4 is 𝑥 = 0.
divided by 2𝑥 + 3.

X. NUMBER OF DIGITS
IX. DESCARTES RULE OF SIGNS
Problem 26:
Problem 22: Find the number of digits of 100!.
Find the number of positive roots of 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0.

XI. CLOCK PROBLEMS

Problem 23:
Find the number of negative roots of 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 8 =  If the minute hand moves a distance of ‘x’, the hour hand
0. moves a distance of ‘x/12’.
 If the second hand moves a distance of ‘x’, the minute hand
moves a distance of ‘x/60’ and the hour hand moves a
distance of ‘x/720’.
 In 12 hours, the minute hand and the hour hand of the
clock overlap each other for 11 times (not 12 times). So in
Problem 24: one day they will be together for 22 times.
Find the number of complex roots of 𝑥 2𝑛 − 1 = 0.  Each five-minute mark is subtending an angle of 30
degrees from the center of the clock.
Problem 27:
What time after 2 PM will the hands of the clock exactly Problem 31:
opposite? Susie’s mother is 35 years old. Three years ago, she was
four times as old as Susie was then. How old is Susie?

Problem 28:
What time after 2 PM will the hands of the clock coincide Problem 32:
for the first time? The sum of the parents ages is twice the sum of their
children age. Five years ago, the sum of the parents ages is four
times the sum of their children’s ages. In fifteen years, the sum of
the parents ages will be equal to the sum of their children’s ages.
How many children were in the family?

Problem 29:
What time after 2 PM will the hands of the clock form 90
degrees?

XIII. MOTION PROBLEMS

Problem 33:
If the speed of racing car is increased by 20 kph it will
Problem 30: cover in 7 hours the same distance it can ordinarily cover in 8
What time after 3 PM will the hour and the minute hand hours. What is its ordinary speed?
be 80 degrees for the first time?

Problem 34:
XII. AGE PROBLEMS
 A man walks from his house to the office. If he leaves at 8 through its inlet and simultaneously allowed to leave through its
AM and walk at the rate of 2 kph, he will arrive 3 minutes earlier, outlet pipe, the pool is filled in 7 ½ hours. How long will it take to
but if he leaves at 8:30 AM and walk at 3 kph, he will arrive 6 fill the pool with the outlet closed?
minutes late. What time should he arrive in the office?

Problem 38:
XIV. WORK PROBLEMS A steel man can saw a piece of bar into 5 pieces in 16
minutes. In how many minutes can the steel man saw the same
Problem 35: bar into 10 pieces?
A can do a piece of work alone in 30 days. B in 20 days and
C in 60 days. If they work together, how many days would it take
them to finish the work?

Problem 39:
28 men can finish the job in 60 days. At the start of the 16th
day, 5 men were laid off and after the 45th day, 10 more men were
Problem 36: hired. How many days were they delayed in finishing the job?
A gardener can mow a lawn in 3 hours. After 2 hours, it
rained and he discontinued the work. In the afternoon, a girl
completed the rest of the work in 1 hour and 15 minutes. How long
would it take the girl to mow the lawn alone?

XV. MIXTURE PROBLEMS

Problem 40:
A 50 ml 40% acid solution is added to a 150 ml 30% acid
Problem 37: solution. What will be the acid concentration of the resulting
A swimming pool is filled through its inlet pipe then mixture?
emptied through its outlet pipe in a total of 8 hours. If water enters
 1 Rotation =
 360° (Sexagesimal)
 2π radians
 400 gradians (Centesimal System)
Problem 41:  6400 mils
A 700-pound alloy containing 50% tin and 25% lead is to
be added with amounts of pure tin and pure lead to make an alloy Problem 43:
which is 60% tin and 20% lead. Determine how much pure tin Convert 405 degrees to mils.
must be added.

Problem 44:
Problem 42: Convert π/7 radians in centesimal system.
A contractor is required to secure his 200 cubic meter of
materials for a subbase from three pits with the following soil
analyses. From the first pit, the analysis is comprised of 55%
coarse aggregate, 35% fine aggregate and 10% mineral filler. The
second pit comprised of 65% coarse aggregate, 20% fine
aggregate and 15% mineral filler. The third pit comprised of 10% Problem 45:
coarse aggregate, 50% fine aggregate and 40% mineral filler. The Convert 4000 mils in sexagesimal system.
volumetric composition of the combined materials as desired is
set at 50% coarse aggregate, 35% fine aggregate and 15% mineral
filler. How much solid must be taken from the first pit to produce
the desired mix?

XVII. TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

Trigonometric Functions
𝑜𝑝𝑝
sin 𝜃 =
XVI. CONVERSION OF UNITS ℎ𝑦𝑝
 𝑎𝑑𝑗
cos 𝜃 =
ℎ𝑦𝑝
𝑜𝑝𝑝
tan 𝜃 =
𝑎𝑑𝑗
1
csc 𝜃 =
sin 𝜃 Problem 49:
1 If the sum of the angles A + B + C = 180 degrees and
sec 𝜃 =
cos 𝜃 tan 𝐴 + tan 𝐵 + tan 𝐶 = 𝑥, find the equivalent value of
1
cot 𝜃 = (tan 𝐴)(tan 𝐵)(tan 𝐶)?
tan 𝜃

Other known Trigonometric Functions

Versed sine: vers 𝜃 = 1 − cos 𝜃
Coversed sine/Versed cosine: covers 𝜃 = 1 − sin 𝜃
Exsecant: exsec 𝜃 = sec 𝜃 − 1
1 Problem 50:
Haversine: hav 𝜃 = (1 − cos 𝜃) Find the value of
2
sin 0 + sin 1 + sin 2 + ⋯ + sin 90
Problem 46: cos 0 + cos 1 + cos 2 + ⋯ + cos 90
Find the value of 𝜃 if versed sine of 𝜃 = 0.148.

XVIII. OBLIQUE TRIANGLES

Problem 47:
If coversed sin 𝜃 = 0.134, find the value of 𝜃. Problem 51:
In triangle ABC, AB = 8m, BC = 20m. One possible
dimension of CA is?

Problem 48:
Find the value of 𝜃 if (coth 𝑥)2 − (csch 𝑥)2 = exsec 𝑥.
Problem 52:
In triangle ABC, AB = 15m, AC = 9m and angle A = 50
degrees. Determine the length of side BC. Problem 56:
Determine the hypotenuse of an isosceles right triangle
whose perimeter is 24 inches.

Problem 53:
In triangle ABC, AC = 17m, AB = 15m and the angle A =
43 degrees. Determine the interior angle at vertex C.
Problem 57:
From a point outside an equilateral triangle, the distance
of the vertices are 10m, 10m and 18m. Find the dimension of the
triangle.

Problem 54:
A pole cast a shadow 15m long when the angle of elevation
of the sun is 61 degrees. If the pole leans 15 degrees directly
towards the sun, what is the length of the pole? XIX. SPHERICAL TRIGONOMETRY

 The sum of the interior angles of the spherical is greater

than 180 degrees but less than 540 degrees.
 The area of a spherical triangle of radius R is:
𝜋𝑅 2 𝐸
Problem 55: 𝐴=
180
A statue 2m high stands on a column that is 3m high. An 𝐸 = 𝐴 + 𝐵 + 𝐶 − 180
observer in level with the top of the statue observed that the  Right Spherical Triangle (Napier’s Circle)
column and the statue subtend the same angle. How far is the 𝐴̅ = 90 − 𝐴
observer from the statue? 𝐵̅ = 90 − 𝐵
𝑐̅ = 90 − 𝑐
o SIN-COOP RULE
sin 𝑎 = cos 𝑐̅ cos 𝐴̅
 sin 𝑎 = sin 𝑐 sin 𝐴 A right spherical triangle has an angle C = 90 degrees, a =
o SIN-TAAD RULE 50 degrees and c = 80 degrees. Find the angle A.
sin 𝑎 = tan 𝑏 tan 𝐵̅
 Oblique Spherical Triangle
o LAW OF SINE
sin 𝑎 sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐
= =
sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶
o LAW OF COSINE Problem 60:
For sides: In a spherical triangle ABC, B = 80 degrees, a = 49 degrees,
cos 𝑎 = cos 𝑏 cos 𝑐 + sin 𝑏 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐴 c = 77 degrees. Find the value of angle A.
cos 𝑏 = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑐 + sin 𝑎 sin 𝑐 cos 𝐵
cos 𝑐 = cos 𝑎 cos 𝑏 + sin 𝑎 sin 𝑏 cos 𝐶
For angles:
cos 𝐴 = −cos 𝐵 cos 𝐶 + sin 𝐵 sin 𝐶 cos 𝑎
cos 𝐵 = −cos 𝐴 cos 𝐶 + sin 𝐴 sin 𝐶 cos 𝑏
cos 𝐶 = −cos 𝐴 cos 𝐵 + sin 𝐴 sin 𝐵 cos 𝑐 Problem 61:
Find the area of the spherical triangle if R = 94m and A =
The Terrestrial Sphere 116°19’, B = 55°30’ and C = 80°37’.
 The earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours or 1 degree
every 4 minutes.
 1 degree = 60 nautical miles
 The Parallels or Latitudes are small circles parallel to the
equator. Its measure is from 0 to 90 degrees.
Problem 62:
Problem 58: Find the perimeter of the spherical triangle if R = 94m and
A right spherical triangle has an angle C = 90 degrees, a = a = 116°19’, b = 55°30’ and c = 80°37’.
50 degrees and c = 80 degrees. Find the side b.

Problem 63:
Problem 59:
 If the longitude of Tokyo is 139 degrees East and that of
Manila is 121 degrees E. What is the time difference of the two?

Problem 67:
The population of the country increases 5% each year.
Find the percentage it will increase in three years?

Problem 64:
If the time is 8:00 AM GMT, what is the time in the:
a. Philippines (120 degrees E)
b. Egypt (109 degrees W)
Problem 68:
The sum of five arithmetic means between 34 and 42 is:

Problem 65:
Find the distance in nautical miles between Manila and
San Francisco. Manila is located 14°36’ N latitude and 121°05’ E
longitude. San Francisco is located at 37°48’ N latitude and
122°24’ W longitude.
Problem 69:
The probability for the CE board examinees from a certain
school to pass the Mathematics subject is 3/7 and that for the
Structural subject is 5/7. If none of the examinees failed in both
subjects and there are 4 examinees who pass both subjects, how
many examinees from the school took the examinations.

*** ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ***

Problem 66:
An angular unit equivalent to 1/400 of the circumference Problem 70:
of a circle is called? Solve for cos 72 if the given relationship is cos 2𝐴 =
2(cos 𝐴 − 1)2 . Express your answer in 5 decimal places.
 meet in 32 seconds after they start together in a race around the
track in opposite direction?

Problem 71:
At what temperature will the C and F readings be equal?

Problem 75:
I am twice your age when I was your age. When you get to
be my age, our ages total 63 years old. How old am I?

Problem 72:
1 1 1
If : : = 2: 3: 4 then (𝑎 + 𝑏 + 𝑐): (𝑏 + 𝑐) is equal to:
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐

Problem 76:
Find x from the following equations:
27𝑥 = 9𝑦
81𝑦 3−𝑥 = 243
Problem 73:
Two engineering students are solving a problem leading
to a quadratic equation. One student made a mistake in the
coefficient of the first degree term, got roots of 2 and -3. The other
student made a mistake in the coefficient of the constant term got
roots of -1 and 4. What is the correct equation?
Problem 77:
In what ratio must a peanut costing P240.00 per kg be
mixed with a peanut costing P340.00 per kg so that a profit of 20%
is made by selling the mixture at P360.00 per kg?

Problem 74:
It takes Michael 60 seconds to run around a 440-yard
track. How long does it take Jordan to run around the track if they
Problem 78:
On one job, two power shovels excavate 20,000 m3 of
earth, the larger shovel working for 40 hours and the smaller for
35 hours. Another job, the removed 40,000 m3 with the larger
shovel working 70 hours and the smaller working 90 hours. How
much earth can the larger shovel move in one hour? Problem 82:
The sum of three numbers in arithmetical progression is
45. If 2 is added to the first number, 3 to the second and 7 to the
third, the new numbers will be in geometrical progression. Find
the common difference in arithmetic progression.

Problem 79:
It is now between 3 and 4 o’clock and in twenty minutes,
the minute-hand will be as much as the hour-hand as it is now
behind it. What is the time now?
Problem 83:
A besiege fortress is held by 5700 men who have
provisions for 66 days. If the garrison loses 20 men each day, for
how many days can the provision hold out?

Problem 80:
A man left his home at past 3:00 o’clock PM as indicated in
his wall clock. Between two to three hours after, he returned home
and noticed that the hands of the clock interchanged. At what time
did he leave his home? Problem 84:
The height of two towers are 100, and 80m respectively. A
wire is tied from the top of tower A to the bottom of tower B and
another wire is tied at the top of tower B to the bottom of tower A
such that two wires intersect with each other. What is the height
of intersection from the ground?
Problem 81:
The 1st, 4th, and 8th terms of an arithmetic progression are
themselves geometric progression. What is the common ratio?
 In the expansion of (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 − 𝑐𝑧)5 where a and b are
relatively prime positive integers, the coefficient of 𝑥 3 𝑦 2 and 𝑥 4 𝑦
Problem 85: are equal. Find b/a, express your answer in fraction.
A ship sailed from Singapore (latitude 13°30’ N and
longitude 110°30’ E). After sailing for 660 hours at a constant
speed of 40 nautical mph, it reaches Bangkok (latitude 14°50’ N).
What is the longitude of Bangkok?

Answer for Additional Problems

66. Gradians
67. 15.76%
Problem 86: 68. 190
Solve for the value of (1 + tan 1)(1 + tan 2)(1 + 69. 28
tan 3) … (1 + tan 45). 70. 0.30902
71. -40
72. 13:7
73. 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 6 = 0
74. 68.57 seconds
75. 28 years old
Problem 87: 76. 1
In the recent Bosnia conflict, the NATO forces captured 77. 2;3
6400 soldiers. The provisions on hand will last for 216 meals 78. 347.83 m3
while feeding 3 meals a day. The provisions lasted 9 more days 79. 3:06.36
because of daily deaths. At an average, how many died per day? 80. 3:31.47
81. 4/3
82. 5
83. 76
84. 44.44 m
85. 114°50’ E
Problem 88: 86. 8388608
87. 17.80
88. 1/2