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2017 Pascal Contest

(Grade 9)

Tuesday, February 28, 2017

(in North America and South America)

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

(outside of North America and South America)

Solutions

©2016 University of Waterloo

2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 2
4×3 12
1. Evaluating, = = 4.
2+1 3
Answer: (A)

2. In each of the 6 rows, there is 1 unshaded square, and so there are 6 − 1 = 5 shaded squares
per row.
Since there are 6 rows, then there are 6 × 5 = 30 shaded squares.
Alternatively, we note that there are 6 × 6 = 36 squares in the grid and 6 unshaded squares,
which means there are 36 − 6 = 30 shaded squares in the grid.
Answer: (B)

3. In the diagram, there are 5 shaded and 3 unshaded triangles, and so the ratio of the number
of shaded triangles to the number of unshaded triangles is 5 : 3.
Answer: (B)
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
4. We note that 7 =√ 49 and √ that 40 < 49 < 50 < 60 < 70 < 80.
This means
√ that 40 or
√ 50 is the closest
√ to 7 of the given choices.
Since 40 ≈ 6.32 and 50 ≈ 7.07, then 50 is closest to 7.
Answer: (C)

5. We need to determine the time that is 30 hours after 2 p.m. on Friday.

The time that is 24 hours after 2 p.m. on Friday is 2 p.m. on Saturday.
The time that is 30 hours after 2 p.m. on Friday is an additional 6 hours later.
This time is 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Answer: (E)

6. The time period in which the number of people at the zoo had the largest increase is the time
period over which the height of the bars in the graph increases by the largest amount.
Looking at the graph, this is between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
(We note that the first three bars represent numbers between 200 and 400, and the last three
bars represent numbers between 600 and 800, so the time period between 11:00 a.m. and 12:00
p.m. is the only one in which the increase was larger than 200.)
Answer: (C)

7. Since 2x − 3 = 10, then 2x = 13 and so 4x = 2(2x) = 2(13) = 26.

(We did not have to determine the value of x.)
Answer: (D)

8. The three integers from the list whose product is 80 are 1, 4 and 20, since 1 × 4 × 20 = 80.
The sum of these integers is 1 + 4 + 20 = 25.
(Since 80 is a multiple of 5 and 20 is the only integer in the list that is a multiple of 5, then 20
must be included in the product. This leaves two integers to choose, and their product must
80
be = 4. From the given list, these integers must be 1 and 4.)
20
Answer: (C)

9. Since Jovin, Anna and Olivia take 13 , 1

6
and 1
4
of the pizza, respectively, then the fraction of the
pizza with which Wally is left is

1 − 31 − 16 − 1
4
= 12
12
− 4
12
− 2
12
− 3
12
= 3
12
= 1
4
.
Answer: (B)
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 3

10. When n = 1, the values of the five expressions are 2014, 2018, 2017, 2018, 2019.
When n = 2, the values of the five expressions are 2011, 2019, 4034, 2021, 2021.
Only the fifth expression (2017 + 2n) is odd for both of these choices of n, so this must be the
correct answer.
We note further that since 2017 is an odd integer and 2n is always an even integer, then
2017 + 2n is always an odd integer, as required.
Answer: (E)

30 km
11. When Ursula runs 30 km at 10 km/h, it takes her = 3 h.
10 km/h
This means that Jeff completes the same distance in 3 h − 1 h = 2 h.
30 km
Therefore, Jeff’s constant speed is = 15 km/h.
2h
Answer: (D)

12. Since the area of the larger square equals the sum of the areas of the shaded and unshaded
regions inside, then the area of the larger square equals 2 × 18 cm2 =√36 cm2 .
Since the larger square has an area of 36 cm2 , then its side length is 36 cm2 = 6 cm.
Answer: (C)

13. Solution 1
We undo Janet’s steps to find the initial number.
To do this, we start with 28, add 4 (to get 32), then divide the sum by 2 (to get 16), then
subtract 7 (to get 9).
Thus, Janet’s initial number was 9.

Solution 2
Let Janet’s initial number be x.
When she added 7 to her initial number, she obtained x + 7.
When she multiplied this sum by 2, she obtained 2(x + 7) which equals 2x + 14.
When she subtracted 4 from this result, she obtained (2x + 14) − 4 which equals 2x + 10.
Since her final result was 28, then 2x + 10 = 28 or 2x = 18 and so x = 9.
Answer: (A)

10
14. Since the tax rate is 10%, then the tax on each $2.00 app is $2.00 × = $0.20.
100
Therefore, including tax, each app costs $2.00 + $0.20 = $2.20.
$52.80
Since Tobias spends $52.80 on apps, he downloads = 24 apps.
$2.20
Therefore, m = 24.
Answer: (D)

15. Let s be the side length of the square with area k.

The sum of the heights of the squares on the right side is 3 + 8 = 11.
The sum of the heights of the squares on the left side is 1 + s + 4 = s + 5.
Since the two sums are equal, then s + 5 = 11, and so s = 6.
Therefore, the square with area k has side length 6, and so its area is 62 = 36.
In other words, k = 36.
Answer: (C)
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 4

16. The six angles around the centre of the spinner add to 360◦ .
Thus, 140◦ + 20◦ + 4x◦ = 360◦ or 4x = 360 − 140 − 20 = 200, and so x = 50.
Therefore, the sum of the central angles of the shaded regions is 140◦ + 50◦ + 50◦ = 240◦ .
The probability that the spinner lands on a shaded region is the fraction of the entire central
angle that is shaded, which equals the sum of the central angles of the shaded regions divided
240◦
by the total central angle (360◦ ), or 360 2
◦ = 3 . (We can ignore the possibility that the spinner

lands exactly on one of the dividing lines, since we assume that they are infinitesimally thin.)
Answer: (A)

17. Since Igor is shorter than Jie, then Igor cannot be the tallest.
Since Faye is taller than Goa, then Goa cannot be the tallest.
Since Jie is taller than Faye, then Faye cannot be the tallest.
Since Han is shorter than Goa, then Han cannot be the tallest.
The only person of the five who has not been eliminated is Jie, who must thus be the tallest.
Answer: (E)

18. From the number line shown, we see that x < x3 < x2 .
If x > 1, then successive powers of x are increasing (that is, x < x2 < x3 ).
Since this is not the case, then it is not true that x > 1.
If x = 0 or x = 1, then successive powers of x are equal. This is not the case either.
If 0 < x < 1, then successive powers of x are decreasing (that is, x3 < x2 < x). This is not the
case either.
Therefore, it must be the case that x < 0.
If x < −1, we would have x3 < x < 0 < x2 . This is because when x < −1, then x is negative
and we have x2 > 1 which gives x3 = x2 × x < 1 × x. This is not the case here either.
Therefore, it must be the case that −1 < x < 0.
From the given possibilities, this means that − 25 is the only possible value of x.
We can check that if x = − 25 = −0.4, then x2 = 0.16 and x3 = −0.064, and so we have
x < x3 < x2 . We can also check by substitution that none of the other possible answers gives
the correct ordering of x, x2 and x3 .
Answer: (C)

19. Since ∠XM Z = 30◦ , then ∠XM Y = 180◦ − ∠XM Z = 180◦ − 30◦ = 150◦ .
Since the angles in 4XM Y add to 180◦ , then

∠Y XM = 180◦ − ∠XY Z − ∠XM Y = 180◦ − 15◦ − 150◦ = 15◦

(Alternatively, since ∠XM Z is an exterior angle of 4XM Y , then ∠XM Z = ∠Y XM +∠XY M

which also gives ∠Y XM = 15◦ .)
Since ∠XY M = ∠Y XM , then 4XM Y is isosceles with M X = M Y .
But M is the midpoint of Y Z, and so M Y = M Z.
Since M X = M Y and M Y = M Z, then M X = M Z.
This means that 4XM Z is isosceles with ∠XZM = ∠ZXM .
Therefore, ∠XZY = ∠XZM = 21 (180◦ − ∠XM Z) = 12 (180◦ − 30◦ ) = 75◦ .
Answer: (A)
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 5

20. We call the n × n × n cube the “large cube”, and we call the 1 × 1 × 1 cubes “unit cubes”. The
unit cubes that have exactly 0 gold faces are those unit cubes that are on the “inside” of the
large cube.
In other words, these are the unit cubes none of whose faces form a part of any of the faces of
the large cube.
These unit cubes form a cube that is (n − 2) × (n − 2) × (n − 2).
To see why this is true, imagine placing the original painted large cube on a table.
Each unit cube with at least one face that forms part of one of the outer faces (or outer layers)
has paint on at least one face.
First, we remove the top and bottom layers of unit cubes. This creates a rectangular prism
that is n − 2 cubes high and still has a base that is n × n.
Next, we can remove the left, right, front, and back faces.
This leaves a cube that is (n − 2) × (n − 2) × (n − 2).
Therefore, (n − 2)3 unit cubes have 0 gold faces.
The unit cubes that have exactly 1 gold face are those unit cubes that are on the outer faces
of the large cube but do not touch the edges of the large cube.
Consider each of the six n × n faces of the large cube. Each is made up of n2 unit cubes.
The unit cubes that have 1 gold face are those with at least one face that forms part of a face
of the large cube, but do not share any edges with the edges of the large cube. Using a similar
argument to above, we can see that these unit cubes form a (n − 2) × (n − 2) square.
There are thus (n − 2)2 cubes on each of the 6 faces that have 1 painted face, and so 6(n − 2)2
cubes with 1 painted face.
We calculate the values of (n − 2)3 and 6(n − 2)2 for each of the possible choices for n:

Choice n (n − 2)3 6(n − 2)2

(A) 7 125 150
(B) 8 216 216
(C) 9 343 294
(D) 10 512 384
(E) 4 8 24

From this information, the smallest possible value of n when (n − 2)3 is larger than 6(n − 2)2
must be n = 9.
To see this in another way, we can ask the question “When is (n − 2)3 greater than 6(n − 2)2 ?”.
Note that (n − 2)3 = (n − 2) × (n − 2)2 and 6(n − 2)2 = 6 × (n − 2)2 , and so (n − 2)3 is greater
than 6(n − 2)2 when (n − 2) is greater than 6, which is when n is greater than 8.
The smallest positive integer value of n for which this is true is n = 9.
Answer: (C)

21. The averages of groups of three numbers are equal if the sums of the numbers in each group
are equal, because in each case the average equals the sum of the three numbers divided by 3.
Therefore, the averages of three groups of three numbers are equal if the sum of each of the
three groups are equal.
The original nine numbers have a sum of

1 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 13 + 14 + 17 + 22 + 26 = 111

and so if these are divided into three groups of equal sum, the sum of each group is 111
3
= 37.
Consider the middle three numbers. Since two of the numbers are 13 and 17, then the third
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 6

number must be 37 − 13 − 17 = 7. We note that the remaining six numbers can be split into
the groups 5, 6, 26 and 1, 14, 22, each of which also has a sum of 37.
Therefore, the number that is placed in the shaded circle is 7.
Answer: (D)

22. The perimeter of 4U V Z equals U V + U Z + V Z.

We know that U V = 20. We need to calculate U Z and V Z.
Let O be the point on XW directly underneath Z.
Since Z is the highest point on the semi-circle and XW is the diameter, then O is the centre
of the semi-circle.
We join U O, V O, U Z, and V Z.

X O
W

U V

Since U V W X is a rectangle, then XW = U V = 20 and U X = V W = 30.

Since XW is a diameter of the semi-circle and O is the centre, then O is the midpoint of XW
and so XO = W O = 10.
This means that the radius of the semi-circle is 10, and so OZ = 10 as well.
Now 4U XO and 4V W O are both right-angled, since U V W X is a rectangle.
By the Pythagorean Theorem, U O2 = U X 2 + XO2 = 302 + 102 = 900 + 100 = 1000 and
V O2 = V W 2 + W O2 = 302 + 102 = 1000.
Each of 4U OZ and 4V OZ is right-angled at O, since the semi-circle is vertical and the
rectangle is horizontal.
Therefore, we can apply the Pythagorean Theorem again to obtain U Z 2 = U O2 + OZ 2 and
V Z 2 = V O2 + OZ 2 . √
Since U O2 = V O2 = 1000, then U Z 2 = V Z 2 √
= 1000 + 102 = 1100 or U Z = V Z = 1100.
Therefore, the perimeter of 4U V Z is 20 + 2 1100 ≈ 86.332.
Of the given choices, this is closest to 86.
Answer: (B)
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 7

23. The squares of the one-digit positive integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81,
respectively.
Of these, the squares 1, 25, 36 end with the digit of their square root.
In other words, k = 1, 5, 6 are Anderson numbers.
Thus, k = 6 is the only even one-digit Anderson number.
To find all even two-digit Anderson numbers, we note that any two-digit even Anderson number
k must have a units (ones) digit of 6. This is because the units digit of k and the units digit
of k 2 must match (by the definition of an Anderson number) and because the units digit of k
completely determines the units digit of k 2 . (We can see this by doing “long multiplication”.)
So we need to look for two-digit Anderson numbers k with digits c 6.
Another way of writing the number c 6 is k = 10c+6. (This form uses the place values associated
with the digits.)
In this case, k 2 = (10c+6)2 = (10c+6)(10c+6) = (10c)2 +6(10c)+10c(6)+62 = 100c2 +120c+36.
Note that k 2 = 100(c2 + c) + 10(2c + 3) + 6 and so the units digit of k 2 is 6.
For k to be an Anderson number, we need the tens digit of k 2 to be c, in which case the final
two digits of k 2 will be c 6.
Thus, the tens digit of k 2 is equal to the units digit of 2c + 3.
This means that k = 10c + 6 is an Anderson number exactly when the units digit of 2c + 3 is
equal to the digit c.
When we check the nine possible values for c, we find that the only possibility is that c = 7.
This means that k = 76 is the only two-digit even Anderson number.
Note that 762 = 5776, which ends with the digits 76.
Next, we look for three-digit even Anderson numbers k.
Using a similar argument to above, we see that k must have digits b76.
In other words, k = 100b + 76 for some digit b.
In this case, k 2 = (100b + 76)2 = 10000b2 + 15200b + 5776.
We note that the tens and units digits of k 2 are 76, which means that, for k to be an Anderson
number, the hundreds digit of k 2 must be b.
Now k 2 = 1000(10b2 + 15b + 5) + 100(2b + 7) + 76.
Thus, k is an Anderson number exactly when the units digit of 2b + 7 is equal to the digit b.
Again, checking the nine possible values for b shows us that b = 3 is the only possibility.
This means that k = 376 is the only three-digit even Anderson number.
Note that 3762 = 141 376, which ends with the digits 376.
Since Anderson numbers are less than 10 000, then we still need to look for four-digit even
Anderson numbers.
Again, using a similar argument, we see that k must have digits a376.
In other words, k = 1000a + 376 for some digit a.
In this case, k 2 = (1000a + 376)2 = 1 000 000a2 + 752000a + 141 376.
We note that the hundreds, tens and units digits of k 2 are 376, which means that, for k to be
an Anderson number, the thousands digit of k 2 must be a.
Now k 2 = 10000(100a2 + 75a + 14) + 1000(2a + 1) + 376.
Thus, k is an Anderson number exactly when the units digit of 2a + 1 is equal to the digit a.
Again, checking the nine possible values for a shows us that a = 9 is the only possibility.
This means that k = 9376 is the only four-digit even Anderson number.
Note that 93762 = 87 909 376, which ends with the digits 9376.
Thus, S, the sum of the even Anderson numbers, equals 6 + 76 + 376 + 9376 = 9834.
The sum of the digits of S is 9 + 8 + 3 + 4 = 24.
Answer: (E)
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 8

24. Since there are 1182 houses that have a turtle, then there cannot be more than 1182 houses
that have a dog, a cat, and a turtle.
Since there are more houses with dogs and more houses with cats than there are with turtles,
it is possible that all 1182 houses that have a turtle also have a dog and a cat.
Therefore, the maximum possible number of houses that have all three animals is 1182, and so
x = 1182.
Since there are 1182 houses that have a turtle and there are 2017 houses in total, then there
are 2017 − 1182 = 835 houses that do not have a turtle.
Now, there are 1651 houses that have a cat.
Since there are 835 houses that do not have a turtle, then there are at most 835 houses that
have a cat and do not have a turtle. In other words, not all of the houses that do not have a
turtle necessarily have a cat.
This means that there are at least 1651 − 835 = 816 houses that have both a cat and a turtle.
Lastly, there are 1820 houses that have a dog.
Since there are at least 816 houses that have both a cat and a turtle, then there are at most
2017 − 816 = 1201 houses that either do not have a cat or do not have a turtle (or both).
Since there are 1820 houses that do have a dog, then there are at least 1820 − 1201 = 619
houses that have a dog and have both a cat and a turtle as well.
In other words, the minimum possible number of houses that have all three animals is 619, and
so y = 619.
The two Venn diagrams below show that each of these situations is actually possible:

Dog Cat
Dog
169 Cat 0 835 0
469 619
Turtle 366 197
1182

0
0
197 Turtle

Since x = 1182 and y = 619, then x − y = 563.

Answer: (C)

25. We label the digits of the unknown number as vwxyz.

Since vwxyz and 71794 have 0 matching digits, then v 6= 7 and w 6= 1 and x 6= 7 and y 6= 9
and z 6= 4.
Since vwxyz and 71744 have 1 matching digit, then the preceding information tells us that
y = 4.
Since vwx4z and 51545 have 2 matching digits and w 6= 1, then vwxyz is of one of the following
three forms: 5wx4z or vw54z or vwx45.
Case 1: vwxyz = 5wx4z
Since 5wx4z and 21531 have 1 matching digit and w 6= 1, then either x = 5 or z = 1.
If x = 5, then 5wx4z and 51545 would have 3 matching digits, which violates the given condi-
tion. Thus, z = 1.
2017 Pascal Contest Solutions Page 9

Thus, vwxyz = 5wx41 and we know that w 6= 1 and x 6= 5, 7.

To this point, this form is consistent with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th rows of the table.
Since 5wx41 and 59135 have 1 matching digit, this is taken care of by the fact that v = 5 and
we note that w 6= 9 and x 6= 1.
Since 5wx41 and 58342 have 2 matching digits, this is taken care of by the fact that v = 5 and
y = 4, and we note that w 6= 8 and x 6= 3.
Since 5wx41 and 37348 have 2 matching digits and y = 4, then either w = 7 or x = 3.
But we already know that x 6= 3, and so w = 7.
Therefore, vwxyz = 57x41 with the restrictions that x 6= 1, 3, 5, 7.
We note that the integers 57041, 57241, 57441, 57641, 57841, 57941 satisfy the requirements, so
are all possibilities for Sam’s numbers.
Case 2: vwxyz = vw54z
Since vw54z and 51545 have only 2 matching digits, so v 6= 5 and z 6= 5.
Since vw54z and 21531 have 1 matching digit, then this is taken care of by the fact that x = 5,
and we note that v 6= 2 and z 6= 1. (We already know that w 6= 1.)
Since vw54z and 59135 have 1 matching digit, then v = 5 or w = 9 or z = 5.
This means that we must have w = 9.
Thus, vwxyz = v954z and we know that v 6= 2, 7, 5 and z 6= 1, 4, 5.
To this point, this form is consistent with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 7th rows of the table.
Since v954z and 58342 have 2 matching digits and v 6= 5, then z = 2.
Since v9542 and 37348 have 2 matching digits, then v = 3.
In this case, the integer 39542 is the only possibility, and it satisfies all of the requirements.
Case 3: vwxyz = vwx45
Since vwx45 and 21531 have 1 matching digit and we know that w 6= 1, then v = 2 or x = 5.
But if x = 5, then vw545 and 51545 would have 3 matching digits, so x 6= 5 and v = 2.
Thus, vwxyz = 2wx45 and we know that w 6= 1 and x 6= 5, 7.
To this point, this form is consistent with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th rows of the table.
Since 2wx45 and 59135 have 1 matching digit, this is taken care of by the fact that z = 5 and
we note that w 6= 9 and x 6= 1.
Since 2wx45 and 58342 have 2 matching digits, then w = 8 or x = 3, but not both.
Since 2wx45 and 37348 have 2 matching digits, then w = 7 or x = 3, but not both.
If w = 8, then we have to have x 6= 3, and so neither w = 7 nor x = 3 is true.
Thus, it must be the case that x = 3 and w 6= 7, 8.
Therefore, vwxyz = 2w345 with the restrictions that w 6= 1, 7, 8, 9.
We note that the integers 20345, 22345, 23345, 24345, 25345, 26345 satisfy the requirements, so
are all possibilities for Sam’s numbers.
Thus, there are 13 possibilities for Sam’s numbers and the sum of these is 526758.
Answer: (E)