MT

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MT

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UKMT

United Kingdom
Mathematics Trust

Intermediate Mathematical Challenge

Solutions 2021
© 2021 UK Mathematics Trust

For reasons of space, these solutions are necessarily brief.

There are more in-depth, extended solutions available on the UKMT website,
which include some exercises for further investigation:
www.ukmt.org.uk

1. B 2021 − 2223 + 2425 = 2021 + 2425 − 2223 = 4446 − 2223 = 2223.

2. A Today is Thursday, so the day before the day before yesterday was Monday. This was two days
after the day before my birthday, hence the day before my birthday was Saturday. Therefore my
birthday was on Sunday.
3. C 2 − (−2 − 2) − (−2 − (−2 − 2)) = 2 − (−4) − (−2 − (−4)) = 2 + 4 − (−2 + 4) = 2 + 4 − 2 = 4.
4. A Note that 𝑃𝑄𝑌 𝑋𝑊𝑉𝑈 is a heptagon (seven-sided polygon).
Therefore the sum of its interior angles = (7 − 2) × 180° = 900°.
Since 𝑃𝑄𝑅𝑆 is a square, ∠𝑈𝑃𝑄 = ∠𝑃𝑄𝑌 = 90°.
Also, since 𝑇𝑈𝑉𝑊 and 𝑊 𝑋𝑌 𝑍 are squares, reflex ∠𝑈𝑉𝑊 = reflex ∠𝑊 𝑋𝑌 = 270°.
So ∠𝑉𝑊 𝑋 = (900 − 2 × 90 − 2 × 270 − 62 − 74)° = 44°.
3𝑥 2 3𝑥 𝑥
5. D Let June have 𝑥 sweets. Then May has sweets. Also, April has × , that is , sweets.
4 3 4 2
3𝑥 𝑥 9𝑥 4
Therefore 𝑥 + + = 90. So = 90. Hence 𝑥 = × 90 = 40.
4 2 4 9
6. E In ascending order, the first factors of 240 are 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 20.
So the first numbers on Kai’s list are 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19.
Hence the sixth number on the list is 17.
1 1 15 3 15 2 5
7. C (4 − ) ÷ (2 − ) = ÷ = × = = 2 21 .
4 2 4 2 4 3 2
8. B Let 𝑃 be a point inside one of the rectangles such that 𝑂𝑃 is parallel to the 𝑀
horizontal edges of the rectangles and 𝑀 𝑃 is parallel to the vertical edges.
Therefore ∠𝑂𝑃𝑀 is a right angle.
𝑂 𝑃
1 1
Then 𝑂𝑃 = × 14 + × 10 = 7 + 5 = 12.
2 2
Also, 𝑀 𝑃 = 14 − 21 × 10 = 14 − 5 = 9.

By Pythagoras’ Theorem,
√ 𝑂 𝑀 2 = 𝑂𝑃2 + 𝑀 𝑃2 = 122 + 92 = 144 + 81 = 225.
Therefore 𝑂 𝑀 = 225 = 15.
 9. D The first statement is false. For example, 2 and 3 are primes, but their product is 6 which is not
prime.
Two squares may be denoted by 𝑚 2 and 𝑛2 , where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are non-negative integers.
Their product is 𝑚 2 𝑛2 = (𝑚𝑛) 2 . So a square multiplied by a square is always a square.
Two odd numbers may be denoted by 2𝑚 + 1 and 2𝑛 + 1, where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are integers.
Their product is (2𝑚 + 1) (2𝑛 + 1) = 4𝑚𝑛 + 2𝑚 + 2𝑛 + 1 = 2(2𝑚𝑛 + 𝑚 + 𝑛) + 1, which is also odd.
So an odd number multiplied by an odd number is always an odd number.
Two even numbers may be denoted by 2𝑚 and 2𝑛, where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are integers.
Their product is 4𝑚𝑛 = 2(2𝑚𝑛), which is also even.
So an even number multiplied by an even number is always an even number.
Therefore three of the statements are true.
10. D Note that 53 × 57 = (43 + 10) (47 + 10) = 43 × 47 + 43 × 10 + 10 × 47 + 10 × 10
= 2021 + (43 + 47 + 10) × 10 = 2021 + 100 × 10 = 2021 + 1000 = 3021.
11. E The diagram shows that the reflection of the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3 in 𝑦
the 𝑥-axis has gradient −2 and an intercept on the 𝑦-axis of (0, −3).
𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3
Therefore, the equation of the reflected line is 𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 3. 3

(Note that reflection in the 𝑥-axis changes 𝑦 to −𝑦. 𝑥

Hence the equation of the reflected line is −𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3,
so 𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 3.) −3
𝑦 = −2𝑥 − 3

12. E We are told that 40% of 50% of 𝑥 is equal to 20% of 30% of 𝑦.

Therefore 0.4 × 0.5 × 𝑥 = 0.2 × 0.3 × 𝑦. Hence 0.2 × 𝑥 = 0.2 × 0.3 × 𝑦.
𝑥 10𝑥
So 𝑦 = = .
0.3 3
13. A Note that the sum of the digits of 12 345 is 15. So 12 345 is a multiple of 3.
Similarly, 54 321 is a multiple of 3. Therefore the product of these two integers is a multiple of 9.
Hence the remainder when 12 345 × 54 321 is divided by 9 is 0.
14. B Let the squares on the border of the large square have side-length 1. Then the large square has
side-length 5 and area 25. Note that 8 of the 16 squares on the border of the large square are
shaded. The area of the central region of the large square is 25 − 16 = 9. Three-quarters of this
area is shaded.
8 + 34 × 9 32 + 27 59
Therefore, the fraction of the large square which is shaded is = = .
25 100 100
So 59% of the large square is shaded.
15. D Let the distance, in miles, from P to Q be 𝑥.
𝑥 3𝑥
Then the time taken to travel from P to Q is hours = minutes.
40 2
𝑥 4𝑥
Also, the time taken to travel from Q to P is hours = minutes.
45 3
3𝑥 4𝑥 𝑥
Therefore − = 2. So = 2. Hence 𝑥 = 12.
2 3 6
16. E The square has sides of length 2𝜋, so its area is (2𝜋) 2 = 4𝜋 2 . Each of the four semicircles has
radius 𝜋, hence the sum of the areas of the semicircles is 4 × 12 × 𝜋 × 𝜋 2 = 2𝜋 3 .
Therefore the required area is 2𝜋 3 + 4𝜋 2 = 2𝜋 2 (𝜋 + 2).
17. D In the diagram, 𝑉 is the foot of the perpendicular from 𝑇 to 𝑃𝑄. 𝑃 𝑆

Therefore, as 𝑃𝑄𝑇 is an equilateral triangle, 𝑉 is the 𝑇

2 𝑉
midpoint of 𝑃𝑄. 𝑈
2 2 2
By Pythagoras’
√ √ in triangle 𝑉𝑄𝑇, 𝑉𝑇 + 𝑉𝑄 = 𝑄𝑇 .
Theorem
𝑄 𝑅
So 𝑉𝑇 = 22 − 12 = 3. 4

1 √ √ √
Hence the area of triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑇 is × 2 × 3 = 3. Similarly, the area of triangle 𝑆𝑅𝑈 = 3.
2
Therefore, as trapezia 𝑄𝑅𝑈𝑇 and 𝑃𝑇𝑈𝑆 are congruent, the area of trapezium 𝑄𝑅𝑈𝑇
√ √
 
1
is 4 × 2 − 2 3 = 4 − 3.
2
18. C First note that 0.95¤ < 0.9¤ 5¤ < 0.96
¤ 0¤ < 1 < 1.04 ¤ so 0.96
¤ 0¤ < 1.0¤ 5, ¤ 0¤ or 1.04
¤ 0¤ is closest to 1.
¤ 0¤ = 0.960960 . . . , which differs from 1 by less than 0.04.
Also, note that 0.96
However, 1.04¤ 0¤ = 1.040040 . . . , which differs from 1 by greater than 0.04.
¤ ¤
So 0.960 is closest in size to 1.
19. A The area of each rectangle is 𝑝𝑞 and the area of overlap is 𝑞 2 , so the total area of the figure is
2𝑝𝑞 − 𝑞 2 . Therefore 𝑞 2 = 14 (2𝑝𝑞 − 𝑞 2 ). Hence 4𝑞 2 = 2𝑝𝑞 − 𝑞 2 . So 5𝑞 2 = 2𝑝𝑞.
Now 𝑞 ≠ 0, so 5𝑞 = 2𝑝. Therefore 𝑝 : 𝑞 = 5 : 2.
20. B Since the point (3, 1) lies on both lines, we have 1 = 3𝑝 + 4. . . [1] and 𝑝 = 3𝑞 − 7 . . . [2].
From [1], 3𝑝 = −3, so 𝑝 = −1. Substituting for 𝑝 in [2] gives −1 = 3𝑞 − 7. Hence 3𝑞 = 6.
So 𝑞 = 2.
21. D The ratio of the areas of the three smaller equilateral
triangles which have vertices at 𝑁, 𝑄 and 𝑅 respectively
9
is 1 : 9 : 16.√So the
√ ratio
√ of the side-lengths of these three 𝑃 𝑅
triangles is 1 : 9 : 16 = 1 : 3 : 4.
1 16
Hence the ratio of the side-length of triangle 𝐿 𝑀 𝑁 to that
of triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑅 is 1 : 8 and the ratio of the areas of these
two triangles is 12 : 82 = 1 : 64. 16 𝐿 1
Therefore, as triangle 𝐿 𝑀 𝑁 has area 1, triangle 𝑃𝑄𝑅 has 𝑁
9 𝑀
area 64.
So the area of the inner hexagon is 64 − (1 + 9 + 16) = 38.
𝑄
           
1 2 2 𝑥+1 𝑥+1−2 𝑥−1+2 𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1
22. E 1+ 1− 1+ = =
 𝑥  𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥 𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥 𝑥+1 𝑥−1
𝑥+1
= .
𝑥
23. B By Pythagoras’
√ Theorem,
√ 𝑃𝑅 2 = 𝑃𝑂 2 + 𝑅𝑂 2 = 22 + 22 = 4 + 4 = 8. 𝑅
So 𝑃𝑅 = 8 = 2 2. √
Therefore the semicircle
√ with diameter 𝑃𝑅 has radius 2.
Its area is 21 × 𝜋 × ( 2) 2 = 𝜋.
The area of the quarter-circle bounded by 𝑃𝑂, 𝑅𝑂 and arc 𝑃𝑅 is 𝑃 2 𝑂 𝑄
1 2
4 × 𝜋 × 2 = 𝜋.
The area of triangle 𝑃𝑂𝑅 is 12 × 2 × 2 = 2.
So the area of the segment bounded by 𝑃𝑅 and arc 𝑃𝑅 is 𝜋 − 2.
Hence the area of the shaded region is 𝜋 − (𝜋 − 2) = 2.

24. B The final sum of the numbers on the board is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 5𝑝 + 7𝑞 = 21 + 5𝑝 + 7𝑞.

21 + 5𝑝 + 7𝑞
As there are now 6 + 𝑝 + 𝑞 numbers on the board, = 5.3.
6+ 𝑝+𝑞
Therefore 10(21 + 5𝑝 + 7𝑞) = 53(6 + 𝑝 + 𝑞), that is 210 + 50𝑝 + 70𝑞 = 318 + 53𝑝 + 53𝑞.
So 17𝑞 = 108 + 3𝑝 = 3(36 + 𝑝). Hence 𝑞 is a multiple of 3 as 17 and 3 are coprime.
Also, as 𝑝 > 0, 17𝑞 > 108. Therefore 𝑞 ⩾ 7.
So the smallest possible value of 𝑞 is 9; and this does satisfy the conditions with 𝑝 = 15.
25. E Let the speed, in m/s, of the escalator when it is working be 𝑣. Let the length of the escalator be
𝑙 m and let Thomas’s running and walking speeds, in m/s, be 𝑟 and 𝑤 respectively.
As Thomas can run down the moving escalator in 15 seconds and walk down it in 30 seconds,
𝑙 𝑙
= 15 . . . [1]; = 30 . . . [2].
𝑣+𝑟 𝑣+𝑤
𝑙
Also, as Thomas runs down the broken escalator in 20 seconds, = 20 . . . [3].
𝑟
𝑙 𝑙 𝑙
From [1] 𝑣 + 𝑟 = . . . [4]; from [2] 𝑣 + 𝑤 = . . . [5]; from [3] 𝑟 = . . . [6].
15 30 20
𝑙 𝑙 𝑙
Adding [5] and [6] and subtracting [4] gives 𝑣 + 𝑤 + 𝑟 − 𝑣 − 𝑟 = + − .
30 20 15
𝑙 (2 + 3 − 4) 𝑙 𝑙
Therefore 𝑤 = = . So = 60.
60 60 𝑤
Hence it would take Thomas 60 seconds to walk down the broken escalator.