VTAMPS 18.

0 S1 Set 2

Section A

4
1. It is known −
1
− −
4
= 1296. Find the value
1 2
.
that 6 of 5 7 37 1297

2 2
2. Real numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 satisfy (𝑎 − 4) + (𝑏 + 3) = 0. Find the solution of the
equation
5𝑏𝑥 − 𝑎 = 11.

3. Find the solution of the linear

− 2 +
3
7𝑥 2
.
equation 1 𝑥 11
=
1 11

4. Find the value of 𝑥 from the system of linear 𝑥 + 4𝑦 =

equations: 8 6𝑥 + 8𝑦
= 16.

5. [𝑛] represents the largest integer smaller than 𝑛. For example, [− 3. 3] =− 4.

[5. 9] = 5 and Find
⎡ ⎡9 ⎤−⎡1− 41 ⎤ ⎤
77

the value of ⎢ ⎣⎦ ⎣
.
⎦⎥
⎦
8

⎣ ⎡
87
⎤
⎣ 7
⎦

2 2 2 2 2 2
6. Find the value of 5 + 6 + 7 +... + 23 + 24 + 25 .

97 97 97
7. Find the units digit of 3 + 4+ 8 .

8. The diagonal of a square is 10 cm. Find the area of this square.

2
9. Find the value −
2
+
2
−
2 2 2
of 3 9 27 81 + 243 − 729 .

10. Within the first 7171 natural numbers, how many number(s) is/are divisible by 17?

Section B
11. Two of 80 cards marked from 1 to 80 are drawn at random without
repetition. Find the probability that the two cards drawn are both
multiples of either 7 or 11.
12. The sum of the interior angles of a regular 𝑛-sided polygon is 9 times the sum of
its exterior angles. Find the value of 𝑛.

13. Find the value of 1 + 1

+ 1
+ 1
+ 1
+ 1
.
4 16 25 1024
64 6

2 2
14. It is known that real numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦 satisfy 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 13 and 𝑥𝑦 = 40. Find the
value of 𝑥 + 𝑦

17 34 51 68 85
15. Find the units digit of 299 + 285 + 271 + 257 + 243 .

2 2
16. Real numbers 𝑥, 𝑦 satisfy (𝑥 − 2) + |3𝑦 + 9| = 0. Find the value of |𝑥 + 𝑦| + |𝑥
+ 𝑦| +
3 2025
|𝑥 + 𝑦| +... + |𝑥 + 𝑦| .

17. There are 6 silver coins and 5 gold coins. If 4 coins are drawn randomly
without repetition, find the probability that at least one coin is silver.

2 2
18. Factorize 4𝑥 + 14𝑥𝑦 + 12𝑦 + 𝑥 + 2𝑦.

19. How many non-negative integer(s) 𝑥 satisfy the linear inequality 93 − 5𝑥 > 74?

20. If 𝑎, 𝑏 are positive integers such that 𝑎 20 + = + 𝑏, find the value of 𝑎 −

> 𝑏 and �𝑏

Section C
5 3
21. Factorize 𝑥 − 2𝑥 𝑦 − 16𝑥 + 8𝑥𝑦.

22. It is known that 𝑥 and 𝑦 are integers, and 2024𝑥 − 2020𝑦 = 4. Find the
smallest positive integral solution of 𝑥.

23. Given that 601 < 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 ≡ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 23). Find the value of 𝑥.
999 and 𝑥 ≡ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 29)

24. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are positive integers, and 9𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 287, find the minimum value of
𝑥𝑦.

25. Jung is playing a video game. In the game, if he has 4 items of the same level,
they will be automatically combined to form an item 1 level higher than the
original. Now Jung has 999 level 1 items, how many level 5 item(s) does he have
after the combination?
 Section A

4
1. It is known − − −
1 4
= 1296. Find the value
1 2
.
that 6 of 5 7 37 1297
8
Answer 167961
: 5
Solutio
− − − = − −
1 1 2 4 7−5 2 4
n: 2
5 7 37 129 35 6
4
6 +1
7
+1

= 2⎢⎡ 2
(6 +1)−(6 −1) ⎤
= − − ⎥ −4
2 2
2 2 4 4
2 2

⎣ (6 −1)(6 +1)
4 2
6 −1 6 6 6 +1

⎦ 4
+1 +1

= − ⎡
= 4⎢ 4
(6 +1)−(6 −1) ⎤
⎥
4
2(2) 4

⎣ (6 −1)(6 +1) ⎦
4 4 4
6 −1 6
+1

= =
4(2) 8

(6 )
1679615
2
4

−1

2 2
2. Real numbers 𝑎 and 𝑏 satisfy (𝑎 − 4) + (𝑏 + 3) = 0. Find the solution of the
equation
5𝑏𝑥 − 𝑎 = 11.
Answer: -1
Solution:
Since the sum of squares is zero, each term must be zero (because the square
of a real number is always non-negative). So,
𝑎 − 4 = 0⇒𝑎 = 4
𝑏 + 3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑏 =− 3
⇒ 5(− 3)𝑥 − (4) = 11
− 15𝑥 = 15
𝑥 =− 1

− 2 +
3
3. Find the solution of the linear 7𝑥 2
.
1 𝑥 11
equation Answer: 5 =
1 11

Solution:
7𝑥 − 22 = 2𝑥 + 3
5𝑥 = 25
𝑥 = 5
4. Find the value of 𝑥 from the system of linear 𝑥 + 4𝑦 =
8 6𝑥 + 8𝑦
equations Answer: 0 = 16.
 Solution:
Eliminate 𝑦 by multiplying − 2 to the 1st equation, and adding it to the 2nd one,
that is,
− 2(𝑥 + 4𝑦) =− 2(8)
6𝑥 + 8𝑦 = 16
− 2𝑥 − 8𝑦 =−
16 6𝑥 + 8𝑦 =
16
4𝑥 = 0
⇒𝑥 = 0

5. [𝑛] represents the largest integer smaller than 𝑛. For example, [− 3. 3] =− 4.

[5. 9] = 5 and Find
⎡ ⎣⎡ 9 ⎤−⎡1− 41 ⎤ ⎤
77

the value of ⎢ ⎦
⎥.
⎣ 8 ⎦

⎣
⎦
⎡
87
⎤
Answer: 1 ⎣ 7
⎦
Solution:

⇒ ⎡ ⎤⎣= 12
⎡ ⎦ ⎤
[8.56]−[−4.125] 8−(−5)
⎣ [12.43] ⎦
= ⎡ 13 ⎤ = [1. 0833] = 1
⎣ 12 ⎦
2 2 2 2 2 2
6. Find the value of 5 + 6 + 7 +... + 23 + 24 + 25 .
Answer: 5495
Solution:
The sum of squares from 1 to 𝑛 [𝑛(𝑛+1)
terms = (2𝑛+1)]
6
Subtract the sum of 1 to 𝑛 = 4 terms from the sum of 1 to 𝑛 = 25 terms:

⇒ −
[25(25+1)(2(25)+1)] [4(4+1)(2(4)+1)]
6 6

= 33150−180
6 = 5495

97 97 97
7. Find the units digit of 3 +4 +8 .
Answer: 5
Solution:
The pattern of units digits for powers of 3, 4, and 8 are:
3: 3, 9, 7, 1 (repeats every 4 powers)
4: 4, 6 (repeats every 2 powers)
8: 8, 4, 2, 6 (repeats every 4 powers)
97 digit as
97 ÷ 4 = 24 𝑟. 1 ⇒ 3 has same unit
 1 97 1
3 , and 8 has same unit digit as 8 .
 97 1
97 ÷ 2 = 48 𝑟. 1 ⇒ 4 has same unit digit as 4 .
⇒ 3 + 4 + 8 = 15
The units digit of 15
is 5.

8. The diagonal of a square is 10 cm. Find the area of

this square. Answer: 50 cm2
Solution:
Diagonal of a square is the hypotenuse (𝑐) of the right triangle whose other
sides are equal (𝑎 = 𝑏). Using Pythagorean theorem,
2 2 2 2
𝑐 = 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 2𝑎
2
2𝑎 = (10) ⇒ 𝑎
2 2
= 50
100
=
2 2 2
⇒ 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑎 = 50 𝑐𝑚

2 2 2
9. Find the value of −3 + −
2
+
2
−
2
.
9 27 81 243 729
Answer:

(1 − )
Solution:
364/729

⇒ 2 1
+ 1
−
+ −
1 1

( )= ( )
1
3 3 9 2 8 24
7 1 3

=
2 243−81+27−9+3−1 2 24 273−91

( )=
3 24 3
3 3

=
23 182
24 72364
3 9

10. Within the first 7171 natural numbers, how many number(s)
is/are divisible by 17? Answer: 421
Solution:
7171
= 421 𝑟. 14
17

Section B

11. Two of 80 cards marked from 1 to 80 are drawn at random without

repetition. Find the probability that the two cards drawn are both
multiples of either 7 or 11.
Answer: 17/395
Solution:
No. of cards that are multiples of 7 :780 = 11 𝑟. 3

⇒ 11 No. of cards that are multiples1 of 11 : 80

1
= 7 𝑟. 3 ⇒ 7
Card(s) that is/are multiple(s) of both 7 & 11 : 1 (77)
 Total no. of cards that are multiples of either 7 or 11: 11 + 7 − 1 = 17

⇒𝑃 = 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 80𝐶2=

𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑓𝑎𝑣𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 17𝐶2

17! 17×16×15!

= =80×79×78
2! 15! 2!×15!
80!
2! 78! !
2!×78!

= = 5×7 =
17×8 17 17
40×79 395
9

12. The sum of the interior angles of a regular 𝑛-sided polygon is 9 times the
sum of its exterior angles. Find the value of 𝑛.
Answer: 20
Solution:
Equate the formula for the sum of interior angles of a regular polygon to 9 times
the sum of its exterior angles, which is 360° for any regular polygon:

180(𝑛 − 2) = 9(360)

𝑛− 2 = 9 ( 360
18
0
)
𝑛 − 2 = 9(2)

𝑛 = 18 + 2 = 20

13. Find
. the value of 1 + 1
+ 1
+ 1

+ 1
+ 1
4 16 64 25 1024
6
Answer: 1365/1024 or 1 & 341/1024
Solution:
Use formula:

( )−1
𝐿𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚(𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑟)
−𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 1 1

=
1024 4
𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑟−1
4 −1
1

=− ×− = = 11024
4095 4 1365 341
4096 3

1024

14. It is known that real numbers 𝑥 and 𝑦 satisfy 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 13 and 𝑥𝑦 = 40.

2 2
Find the value of 𝑥 + 𝑦 . Answer: 89
Solution:
 2 2 2
Recall identity: (𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑥 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦
2 2 2
⇒ 𝑥 + 𝑦 = (𝑥 + 𝑦) − 2𝑥𝑦
 2
= (13) − 2(40) = 89

17 34 51 68 85
15. Find the units digit of 299 + 285 + 271 +
257 + 243 .
Answer: 9
Solution:
17 34 51 68 85
Only unit digit matters: ⇒ 9 + 5 + 1 + 7 +3
The pattern of unit digits for powers of 9, 5, 1, 7, and 3 are:
1: 1
3: 3, 9, 7, 1
5: 5
7: 7, 9, 3, 1
9: 9, 1
⇒ Units digits repeats every 4 powers for 3 and 7, and every 2 powers for 9.
⇒ Same units digit for any power of 1 and 5.
17 1
⇒ 17 ÷ 2 = 8 𝑟. 1 ⇒ 9has same unit digit as 9 .
68 4
⇒ 68 ÷ 4 = 17 𝑟. 0 ⇒ 7 has same unit digit as 7 .
85 1
⇒ 85 ÷ 4 = 21 𝑟. 1 ⇒ 3 has same unit digit as 3 .
⇒ 9 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 3 = 19
The units digit of 19 is 9.

2 3 2025
16. R
eal numbers 𝑥, 𝑦 satisfy (𝑥 − 2) + |3𝑦 + 9| = 0. Find the value of |𝑥 + 𝑦| +...
+ |𝑥 + 𝑦| .
Answer: 2025
Solution:
Since the first term is a square and the second one is an absolute value,
they are both always non-negative. For their sum to equal zero, each term
must be zero. So,
𝑥 − 2 = 0⇒𝑥 = 2
3𝑦 + 9 = 0 ⇒ 𝑦 =
3
−9
=− 3
|𝑥 + 𝑦| = |2 − 3| = 1
The sum then becomes
2 3 2025
1 + 1 + 1 +... + 1 = 2025

17. There are 6 silver coins and 5 gold coins. If 4 coins are drawn randomly
without repetition, find the probability that at least one coin is silver.
Answer: 65/66
 Solution:
Using complement rule,
𝑃(𝑎𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑡 1 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟) = 1 − 𝑃(𝑛𝑜 𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑟𝑎𝑤 𝑎𝑙𝑙

𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑟)= 1−
𝑔𝑜𝑙𝑑
𝑛𝑜. 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠
5! 5×4!

= 1 −11𝐶4 = 1 − = 111×10×9×8×7
−
5𝐶4 4! 1! 4!
11!
4! 7! !
4×3×2!× 7!
= 1 − 5
= 1 − 1
11×5×3×2 11×3×2

= 1 − 66 =66
1 65

2 2
18. Factorize 4𝑥 + 14𝑥𝑦 + 12𝑦 + 𝑥 + 2𝑦.
Answer: (4𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 1)(𝑥 + 2𝑦) or (𝑥 + 2𝑦)(4𝑥 + 6𝑦 +
1) Solution:
2
⇒ 4𝑥 + 𝑥(14𝑦 + 1) + 2𝑦(6𝑦 + 1)
2
= 4𝑥 + 𝑥(8𝑦 + 6𝑦 + 1) + 2𝑦(6𝑦 + 1)
2
= 4𝑥 + 8𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥(6𝑦 + 1) + 2𝑦(6𝑦 + 1)= 4𝑥(𝑥 + 2𝑦) + (6𝑦 + 1)[𝑥 +
2𝑦]
= (𝑥 + 2𝑦)(4𝑥 + 6𝑦
+ 1) OR
2 2
⇒ 2(2𝑥 + 7𝑥𝑦 + 6𝑦 ) + (𝑥 + 2𝑦)
= 2(𝑥 + 2𝑦)(2𝑥 + 3𝑦) + (𝑥 + 2𝑦)
= (𝑥 + 2𝑦)[2(2𝑥 + 3𝑦) + 1]
= (𝑥 + 2𝑦)(4𝑥 + 6𝑦 + 1)

19. How many non-negative integer(s) 𝑥 satisfy the linear

inequality 93 − 5𝑥 > 74? Answer: 4
Solution:
5𝑥 < 93 − 74
5𝑥 < 19
𝑥 < 3. 8
There are 4 non-negative integers for 𝑥
from 0 to 3.

�
20. If 𝑎, 𝑏 are positive integers such 20 + = + 𝑏, find the value of 𝑎
that 𝑎 > 𝑏 and Answer: 6 − 𝑏.

( ) = 𝑎 + 𝑏)
2 2
Solutio 20 + 364

(
n:
20 + 2 91 = 𝑎 + 2 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏
⇒ 𝑎𝑏 = 91, 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 20
 ⇒ 𝑎(20 − 𝑎) = 91
2
20𝑎 − 𝑎 = 91
2
𝑎 − 20𝑎 + 91 = 0
(𝑎 − 13)(𝑎 − 7) =
Since 𝑎 > 𝑏, 𝑎 = 13 0
and 𝑏 = 7,
⇒ 𝑎 − 𝑏 = 13 − 7
= 6

Section C

5 3
21. Factorize 𝑥 − 2𝑥 𝑦 − 16𝑥 + 8𝑥𝑦.
2
Answer: 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 4) and other combinations of the factors
Solution:
5 3
⇒ 𝑥 − 16𝑥 − 2𝑥 𝑦 + 8𝑥𝑦
4 2
= 𝑥(𝑥 − 16) − 2𝑥𝑦(𝑥 − 4)
2 2 2
= 𝑥(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 4) − 2𝑥𝑦(𝑥 − 4)
= 𝑥(𝑥 − 4)[(𝑥 + 4) − 2𝑦]
2

2
= 𝑥(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 4)

22. It is known that 𝑥 and 𝑦 are integers, and 2024𝑥 − 2020𝑦 = 4. Find the
smallest positive integral solution of 𝑥.
Answer: 1
Solution:
𝑦 4 2020
2024𝑥−

=
For 𝑥 to be an integer, 4 − 2024𝑥 must be divisible by
2020. So,
2024𝑥 − 4 ≡ 0 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 2020)
2024𝑥 ≡ 4 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 2020)
Note that 2024 ≡ 4 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 2020), because 2024 = 2020 + 4. So we can replace
2024 with 4 in the congruence:
⇒ 4𝑥 ≡ 4 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 2020)
Since 4 divides both sides, we can divide by 4 (as long as we are in
(𝑚𝑜𝑑 2020)):
⇒ 𝑥 ≡ 1 (𝑚𝑜𝑑 505)
Therefore, 𝑥 has the form:
𝑥 = 505𝑛 + 1
Smallest possible value for 𝑥 is
when 𝑛 = 0:
𝑥 = 505(0) + 1 = 1
23. Given that 601 < 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 ≡ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 23). Find the value of 𝑥.
999 and 𝑥 ≡ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 29)

Answer: 678
Solution: 𝐿𝐶𝑀(23, 29) = 23 × 29
= 667
⇒ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 23) ≡ 11, 34,
57,...
Therefore, ⇒ 11(𝑚𝑜𝑑 29) ≡ 11, 40,
69,...

𝑥 = 667𝑛 + 11
To fit within given range for 𝑥, 𝑛 must be 1:
𝑥 = 667(1) + 11 = 678

24. If 𝑥 and 𝑦 are positive integers, and 9𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 287, find the

minimum value of 𝑥𝑦. Answer: 124
Solution:
⇒ 2𝑦 = 287 − 9𝑥

⇒𝑦 =
287−9𝑥
2
To ensure 𝑦 >
0,
287 − 9𝑥 > 0 ⇒ 𝑥9 < 287
≈
31. 89
and 287 − 9𝑥 must be divisible by 2 so that 𝑦 is an integer.
To minimize 𝑥𝑦, maximize 𝑥. To meet above conditions, 𝑥 must then be 𝑥 = 31.

⇒𝑦 = = 4
287−9(31)
2

⇒ 𝑥𝑦 = 31(4) = 124

25. Jung is playing a video game. In the game, if he has 4 items of the same level,
they will be
automatically combined to form an item 1 level higher than the original. Now Jung
has 999 level 1 items, how many level 5 item(s) does he have after the
combination?
Answer: 3
Solution:
⇒ 999
4
= 249 𝑟. 3 ⇒ (249 Lvl. 2 items & 3 remaining Lvl. 1 items)

⇒ 249
4
= 62 𝑟. 1 ⇒ (62 Lvl. 3 items & 1 remaining Lvl. 2 item)

⇒ 62
4
= 15 𝑟. 2 ⇒ (15 Lvl. 4 items & 2 remaining Lvl. 3 items)
⇒ 15
= 3 𝑟. 3 ⇒ (3 Lvl. 5 items & 3 remaining Lvl. 4 items)
4