AMC WARM-UP PAPER

SENIOR PAPER 7
SOLUTIONS

2009
c Australian Mathematics Trust

1. 3x+1 = 81 → 3x+1 = 34 → x = 3,
hence (C).

2.
m n m n
+ = −
m−n n−m m−n m−n
m−n
=
m−n
= 1,

hence (D).

3. If each of the 12 houses gets 4 letters then there are 9 letters left. Giving one more
letter to 8 houses (including George’s) means that George must also get the last
letter, so he must get at least 6 letters,
hence (D).

4. From the data,

1
f(x) =
1+x
1
f(f(x)) = 1
1 + 1+x
x+1
=
x+1+1
x+1
= ,
x+2

hence (B).
 Senior 7 Solutions Page 2

5. Alternative 1
Now 70 = 2 × 5 × 7, so we only have to look for two factors differing by 2 (as the
difference in the capacity of the cases is 2 kg), and in this instance it must be 5
and 7, so the capacity of the standard case is 5 kg,
hence (B).
Note: in this particular example we do not need to know that 4 less cases are
used.
Alternative 2
Let the capacity of the smaller cases be x, then the capacity of the larger is x + 2
and
70 70
− = 4
x x+2
70(x + 2) − 70x = 4x2 + 8x
x2 + 2x − 35 = 0
(x + 7)(x − 5) = 0
x = 5 (neglecting the negative root),

hence (B).

6. Landing within 1 m from the hole is landing within a circle radius 1 m, i.e. with
area π × 12 = π.
The area of the green is π × 122 = 144π.
Thus the probability of the ball landing within 1 m from the hole is
π 1
= ,
144π 144

hence (E).

7. The average of the n numbers is k so their sum is kn. When x is added, there are
n + 1 numbers and their average becomes k + 1. So
kn + x
= k+1
n+1
kn + x = (n + 1)(k + 1)
= kn + k + n + 1
thus x = k+n+1,

hence (A).
 Senior 7 Solutions Page 3

8. Join RT . This passes through the centre of the circle O as it subtends a right angle
at the circumference.
P
..............
................. ......... ........................
......... .......
....... .. ... ......
.. ...... .... ... .....
.... .. .. ....
.. . .
... ....
..... ... ... ....
.... ... ...
...
...
S . . . ... .... T
.. .. .......
...
..
.
. ...
..
... ....... ....
..
.... ... ... ........... ..
..
..
. ... ......
.. ..
... ... ...... .... ..
... ... ........... .. ...
.. ... ...
.. . ......... .. ....
.... .
. . ..... .. ..
.. ... ......... O ...
....
...
... ..... 1 .............. ...
.. .
.
.
.
.. .
. ... .. .... .
.. .. ....... ...
.. ... ........... ...
... ...
.. .. ..... ◦ .. ..
... ......... 30
............................................................................................................................................
R ... ...
Q
...
... M ...
...
....
..... ..
.....
..... ..
..... .....
........ .....
.......... .......
..................................................

Thus  T RQ = 30◦ . So, from the right triangle T RQ T Q = 2 sin 30◦ = 2 × 12 = 1.

√
Also, RQ = 2 cos 30◦ = 3.
√ √
Thus the area of the rectangle RST Q = 1 × 3 = 3,
hence (E).

9. Alternative 1
 
10
The total number of ways of choosing 3 numbers from 10 is 3
= 120.
There are 8 triples containing the pair 1,2;
8 containing the pair 2,3;
..
.
8 containing the pair 9,10,
i.e 72 such triples.
However we have counted twice the triples 123, 234, · · · , 8910, so only 64 triples
are excluded. This leaves 120 − 64 = 56 triples available,
hence (C).

Alternative 2
Suppose 1 ≤ a < b < c ≤ 10 are such that no two of a, b and c are consecutive.
Let d = b − 1 and e = c − 2. Then 1 ≤ a < d < e ≤ 8.
Conversely, suppose 1 ≤ a < d < e ≤ 8.
Let b = d + 1 and c = e + 2. Then 1 ≤ a < b < c ≤ 10 and no two of a, b and c are
consecutive.
Thus thenumber
 of suitable (a, b, c) is equal to the number of suitable (a, d, e),
8
which is 3 = 56,
hence (C).
 Senior 7 Solutions Page 4

10. Label the sides of the octagon as shown.

a

b e
h d
f

Label the sides of the octagon as shown.

If g = 7, then h = 8 and {a, c, e} = {1, 2, 4}.
Since b + f = d + h, then d = 3.
To maximise the area of the hexagon, we must have a = 1, c = 4, e = 2, b = 6 and
f = 5, giving an area of 30.
If g = 8, then h = 7 and {a, c, e} = {1, 2, 5} or {1, 3, 4}.
Since b + f = d + h, d = 4 and {h, f} = {4, 6}.
To maximise the area of the hexagon, we must have a = 1, c = 5, e = 2, b = 6 and
f = 4, giving an area of 36,
hence (E).