2 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME

1. (E) Pairing the first two terms, the next two terms, etc. yields

1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + · · · − 98 + 99 =
(1 − 2) + (3 − 4) + · · · + (97 − 98) + 99 =
−1 − 1 − 1 − · · · − 1 + 99 = 50,

since there are 49 of the −1’s.

OR

1 − 2 + 3 − 4 + · · · − 98 + 99 =
1 + [(−2 + 3) + (−4 + 5) + · · · + (−98 + 99)] =
1 + [1 + 1 + · · · + 1] = 1 + 49 = 50.

2. (A) Triangles with side lengths of 1, 1, 1 and 2, 2, 2 are equilateral and not
congruent, so (A) is false. Statement (B) is true since all triangles are convex.
Statements (C) and (E) are true since each interior angle of an equilateral
triangle measures 60◦ . Furthermore, all three sides of an equilateral triangle
have the same length, so (D) is also true.

3. (E) The desired number is the arithmetic average or mean:

1 1 1 1 18 9
 
+ = · = .
2 8 10 2 80 80

4. (A) A number one less than a multiple of 5 is has a units digit of 4 or 9.

A number whose units digit is 4 cannot be one greater than a multiple of 4.
Thus, it is sufficient to examine the numbers of the form 10d + 9 where d is
one of the ten digits. Of these, only 9, 29, 49, 69 and 89 are one greater than a
multiple of 4. Among these, only 29 and 89 are prime and their sum is 118.

5. (C) If the suggested retail price was P , then the marked price was 0.7P . Half
of this is 0.35P , so Alice paid 35% of the suggested retail price.

6. (D) Note that

1999 zeros
z }| {
1999 2001 1999 1999 2 1999
2 ·5 =2 ·5 · 5 = 10 · 25 = 25 0 . . . 0 .

Hence the sum of the digits is 7.

 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME 3

7. (B) The sum of the angles in a convex hexagon E

• ....
is 720◦ and each angle must be less than 180◦ . ...
.... ....
.... ......
.... ....
....
.... ....
....
If four of the angles are acute, then their sum .
..
.
.... ....
....
•D
....
F• .
....
.
.. ...
would be less than 360◦ , and therefore at least .
.
.
. ..
..
..
..
... ..
..
one of the two remaining angles would be greater .
...
.
.
. ..
..
..
. ..
than 180◦ , a contradiction. Thus there can be at •
.
......
..................
.................................. . .
. ........... •
..
.
.....

most three acute angles. The hexagon shown has A • C

B
three acute angles, A, C, and E.
OR

The result holds for any convex n-gon. The sum of the exterior angles of a
convex n-gon is 360◦ . Hence at most three of these angles can be obtuse, for
otherwise the sum would exceed 360◦ . Thus the largest number of acute angles
in any convex n-gon is three.

8. (D) Let w and 2w denote the ages of Walter and his grandmother, respectively,
at the end of 1994. Then their respective years of birth are 1994 − w and
1994 − 2w. Hence (1994 − w) + (1994 − 2w) = 3838, and it follows that w = 50
and Walter’s age at the end of 1999 will be 55.

9. (D) The next palindromes after 29792 are 29892, 29992, 30003, and 30103.
The difference 30103 − 29792 = 311 is too far to drive in three hours without
exceeding the speed limit of 75 miles per hour. Ashley could have driven
30003 − 29792 = 211 miles during the three hours for an average speed of 70 13
miles per hour.

10. (C) Since both I and III cannot be false, the digit must be 1 or 3. So either I or
III is the false statement. Thus II and IV must be true and (C) is necessarily
correct. For the same reason, (E) must be incorrect. If the digit is 1, (B) and
(D) are incorrect, and if the digit is 3, (A) is incorrect.

11. (A) The locker labeling requires 137.94/0.02 = 6897 digits. Lockers 1 through
9 require 9 digits, lockers 10 through 99 require 2 · 90 = 180 digits, and lockers
100 through 999 require 3 · 900 = 2700 digits. Hence the remaining lockers
require 6897 − 2700 − 180 − 9 = 4008 digits, so there must be 4008/4 = 1002
more lockers, each using four digits. In all, there are 1002+999 = 2001 student
lockers.
4 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME

12. (C) The x-coordinates of the intersection points are precisely the zeros of
the polynomial p(x) − q(x). This polynomial has degree at most three, so it
has at most three zeros. Hence, the graphs of the fourth degree polynomial
functions intersect at most three times. Finding an example to show that three
intersection points can be achieved is left to the reader.

√
13. (C) Since an+1 = 3 99 · an for all n ≥ 1, it follows that a1 , a2 , a3 , . . .√is a
geometric sequence whose first term is 1 and whose common ratio is r = 3 99.
Thus  √ 99
a100 = a1 · r100−1 = = 9933 .
3
99

14. (A) Tina and Alina each sang either 5 or 6 times. If N denotes the number of
songs sung by trios, then 3N = 4 + 5 + 5 + 7 = 21 or 3N = 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 22
or 3N = 4 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 23. Since the girls sang as trios, the total must be
a multiple of 3. Only 21 qualifies. Therefore, N = 21/3 = 7 is the number of
songs the trios sang.

Challenge. Devise a schedule for the four girls so that each one sings the
required number of songs.

15. (E) From the identity 1 + tan2 x = sec2 x it follows that 1 = sec2 x − tan2 x =
(sec x − tan x)(sec x + tan x) = 2(sec x + tan x), so sec x + tan x = 0.5.

OR
1 − sin x
The given relation can be written as = 2. Squaring both sides yields
cos x
(1 − sin x)2 1 − sin x 3
2 = 4, hence = 4. It follows that sin x = − and that
1 − sin x 1 + sin x 5
1 − sin x 1 − (−3/5) 4
cos x = = = .
2 2 5
5 3
Thus sec x + tan x = 4
− 4
= 0.5.
 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME 5

16. (C) Let E be the intersection of the di-

agonals of a rhombus ABCD satisfying D• •C
................................... .
....
...... .... ....
the conditions of the problem. Because .. .
.
...
......
..... ....
....
.. ..
..
....
....
.... .. .
....
.... ..
these diagonals are perpendicular and bi- ....
.... ..
.... ....
E
• .
..........
..
..
..
.. .......
....
....
... .. .. .... .. .
... .. ........ .. . ...
sect each other, 4ABE is a right trian- ....
....
....
.......
........
....... .....
....
..
..
..
..
.. ....
.....
.......
.....
.
...... ............ .. .
..... .. ...
.
... ...... .......... ......................
gle with sides 5, 12, and 13 and area 30. .........
• •
.......... .

Therefore the altitude drawn to side AB is A B

60/13, which is the radius of the inscribed
circle centered at E.

17. (C) From the hypothesis, P (19) = 99 and P (99) = 19. Let

P (x) = (x − 19)(x − 99)Q(x) + ax + b,

where a and b are constants and Q(x) is a polynomial. Then

99 = P (19) = 19a + b and 19 = P (99) = 99a + b.

It follows that 99a − 19a = 19 − 99, hence a = −1 and b = 99 + 19 = 118.

Thus the remainder is −x + 118.

18. (E) Note that the range of log x on the interval (0, 1) is the set of all negative
numbers, infinitely many of which are zeros of the cosine function. In fact,
since cos(x) = 0 for all x of the form π2 ± nπ,
π π
f (10 2 −nπ ) = cos(log(10 2 −nπ ))
π
 
= cos − nπ
2
= 0

for all positive integers n.

19. (C) Let DC = m and AD = n. By the Pythagorean Theorem, AB 2 =

AD2 + DB 2 . Hence (m + n)2 = n2 + 57, which yields m(m + 2n) = 57.
Since m and n are positive integers, the only possibilities are m = 1, n = 28
and m = 3, n = 8. The second of these gives the least possible value of
AC = m + n, namely 11.
6 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME

20. (E) For n ≥ 3,

a1 + a2 + · · · + an−1
. an =
n−1
Thus (n − 1)an = a1 + a2 + · · · + an−1 . It follows that

a1 + a2 + · · · + an−1 + an (n − 1) · an + an
an+1 = = = an ,
n n
for n ≥ 3. Since a9 = 99 and a1 = 19, it follows that
19 + a2
99 = a3 = ,
2
and hence that a2 = 179. (The sequence is 19, 179, 99, 99, . . ..)

21. (B) Since 202 + 212 = 292 , the converse of the

.................................
..........
Pythagorean Theorem applies, so the triangle has .....
.
.....
......
......
.....
....
....
.
..... ....
.
a right angle. Thus its hypotenuse is a diameter .
.
. .
.
. .....
. ......
.
....
..
..
... .
.....
..... C ..
..
of the circle, so the region with area C is a semi- ...
...
....
.....
.....
.....
..
...
...
...A
..... ...
..... ...
circle and is congruent to the semicircle formed by ..
..
..
..
.....
.....
...... .
.
.
.
.
.. ..... ..
..... ....
the other three regions. The area of the triangle is ...
....
....
.... .
.......
.....
..... ....
........ B .............
.....
210, hence A + B + 210 = C. To see that the other ......
..............................

options are incorrect, note that

(A) A + B < A + B + 210 = C;
(C) A2 + B 2 < (A + B)2 < (A + B + 210)2 = C 2 ;
(D) 20A + 21B < 29A + 29B < 29(A + B + 210) = 29C; and
1 1 1 1
(E) 2 + 2 > 2 > 2 .
A B A C
 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME 7

(a, b)
22. (C) The first graph is an inverted ‘V-shaped’ .....
• .....
..... .....
..... .........
..... ..... .....
..... .... .....
right angle with vertex at (a, b) and the sec- ..... .....
..... .....
..
..
.....
.....
(2, 5) .
.
•
.
........
... .......
.....
.....
.....
ond is a V-shaped right angle with vertex at ...
............
. .....
......
.......
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
..... .....
(c, d). Thus (a, b), (2, 5), (c, d), and (8, 3) are .....
.....
.....
.....
.....
.....
..... ....
..... .........
.....
..

..... ........
consecutive vertices of a rectangle. The diag- .....
.....
.....
• ...(8, 3)
.... ...
..
.... .........
.
..... ..... .....
..... ..... .....
.....
onals of this rectangle meet at their common .....
•
..... ........
......
.

midpoint, so the x-coordinate of this mid- (c, d)

point is (2+8)/2 = (a+c)/2. Thus a+c = 10.
OR

Use the given information to obtain the equations 5 = −|2 − a| + b, 5 =

|2 − c| + d, 3 = −|8 − a| + b, and 3 = |8 − c| + d. Subtract the third from
the first to eliminate b and subtract the fourth from the second to eliminate
d. The two resulting equations |8 − a| − |2 − a| = 2 and |2 − c| − |8 − c| = 2
can be solved for a and c. To solve the former, first consider all a ≤ 2, for
which the equation reduces to 8 − a − (2 − a) = 2, which has no solutions.
Then consider all a in the interval 2 ≤ a ≤ 8, for which the equation reduces
to 8 − a − (a − 2) = 2, which yields a = 4. Finally, consider all a ≥ 8, for
which the equation reduces to a − 8 − (a − 2) = 2, which has no solutions. The
other equation can be solved similarly to show that c = 6. Thus a + c = 10.

23. (E) Extend F A and CB to meet at X, BC and

Y..•.....
ED to meet at Y , and DE and AF to meet at . .
.. ...
... .....
◦ .
.
Z. The interior angles of the hexagon are 120 . .
...
..
.
.. ...
...
...

Thus the triangles XY Z, ABX, CDY, and EF Z D .

.
...
..
•
. •....C
..
...
...
..
. ...
.... ...
are equilateral. Since AB = 1, BX = 1. Since ...
.
...
.
.
. ...
...
...
...
.
.. ...
CD = 2, CY = 2. Thus XY = 7 and Y Z = 7. .
.
.
..
...
E.....•......
...
...B
...
..•...
.. .....
Since Y D = 2 and DE = 4, EZ = 1. The area .
..
• •
.
. ....
. ....
• •..
.. .

of the hexagon can be found by subtracting the Z F A X

areas of the three small triangles from the area
of the large triangle:
√ ! √ ! √ ! √ ! √
3 2 3 2 3 2 3 43 3
72 −1 −2 −1 = .
4 4 4 4 4
8 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME

24. (B) Any four of the six

 given points determine a unique convex quadrilateral,
6
so there are exactly 4 = 15 favorable outcomes when the chords are selected
   
randomly. Since there are 62 = 15 chords, there are 15 4
= 1365 ways to pick
the four chords. So the desired probability is 15/1365 = 1/91.

25. (B) Multiply both sides of the equation by 7! to obtain

3600 = 2520a2 + 840a3 + 210a4 + 42a5 + 7a6 + a7 .

It follows that 3600 − a7 is a multiple of 7, which implies that a7 = 2. Thus,

3598
= 514 = 360a2 + 120a3 + 30a4 + 6a5 + a6 .
7
Reason as above to show that 514 − a6 is a multiple of 6, which implies that
a6 = 4. Thus, 510/6 = 85 = 60a2 + 20a3 + 5a4 + a5 . Then it follows that
85 − a5 is a multiple of 5, whence a5 = 0. Continue in this fashion to obtain
a4 = 1, a3 = 1, and a2 = 1. Thus the desired sum is 1 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 4 + 2 = 9.

26. (D) The interior angle of a regular n-gon is 180(1 − 2/n). Let a be the number
of sides of the congruent polygons and let b be the number of sides of the third
polygon (which could be congruent to the first two polygons). Then
2 2
   
2 · 180 1 − + 180 1 − = 360.
a b
Clearing denominators and factoring yields the equation

(a − 4)(b − 2) = 8,

whose four positive integral solutions are (a, b) = (5, 10), (6, 6), (8, 4), and
(12, 3). These four solutions give rise to polygons with perimeters of 14, 12, 14
and 21, respectively, so the largest possible perimeter is 21.
•
.
..... •............ • ....
...... ..........
.
... • •...... • •.............. • •..............
... ..... .....
...... ................ ..... ... ...... ......
•......... •
....
...
• .
... • ...
..
•.......
...
•... •
...
.....
•.......... •
..... •.......... .......
•
...
.....
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•
..
.....
•.....
.... ... .. ... ... .. ..... ..... ......... ..... ... ... ..... ...
.. .. .. ... ..... ....... .... . ... .. ...
.....
•
...
• ..
.....
... .
. • • • ...
• A• .. . •
... A• ...
........................
... • ... A• ...
... •....
...
...
•
...
...
•
...
..
...
•
..
.
...
•
...
. •
.
....
.. ...
• .. •.......... A......•.......... •
.... •
... •
.... .. •
...... ................ ...... ... ... . ..... .... ... ... ... ...
...... ...
..
. ...... ...... ... ... ..
..... .... ..... ..... .. .....
......
• . •...... • ..... ...
• •...
.. ....
• •.............. • .
..... •..... ...
... .. .....
..
..
. ..... .........
....
•.......
....... .......
•.
...
.
. • .......
.......
•.
...
.
.
• .....
• •.......
.......
• . •.......

P = 14 P = 12 P = 14 P = 21
 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME 9

27. (A) Square both sides of the equations and add the results to obtain

9(sin2 A + cos2 A) + 16(sin2 B + cos2 B) + 24(sin A cos B + sin B cos A) = 37.

Hence, 24 sin(A + B) = 12. Thus sin C = sin(180◦ − A − B) = sin(A + B) = 12 ,

so 6 C = 30◦ or 6 C = 150◦ . The latter is impossible because it would imply
that A < 30◦ and consequently that 3 sin A + 4 cos B < 3 · 12 + 4 < 6, a
contradiction. Therefore 6 C = 30◦ .

Challenge. Prove that there

√
is a unique such √triangle (up to similarity), the
5−12 3
one for which cos A = 37 and cos B = 66−3 74
3
.

28. (E) Let a, b, and c denote the number of −1’s, 1’s, and 2’s in the sequence,
respectively. We need not consider the zeros. Then a, b, c are nonnegative
integers satisfying −a + b + 2c = 19 and a + b + 4c = 99. It follows that
a = 40 − c and b = 59 − 3c, where 0 ≤ c ≤ 19 (since b ≥ 0), so

x31 + x32 + · · · + x3n = −a + b + 8c = 19 + 6c.

The lower bound is achieved when c = 0 (a = 40, b = 59). The upper bound
is achieved when c = 19 (a = 21, b = 2). Thus m = 19 and M = 133, so
M/m = 7.
10 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME

29. (C) Let A, B, C, and D be the vertices of the tetrahedron. Let O be the
center of both the inscribed and circumscribed spheres. Let the inscribed
sphere be tangent to the face ABC at the point E, and let its volume be
V . Note that the radius of the inscribed sphere is OE and the radius of
the circumscribed sphere is OD. Draw OA, OB, OC, and OD to obtain
four congruent tetrahedra ABCO, ABDO, ACDO, and BCDO, each with
volume 1/4 that of the original tetrahedron. Because the two tetrahedra
ABCD and ABCO share the same base, 4ABC, the ratio of the distance
from O to face ABC to the distance from D to face ABC is 1/4; that is,
OD = 3 · OE. Thus the volume of the circumscribed sphere is 27V . Extend
DE to meet the circumscribed sphere at F . Then DF = 2 · DO = 6 · OE.
Thus EF = 2 · OE, so the sphere with diameter EF is congruent to the
inscribed sphere, and thus has volume V . Similarly each of the other three
spheres between the tetrahedron and the circumscribed sphere have volume
V . The five congruent small spheres have no volume in common and lie
entirely inside the circumscribed sphere, so the ratio 5V /27V is the prob-
ability that a point in the circumscribed sphere also lies in one of the small
spheres. The fraction 5/27 is closer to 0.2 than it is to any of the other choices.

.............................................................................
............ .........
.........
•A
.......
....... .......
. ... ...... .
....... ......
. . .. .... .
..... ..... ......
.....
.... .
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.. . ..
. . .... .... . .. .....
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. . .... . . . . . .....
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.
.
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•
..........................
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.... ... .. ..
..
C ..
...
...
..............................................................
.............................................................
.............................................................
..............................................................
.... .... . .
........... ...
...
.
.
...
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•
.... .. ...
.
..
....
....
....
....
D ...
....
...
...
....
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.....
...... . .. . .....
...... .....
....... ......
........ .......
.......... ........
................ .........
................................................................
 SOLUTIONS 1999 AHSME 11

30. (D) Let m + n = s. Then m3 + n3 + 3mn(m + n) = s3 . Subtracting the given

equation from the latter yields

s3 − 333 = 3mns − 99mn.

It follows that (s − 33)(s2 + 33s + 332 − 3mn) = 0, hence either s = 33 or

(m + n)2 + 33(m + n) + 332 − 3mn = 0. The second equation is equivalent
to (m − n)2 + (m + 33)2 + (n + 33)2 = 0, whose only solution, (−33, −33),
qualifies. On the other hand, the solutions to m+n = 33 satisfying the required
conditions are (0, 33), (1, 32), (2, 31), . . . , (33, 0), of which there are 34. Thus
there are 35 solutions altogether.