AIMO SAMPLE PAPER

×c 2010 Australian Mathematics Trust

Directions to Students

• You have 4 hours and may answer as many questions as you can. This paper
contains 10 questions worth a total of 35 marks as indicated.

• Questions 1 to 8 have answers which are non-negative integers less

than 1000. Only the answers are required. Write them in the spaces provided
on this coversheet. If an answer is incorrect but correct comprehensible
working is provided, then some marks may still be awarded.
Questions 9 and 10 require written answers with proofs.

• Please be sure to write your name, year level, and school name on each page of
submitted written answers and attach these to this coversheet.

• Question 10 has an investigation associated with it which may be used to

determine prize winners. Marks for the investigation will only be awarded if
there are two or more students with the same highest score. You are strongly
advised to answer all the other questions before spending time on the
investigation.

• You must work on your own. You may use a ruler, compass, rough paper, graph
paper and eraser but calculators, books and other aids are not allowed.
2 AIMO SAMPLE PAPER

1. A point P lies inside a square ABCD of side 120. Let F be a point on CD so that
PF is perpendicular to CD. P is equidistant from A, B, F . Find PA. [2 marks]

2. If 935712× N is a perfect cube for some positive integer N , find the minimum
value of N . [2 marks]

3. A, B, C are digits. The 3-digit number ACB is divisible by 3, BAC is divisible

by 4, BCA is divisible by 5, and CBA has an odd number of factors. Find ABC.
[3 marks]

4. While waiting for the bishop to arrive at St Stephen’s Anglican Church to lead
a service, every person present greeted every other person with a hand shake.
Arriving late, the bishop shook hands with only some of the people as he made
his way in. Altogether, 1933 handshakes had taken place. How many people
shook hands with the bishop? [3 marks]

5. In the grid shown, a number is to be placed in each small square so that the
product of all three numbers in any row, column, or diagonal is the same
positive number. Find the sum of x and y.
...............
................................
..................................
.................
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
.
...............
................ .
................. ..................
................................. .
... ...
32 ... ...

x y
.. .. .. ..
...............
...................................................
..................................
.. .. .. ..
.
..
16 .
..
8 .
..
.
..
...............
.................................................
.................................
[3 marks]

6. An integer a has just two digits. When the digits are reversed the resulting number
b is p% larger than a. Given that p is an odd integer find the largest value of p.
[4 marks]

7. Let a, b, c, d, e be a five-term geometric sequence where a, b, c, d, e are integers

and 0 < a < b < c < d < e < 100. What is the sum of all possible values for c?
[4 marks]

8. In triangle ABC, ×ABC = 138◦ and ×ACB = 24◦. Point D is on AC so that

×BDC = 60◦ and point E is on AB so that ×ADE = 60◦. If ×DEC = x◦, find x.

[4 marks]
AIMO SAMPLE PAPER 3

9. Let ABC be an equilateral triangle with AB = x. On the extension of side BC,

we define points AJ (on the same side as B) and AJJ (on the same side as C)
such that AJB = CA JJ = y. Similarly, on the extension of side CA, we define B J
(on the same side as C) and BJJ (on the same side as A) such that BJC = ABJJ =
y, while on the extension of side AB, we define C J (on the same side as A) and
CJJ (on the same side as B) such that C J A = BC JJ = y.
(a) Prove that the points AJ, BJJ, C J , AJJ, BJ, CJJ lie on a circle.
(b) If x and y are positive integers, determine the smallest integer value for R2
where R is the radius of that circle. [5 marks]

10. What is the maximum number of terms in an arithmetic sequence of primes

with common difference 6? [5 marks]

Investigation
Find the minimum common difference for an increasing arithmetic sequence
of 6 primes.
AIMO SAMPLE PAPER: SOLUTIONS
1. Let E be the midpoint of AB and let PA = x.

A
6. ..0.
.
. E. .
.
..... .
B
6 .
.

0 . .
. .
.
. .... .
. . . ..... .
. . . ... .
. . . .. . .
. . .. .. ..
..
.
x . . ...... .
..
..
.

120
.
.
.
.. .
P
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. . .
. . .
.
.
..
x .
.
..
.
.
.
..
......... .
. . .
. .. . ..
.
............
............................ ...................
............................. ......................
.....................
D F C
Triangles AEP and BEP are congruent (SSS). Hence ×AEP = ×BEP = 90◦.
So the line through P parallel to AB and CD must be perpendicular to PE and
PF .
Therefore EPF is a straight line of length 120 and EP = 120 − x.
From Pythagoras Theorem, (120 − x)2 + 602 = x2. 1
Hence 14400 − 240x + x + 3600 = x , 18000 = 240x, and x = 75.
2 2
1

2. Since 935712 = 25 × 34 × 192 and 935712 N is a perfect cube, 1

×
at least one prime factor of N must be 2, at least two prime factors must be 3,
and at least one prime factor must be 19.
Hence the minimum value of N is 2 × 32 × 19 = 342. 1

3. Since BCA is divisible by 5, A = 0 or 5. But ACB is a 3-digit number, so A = 5.

1
Since 4 divides BAC, 10A + C = 50 + C is a multiple of 4, so C = 2 or 6.
Since 3 divides ACB, 3 also divides A + B + C = 5 + B + C.
If C = 2, then B = 2 or 5 or 8.
If C = 6, then B = 1 or 4 or 7. 1
Thus there are 6 possibilities for CBA: 225, 255, 285, 615, 645,
675. Of these only 225, a perfect square, has an odd number of
factors.
Hence ABC is 522. 1

4. If there were n people at the church waiting for the bishop and every person
shook hands with every other person, then there −were n(n 1)/2 handshakes
before he arrived. 1
− ≈ ≈
Now n(n 1)/2 1933. Hence n 3866. So n 62.
2

61, then the≈bishop shook hands with at least 1933

If n ≤ − 61 60/2 = 103 people,
which is more than 61 and therefore impossible. × 1
If n ≥ 63, then the number of handshakes before the bishop arrived was at
least 63 × 62/2 = 1953, which is more than 1933 and therefore impossible.
So the number of people the bishop shook hands with was 1933 − 62 × 61/2 =
1933 − 1891 = 42. 1
AIMO SAMPLE PAPER: 5
SOLUTIONS

5. Method 1
Let A, B, C, D be the missing numbers as indicated.
................
.................................
.................................
..................
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
.
. A B C .
.
................................
.
.
.
..................
.................................................
. . . .
.. .. .. ..
. x 32 y . .
...................................................
. .
.
.
................................................
..
.
16 8 D ..
.
...
.
..
.
. . . .
................................................
.................................................

Then

ABC = 32AD (1)

ABC = 32 × 16 C = 512C (2)
ABC = 32xy (3)
ABC = 16 × 8 D = 128D (4)
ABC = 16Ax (5)
ABC = 32 × 8 × B = 256B (6)

From (4) and (1), ABC = 128D = 128 × BC/32 = 4BC. So A = 4.

1
From (6), AC = 256. So C = 64.
From (2), AB = 512. So B = 128. 1
From (1), D = BC/32 = 256.
From (5), x = BC/16 = 512.
From (3), y = ABC/32x = 2.
Thus x + y = 514. 1

Method 2

Let P be the common product and A, B, C, D the missing numbers as indicated

above.
Then B = P , C = P , D = P , and A = P = 8×16 = 4. 1
8×32 16×32 8×1 32×D 32
6
P
= 8×32×16×P32 .
Also A = B×C
So P = 8×32×16×32
4
= 32 × 32 × 32, 1
x= =P 32×32×32
= 16 × 32 = 512, and
16×A 16×4

y= P
= 32×32×32×512
32×x
32
= 2.
Hence x + y = 514. 1

Method 3
If we express each number in the given grid as a power of 2, then solving the
original grid with constant products is equivalent to solving the corresponding
grid of exponents with constant row, column, and diagonal sums.
 Let S be the common sum and let a, b, c, d, X, Y be the exponents base 2 of the
original corresponding missing numbers as indicated.
.......
...............
..................
................
..................
................
.........
. . . .
. . . .
.
. a .
.
. .................
.......
................
b
. ..........
...............
.
. c
..........
.
.
.
................
........
...
.
X ...
.
5 ...
.
Y ...
.
.
.......
................ .
.................
................ .
.................
................
........ .
. . . .
.. .. . .
. .
.
. 4 .
. 3 .
. d .
.
.......
................
.................
................
.................
................
........

Then b = S − 8, c = S − 9, d = S − 7, a = S − 5 − d = S − 5 − S +7 = 2.
Also a = S b c = S S + 8 S + 9 = 17 S. 1
Therefore S−= − S − a−−
15, X = − 4 = 9, Y = S − X 5 = 1. 1
9 1 −
So x = 2 = 512−and y = 2 = 2.
Hence x + y = 514. 1

6. Let a = 10x + y and b = 10y + x where x and y are non-zero digits.

Then y > x > 0 and b = (1 + p 100
)a.

So 100b = (100 + p)a, 1000y + 100x = 1000x + 100y + p(10x + y), 900(y− x) =
p(10x + y). 1

Now y − x = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8. Also 10x + y must divide 900(y − 1

x). If y − x = 1, then 10x + y can only be 12 or 45.
If y − x = 2, then 10x + y can only be 24.
If y − x = 3, then 10x + y can only be 25 or 36.
If y − x = 4, then 10x + y can only be 15 or 48.
If y − x = 7, then 10x + y can only be 18.
If y − x = 5, 6, or 8, then 10x + y has no possible value. 1

Of these possible values for 10x + y, only 12, 24, 36, and 48 give an odd value of p
and in each case that is 75. Hence the largest value of p is 75. 1

7. The
n
common ratio of the sequence is the fraction b , which we write as in lowest
a m
terms with n > m.
Then e = a × nm44 . So m4 divides a. Hence a = km4, where k is a positive integer,
and the sequence becomes km4, km3n, km2n2, kmn3, kn4 with kn4 < 100. 1
If n > 4, then kn4 ≥ n4 > 256 > 100. So n ≤ 3.
If n = 3, then 81k < 100, so k = 1. Also m = 1 or 2.
If m = 1, then the sequence is (1, 3, 9, 27, 81).
If m = 2, then the sequence is (16, 24, 36, 54, 81). 1

If n = 2, then m = 1 and 16k < 100. So k = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Thus there are six

sequences: (1, 2, 4, 8, 16), (2, 4, 8, 16, 32), (3, 6, 12, 24, 48), (4, 8, 16, 32, 64), (5,
10, 20, 40, 80) and (6, 12, 24, 48, 96). 1

The sum of all values of c is 9 + 36 +4 +8 + 12 + 16 + 20 + 24 = 129. 1

8. Method
1
A ..... .
..... ...
... ...... .
. ...... .
.. .
... . ..
... ..
..
.... ..
. ... . .... . .
60◦ ◦..D
.. . .
. . .
. ... .. .
. ... . . .
.. . .. .
. ...
.
.
.
. .
60◦ . . .

.
. . . ..
.
60 ..
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....
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.
.
....
.
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....
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....
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....
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..
..
42 .....
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..
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.. .
..

..
.........
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.......
....
....
..... ◦ .

.
.
. ◦ ..

24.............. .

. .
..
....
........ .....
............
..............................
....................................
................................... ...................
............................. ...................... .............. ...
............................... ...................
...................................
...................................
....................................
....................................
...................................
...................................
.......................
........
F B ..
.....
.... . C
The diagram shows the given information with CB extended to F and ×ABF =
180◦ − ×ABC = 42◦.
From the construction of points D and E, ×BDE = 60◦. 1
Thus DE is the bisector of BDA. Therefore E is equidistant from DA and DB.
×

1 1

... . . ..
. . .
. .
. . .
. ..
..
.
. .. . .
.
.
. .
.
Now ×DBF = ×BDC + ×BCD = 60◦ + 24. ◦ = 84◦. So ×DBA =
.
.
42◦ and AB is
. .
. . . .
.
. .. . 60 .
..
.
.
. ..
..60
. .
. .
. .
.
.
the bisector of ×DBF . Therefore E is equidistant from BF and BD.

Thus E is equidistant from CA and CF . Hence CE is the bisector of ×ACF , so

×DCE = 12◦. Therefore, ×DEC = 180◦ − 120◦ − 12◦ = 48◦. So x = 48.

Method 2
A ... .. . G .
. .. .
. . ... . ...
 ...
..
.

.
.
.. . 60
..

−
1
2

..
.. .
. .. . ◦ .
. ... ..
.. .. . 60 .
.. . . . . .
. ..
..
...
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.
.
.
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.. .
...
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..
.
.
.
.
.
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.
. .
.......
.
.
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.
..
....
..... ...

.... .
 ..
....
......
.... ..
...

. D ..
...
.

.
...

..
.
..
Method 3
.
. .. .
G
A ..... .... . . . . ... ..
.

. ....... . . ..
. . ....
. .. .
..
.
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......... .
.
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.
..
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..
.
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.
.
..
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....
... . . D . . .
... .
.
.
...
..
.
60◦
◦ ... .. .. .
....
..
.
.
. .
. .
.

.. .
60. . . . ◦.
.... ..
...
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. .
.60 .. .
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.. . . .. .
. ..
....
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. 60◦. .
.
...... .
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E ..
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.
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.
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.
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.. . . . . ... . . ...
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......
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.
. .
. ..
.. . ..
...
. 60
..
.

24 ..
....
......
....
..... . .
...
........
.... ... ◦
.......... .
.. . .. . ....
......
. ◦
.. .

..................
....................................
.......................................
.......................................
.......................................
....................................... ............... .
.................................. 1
−

B C

From the construction of points D and E, ×BDE = 60◦.

Let G be the intersection of the extension of line ED and the line through B at
◦ ×GDC = 60◦◦ = ×GBC, BDGC is a cyclic
60
Then to ×BC.
BGCSince
= ×BDC = 60 . Hence ×GCB = 180◦ quadrilateral.
60◦ 60◦ = 60◦ and
GB = GC.
From the sum of the angles in quadrilateral DEBC, ×DEB = 360◦ − 138◦ − 120◦
24◦ = 78◦. −
◦ ◦ ◦
Also GBE = ABC − GBC = 138 60 = 78 .
× × ×

Therefore triangle BGE is isosceles and so GE = GB. 1

◦
Thus E, B, C lie on a circle with centre G. So BEC = BGC
× 1 ×
2
= 30 .
Finally, ×DEC = ×DEB − ×CEB = 78◦ − 30◦ = 48◦. So x = 48.
1
 .
.
. .
. .
.
.

.... . .
.
.....
....
....... .
....

Method 4

A ............. . 1
.... . .
..
.. ..
. .....
. ...
. .
.
..
. .. .
.
.. ..
.. ... . ...
. . .
.
.
.

60.◦. . .. .. . .
 ..
. .
.
.
60 .
. .
. .. . .
G
......
..

..
.
. ◦. 60◦.... . .. .
 .. . . .
. ..
... ....... .. .
.
.. . . . . . .. . . . .
.
... ........ ..... . . .
..
.... . . . . .
.... .... ..
. .
. ..
.. . . . . . .. ... .
..
...... .. .
.. . ...... ...... .......
...
.... . .
. ........
....
..........
.. . .. ....
........ . ....
.... .. .....
...
..
. . .. .. 6 . .
.
.
.. .. ... ..
....
24 ...
0. .
....
.... . ....
......
..... .... .....
....
.. .............. .. ....
...... ..
........ .
.. .. . ....... . ....
....
.... . ....... ....... ..
.... ◦
..... ...
.
78 ...................
.....................................
.......................................
.......................................
....................................... ......................
.. ....................................
.......................................
B C
From the construction of points D and E, ×BDE = 60◦.
Let G be the point on AC so that ×EBG = 60◦.
Then ×GBC = 138◦ − 60◦ = 78◦ and ×BGC = 180◦ − 78◦ − 24◦ = 78◦.
So OBCG is isosceles.
Since ×EBG + ×EDG = 180◦, quadrilateral EBGD is cyclic.
Hence ×BEG = ×BDG = 60◦ and ×BDE = ×BGE = 60◦.
So OBEG is equilateral.
Therefore triangles ECB and ECG are congruent. Hence EC bisects ×BCG.
From ODEC, ×DEC = 180◦ − 120◦ − 12◦ = 48◦. So x = 48.
Method 5
A ...... .
..... .
..... .
.. .
..
. . ...
..
.
.. .
...
. .
. ...
.. .
.
.
. ..
.. .
.. .
.
.
D
. .
. .. . . 60. .. .... . .
.
◦ . ◦. .
. .
. .
. 60 .
.. . .. .
... . .
.. . . . .
.. .. . . . .
.... .
.. . ..
.. ..
.
. ... .......
..
....
..... .
.. ..
....
..
. .. . .. . . .
.
E ... ..
.
...
......
....
.... .
..... . .
.
.
. ........
. . .... ....
....... ...
......
. .... .
.
. . .... . . ... ....
....
.............
....
. ....
......
......
.. .... .. ..
.
. .
. .. .. . .
. .
. . .. .
.

24 ............ .

........
....
.... .
..

.
...
.. . .. .
.. . .
..
.

1
−
.
. .

. ... .
.
1
..
.........
... ........
....
......
........
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.
. . ... .
.
... ....... ◦
........
.... .. . .
 ...
....
....
..... .. . .

..
. .

C
..
. .
.
..
.
. . .. ..
.. ... .

C y A. ..
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
.. B. .
. y .. . . .
.
. . ..
.
.
.
... y ..
 .
. .
..
..
.
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.. .
. .
.
..

. .
M. .
.
.. .
.
C
 J
.
A. ..J..J B
.. .
.
. . . . ... .
...
.
.
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.
.
.
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.
.
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..
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.
. ...
.. .. . ...
..
.
... ... .
.
.
.. .
. ...... .
.. . ..
.
. x .
. .
O
. . . . ...
.
..
.
.
..
..
. . .... .. . . ........ . 2 .
. .
. . . .. . . .. . ..
. .. .
. . .. . .
..
. .. .
. .. . . .
. .. . . ..
. .
.. .. .. ... ..
. . . .
. ... ..
. .
... ............ . ...
....... . ....
. ..
......
..........
............. ............
 (b) Let M be the midpoint of BC. Then AM is perpendicular to BC.
From Pythagoras Theorem, AM 2 = x2 − ( x )2 = 3x2 .
2 4 √
3x 1
As O is also the centroid of OABC, we have OM = AM = × . 1 1

Hence 3 3 2

2 J 2 J 2
x2
2 x 2 x2 x2 x2
2 2
R = OA = + = +( + = + + xy + = + xy + y .
OM MA 12 y) 12 y 3

2 4
1
For this to be an integer, x must be a multiple of 3. The smallest integer value for
R2 is obtained when x = 3 and y = 1 and we get R2 = 3 +3 +1 = 7. 1

Method 2
(a) In the equilateral triangle ABC, the three medians are also the altitudes
and they meet at a point O. 1
Let M be the midpoint of BC.

A .
.... .. ..
.. . .. . ..
.. . .. . .
.
. . . ..
. .
. .. .. .....
.
.... . .. .
.
.
x ..
.
..
.... .
.
. ...
. .. .
.
.. . . ..
... . . .
.
.. .
.. . .
.. . .
.O . ..
.
...
. .
. .. . . ...
. .. . . ...
.... . . .....
. .
.....................
............................... ......... ..............
............... ..................
............
................................. ...
..........................
x .

AJ y B 2 M C
From Pythagoras Theorem, AM 2 = x2 − ( x )2 = 3x2 .
2 4 √3x
As O is the centroid of OABC, we have OM = 1 AM = 1 × . 1
Hence 3 3 2

x2
OAJ = OM + MA
2 J 2 x2 x2 + x2 + xy + y2 =
+ y) = 2
+ xy + y2.
= 12 4 3
2 x
+(
12 2
1

Thus OAJ = . x23 + xy + y 2.

Similary all of OB J , OC J, OAJJ , OB JJ, OC JJ equal . x2 + xy + y 2. So
3
the points AJ , B JJ, C J, AJJ, B J , C JJ lie on a circle with centre O.
1
(b) For R2 = x2 + xy + y2 to be an integer, x must be a multiple of 3. The smallest
3
integer value for R2 is obtained when x = 3 and y = 1 and we get R2 = 3+3+1 = 7.
1
10. Method 1
The primes 5, 11, 17, 23, 29 form an arithmetic sequence with common
difference
6. 1
So 5 terms are possible.
All terms in an arithmetic sequence of more than one prime with common
difference 6 must be odd. So the last digit of each term is 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9. 1

The following table shows the last digit of all the terms in a 6-term sequence.

First term Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth

1 7 3 9 5 1
3 9 5 1 7 3
5 1 7 3 9 5
7 3 9 5 1 7
9 5 1 7 3 9

1
In each case there is a term which is greater than 5 and ends in 5 and therefore
is not a prime. 1
So no 6-term sequence of primes is possible and the maximum number of
terms is 5. 1

Method 2
Suppose p, p + 6, p + 12, ... , is an arithmetic sequence of primes with common
difference 6. 1
We write the remainders when the terms are divided by 5. 1
There are 5 possible sequences of remainders: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 0, ... ; 1, 2, 3, 4, 0, 1,
... ;
2, 3, 4, 0, 1, 2, ... ; 3, 4, 0, 1, 2, 3, ... ; 4, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, ... . 1
The term corresponding to remainder 0 will not be prime unless it is 5. So the
only way to get an arithmetic sequence of primes with common difference 6 is
to start with 5.
Thus the sequence is 5, 11, 17, 23, 29, 35, . . . . 1
Only the first 5 terms are primes. Hence 5 is the maximum number of terms in
an arithmetic sequence of primes with common difference 6. 1

Investigation
An arithmetic sequence of 6 primes has at least 3 consecutive terms that are
odd, so the common difference is even.
If the common difference is not a multiple of 3, then the corresponding
sequence of remainders from division by 3 is all of 0, 1, 2 repeated in some
order. So the sequence of primes would have at most 3 terms.
If the common difference is not a multiple of 5, then the corresponding
sequence of remainders from division by 5 is all of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 repeated in some
order. So the sequence of primes would have at most 5 terms.
The least even number that is a multiple of 3 and 5 is 30. Therefore the
common difference is at least 30.
The sequence 7, 37, 67, 97, 127, 157 is an arithmetic sequence of primes with
common difference 30.
Hence an arithmetic sequence of 6 primes has a minimum common difference
of 30.