PART 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Let r and s be the roots of the equation x2 + 7x − 23 = 0. Find the value of r4 + s4 .

A. 3 B. 95 C. 1248 D. 7967 E. 10083

Answer: D

Solution. Using Vieta’s formula, r + s = −7 and rs = −23. Now,

2
(r + s)2 = (−7)2 r 2 + s2 = 952
r2 + s2 = 49 − 2rs r4 + s4 = 9025 − 2(rs)2
r2 + s2 = 49 − 2(−23) r4 + s4 = 9025 − 2(−23)2
r2 + s2 = 95 r4 + s4 = 7967.

2. Find the unique positive integer such that its square is equal to twenty-four more than
twice itself.

A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 6 E. 7

Answer: D

Solution. Let x be the number. Then

x2 = 24 + 2x
x2 − 2x − 24 = 0
(x − 6)(x + 4) = 0.

Therefore, the two possible answers are x = 6 and x = −4. However, x > 0. Hence, we
take x = 6.

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 3. Determine the acute angle between the minute and hour hands of the 12-hour clock at
9:48 in the morning.

A. 2◦ B. 4◦ C. 6◦ D. 8◦ E. 10◦

Answer: C

Solution. Using the formula, we have

11 11
θ = 30H − M = 30(9) − (48) = 270 − 264 = 6◦ .
2 2

4. An isosceles trapezoid W XY Z has W X = 16, Y Z = 30, XY = W Z, and an area of 552.

Determine the length of XY .

A. 23 B. 25 C. 27 D. 29 E. 31

Answer: B

Solution. Using the formula for the area of isosceles trapezoid, we can solve for the
height as follows:

1
A = (a + b)h
2
1
552 = (16 + 30)h
2
1104 = 46h
h = 24.

This means that

√ √
XY = 72 + 242 = 625 = 25.

5. Find the maximum value of 33 sin x + 56 cos x.

A. 65 B. 55 C. 45 D. 35 E. 25

Answer: A

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 Solution. Using the Cauchy–Schwarz Inequality, we have

(33 sin x + 56 cos x)2 ≤ (332 + 562 )(sin2 x + cos2 x)

(33 sin x + 56 cos x)2 ≤ 4225 · 1
33 sin x + 56 cos x ≤ 65.

6. Four points are randomly chosen from the vertices of a regular 14-sided polygon. Find
the probability that the four chosen points form a rectangle, including square.

3 4 5 6 7
A. B. C. D. E.
143 143 143 143 143

Answer: A

Solution. If a rectangle is inscribed in a regular 14-sided polygon, each diagonal of the

rectangle joins two diametrically opposite vertices of the 14-sided polygon. There are 7
lines joining opposite vertices of the 14-sided polygon, and for each such line there are 6
rectangles with that line as a diagonal, and 7 × 6 = 42. But this counts each rectangle
twice (since it has two diagonals), so the actual number of rectangles is 42 ÷ 2 = 21 and
the desired probability is
21 21 3
14 = = .


4
1001 143

7. How many positive numbers up to and including 2024 have no repeating digits?

A. 1233 B. 1242 C. 1249 D. 1746 E. 1753

Answer: C

Solution. Observe the following considerations:

for one-digit numbers : 9

for two-digit numbers : 9 × 9 = 81
for three-digit numbers : 9 × 9 × 8 = 648
for four-digit numbers : (1 × 9 × 8 × 7) + 7 = 511.

Therefore, the positive numbers up to and including 2024 with no repeating digits is

9 + 81 + 648 + 511 = 1249.

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 8. Hassan flips a fair coin six times. Compute the probability that the fifth coin flip is the
first coin flip that lands heads.

1 1 1 1 1
A. B. C. D. E.
4 8 16 32 64

Answer: D

Solution. Using the binomial

  probability,
 4 since 1 the first that lands heads is the fifth
1 5 1 1 1
coin flipped, we have × × × = .
5 1 2 2 32
9. A plane travels between two countries. The first half of the distance between the countries
is traveled at a constant speed of 800 mph, and the second half of the distance is traveled
at a a constant speed of 1200 mph. Find the average speed of the plane.

A. 600 mph B. 720 mph C. 840 mph D. 960 mph E. 1080 mph

Answer: D

Solution. For the first half, the plane took t1 = d/2

800
1
= 1600 hours and t2 = d/2
1200
= 1
2400
hours for the remaining half. Thus, the average speed of the plane is

d 4800d
average speed = = = 960 mph.
d d 5d
+
1600 2400

10. There are 6 white shirts, 7 black shirts, and 3 red shirts in a drawer. What is the proba-
bility that 3 shirts are the same colour if pulled out at random?

1 3 7 9 1
A. B. C. D. E.
10 10 10 10 5

Answer: A

Solution. The probability that 3 shirts are the same colour if pulled out at random
is

P (same color) = P (all white) + P (all black) + P (all red)

6 5 4 7 6 5 3 2 1
= · · + · · + · ·
16 15 14 16 15 14 16 15 14
336 1
= = .
3360 10

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 PART 2: OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS

11. Given that 9m + 2n ≤ 18 and m + 8n ≤ 14, determine the maximum possible value of
m + n.
16 1
Answer: or 3 or 3.2
5 5
Solution: Rearranging the second inequality, we have m ≤ 14 − 8n and substituting this
to the first inequality, we obtain

9(14 − 8n) + 2n ≤ 18 54
m+8 ≤ 14
35
126 − 72n + 2n ≤ 18
432
−70n ≤ −108 m+ ≤ 14
35
54 58
n≥ . m≤ .
35 35

Therefore, the maximum possible value can be seen from

54 58 112 16
m+n≤ + = = .
35 35 35 5

12. Let x be a real number. If a = 2024x + 1987, b = 2024x + 1989, and c = 2024x + 1991,
find the exact value of a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac.
Answer: 12
Solution: Observe that a = b − 2 and c = b + 2. Now,

1
a2 + b2 + c2 − ab − bc − ac = (a − b)2 + (b − c)2 + (c − a)2

2
1
(−2)2 + (−2)2 + (4)2

=
2
1
= (4 + 4 + 16)
2
= 12.

(a − b)(b − c)(c − a) 2024 a b c

13. If = , find the value of + + − 1.
(a + b)(b + c)(c + a) 2025 a+b b+c c+a
1
Answer:
4050
Solution: Let x = a + b, y = b + c, and z = c + a. Then

2024 (a − b)(b − c)(c − a) (z − y)(y − x)(x − z)

= =
2025 (a + b)(b + c)(c + a) xyz

and hence

a b c x−y+z y−z+x z−x+y

+ + −1= + + −1
a+b b+c c+a 2x 2y 2z

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

      
1 y−z 1 z−x 1 x−y
= − + − + − −1
2 2x 2 2y 2 2z
 
3 1 (z − y)(y − x)(x − z)
= − −1
2 2 xyz
 
3 1 2024
= − −1
2 2 2025
a b c 1
+ + −1= .
a+b b+c c+a 4050

14. The sides of a triangle are 8, 12 and 16 cm long. If θ is its smallest angle, what is sin θ?
√
15
Answer:
8
Solution: The smallest angle is the side opposite to the smallest leg of the triangle. Using
cosine law, we have

82 = 122 + 162 − 2(12)(16) cos θ

−336 = −384 cos θ
7
cos θ = .
8

Using the Pythagorean identity, we have

√
2 2 49 15 15
sin θ = 1 − cos θ = 1 − = =⇒ sin θ = .
64 64 8

1 1 1 1 c b a
15. If a + b + c = 2024 and + + = , find the value of + + .
a+b a+c b+c 92 a+b a+c b+c
Answer: 19
Solution: Multiplying both sides of the second equation by a + b + c, we have
   
1 1 1 1
(a + b + c) + + = (a + b + c)
a+b a+c b+c 92
a+b+c a+b+c a+b+c a+b+c
+ + =
a+b a+c b+c 92
c b a 2024
1+ +1+ +1+ =
a+b a+c b+c 92
c b a
+ + = 22 − 3
a+b a+c b+c
c b a
+ + = 19.
a+b a+c b+c

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 3 4 2024
16. Evaluate + + ··· + .
1! + 2! + 3! 2! + 3! + 4! 2022! + 2023! + 2024!
1 1
Answer: −
2 2024!
Solution: Note that for each k ≥ 1,

k+2 k+2
=
k! + (k + 1)! + (k + 2)! k![1 + (k + 1) + (k + 2)(k + 1)]
k+2
=
k!(k + 2)(k + 2)
1
=
k!(k + 2)
k+1
=
k!(k + 1)(k + 2)
(k + 2) − 1
=
(k + 2)!
k+2 1
= −
(k + 2)! (k + 2)!
1 1
= −
(k + 1)! (k + 2)!

Applying this to each of the term, we have a telescoping sum and the desired value is
     
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
− + − + ··· + − = − .
2! 3! 3! 4! 2023! 2024! 2 2024!

3n3 + 3
17. If m and n are positive integers such that m = 2 , find the value of m.
3n + n − 2
Answer: 3
Solution: Simplifying the equation we have,

3n3 + 3
m=
3n2 + n − 2
 2
3
(n+1)(n − n + 1)
m=
(3n − 2)(n+1)


3n2 − 3n + 3
m=
3n − 2
n(3n − 2) + 3 − n
m=
3n − 2
n
(3n − 2) 3−n
 
m= +
3n− 2

 
3n − 2
3−n
m=n+
3n − 2

3−n
It can be observe that when n = 3, then m = 3. Moreover, if n ̸= 3, the fraction
3n − 2

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 must also be a positive integer for m to be a positive integer as well. This means that

3−n
≥1
3n − 2
3 − n ≥ 3n − 2
4n ≤ 5
5
n≤
4

Since n is a positive integer, the only value that will satisfy 1 ≤ n ≤ 45 is when n = 1.
Substituting this to the given equation, we have m = 3. In either cases, m = 3.
1 1 1
18. Suppose that a and b are real numbers that satisfies the equation − = . Find
 2 a b 2a + b
a b
the value of + .
b a
9
Answer:
2
Solution: Note that

1 1 1
− =
a b 2a + b
b−a 1
=
ab 2a + b
2 2
b + ab − 2a = ab
b2 = 2a2 .

Furthermore, we have
2 2
a2 + b2
 
a b
+ =
b a ab
a + 2a2 b2 + b4
4
=
a2 b 2
a4 + 2a2 (2a2 ) + (2a2 )2
=
a2 (2a2 )
9a4
=
2a4
 2
a b 9
+ = .
b a 2

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 19. Let P be a point inside rectangle ABCD. If P D = 16, P C = 9, and P A = 15 cm, find
P B.
√
Answer: 5 2
Solution: In Euclidean geometry, the British flag theorem says that if a point P is chosen
inside a rectangle ABCD then the sum of the squares of the Euclidean distances from P
to two opposite corners of the rectangle equals the sum to the other two opposite corners.
As an equation,

P A2 + P C 2 = P B 2 + P D 2
152 + 92 = P B 2 + 162
50 = P B 2
√
5 2 = P B.

20. Let P (x) = x3 + 6x2 + 4x − 9. Let Q(x) = x3 + bx2 + cx + d and the roots of Q(x) be
four times of P (x). Determine the value of bc + d.
Answer: 960
Solution: Let m, n, p be the roots of polynomial P (x). By Vieta’s formula, m+n+p = −6,
mn + np + mp = 4, and mnp = 9. Let M, N, P be the roots of Q(x). By assumption,
M = 4m, N = 4n, and P = 4p. Thus,

m + n + p = −6 =⇒ M + N + P = −24
mn + np + mp = 4 =⇒ M N + N P + M P = 64
mnp = 9 =⇒ M N P = 576.

Consequently, b = 24, c = 64, and d = −576. Therefore, bc + d = (24)(64) − 576 = 960.

√ √ √ 1
21. It is known that a + b 3 + c 7 + d 21 = √ √ , find the value of a + b − c + d.
1+ 3+ 7
Answer: 5
1
Solution: Rationalizing the denominator of √ √ , we have
1+ 3+ 7
√ √
1 1 1− 3− 7
√ √ = √ √ · √ √
1+ 3+ 7 1+ 3+ 7 1− 3− 7
√ √
1− 3− 7
= √ √
1 − ( 3 + 7)2
√ √
1− 3− 7
= √
1 − (10 + 2 21)
√ √ √
7 + 3 − 1 9 − 2 21
= √ · √
9 + 2 21 9 − 2 21

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 √ √ √ √ √
9 7 + 9 3 − 9 − 14 3 − 6 7 + 2 21
=
√ √81 − 84
√
−9 − 5 3 + 3 7 + 2 21
=
−3
5√ √ 2√
=3+ 3− 7− 21
3 3
5 2 5 2
Hence, a = 3, b = , c = −1 and d = − . Therefore, a + b − c + d = 3 + + 1 − = 5.
3 3 3 3
22. On the xy-plane, find the number of triangles whose vertices have integer coordinates
(x, y) satisfying 1 ≤ x ≤ 4 and 1 ≤ y ≤ 4.
Answer: 516
Solution: There are 16 ordered pairs (x, y) of integers satisfying 1 ≤ x ≤ 4 and 1 ≤ y ≤ 4.
Thus C316 = 560 triangles can be formed. We must, however, delete those degenerate
triangles, i.e. sets of three points which are collinear. There are 4 horizontal lines of 4
points and 4 vertical lines of 4 points. These together produce (4+4)×C34 = 32 degenerate
triangles. Also, the points (1, 1), (2, 2), (3, 3), and (4, 4) are collinear, leading to C34 = 4
degenerate triangles, and so are the points (1, 4), (2, 3), (3, 2), and (4, 1). Finally, we also
need to delete the 4 degenerate triangles

{(1, 2), (2, 3), (3, 4)}, {(2, 1), (3, 2), (4, 3)}, {(1, 3), (2, 2), (3, 1)}, {(2, 4), (3, 3), (4, 2)}.

It follows that the answer is 560 − 32 − 4 − 4 − 4 = 516.

23. The 12 letters of ‘PHIMOPRELIMS’ are written on 12 cards (one letter on each card).
If three cards are randomly drawn, how many different combinations of the three letters
are there? (Order is not considered. For instance ‘IMO’ and ‘IOM’ are regarded to be
the same combination.)
Answer: 114
Solution: Note that there are 9 different letters, with ‘P’, ‘I’, and ‘M’ occurring twice.
If the three letters are distinct, there are C39 = 84 combinations. Otherwise, there are
either, two ‘P’s, two ‘I’s, or two ‘M’s, plus one of the remaining 10 letters. There are
3 × 10 = 30 such combinations. Hence the answer is 84 + 30 = 114.

24. A function f defined on the positive integers satisfies f (1) = 2024 and

f (1) + f (2) + · · · + f (n) = n2 f (n).

Find the value of f (2024).

2
Answer:
2025

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level

 Solution: Rearranging the given equation, we have

n2 f (n) = f (1) + f (2) + · · · + f (n)

(n2 − 1)f (n) = 2024 + f (2) + · · · + f (n − 1)
1
f (n) = 2 [2024 + f (2) + · · · + f (n − 1)]
n −1 
1 2 · 2024 2 · 2024 2 · 2024
= 2 + + ··· +
n −1 1·2 2·3 (n − 1)n
 
2 · 2024 1 1 1
= 2 + ··· +
n −1 1·2 2·3 (n − 1)n
     
2 · 2024 1 1 1 1 1
= 2 1− + − + −
n −1 2 2 3 n−1 n
 
2 · 2024 1
= 2 1−
n −1 n
2 · 2024 n−1
= ·
(n + 1)(n − 1) n
2 · 2024
f (n) =
n(n + 1)

2 · 2024 2
Therefore, f (2024) = = .
2024 · 2025 2025
25. A cube with an edge length of 8 is cut by a plane to form quadrilateral ABCD, where B
and D are the midpoints of two edges of the cube as shown. Determine the area of the
quadrilateral ABCD.

√
Answer: 32 6
Solution: Note that BD is simply the diagonal of the surface of the cube. Hence, BD =
√ √
8 2. Also, AC is the diagonal of the cube itself, i.e., AC = 8 3. Since AB = BC =
CD = AD = 8, quadrilateral ABCD is a rhombus. Consequently, its area is

1 1 √ √ √
A = d1 d2 = (8 2)(8 3) = 32 6.
2 2

PhIMO Heat Round VTAMPS 15.0 Set 1 Senior Secondary Level