1987 AIME Problems

Problem 1
An ordered pair
base
to

of non-negative integers is called "simple" if the addition

in

requires no carrying. Find the number of simple ordered pairs of non-negative integers that sum
.

Solution

Problem 2
What is the largest possible distance between two points, one on the sphere of radius 19 with
center

and the other on the sphere of radius 87 with center

Solution
The distance between the two centers of the spheres can be determined via the distance formula in three
dimensions:

. The largest

possible distance would be the sum of the two radii and the distance between the two centers, making
it

Problem 3
By a proper divisor of a natural number we mean a positive integral divisor other than 1 and the number
itself. A natural number greater than 1 will be called "nice" if it is equal to the product of its distinct proper
divisors. What is the sum of the first ten nice numbers?
Solution

Problem 4
Find the area of the region enclosed by the graph of
Solution

Problem 5
Find

if

and

are integers such that

Solution
If we move the

is equal to
three.
Thus,

term to the left side, it is factorable:

. Since

and

are integers,

doesn't work either, so

, and
.

cannot equal a multiple of

. This leaves

, so

Problem 6
Rectangle

is divided into four parts of equal area by five segments as shown in the figure,

where
length of

, and
(in cm) if

cm and

is parallel to

. Find the

cm.

Solution

Problem 7
Let
triples

denote the least common multiple of positive integers

of positive integers for which

and . Find the number of ordered

, and

Solution

Problem 8
What is the largest positive integer

for which there is a unique integer

such that

Solution

Problem 9
Triangle

has right angle at

and

, and contains a point

. Find

for which

Solution

Problem 10
Al walks down to the bottom of an escalator that is moving up and he counts 150 steps. His friend, Bob,
walks up to the top of the escalator and counts 75 steps. If Al's speed of walking (in steps per unit time) is
three times Bob's walking speed, how many steps are visible on the escalator at a given time? (Assume
that this value is constant.)
Solution
Let the total number of steps be , the speed of the escalator be

and the speed of Bob be .

In the time it took Bob to climb up the escalator he saw 75 steps and also climbed the entire escalator.
Thus the contribution of the escalator must have been an addition

steps. Since Bob and the

escalator were both moving at a constant speed over the time it took Bob to climb, the ratio of their
distances covered is the same as the ratio of their speeds, so

Similarly, in the time it took Al to walk down the escalator he saw 150 steps, so the escalator must have
moved

steps in that time. Thus

Equating the two values of

so

or

we have
and

.
and

and

, the answer.

Problem 11
Find the largest possible value of

for which

is expressible as the sum of

consecutive positive

integers.
Solution
Let us write down one such sum, with

terms and first term

:
.

Thus

so

have

so

of

which are less than

is a divisor of

. However, because

we

. Thus, we are looking for large factors

. The largest such factor is clearly

indeed have the valid expression

; for this value of

, for which

we do

Problem 12
Let

be the smallest integer whose cube root is of the form

a positive real number less than

, where

is a positive integer and

is

. Find .

Solution

Problem 13
A given sequence

of distinct real numbers can be put in ascending order by means of one

or more "bubble passes". A bubble pass through a given sequence consists of comparing the second
term with the first term, and exchanging them if and only if the second term is smaller, then comparing the
third term with the second term and exchanging them if and only if the third term is smaller, and so on in
order, through comparing the last term,
the last term is smaller.

, with its current predecessor and exchanging them if and only if

The example below shows how the sequence 1, 9, 8, 7 is transformed into the sequence 1, 8, 7, 9 by one
bubble pass. The numbers compared at each step are underlined.

Suppose that

, and that the terms of the initial sequence

another and are in random order. Let

as

are distinct from one

, in lowest terms, be the probability that the number that begins

will end up, after one bubble pass, in the

place. Find

Solution

Problem 14
Compute

.
Solution

Problem 15
Squares
area

Solution

and

are inscribed in right triangle

and area

, as shown in the figures below. Find

if