Practice (90)

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Let integers $u$ and $v$ be two integral roots to the quadratic equation $x^2 + bx+c=0$ where $b+c=298$. If $u < v$, find the smallest possible value of $v-u$.

Find all the ordered integers $(a, b, c)$ which satisfy $a+b+c=450$ and $\sqrt{a+\sqrt{b}}+\sqrt{a-\sqrt{b}}=2c$.

The roots of $x^2+ax+b+1$ are positive integers. Show that $a^2+b^2$ is not a prime number.

Find all pairs of integers $(x,y)$ such that $$x^3+y^3=(x+y)^2$$.

Does there exist a polynomial $P(x)$ such that $P(1)=2015$ and $P(2015)=2016$?

Find $a$, $b$, so that $(x-1)^2$ divides $ax^4+bx^3+1$.

Find the least positive integer $n$ such that when $3^n$ is written in base $143$, its two right-most digits in base $143$ are $01$.


Find the number of integer pairs $(x, y)$ such that $x^2 + y^2 = 2019$.


If a square number's tens digit is $7$, what is its units digit?


There are $100$ lights lined up in a long room. Each light has its own switch and is currently off. The room has an entry door and an exit door. There are $100$ people lined up outside the entry door. Each light is numbered consecutively from $1$ to $100$. So is each person.

Person No. $1$ enters the room, switches on every light, and exits. Person No. $2$ enters and flips the switch on every second light (i.e. turn off lights $2$, $4$, $6$...). Person No. $3$ enters and flips the switch on every third light (i.e. toggle lights $3$, $6$, $9$...). This continues until all $100$ people have passed through the room. How many of the lights are on at the end?


Let $n^2$ be a square number, show that $n^2\equiv 0, 1\pmod{4}$.


Show that if $n^2$ is a square number, then $n^2\equiv 0, 1, 4, 9\pmod{16}$.

In plain English, this means that the remainder can only be $0$, $1$, $4$ or $9$ when a square number is divided by $16$.


Find, with proof, all pairs of positive integers $(n, d)$ with the following property: for every integer $S$, there exists a unique non-decreasing sequence of n integers $a_1$, $a_2$, $\cdots$, $a_n$ such that $a_1 + a_2 + \cdots + a_n = S$ and $a_n-a_1 = d$.


How many terms in this sequence are squares? $$1, 11, 111, 1111, \cdots $$


How many terms in this sequence are squares? $$4, 44, 444, 4444, \cdots$$


Let $N$ be an odd square number. Show that $N$'s tens digit must be even.


 Let $N$ be a square number. If its units digit is $6$, then its tens digit must be odd.


Let $N$ be a square number. If its tens digit is odd, then its units digit must be $6$.


Let $N$ be a square number. If its units digit is neither $4$ nor $6$, then its tens digit must be even.


A person eats $X ( > 1)$ cookies in $N$ days in the following way:

  • He eats $1$ plus $1/7$ of the remaining cookies on the $1^{st}$ day 
  • He eats $2$ plus $1/7$ of the remaining cookies on the $2^{nd}$ day
  • $\cdots$
  • Finally, he eats the last $N$ cookies on the $N^{th}$ day

What is the smallest possible value of $X$?


Let $n^2$ be a square number. Show that $n^2\equiv 0, \pm 1\pmod{5}$.


What is the tens digit of $321^{123}$?

Find the last two digits of $123^{321}$.

Determine the last two digits of $312^{123}$.

Let $n$ be any positive integer, show that $$(5n+1)(5n+2)(5n+3)(5n+4)\equiv -1 \pmod{25}$$