Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / /75 of 297

, 2026

Algebra Difficulty 1.4 Junior Find the answer Canada

In the diagram, the number placed in each rectangle must equal
the sum of the numbers in the two rectangles directly below it. For
example, the rectangles containing 11 and 33 are directly below the rectangle
containing xx, and so x=1+3=4x=1+3=4. What is the value of yy?

Pick one

Solution

We begin by labelling the rectangles as shown below.

[[IMAGE0]]

In the diagram, p=9+2=11p=9+2=11. Since
p+q=18p+q=18, then q=1811=7q=18-11=7. Also, 2+r=q=72+r=q=7 and so r=72=5r=7-2=5. Since s=r+1=5+1=6s=r+1=5+1=6 and x=1+3=4x=1+3=4, then y=s+x=6+4=10y=s+x= 6+4=10.

Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,444 problems in a working order, from Junior Challenge level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: CEMC, University of Waterloo, licensed CC-BY-NC-4.0. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project.