Maths Olympiad Prep

Library / UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls /13 of 31

UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls, 2018

Number theory Difficulty 3.0 AMC 10/12 Prove it United Kingdom

(a) Write down the full factorisation of the expression a2−b2a^2 - b^2.
(i) Show that 359999359999 is not prime.
(ii) Show that 249919249919 is not prime.
Hint: You can use your factorisation of a2−b2a^2 - b^2 if you like.

(b) Write down the full factorisation of a2+2ab+b2a^2 + 2ab + b^2.
(i) Show that 90060019006001 is not prime.
(ii) Show that 1144911449 is not prime.

We don't reproduce this publisher's solutions. Their own solution is here — work the problem first.
Want a route through all this instead of an archive? The track puts 2,604 problems in a working order, from Junior Challenge level to the IMO shortlist.

Source: UK Mathematics Trust, licensed © UK Mathematics Trust; past papers published free at ukmt.org.uk. Statement reproduced verbatim; metadata (topic, difficulty) added by this project. Solutions are the publisher's, linked not copied.