Maths Olympiad Prep

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Stage 1 · Combinatorics

10 problems · · mathsolympiadprep.com

The answer key prints on its own page at the end.

  1. In the diagram, how many of the shapes are triangles?

    1. A44
    2. B55
    3. C66
    4. D77
    5. E88

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  2. In the diagram, how many of the 2424 circles are shaded?

    1. A1010
    2. B1212
    3. C1414
    4. D1616
    5. E1818

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  3. How many ☐ symbols are in the figure?

    2424
    2020
    1515
    1717
    2525

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  4. The graph shows the number of text messages received by Tanner in a given week.


    Hide/Reveal Description of Texts

    Monday, 30
    Tuesday, 28
    Wednesday, 20
    Thursday, 10
    Friday, 50
    Saturday, 45
    Sunday, 40

    On what day did Tanner receive the most text messages?

    1. AFriday\textrm{Friday}
    2. BTuesday\textrm{Tuesday}
    3. CThursday\textrm{Thursday}
    4. DSaturday\textrm{Saturday}
    5. EWednesday\textrm{Wednesday}

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  5. Based on the graph shown, which sport is played by the most students?


    Hide/Reveal Description of Students Playing Sports

    Hockey, 40
    Basketball, 30
    Soccer, 50
    Volleyball, 20
    Badminton, 10

    1. Ahockey\text{hockey}
    2. Bbasketball\text{basketball}
    3. Csoccer\text{soccer}
    4. Dvolleyball\text{volleyball}
    5. Ebadminton\text{badminton}

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  6. In the diagram, the pie chart shows the results of a survey asking students to choose their favourite fruit.

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  7. The faces of a cube are labelled with 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 dots.
    Three of the faces are shown.

    What is the total number of dots on the other three faces?

    1. A66
    2. B88
    3. C1010
    4. D1212
    5. E1515

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  8. A six-sided die has the numbers one to six on its sides. What is the probability of rolling a five?

    1. A26\frac{2}{6}
    2. B16\frac{1}{6}
    3. C56\frac{5}{6}
    4. D36\frac{3}{6}
    5. E46\frac{4}{6}

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  9. The graph shows the number of apples that each of five students
    ate during a week.

    Which student ate the greatest number of apples?

    1. ADae
    2. BJoe
    3. CEtta
    4. DSusie
    5. EVinh

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

  10. A pentagon is divided into 5 equal sections, as shown.

    An arrow is attached to the centre of the pentagon. The arrow is spun once. What is the probability that the arrow stops in the section numbered 4?

    1. A35\frac{3}{5}
    2. B12\frac{1}{2}
    3. C45\frac{4}{5}
    4. D14\frac{1}{4}
    5. E15\frac{1}{5}

    Combinatorics Solution and answer checking →

Answer key — Stage 1 · Combinatorics

Worked solutions for every problem are on the site, one page per problem.

  1. CC open
  2. BB open
  3. EE open
  4. AA open
  5. CC open
  6. DD open
  7. BB open
  8. DD open
  9. AA open
  10. CC open

Problems belong to the competitions that set them and are reproduced from open datasets under their licences; every problem page names its source. Free to copy for classroom use.