Difference between revisions of "1956 AHSME Problems"

Revision as of 01:33, 23 October 2014

Problem 1

The value of $x + x(x^x)$ when $x = 2$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 16 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 18 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 36 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 64$

Problem 2

Mr. Jones sold two pipes at $\textdollar{ 1.20}$ each. Based on the cost, his profit one was

$20$ % and his loss on the other was $20$ %. On the sale of the pipes, he:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{broke even}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{lost }4\text{ cents} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{gained }4\text{ cents}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{lost }10\text{ cents}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{gained }10\text{ cents}$

Solution

Problem 3

The distance light travels in one year is approximately $5,870,000,000,000$ miles. The distance light travels in $100$ years is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 587 * 10^8\text{ miles}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 587 * 10^{10}\text{ miles}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 587*10^{-10}\text{ miles} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ 587 * 10^{12} \text{ miles} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 587* 10^{ - 12} \text{ miles}$

Solution

Problem 4

A man has $\textdollar{10,000 }$ to invest. He invests $\textdollar{4000}$ at 5% and $\textdollar{3500}$ at 4%. In order to have a yearly income of $\textdollar{500}$ , he must invest the remainder at:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 6\%\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 6.1\%\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 6.2\%\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6.3\%\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 6.4\%$

Solution

Problem 5

A nickel is placed on a table. The number of nickels which can be placed around it, each tangent to it and to two others is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 5 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 6 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 8 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12$

Solution

Problem 6

In a group of cows and chickens, the number of legs was 14 more than twice the number of heads. The number of cows was:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 5 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 7 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 12 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 14$

Solution

Problem 7

The roots of the equation $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ will be reciprocal if:

$\textbf{(A)}\ a = b \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ a = bc \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ c = a \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ c = b \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ c = ab$

Solution

Problem 8

If $8\cdot2^x = 5^{y + 8}$ , then when $y = - 8,x =$

$\textbf{(A)}\ - 4 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ - 3 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 0 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 8$

Solution

Problem 9

Simplify $\left[ \sqrt [3]{\sqrt [6]{a^9}} \right]^4\left[ \sqrt [6]{\sqrt [3]{a^9}} \right]^4$ ; the result is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ a^{16} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ a^{12} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ a^8 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ a^4 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ a^2$

Solution

Problem 10

A circle of radius $10$ inches has its center at the vertex $C$ of an equilateral $\triangle ABC$ and passes through the other two vertices. The side $AC$ extended through $C$ intersects the circle at $D$ . The number of degrees of $\angle ADB$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 15^{\circ} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 30^{\circ} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 60^{\circ} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 90^{\circ} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 120^{\circ}$

Solution

Problem 11

The expression $1 - \frac {1}{1 + \sqrt {3}} + \frac {1}{1 - \sqrt {3}}$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1-\sqrt{3}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ -\sqrt{3}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \sqrt{3}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 1+\sqrt{3}$

Solution

Problem 12

If $x^{ - 1} - 1$ is divided by $x - 1$ the quotient is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{x-1}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{-1}{x-1}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{1}{x}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ -\frac{1}{x}$

Solution

Problem 13

Given two positive integers $x$ and $y$ with $x < y$ . The percent that $x$ is less than $y$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{100(y-x)}{x}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{100(x-y)}{x}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{100(y-x)}{y}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ 100(y-x) \textbf{(E)}\ 100(x - y)$

Solution

Problem 14

The points $A,B,C$ are on a circle $O$ . The tangent line at $A$ and the secant $BC$ intersect at $P, B$ lying between $C$ and $P$ . If $\overline{BC} = 20$ and $\overline{PA} = 10\sqrt {3}$ , then $\overline{PB}$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 5 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10\sqrt {3} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 20 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 30$

Solution

Problem 15

The root(s) of $\frac {15}{x^2 - 4} - \frac {2}{x - 2} = 1$ is (are):

$\textbf{(A)}\ -5\text{ and }3\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \pm 2\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2\text{ only}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ -3\text{ and }5\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 3\text{ only}$

Solution

Problem 16

The sum of three numbers is $98$ . The ratio of the first to the second is $\frac {2}{3}$ , and the ratio of the second to the third is $\frac {5}{8}$ . The second number is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 15 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 20 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 30 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 32 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 33$

Solution

Problem 17

The fraction $\frac {5x - 11}{2x^2 + x - 6}$ was obtained by adding the two fractions $\frac {A}{x + 2}$ and $\frac {B}{2x - 3}$ . The values of $A$ and B$$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) must be, respectively:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 5x,-11\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ -11,5x\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ -1,3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3,-1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 5,-11$

Solution

Problem 18

If $10^{2y} = 25$ , then $10^{ - y}$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ -\frac{1}{5}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1}{625}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{1}{50}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{1}{25}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac{1}{5}$

Solution

Problem 19

Two candles of the same height are lighted at the same time. The first is consumed in $4$ hours and the second in $3$ hours. Assuming that each candle burns at a constant rate, in how many hours after being lighted was the first candle twice the height of the second?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{3}{4}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 2\frac{2}{5}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2\frac{1}{2}$

Solution

Problem 20

If $(0.2)^x = 2$ and $\log 2 = 0.3010$ , then the value of $x$ to the nearest tenth is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ - 10.0 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ - 0.5 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ - 0.4 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ - 0.2 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 10.0$

Solution

Problem 21

If each of two intersecting lines intersects a hyperbola and neither line is tangent to the hyperbola, then the possible number of points of intersection with the hyperbola is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2\text{ or }3\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2\text{ or }4\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 3\text{ or }4\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2,3,\text{ or }4$

Solution

Problem 22

Jones covered a distance of $50$ miles on his first trip. On a later trip he traveled $300$ miles while going three times as fast. His new time compared with the old time was:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{three times as much} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{twice as much} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{the same} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{half as much} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{a third as much}$

Solution

Problem 23

About the equation $ax^2 - 2x\sqrt {2} + c = 0$ , with $a$ and $c$ real constants, we are told that the discriminant is zero. The roots are necessarily:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{equal and integral}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{equal and rational}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{equal and real} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{equal and irrational} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{equal and imaginary}$

Solution

Problem 24

In the figure $\overline{AB} = \overline{AC}$ , $\angle BAD = 30^{\circ}$ , and $\overline{AE} = \overline{AD}$ .

$[asy] unitsize(20); defaultpen(linewidth(.8pt)+fontsize(8pt)); pair A=(3,3),B=(0,0),C=(6,0),D=(2,0),E=(5,1); draw(A--B--C--cycle); draw(A--D--E); label("$A$",A,N); label("$B$",B,W); label("$C$",C,E); label("$D$",D,S); label("$E$",E,NE);[/asy]$

$\textbf{(A)}\ 7\frac{1}{2}^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 10^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 12\frac{1}{2}^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 15^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 20^{\circ}$

Solution

Problem 25

The sum of all numbers of the form $2k + 1$ , where $k$ takes on integral values from $1$ to $n$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ n^2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ n(n+1)\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ n(n+2)\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ (n+1)^2\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ (n+1)(n+2)$

Solution

Problem 26

Which one of the following combinations of given parts does not determine the indicated triangle?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{base angle and vertex angle; isosceles triangle} \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{vertex angle and the base; isosceles triangle} \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{the radius of the circumscribed circle; equilateral triangle} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{one arm and the radius of the inscribed circle; right triangle} \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{two angles and a side opposite one of them; scalene triangle}$

Solution

Problem 27

If an angle of a triangle remains unchanged but each of its two including sides is doubled, then the area is multiplied by:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{more than }6$

Solution

Problem 28

Mr. J left his entire estate to his wife, his daughter, his son, and the cook. His daughter and son got half the estate, sharing in the ratio of $4$ to $3$ . His wife got twice as much as the son. If the cook received a bequest of $\textdollar{500}$ , then the entire estate was:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \textdollar{3500}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \textdollar{5500}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \textdollar{6500}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \textdollar{7000}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \textdollar{7500}$

Solution

Problem 29

The points of intersection of $xy = 12$ and $x^2 + y^2 = 25$ are joined in succession. The resulting figure is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{a straight line}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{an equilateral triangle}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{a parallelogram} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{a rectangle} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{a square}$

Solution

Problem 30

If the altitude of an equilateral triangle is $\sqrt {6}$ , then the area is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\sqrt{2}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6\sqrt{2}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12$

Solution

Problem 31

In our number system the base is ten. If the base were changed to four you would count as follows: $1,2,3,10,11,12,13,20,21,22,23,30,\ldots$ The twentieth number would be:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 20 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 38 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 44 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 104 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 110$

Solution

Problem 32

George and Henry started a race from opposite ends of the pool. After a minute and a half, they passed each other in the center of the pool. If they lost no time in turning and maintained their respective speeds, how many minutes after starting did they pass each other the second time?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 3\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 4\frac{1}{2}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 6\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 7\frac{1}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 9$

Solution

Problem 33

The number $\sqrt {2}$ is equal to:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{a rational fraction} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{a finite decimal} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 1.41421 \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{an infinite repeating decimal} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{an infinite non - repeating decimal}$

Solution

Problem 34

If $n$ is any whole number, $n^2(n^2 - 1)$ is always divisible by

$\textbf{(A)}\ 12\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 24\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{any multiple of }12\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 12-n\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 12\text{ and }24$

Solution

Problem 35

A rhombus is formed by two radii and two chords of a circle whose radius is $16$ feet. The area of the rhombus in square feet is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 128\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 128\sqrt{3}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 256\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 512\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 512\sqrt{3}$

Solution

Problem 36

If the sum $1 + 2 + 3 + \cdots + K$ is a perfect square $N^2$ and if $N$ is less than $100$ , then the possible values for $K$ are:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{only }1\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 1\text{ and }8\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{only }8\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 8\text{ and }49\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 1,8,\text{ and }49$

Solution

Problem 37

On a map whose scale is $400$ miles to an inch and a half, a certain estate is represented by a rhombus having a $60^{\circ}$ angle. The diagonal opposite $60^{\circ}$ is $\frac {3}{16}$ in. The area of the estate in square miles is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{2500}{\sqrt{3}}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{1250}{\sqrt{3}}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 1250\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{5625\sqrt{3}}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 1250\sqrt{3}$

Solution

Problem 38

In a right triangle with sides $a$ and $b$ , and hypotenuse $c$ , the altitude drawn on the hypotenuse is $x$ . Then:

$\textbf{(A)}\ ab = x^2 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac {1}{a} + \frac {1}{b} = \frac {1}{x} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ a^2 + b^2 = 2x^2 \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \frac {1}{x^2} = \frac {1}{a^2} + \frac {1}{b^2} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \frac {1}{x} = \frac {b}{a}$

Solution

Problem 39

The hypotenuse $c$ and one arm a of a right triangle are consecutive integers. The square of the second arm is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ ca\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{c}{a}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ c+a\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ c-a\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Solution

Problem 40

If $V = gt + V_0$ and $S = \frac {1}{2}gt^2 + V_0t$ , then $t$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{2S}{V+V_0}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac{2S}{V-V_0}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac{2S}{V_0-V}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{2S}{V}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2S-V$

Solution

Problem 41

The equation $3y^2 + y + 4 = 2(6x^2 + y + 2)$ where $y = 2x$ is satisfied by:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{no value of }x \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{all values of }x \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ x = 0\text{ only} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{all integral values of }x\text{ only} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{all rational values of }x\text{ only}$

Solution

Problem 42

The equation $\sqrt {x + 4} - \sqrt {x - 3} + 1 = 0$ has:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{no root} \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{one real root} \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{one real root and one imaginary root} \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{two imaginary roots} \qquad \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{two real roots}$

Solution

Problem 43

The number of scalene triangles having all sides of integral lengths, and perimeter less than $13$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 18$

Solution

Problem 44

If $x < a < 0$ means that $x$ and $a$ are numbers such that $x$ is less than $a$ and $a$ is less than zero, then:

$\textbf{(A)}\ x^2 < ax < 0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ x^2 > ax > a^2 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ x^2 < a^2 < 0 \\ \textbf{(D)}\ x^2 > ax\text{ but }ax < 0 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ x^2 > a^2\text{ but }a^2 < 0$

Solution

Problem 45

A wheel with a rubber tire has an outside diameter of $25$ in. When the radius has been decreased a quarter of an inch, the number of revolutions in one mile will:

$\text{(A)}\ \text{be increased about }2\% \qquad \\ \text{(B)}\ \text{be increased about }1\% \\ \text{(C)}\ \text{be increased about }20\%\qquad \\ \text{(D)}\ \text{be increased about }\frac{1}{2}\%\qquad \\ \text{(E)}\ \text{remain the same}$

Solution

Problem 46

For the equation $\frac {1 + x}{1 - x} = \frac {N + 1}{N}$ to be true where $N$ is positive, $x$ can have:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{any positive value less than }1 \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{any value less than }1 \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{the value zero only}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{any non-negative value}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{any value}$

Solution

Problem 47

An engineer said he could finish a highway section in $3$ days with his present supply of a certain type of machine. However, with $3$ more of these machines the job could be done in $2$ days. If the machines all work at the same rate, how many days would it take to do the job with one machine?

$\textbf{(A)}\ 6 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 12 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 15 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 18 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 36$

Solution

Problem 48

If $p$ is a positive integer, then $\frac {3p + 25}{2p - 5}$ can be a positive integer, if and only if $p$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{at least }3\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{at least }3\text{ and no more than }35\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{no more than }35 \textbf{(D)}\ \text{equal to }35 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{equal to }3\text{ or }35$

Solution

Problem 49

Triangle $PAB$ is formed by three tangents to circle $O$ and $\angle APB = 40^{\circ}$ ; then $\angle AOB$ equals:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 45^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 50^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 55^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 60^{\circ}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 70^{\circ}$

Solution

Problem 50

In $\triangle ABC, \overline{CA} = \overline{CB}$ . On $CB$ square $BCDE$ is constructed away from the triangle. If $x$ is the number of degrees in $\angle DAB$ , then

$\textbf{(A)}\ x\text{ depends upon }\triangle ABC \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ x\text{ is independent of the triangle} \\ \textbf{(C)}\ x\text{ may equal }\angle CAD \qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ x\text{ can never equal }\angle CAB \\ \textbf{(E)}\ x\text{ is greater than }45^{\circ}\text{ but less than }90^{\circ}$

Solution

@@ Line 583: / Line 583: @@
 == See also ==
-* [[AHSME]]
-* [[AHSME Problems and Solutions]]
+* [[AMC 12 Problems and Solutions]]
-* [[1956 AHSME]]
 * [[Mathematics competition resources]]
+{{AHSME 50p box|year=1956|before=[[1955 AHSME]]|after=[[1957 AHSME]]}}
 {{MAA Notice}}

1956 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources)
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Difference between revisions of "1956 AHSME Problems"

Revision as of 01:33, 23 October 2014

Contents

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3

Problem 4

Problem 5

Problem 6

Problem 7

Problem 8

Problem 9

Problem 10

Problem 11

Problem 12

Problem 13

Problem 14

Problem 15

Problem 16

Problem 17

Problem 18

Problem 19

Problem 20

Problem 21

Problem 22

Problem 23

Problem 24

Problem 25

Problem 26

Problem 27

Problem 28

Problem 29

Problem 30

Problem 31

Problem 32

Problem 33

Problem 34

Problem 35

Problem 36

Problem 37

Problem 38

Problem 39

Problem 40

Problem 41

Problem 42

Problem 43

Problem 44

Problem 45

Problem 46

Problem 47

Problem 48

Problem 49

Problem 50

See also