1951 AHSME Problems

Problem 1

The percent that $M$ is greater than $N$ is:

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \frac {100(M - N)}{M} \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } \frac {100(M - N)}{N} \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \frac {M - N}{N} \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } \frac {M - N}{M} \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } \frac {100(M + N)}{N}$

Problem 2

A rectangular field is half as wide as it is long and is completely enclosed by $x$ yards of fencing. The area in terms of $x$ is:

$(\mathrm{A})\ \frac{x^2}2 \qquad (\mathrm{B})\ 2x^2 \qquad (\mathrm{C})\ \frac{2x^2}9 \qquad (\mathrm{D})\ \frac{x^2}{18} \qquad (\mathrm{E})\ \frac{x^2}{72}$

Problem 3

If the length of a diagonal of a square is $a + b$, then the area of the square is:

$\mathrm{(A) \ (a+b)^2 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ \frac{1}{2}(a+b)^2 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ a^2+b^2 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ \frac {1}{2}(a^2+b^2) } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ \text{none of these} }$

Problem 4

A barn with a flat roof is rectangular in shape, $10$ yd. wide, $13$ yd. long and $5$ yd. high. It is to be painted inside and outside, and on the ceiling, but not on the roof or floor. The total number of sq. yd. to be painted is:

$\mathrm{(A) \ } 360 \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ } 460 \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 490 \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ } 590 \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ } 720$

Problem 5

Mr. A owns a home worth $10,000$ dollars. He sells it to Mr. B at a $10 \%$ profit based on the worth of the house. Mr. B sells the house back to Mr. A at a $10 \%$ loss. Then:

$\textrm{(A)}\ \text{A comes out even} \qquad\textrm{(B)}\ \text{A makes 1100 on the deal} \qquad\textrm{(C)}\ \text{A makes 1000 on the deal}$ $\textrm{(D)}\ \text{A loses 900 on the deal} \qquad\textrm{(E)}\ \text{A loses 1000 on the deal}$

Problem 6

The bottom, side, and front areas of a rectangular box are known. The product of these areas is equal to:

$\textrm{(A)}\ \text{the volume of the box} \qquad\textrm{(B)}\ \text{the square root of the volume} \qquad\textrm{(C)}\ \text{twice the volume}$ $\textrm{(D)}\ \text{the square of the volume} \qquad\textrm{(E)}\ \text{the cube of the volume}$

Problem 7

An error of $.02"$ is made in the measurement of a line $10"$ long, while an error of only $.2"$ is made in a measurement of a line $100"$ long. In comparison with the relative error of the first measurement, the relative error of the second measurement is:

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \text{greater by }.18 \qquad\mathrm{(B) \ } \text{the same} \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } \text{less} \qquad\mathrm{(D) \ } 10\text{ times as great} \qquad\mathrm{(E) \ } \text{correctly described by both}$

Problem 8

The price of an article is cut $10 \%.$ To restore it to its former value, the new price must be increased by:

$\mathrm{(A) \ } 10 \% \qquad\mathrm{(B) \ } 9 \% \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 11\frac{1}{9} \% \qquad\mathrm{(D) \ } 11 \% \qquad\mathrm{(E) \ } \text{none of these answers}$

Problem 9

An equilateral triangle is drawn with a side length of $a.$ A new equilateral triangle is formed by joining the midpoints of the sides of the first one. then a third equilateral triangle is formed by joining the midpoints of the sides of the second; and so on forever. the limit of the sum of the perimeters of all the triangles thus drawn is:

$\mathrm{(A) \ } \text{Infinite} \qquad\mathrm{(B) \ } 5\frac{1}{4}a \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ } 2a \qquad\mathrm{(D) \ } 6a \qquad\mathrm{(E) \ } 4\frac{1}{2}a$

Problem 10

Of the following statements, the one that is incorrect is:

$\textrm{(A)}\ \text{Doubling the base of a given rectangle doubles the area.}$ $\textrm{(B)}\ \text{Doubling the altitude of a triangle doubles the area.}$ $\textrm{(C)}\ \text{Doubling the radius of a given circle doubles the area.}$ $\textrm{(D)}\ \text{Doubling the divisor of a fraction and dividing its numerator by 2 changes the quotient.}$ $\textrm{(E)}\ \text{Doubling a given quantity may make it less than it originally was.}$

Problem 11

The limit of the sum of an infinite number of terms in a geometric progression is $\frac {a}{1 \minus{} r}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Undefined control sequence.) where $a$ denotes the first term and $\minus{} 1 < r < 1$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Undefined control sequence.) denotes the common ratio. The limit of the sum of their squares is:

$\textrm{(A)}\ \frac {a^2}{(1 \minus{} r)^2} \qquad\textrm{(B)}\ \frac {a^2}{1 \plus{} r^2} \qquad\textrm{(C)}\ \frac {a^2}{1 \minus{} r^2} \qquad\textrm{(D)}\ \frac {4a^2}{1 \plus{} r^2} \qquad\textrm{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. ! Undefined control sequence.)

Problem 12

At $2: 15$ o'clock, the hour and minute hands of a clock form an angle of:

$\textrm{(A)}\ 30^{\circ} \qquad\textrm{(B)}\ 5^{\circ} \qquad\textrm{(C)}\ 22\frac {1}{2}^{\circ} \qquad\textrm{(D)}\ 7\frac {1}{2} ^{\circ} \qquad\textrm{(E)}\ 28^{\circ}$

Problem 13

$A$ can do a piece of work in $9$ days. $B$ is $50\%$ more efficient than $A$. The number of days it takes $B$ to do the same piece of work is:

$\textrm{(A)}\ 13\frac {1}{2} \qquad\textrm{(B)}\ 4\frac {1}{2} \qquad\textrm{(C)}\ 6 \qquad\textrm{(D)}\ 3 \qquad\textrm{(E)}\ \text{none of these answers}$

Problem 14

In connection with proof in geometry, indicate which one of the following statements is incorrect:

$\textrm{(A)}\ \text{Some statements are accepted without being proved.}$ $\textrm{(B)}\ \text{In some cases there is more than one correct order in proving certain propositions.}$ $\textrm{(C)}\ \text{Every term used in a proof must have been defined previously.}$ $\textrm{(D)}\ \text{It is not possible to arrive by correct reasoning at a true conclusion if, in the given, there is an untrue proposition.}$ $\textrm{(E)}\ \text{Indirect proof can be used whenever there are two or more contrary propositions.}$

Problem 15

The largest number by which the expression $n^3-n$ is divisible for all possible integral values of $n$, is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 6$

Problem 16

$$f(x) \equiv ax^2 + bx + c = 0,$$

it happens that $c = \frac{b^2}{4a}$, then the graph of $y = f(x)$ will certainly:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{have a maximum}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{have a minimum}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{be tangent to the x-axis}\\ \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{be tangent to the y-axis}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{lie in one quadrant only}$

Problem 17

Indicate in which one of the following equations $y$ is neither directly nor inversely proportional to $x$:

$\textbf{(A)}\ x+y = 0\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3xy = 10\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ x = 5y\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3x+y = 10$

Problem 18

The expression $21x^2+ax+21$ is to be factored into two linear prime binomial factors with integer coefficients. This can be one if $a$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{any odd number}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{some odd number}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{any even number}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{some even number}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{zero}$

Problem 19

A six place number is formed by repeating a three place number; for example, $256256$ or $678678$, etc. Any number of this form is always exactly divisible by:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 7\text{ only}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 11\text{ only}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 13\text{ only}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 101\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 1001$

Problem 20

When simplified and expressed with negative exponents, the expression $(x+y)^{-1}(x^{-1}+y^{-1})$ is equal to:

$\textbf{(A)}\ x^{-2}+2x^{-1}y^{-1}+y^{-2}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x^{-2}+2^{-1}x^{-1}y^{-1}+y^{-2}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ x^{-1}y^{-1}$ $\textbf{(D)}\ \text{some even number}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{zero}$

Problem 21

Given: $x > 0, y > 0, x > y$ and $z\not = 0$. The inequality which is not always correct is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ x+z > y+z\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x-z > y-z\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ xz > yz$ $\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{x}{z^{2}}>\frac{y}{z^{2}}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ xz^{2}> yz^{2}$

Problem 22

The values of $a$ in the equation: $\log_{10}(a^{2}-15a) = 2$ are:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{15\pm\sqrt{233}}{2}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 20,-5\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{15\pm\sqrt{305}}{2}$ $\textbf{(D)}\ \pm20\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Problem 23

The radius of a cylindrical box is $8$ inches and the height is $3$ inches. The number of inches that may be added to either the radius or the height to give the same nonzero increase in volume is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 5\frac{1}{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{any number}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{non-existent}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Problem 24

$\frac{2^{n+4}-2(2^{n})}{2(2^{n+3})}$ when simplified is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 2^{n+1}-\frac{1}{8}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ -2^{n+1}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1-2^{n}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{7}{8}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{7}{4}$

Problem 25

The apothem of a square having its area numerically equal to its perimeter is compared with the apothem of an equilateral triangle having its area numerically equal to its perimeter. The first apothem will be:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{equal to the second}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{4}{3}\text{ times the second}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{2}{\sqrt{3}}\text{ times the second}\\ \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}}\text{ times the second}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{indeterminately related to the second}$

Problem 26

In the equation $\frac{x(x-1)-(m+1)}{(x-1)(m-1)}=\frac{x}{m}$ the roots are equal when:

$\textbf{(A)}\ m = 1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ m =\frac{1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ m = 0\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ m =-1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ m =-\frac{1}{2}$

Problem 27

Through a point inside a triangle, three lines are drawn from the vertices to the opposite sides forming six triangular sections. Then:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{the triangles are similar in opposite pairs}$ $\textbf{(B)}\ \text{the triangles are congruent in opposite pairs}$ $\textbf{(C)}\ \text{the triangles are equal in area in opposite pairs}$ $\textbf{(D)}\ \text{three similar quadrilaterals are formed}$ $\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of the above relations are true}$

Problem 28

The pressure $(P)$ of wind on a sail varies jointly as the area $(A)$ of the sail and the square of the velocity $(V)$ of the wind. The pressure on a square foot is $1$ pound when the velocity is $16$ miles per hour. The velocity of the wind when the pressure on a square yard is $36$ pounds is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 10\frac{2}{3}\text{ mph}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 96\text{ mph}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 32\text{ mph}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 1\frac{2}{3}\text{ mph}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 16\text{ mph}$

Problem 29

Of the following sets of data the only one that does not determine the shape of a triangle is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{the ratio of two sides and the inc{}luded angle}\\ \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{the ratios of the three altitudes}\\ \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{the ratios of the three medians}\\ \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{the ratio of the altitude to the corresponding base}\\ \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{two angles}$

Problem 30

If two poles $20''$ and $80''$ high are $100''$ apart, then the height of the intersection of the lines joining the top of each pole to the foot of the opposite pole is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 50''\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 40''\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 16''\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 60''\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Problem 49

The medians of a right triangle which are drawn from the vertices of the acute angles are $5$ and $\sqrt{40}$. The value of the hypotenuse is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\sqrt{40}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \sqrt{13}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 2\sqrt{13}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

Problem 50

Tom, Dick and Harry started out on a $100$-mile journey. Tom and Harry went by automobile at the rate of $25$ mph, while Dick walked at the rate of $5$ mph. After a certain distance, Harry got off and walked on at $5$ mph, while Tom went back for Dick and got him to the destination at the same time that Harry arrived. The number of hours required for the trip was:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 8\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these answers}$