# Difference between revisions of "1959 AHSME Problems"

 1959 AHSC (Answer Key)Printable version: Wiki | AoPS Resources • PDF Instructions This is a 50-question, multiple choice test. Each question is followed by answers marked A, B, C, D and E. Only one of these is correct. You will receive ? points for each correct answer, ? points for each problem left unanswered, and ? points for each incorrect answer. No aids are permitted other than scratch paper, graph paper, ruler, compass, protractor and erasers. Figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. You will have ? minutes working time to complete the test. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50

## Problem 1

Each edge of a cube is increased by $50$%. The percent of increase of the surface area of the cube is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 50 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 125\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 150\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 300\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 750$

## Problem 2

Through a point $P$ inside the $\triangle ABC$ a line is drawn parallel to the base $AB$, dividing the triangle into two equal areas. If the altitude to $AB$ has a length of $1$, then the distance from $P$ to $AB$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac12 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac14\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2-\sqrt2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{2-\sqrt2}{2}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{2+\sqrt2}{8}$

## Problem 3

If the diagonals of a quadrilateral are perpendicular to each other, the figure would always be included under the general classification: $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{rhombus} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{rectangles} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{square} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{isosceles trapezoid}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

## Problem 4

If $78$ is divided into three parts which are proportional to $1, \frac13, \frac16,$ the middle part is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 9\frac13 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 13\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 17\frac13 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 18\frac13\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 26$

## Problem 5

The value of $\left(256\right)^{.16}\left(256\right)^{.09}$ is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 4 \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ 16\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ 64\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ 256.25\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ -16$

## Problem 6

Given the true statement: If a quadrilateral is a square, then it is a rectangle. It follows that, of the converse and the inverse of this true statement is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ \text{only the converse is true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{only the inverse is true }\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{both are true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{neither is true} \qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{the inverse is true, but the converse is sometimes true}$

## Problem 7

The sides of a right triangle are $a$, $a+d$, and $a+2d$, with $a$ and $d$ both positive. The ratio of $a$ to $d$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 1:3 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1:4 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2:1\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3:1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 3:4$

## Problem 8

The value of $x^2-6x+13$ can never be less than:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 4.5 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 7\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 13$

## Problem 9

A farmer divides his herd of $n$cows among his four sons so that one son gets one-half the herd, a second son, one-fourth, a third son, one-fifth, and the fourth son, $7$ cows. Then $n$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 80 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 100\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 140\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 180\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 240$

## Problem 10

In $\triangle ABC$ with $\overline{AB}=\overline{AC}=3.6$, a point $D$ is taken on $AB$ at a distance $1.2$ from $A$. Point $D$ is joined to $E$ in the prolongation of $AC$ so that $\triangle AED$ is equal in area to $ABC$. Then $\overline{AE}$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 4.8 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 5.4\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 7.2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 10.8\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12.6$

## Problem 11

The logarithm of $.0625$ to the base $2$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ .025 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ .25\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ -4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ -2$

## Problem 12

By adding the same constant to $20,50,100$ a geometric progression results. The common ratio is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac53 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac43\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac32\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac12\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{1}3$

## Problem 13

The arithmetic mean (average) of a set of $50$ numbers is $38$. If two numbers, namely, $45$ and $55$, are discarded, the mean of the remaining set of numbers is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 36.5 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 37\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 37.2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 37.5\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 37.52$

## Problem 14

Given the set $S$ whose elements are zero and the even integers, positive and negative. Of the five operations applied to any pair of elements: (1) addition (2) subtraction (3) multiplication (4) division (5) finding the arithmetic mean (average), those elements that only yield elements of $S$ are: $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{all} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1,2,3,4\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1,2,3,5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 1,2,3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 1,3,5$

## Problem 15

In a right triangle the square of the hypotenuse is equal to twice the product of the legs. One of the acute angles of the triangle is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 15^{\circ} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 30^{\circ} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 45^{\circ} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 60^{\circ}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 75^{\circ}$

## Problem 16

The expression$\frac{x^2-3x+2}{x^2-5x+6}\div \frac{x^2-5x+4}{x^2-7x+12},$ when simplified is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{(x-1)(x-6)}{(x-3)(x-4)} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{x+3}{x-3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{x+1}{x-1}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2$

## Problem 17

If $y=a+\frac{b}{x}$, where $a$ and $b$ are constants, and if $y=1$ when $x=-1$, and $y=5$ when $x=-5$, then $a+b$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ -1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 0\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 11$

## Problem 18

The arithmetic mean (average) of the first $n$ positive integers is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{n}{2} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{n^2}{2}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ n\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{n-1}{2}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{n+1}{2}$

## Problem 19

With the use of three different weights, namely $1$ lb., $3$ lb., and $9$ lb., how many objects of different weights can be weighed, if the objects is to be weighed and the given weights may be placed in either pan of the scale? $\textbf{(A)}\ 15 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 13\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 11\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 7$

## Problem 20

It is given that $x$ varies directly as $y$ and inversely as the square of $z$, and that $x=10$ when $y=4$ and $z=14$. Then, when $y=16$ and $z=7$, $x$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ 180\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 160\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 154\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 140\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 120$

## Problem 21

If$p$ is the perimeter of an equilateral $\triangle$ inscribed in a circle, the area of the circle is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{\pi p^2}{3} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{\pi p^2}{9}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{\pi p^2}{27}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{\pi p^2}{81}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{\pi p^2\sqrt3}{27}$

## Problem 22

The line joining the midpoints of the diagonals of a trapezoid has length $3$. If the longer base is $97,$ then the shorter base is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 94 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 92\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 91\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 90\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 89$

## Problem 23

The set of solutions of the equation $\log_{10}\left( a^2-15a\right)=2$ consists of $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{two integers } \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{one integer and one fraction}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{two irrational numbers }\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{two non-real numbers} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{no numbers, that is, the empty set}$

## Problem 24

A chemist has m ounces of salt that is $m$% salt. How many ounces of salt must he add to make a solution that is $2m$% salt?

$\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{m}{100+m} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{2m}{100-2m}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{m^2}{100-2m}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{m^2}{100+2m}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{2m}{100+2m}$

## Problem 25

The symbol $|a|$ means $+a$ if $a$ is greater than or equal to zero, and $-a$ if a is less than or equal to zero; the symbol $<$ means "less than"; the symbol $>$ means "greater than." The set of values $x$ satisfying the inequality $|3-x|<4$ consists of all $x$ such that: $\textbf{(A)}\ x^2<49 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x^2>1 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1

## Problem 26

The base of an isosceles triangle is $\sqrt 2$. The medians to the leg intersect each other at right angles. The area of the triangle is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 1.5 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2.5\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3.5\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 4$

## Problem 27

Which one of the following is not true for the equation$ix^2-x+2i=0$, where $i=\sqrt{-1}$ $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{The sum of the roots is 2} \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{The discriminant is 9}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{The roots are imaginary}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{The roots can be found using the quadratic formula}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{The roots can be found by factoring, using imaginary numbers}$

## Problem 28

In triangle $ABC$, $AL$ bisects angle $A$, and $CM$ bisects angle $C$. Points $L$ and $M$ are on $BC$ and $AB$, respectively. The sides of $\triangle ABC$ are $a$, $b$, and $c$. Then $\frac{AM}{MB}=k\frac{CL}{LB}$ where $k$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{bc}{a^2}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{a^2}{bc}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{c}{b}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{c}{a}$

## Problem 29

On a examination of $n$ questions a student answers correctly $15$ of the first $20$. Of the remaining questions he answers one third correctly. All the questions have the same credit. If the student's mark is 50%, how many different values of $n$ can there be? $\textbf{(A)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{the problem cannot be solved}$

## Problem 30

$A$ can run around a circular track in $40$ seconds. $B$, running in the opposite direction, meets $A$ every $15$ seconds. What is $B$'s time to run around the track, expressed in seconds? $\textbf{(A)}\ 12\frac12 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 24\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 25\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 27\frac12\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 55$

## Problem 31

A square, with an area of $40$, is inscribed in a semicircle. The area of a square that could be inscribed in the entire circle with the same radius, is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 80 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 100\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 120\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 160\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 200$

## Problem 32

The length $l$ of a tangent, drawn from a point $A$ to a circle, is $\frac43$of the radius $r$. The (shortest) distance from A to the circle is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{2}r \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ r\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{1}{2}l\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac23l \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{a value between r and l.}$

## Problem 33

A harmonic progression is a sequence of numbers such that their reciprocals are in arithmetic progression. Let $S_n$ represent the sum of the first $n$ terms of the harmonic progression; for example $S_3$ represents the sum of the first three terms. If the first three terms of a harmonic progression are $3,4,6$, then: $\textbf{(A)}\ S_4=20 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ S_4=25\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ S_5=49\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ S_6=49\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ S_2=\frac{1}2 S_4$

## Problem 34

Let the roots of$x^2-3x+1=0$ be $r$ and $s$. Then the expression $r^2+s^2$is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{a positive integer} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{a positive fraction greater than 1}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{a positive fraction less than 1}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{an irrational number}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{an imaginary number}$

## Problem 35

The symbol $\ge$ means "greater than or equal to"; the symbol $\le$ means "less than or equal to". In the equation $(x-m)^2-(x-n)^2=(m-n)^2; m$ is a fixed positive number, and $n$ is a fixed negative number. The set of values x satisfying the equation is: $\textbf{(A)}\ x\ge 0 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x\le n\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ x=0\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{the set of all real numbers}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

## Problem 36

The base of a triangle is $80$, and one side of the base angle is $60^\circ$. The sum of the lengths of the other two sides is $90$. The shortest side is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 45 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 40\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 36\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 17\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12$

## Problem 37

When simplified the product $\left(1-\frac13\right)\left(1-\frac14\right)\left(1-\frac15\right)\cdots\left(1-\frac1n\right)$ becomes: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac1n \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac2n\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{2(n-1)}{n}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{2}{n(n+1)}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{3}{n(n+1)}$

## Problem 38

If $4x+\sqrt{2x}=1$, then $x$: $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{is an integer} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{is fractional}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{is irrational}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{is imaginary}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{may have two different values}$

## Problem 39

Let S be the sum of the first nine terms of the sequence $x+a, x^2+2a, x^3+3a, \cdots.$ Then S equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{50a+x+x^8}{x+1} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 50a-\frac{x+x^{10}}{x-1}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac{x^9-1}{x+1}+45a\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{x^{10}-x}{x-1}+45a\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{x^{11}-x}{x-1}+45a$

## Problem 40

In $\triangle ABC$, $BD$ is a median. $CF$ intersects $BD$ at $E$ so that $\overline{BE}=\overline{ED}$. Point $F$ is on $AB$. Then, if $\overline{BF}=5$, $\overline{BA}$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 12\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 15\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 20\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

## Problem 41

On the same side of a straight line three circles are drawn as follows: a circle with a radius of $4$ inches is tangent to the line, the other two circles are equal, and each is tangent to the line and to the other two circles. The radius of the equal circles is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 24 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 20\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 16\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12$

## Problem 42

Given three positive integers $a,b,$ and $c$. Their greatest common divisor is $D$; their least common multiple is $m$. Then, which two of the following statements are true? $\text{(1)}\ \text{the product MD cannot be less than abc} \qquad \\ \text{(2)}\ \text{the product MD cannot be greater than abc}\qquad \\ \text{(3)}\ \text{MD equals abc if and only if a,b,c are each prime}\qquad \\ \text{(4)}\ \text{MD equals abc if and only if a,b,c are each relatively prime in pairs} \text{ (This means: no two have a common factor greater than 1.)}$ $\textbf{(A)}\ 1,2 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1,3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 1,4\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 2,3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2,4$

## Problem 43

The sides of a triangle are $25,39$, and $40$. The diameter of the circumscribed circle is: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac{133}{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac{125}{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 42\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 41\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 40$

## Problem 44

The roots of $x^2+bx+c=0$ are both real and greater than $1$. Let $s=b+c+1$. Then $s$: $\textbf{(A)}\ \text{may be less than zero}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{may be equal to zero}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \text{must be greater than zero}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{must be less than zero}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\text{ must be between -1 and +1}$

## Problem 45

If $\left(\log_3 x\right)\left(\log_x 2x\right)\left( \log_{2x} y\right)=\log_{x}x^2$, then $y$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ \frac92\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 27\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 81$

## Problem 46

A student on vacation for $d$ days observed that (1) it rained $7$ times, morning or afternoon (2) when it rained in the afternoon, it was clear in the morning (3) there were five clear afternoons (4) there were six clear mornings. Then $d$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 9\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 11\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12$

## Problem 47

Assume that the following three statements are true: (I). All freshmen are human. (II). All students are human. (III). Some students think. Given the following four statements: $\textbf{(1)}\ \text{All freshmen are students.}\qquad \\ \textbf{(2)}\ \text{Some humans think.}\qquad \\ \textbf{(3)}\ \text{No freshmen think.}\qquad \\ \textbf{(4)}\ \text{Some humans who think are not students.}$ Those which are logical consequences of I,II, and III are: $\textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2,3\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 2,4\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 1,2$

## Problem 48

Given the polynomial $a_0x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_{n-1}x+a_n$, where $n$ is a positive integer or zero, and $a_0$ is a positive integer. The remaining $a$'s are integers or zero. Set $h=n+a_0+|a_1|+|a_2|+\cdots+|a_n|$. [See example 25 for the meaning of $|x|$.] The number of polynomials with $h=3$ is: $\textbf{(A)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 9$

## Problem 49

For the infinite series $1-\frac12-\frac14+\frac18-\frac{1}{16}-\frac{1}{32}+\frac{1}{64}-\frac{1}{128}-\cdots$ let $S$ be the (limiting) sum. Then $S$ equals: $\textbf{(A)}\ 0\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \frac27\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \frac67\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \frac{9}{32}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \frac{27}{32}$

## Problem 50

A club with $x$ members is organized into four committees in accordance with these two rules:

$$\text{(1)}\ \textup{Each member belongs to two and only two committees}\qquad \\ \text{(2)}\ \textup{Each pair of committees has one and only one member in common}$$

Then $x$:

$\textbf{(A)} \ \textup{cannot be determined} \qquad \\ \textbf{(B)} \ \textup{has a single value between 8 and 16} \qquad \\ \textbf{(C)} \ \textup{has two values between 8 and 16} \qquad \\ \textbf{(D)} \ \textup{has a single value between 4 and 8} \qquad \\ \textbf{(E)} \ \textup{has two values between 4 and 8}$

## See also

 1959 AHSC (Problems • Answer Key • Resources) Preceded by1958 AHSC Followed by1960 AHSC 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 45 • 46 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 All AHSME Problems and Solutions

The problems on this page are copyrighted by the Mathematical Association of America's American Mathematics Competitions.

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