1. Basic Mathcounts Knowledge
By Henry Dai

2. What is Mathcounts?
Mathcounts is a nationwide math competition held in various areas of the United States.
Every year, usually around February, Microsoft hosts the Lake Washington chapter competition and the Washington state competition.
The purpose of Mathcounts is to build student passion in math.

3. Structure
Sprint Round – 30 questions , 1 point per question, 40 minutes in total. Counts for your individual score and team score
Target Round – 8 rounds, 2 questions per round, 2 points per questions, and 6 minutes per round. Counts for your individual score and team score.
Team Round – 10 questions, 2 points per question, 20 minutes in total. Counts for your team score.
Countdown Round – Top students compete in fast-paced problem solving.

4. What should I study?
Mathcounts is based off the middle school math curriculum. However, your common core knowledge will not be enough to succeed in Mathcounts
Combinatorics
Algebra
Geometry
Number Theory
Use your resources (AOPS textbook, mathisfun, your coach, etc.)

5. How to succeed in Mathcounts
Work Hard
Easier said then done, studying hard is the key to success in all areas. The key here is to learn concepts and problem solving from past problems and books.
Work Smart
Take it little by little. I recommend spending about 20 minutes on weekdays to just review some knowledge. Keep a journal to record progress and things you’ve learned.
Use your resources. You have so many resources, it would be a shame not to use them. AOPS Volume 1, online problems, and your coach our all ways to learn techniques and tips for Mathcounts success.

6. Mathcounts prep week 1 What we will cover
Art of Problem Solving Volume 1:
-Chapter 4 (proportions)
-Chapter 5 (using the integers)
-Intro to Chapter 7 (Special factorizations and clever manipulations)
-Intro to Chapter 24 (Sequences and series)
-Intro to Quadratic Equations, if time allows

7. Chapter 4: Proportions Preview:
Direct relationship – The quotient of two quantities is a constant, when one increases so this the other, when one decreases the other decreases as well.
Inverse relationship – The product of two quantities is a constant, when one increases the other decreases.
12 inches = 1 foot 10 cm = 1 meter
5280 feet = 1 mile 3 feet = 1 yard .

8. Some practice problems
57. The population of a town increases 25% during By what percent must it decrease the following year to return to the population it was at the beginning of 1991?
60. If the ratio of 2x – y to x + y is 2 : 3, find the ration x : y.
70. The wages of 3 men for 4 weeks is $108. At the same rate of pay, how many weeks will 5 men work for $135?
82. If p is 50% of q and r is 40% of q, what percent of r is p?

9. The house worker problem
Example 4-5. It takes 3 days for 4 people to paint 5 houses. How long will it take 2 people to paint 6 houses?
Solution: First we identify that the amount of work and time put into the job is directly proportional to the completion of the job. Thus, we can set up an equation.
ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 5 12
6 2 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 = 5 12
When we cross-multiply, we get 10d = 72, thus d = 36/5.

10. The A and B working together problem
Example Pipe A can fill a pool in 5 hours, while pipe B can fill it in four. How long will it take for the two to fill the pool if both are operating at the same time?
Solution: How can we solve this problem using algebra?
Well, 𝑥 =1 where x is the answer.
The question is, how does this work? ¼ and 1/5 represent is the amount each pipe can fill in one hour. Thus, ¼+ 1/5 is the amount they can complete in one hour. 1 represents 100% of the job being done. Therefore, the number of hours, x, is 1/( ). To compute this, add = Dividing a number into one is called taking a reciprocal. We take a reciprocal by flipping the numerator and denominator, thus the answer is 20/9.

11. Algebraic sums problem
54. When three numbers are added two at a time, the sums are 29, 46, 53. What is the sum of all three numbers?

12. Chapter 4 Summary
Know direct and inverse relationships and when to apply them
Understand the concept of percent and decimals
Remember conversion factors
Algebraic equations can be very useful when dealing with proportions
The house worker problem
The A and B working together problem
Algebraic sums problem

13. Chapter 5: Using the Integers
Preview:
Divisibility rules (1-11 except 7)
Modular arithmetic
Base numbers
Prime Factorization
Least Common Multiple and Greatest Common Factor

14. Some Practice Problems
84. Find the GCF of 36, 27, and 45.
92. Find the value of digit A if the five-digit number 12A3B is divisible by 4 and 9, and A≠B.
94. How many ways can a debt of $69 be paid using only $5 bills and $2 bills.
97. When n is divided by 5, the remainder is 1. What is the remainder when 3n is divided by 5?

15. Base Numbers Converting to base 10 Converting from base 10
Convert 212 base 3 into base 10
Convert 234 base 5 into base 10
Convert 123 base 6 into base 10
Converting from base 10
Convert 345 into base 4
Convert 278 into base 3
Convert 122 into base 2

16. Chinese Remainder Theorem Problem
91. Find the smallest possible integer which when divided by 10 leaves a remainder of 9, when divided by 9 leaves a remainder of 8, by 8 leaves a remainder of 7, etc., down to where, when divided by 2, it leaves a remainder of 1.

17. Solution to Chinese Remainder Theorem Problem
Hint: What is the Least Common Multiple of 1-10.
Solution: Wow, seems complicated at first. Whenever I see something complicated I read the problem repeatedly until I find something very unique. In this problem, I noticed that the remainder is always 1 smaller than the divisor, ex. 10-9=8-7=2-1=1. How does that help us? Well, if we find the Least Common Multiple of numbers 1-10 and subtract 1, it is going to meet the requirements. You see, if we did not subtract 1, the remainders would be 10, 9, 8 , 7…., 1 which is the same thing as 0. If we subtract 1, the remainder becomes one smaller than the divisor. Thus, the LCM – 1 = 2520 – 1= 2519.

18. Primes What is the prime factorization of 320?
How many factors does 320 have?
What is the LCM of 27, 36, and 45?
What is the GCF of 27, 36, and 45?

19. Chapter 5 Summary
Know how to find the GCF and LCM of a list of numbers
Divisibility Rules can be applied in many ways
Know how to convert from and to base 10.
Chinese Remainder Theorem problem
Primes are very important

20. Chapter 7: Special Factorizations and Clever Manipulations (intro)
Preview
Difference of squares concept
Sum of Squares concept

21. Some practice problems
138. Given that = , 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑
139. What is the sum of the prime factors of −1?
143. Factor 𝑥 12 − 𝑦 12 as completely as possible with integral coefficients and integral exponent.

22. Chapter 24: Sequences and Series (Intro)
Preview:
Arithmetic Sequence
Geometric Sequence
Infinite Sequence
Basic Sum formulas

23. Fundamental Sum Problem
1.What is the sum of the first n counting numbers?
Solution:
Find the number of terms in the sequence
Find the average of the terms in the sequence
The definition of average, or mean, is 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 # 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠 , therefore we multiply the answers to the first two steps.
𝑛 𝑛 Note: This formula is extremely important!

24. Some Practice Problems
1. What is the sum of the first 10 counting numbers?
3. Evaluate …… + 20.
5. What is the sum of the first 50 odd numbers?
6. Evaluate (-10) + (-9) + (-8) …

25. Next week Preview for next week: Slope and y-intercept
Graphing Linear functions
The Quadratic Formula 𝑥= −𝑏± 𝑏 2 −4𝑎𝑐 2𝑎
Factoring Quadratic
Vieta’s Formula
More counting and probability

26. Homework
Purchase the Art of Problem Solving Volume 1: the basics textbook and solution manual. It is listed as $42 on AOPS and may be cheaper on Amazon
Get started on the assigned AOPS readings
Go to for past AMC 8 problems and solutions.
Go to mathisfun.com to review some of this week’s topics and to prepare for next week’s topics
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!