Define x @ y as (x3 − y)/x, for distinct positive integers x and y. What is the value of 5 @ 10? Evaluating 5 @ 10 yields (53 − 10)/5 = (125 − 10)/5 = 115/5 = 23. Define a # b as a2 − b2 − ab, for...
Final exams often accompany the final days of school. Sherry has had four tests so far in her science class, each worth 1/6 of her final grade. She scored 87%, 89%, 92% and 91% on these tests. Her...
This summer, Owen and Jack will both have part time jobs. Owen will be working as a lifeguard and Jack will be working as a server at a local restaurant. Owen plans to work 15 hours each week and will...
The date of the beginning of the school year has long been a topic of debate in many areas across the United States, but the trend is leaning towards starting school earlier rather than later...
The Sprint Round of the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition has 30 questions and students are given 40 minutes to complete the round. Though it isn’t expected that most students will finish all 30...
According to “A History of Valentine’s Day Cards in America” by T.M. Wilson, in 1847 Esther Howland was the first to mass-produce Valentine’s Day cards. She made them out of lace, paint and expensive...
The following information and problems were submitted by a MATHCOUNTS volunteer, Emily Koithan. Thank you, Emily! Neuroscientists use a special type of brain scanning called functional magnetic...
Camsie is starting a new job where she earns n dollars on her nth day of work. What is the total amount that Camsie will earn for the first ten days of work at her new job? On each of the first 10...
Derrick received a total of 21 gift cards for graduation. He received gift cards in each of four denominations, $25, $50, $75 and $100. The number of $100 gift cards Derrick got was twice the number...
After polling each student in her homeroom about their summer plans, Mrs. Baker discovered that each student planned to participate in one or more of the following activities: Attend summer school...