We define a [i]chessboard polygon[/i] to be a polygon whose sides are situated along lines of the form $ x \equal{} a$ or $ y \equal{} b$, where $ a$ and $ b$ are integers. These lines divide the interior into unit squares, which are shaded alternately grey and white so that adjacent squares have different colors. To tile a chessboard polygon by dominoes is to exactly cover the polygon by non-overlapping $ 1 \times 2$ rectangles. Finally, a [i]tasteful tiling[/i] is one which avoids the two configurations of dominoes shown on the left below. Two tilings of a $ 3 \times 4$ rectangle are shown; the first one is tasteful, while the second is not, due to the vertical dominoes in the upper right corner. [asy]size(300); pathpen = linewidth(2.5); void chessboard(int a, int b, pair P){ for(int i = 0; i < a; ++i) for(int j = 0; j < b; ++j) if((i+j) % 2 == 1) fill(shift(P.x+i,P.y+j)*unitsquare,rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)); D(P--P+(a,0)--P+(a,b)--P+(0,b)--cycle); } chessboard(2,2,(2.5,0));fill(unitsquare,rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6));fill(shift(1,1)*unitsquare,rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)); chessboard(4,3,(6,0)); chessboard(4,3,(11,0)); MP("\mathrm{Distasteful\ tilings}",(2.25,3),fontsize(12)); /* draw lines */ D((0,0)--(2,0)--(2,2)--(0,2)--cycle); D((1,0)--(1,2)); D((2.5,1)--(4.5,1)); D((7,0)--(7,2)--(6,2)--(10,2)--(9,2)--(9,0)--(9,1)--(7,1)); D((8,2)--(8,3)); D((12,0)--(12,2)--(11,2)--(13,2)); D((13,1)--(15,1)--(14,1)--(14,3)); D((13,0)--(13,3));[/asy] a) Prove that if a chessboard polygon can be tiled by dominoes, then it can be done so tastefully. b) Prove that such a tasteful tiling is unique.

Given $ \triangle{ABC}$, where $ A$ is at $ (0,0)$, $ B$ is at $ (20,0)$, and $ C$ is on the positive $ y$-axis. Cone $ M$ is formed when $ \triangle{ABC}$ is rotated about the $ x$-axis, and cone $ N$ is formed when $ \triangle{ABC}$ is rotated about the $ y$-axis. If the volume of cone $ M$ minus the volume of cone $ N$ is $ 140\pi$, find the length of $ \overline{BC}$.

The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are to be arranged in a circle. An arrangement is [i]bad[/i] if it is not true that for every $n$ from $1$ to $15$ one can find a subset of the numbers that appear consecutively on the circle that sum to $n$. Arrangements that differ only by a rotation or a reflection are considered the same. How many different bad arrangements are there? $ \textbf {(A) } 1 \qquad \textbf {(B) } 2 \qquad \textbf {(C) } 3 \qquad \textbf {(D) } 4 \qquad \textbf {(E) } 5 $

A $9\times 7$ rectangle is tiled with tiles of the two types: L-shaped tiles composed by three unit squares (can be rotated repeatedly with $90^\circ$) and square tiles composed by four unit squares. Let $n\ge 0$ be the number of the $2 \times 2 $ tiles which can be used in such a tiling. Find all the values of $n$.

Five people are sitting at a round table. Let $f \ge 0$ be the number of people sitting next to at least one female and $m \ge 0$ be the number of people sitting next to at least one male. The number of possible ordered pairs $(f,m)$ is $ \textbf{(A)}\ 7 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 8 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 9 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 11 $

Two masses are connected with spring constant $k$. The masses have magnitudes $m$ and $M$. The center-of-mass of the system is fixed. If $ k = \text {100 N/m} $ and $m=\dfrac{1}{2}M=\text{1 kg}$, let the ground state energy of the system be $E$. If $E$ can be expressed in the form $ a \times 10^p $ eV (electron-volts), find the ordered pair $(a,p)$, where $ 0 < a < 10 $, and it is rounded to the nearest positive integer and $p$ is an integer. For example, $ 4.2 \times 10^7 $ should be expressed as $(4,7)$. [i](Trung Phan, 10 points)[/i]

Consider an $n$-by-$n$ board of unit squares for some odd positive integer $n$. We say that a collection $C$ of identical dominoes is a [i]maximal grid-aligned configuration[/i] on the board if $C$ consists of $(n^2-1)/2$ dominoes where each domino covers exactly two neighboring squares and the dominoes don't overlap: $C$ then covers all but one square on the board. We are allowed to slide (but not rotate) a domino on the board to cover the uncovered square, resulting in a new maximal grid-aligned configuration with another square uncovered. Let $k(C)$ be the number of distinct maximal grid-aligned configurations obtainable from $C$ by repeatedly sliding dominoes. Find the maximum value of $k(C)$ as a function of $n$. [i]Proposed by Holden Mui[/i]

Given two points $P,Q$ of the plane, denote $P+Q$ the midpoint of (possibly degenerate) segment $PQ$ and $P\cdot Q$ the image of $P$ in rotation around the origin $Q$ under $+90^\circ.$ a) Are these operations commutative? b) Given two distinct points $A,B$ the equation \[Y\cdot X=(A\cdot X)+B\] defines a map $X\mapsto Y.$ Determine what the mapping is. c) Construct all fixed points of the map from b).

A square in the coordinate plane has vertices whose $y$-coordinates are $0$, $1$, $4$, and $5$. What is the area of the square? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 16\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 17\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 25\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 26\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 27 $

Given a point $P_0$ in the plane of the triangle $A_1A_2A_3$. Define $A_s=A_{s-3}$ for all $s\ge4$. Construct a set of points $P_1,P_2,P_3,\ldots$ such that $P_{k+1}$ is the image of $P_k$ under a rotation center $A_{k+1}$ through an angle $120^o$ clockwise for $k=0,1,2,\ldots$. Prove that if $P_{1986}=P_0$, then the triangle $A_1A_2A_3$ is equilateral.

A uniform pool ball of radius $r$ and mass $m$ begins at rest on a pool table. The ball is given a horizontal impulse $J$ of fixed magnitude at a distance $\beta r$ above its center, where $-1 \le \beta \le 1$. The coefficient of kinetic friction between the ball and the pool table is $\mu$. You may assume the ball and the table are perfectly rigid. Ignore effects due to deformation. (The moment of inertia about the center of mass of a solid sphere of mass $m$ and radius $r$ is $I_{cm} = \frac{2}{5}mr^2$.) [asy] size(250); pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); filldraw(circle((0,0),1),gray(.8)); draw((-3,-1)--(3,-1)); draw((-2.4,0.1)--(-2.4,0.6),EndArrow); draw((-2.5,0)--(2.5,0),dashed); draw((-2.75,0.7)--(-0.8,0.7),EndArrow); label("$J$",(-2.8,0.7),W); label("$\beta r$",(-2.3,0.35),E); draw((0,-1.5)--(0,1.5),dashed); draw((1.7,-0.1)--(1.7,-0.9),BeginArrow,EndArrow); label("$r$",(1.75,-0.5),E); [/asy] (a) Find an expression for the final speed of the ball as a function of $J$, $m$, and $\beta$. (b) For what value of $\beta$ does the ball immediately begin to roll without slipping, regardless of the value of $\mu$?

In triangle $ ABC$ the medians $ \overline{AD}$ and $ \overline{CE}$ have lengths 18 and 27, respectively, and $ AB \equal{} 24$. Extend $ \overline{CE}$ to intersect the circumcircle of $ ABC$ at $ F$. The area of triangle $ AFB$ is $ m\sqrt {n}$, where $ m$ and $ n$ are positive integers and $ n$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $ m \plus{} n$.

When real numbers $x,\ y$ moves in the constraint with $x^2+xy+y^2=6.$ Find the range of $x^2y+xy^2-x^2-2xy-y^2+x+y.$ 30 points

Two of the squares of a $ 7\times 7$ checkerboard are painted yellow, and the rest are painted green. Two color schemes are equivalent if one can be obtained from the other by applying a rotation in the plane of the board. How many inequivalent color schemes are possible?

Suppose that a finite group has exactly $ n$ elements of order $ p,$ where $ p$ is a prime. Prove that either $ n\equal{}0$ or $ p$ divides $ n\plus{}1.$

Is it possible to choose a set of $100$ (or $200$) points on the boundary of a cube such that this set is fixed under each isometry of the cube into itself? Justify your answer.

Let $ ABCD$ be a rectangle with center $ O$, $ AB\neq BC$. The perpendicular from $ O$ to $ BD$ cuts the lines $ AB$ and $ BC$ in $ E$ and $ F$ respectively. Let $ M,N$ be the midpoints of the segments $ CD,AD$ respectively. Prove that $ FM \perp EN$.

Given any triangle $ABC$, show how to construct $A'$ on the side $AB$, $B'$ on the side $BC$ and $C'$ on the side $CA$, such that $ABC$ and $A'B'C'$ are similar (with $\angle A = \angle A', \angle B = \angle B', \angle C = \angle C'$) and $A'B'C'$ has the least possible area.

Consider a charged capacitor made with two square plates of side length $L$, uniformly charged, and separated by a very small distance $d$. The EMF across the capacitor is $\xi$. One of the plates is now rotated by a very small angle $\theta$ to the original axis of the capacitor. Find an expression for the difference in charge between the two plates of the capacitor, in terms of (if necessary) $d$, $\theta$, $\xi$, and $L$. Also, approximate your expression by transforming it to algebraic form: i.e. without any non-algebraic functions. For example, logarithms and trigonometric functions are considered non-algebraic. Assume $ d << L $ and $ \theta \approx 0 $. $\emph{Hint}$: You may assume that $ \frac {\theta L}{d} $ is also very small. [i]Problem proposed by Trung Phan[/i] [hide="Clarification"] There are two possible ways to rotate the capacitor. Both were equally scored but this is what was meant: [asy]size(6cm); real h = 7; real w = 2; draw((-w,0)--(-w,h)); draw((0,0)--(0,h), dashed); draw((0,0)--h*dir(64)); draw(arc((0,0),2,64,90)); label("$\theta$", 2*dir(77), dir(77)); [/asy] [/hide]

Let $H$ be the orthocenter of $\triangle ABC$. The points $A_{1} \not= A$, $B_{1} \not= B$ and $C_{1} \not= C$ lie, respectively, on the circumcircles of $\triangle BCH$, $\triangle CAH$ and $\triangle ABH$ and satisfy $A_{1}H=B_{1}H=C_{1}H$. Denote by $H_{1}$, $H_{2}$ and $H_{3}$ the orthocenters of $\triangle A_{1}BC$, $\triangle B_{1}CA$ and $\triangle C_{1}AB$, respectively. Prove that $\triangle A_{1}B_{1}C_{1}$ and $\triangle H_{1}H_{2}H_{3}$ have the same orthocenter.

A ring is the area between two circles with the same center, and width of a ring is the difference between the radii of two circles. [img]http://i18.tinypic.com/6cdmvi8.png[/img] a) Can we put uncountable disjoint rings of width 1(not necessarily same) in the space such that each two of them can not be separated. [img]http://i19.tinypic.com/4qgx30j.png[/img] b) What's the answer if 1 is replaced with 0?

Three one-inch squares are palced with their bases on a line. The center square is lifted out and rotated $ 45^\circ$, as shown. Then it is centered and lowered into its original location until it touches both of the adjoining squares. How many inches is the point $ B$ from the line on which the bases of the original squares were placed? [asy]unitsize(1inch); defaultpen(linewidth(.8pt)+fontsize(8pt)); draw((0,0)--((1/3) + 3*(1/2),0)); fill(((1/6) + (1/2),0)--((1/6) + (1/2),(1/2))--((1/6) + 1,(1/2))--((1/6) + 1,0)--cycle, rgb(.7,.7,.7)); draw(((1/6),0)--((1/6) + (1/2),0)--((1/6) + (1/2),(1/2))--((1/6),(1/2))--cycle); draw(((1/6) + (1/2),0)--((1/6) + (1/2),(1/2))--((1/6) + 1,(1/2))--((1/6) + 1,0)--cycle); draw(((1/6) + 1,0)--((1/6) + 1,(1/2))--((1/6) + (3/2),(1/2))--((1/6) + (3/2),0)--cycle); draw((2,0)--(2 + (1/3) + (3/2),0)); draw(((2/3) + (3/2),0)--((2/3) + 2,0)--((2/3) + 2,(1/2))--((2/3) + (3/2),(1/2))--cycle); draw(((2/3) + (5/2),0)--((2/3) + (5/2),(1/2))--((2/3) + 3,(1/2))--((2/3) + 3,0)--cycle); label("$B$",((1/6) + (1/2),(1/2)),NW); label("$B$",((2/3) + 2 + (1/4),(29/30)),NNE); draw(((1/6) + (1/2),(1/2)+0.05)..(1,.8)..((2/3) + 2 + (1/4)-.05,(29/30)),EndArrow(HookHead,3)); fill(((2/3) + 2 + (1/4),(1/4))--((2/3) + (5/2) + (1/10),(1/2) + (1/9))--((2/3) + 2 + (1/4),(29/30))--((2/3) + 2 - (1/10),(1/2) + (1/9))--cycle, rgb(.7,.7,.7)); draw(((2/3) + 2 + (1/4),(1/4))--((2/3) + (5/2) + (1/10),(1/2) + (1/9))--((2/3) + 2 + (1/4),(29/30))--((2/3) + 2 - (1/10),(1/2) + (1/9))--cycle);[/asy]$ \textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \sqrt {2}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \frac {3}{2}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \sqrt {2} \plus{} \frac {1}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2$

The entries in a $ 3\times3$ array include all the digits from 1 through 9, arranged so that the entries in every row and column are in increasing order. How many such arrays are there? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 18\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 24\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 36\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 42\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 60$

The graph, $G$ of $y = \log_{10}x$ is rotated $90^{\circ}$ counter-clockwise about the origin to obtain a new graph $G'$. Which of the following is an equation for $G'$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ y = \log_{10}\left(\frac{x + 90}{9}\right)\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ y = \log_{x}10\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ y = \frac{1}{x + 1}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ y = 10^{-x}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ y = 10^{x} $

Two small, equal masses are attached by a lightweight rod. This object orbits a planet; the length of the rod is smaller than the radius of the orbit, but not negligible. The rod rotates about its axis in such a way that it remains vertical with respect to the planet. Is there a force in the rod? If so, tension or compression? Is the equlibrium stable, unstable, or neutral wrt small perturbations in the vertical angle of the rod? (A) There is no force in the rod; the equilibrium is neutral. (B) The rod is in tension; the equilibrium is stable. (C) The rod is in compression; the equilibrium is stable. (D) The rod is in tension; the equilibrium is unstable. (E) The rod is in compression; the equilibrium is unstable.