Check out Mathcounts here, the best competition math program for middle school students.
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The most common cases of Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick are:
I: \(xy+x+y+1=\left( x+1\right) \left( y+1\right)\)
II: \(xy-x-y+1=\left( x-1\right) \left( y-1\right)\)
It's easy to learn. Here is the best tutorial online, by none other than Richard Rusczyk.
The method Rusczyk uses at the second half is very nifty. Thanks!!
Questions to ponder:(answer key below)
#1: Both x and y are positive integers and \(x>y\). Find all positive integer(s) that
\(xy+x+y=13\)
#2: Both x and y are positive integers and \(x>y\). Find all positive integer(s) that
\(2xy+2x-3y=18\)
#3: Find the length and the width of a rectangle whose area is equal to its perimeter.
#4: Twice the area of a non-square rectangle equals triple it's perimeter, what is the area of the rectangle?
Answer key:
#1: x = 6 and y = 1
#2: ( x, y ) = (4, 2)
#3: Don't forget square is a kind of rectangle (but not the other way around) so there are two answers:
4 by 4 and 3 by 6 units.
#4: One side is 4 units and the other 12 units so the answer is 4 x 12 or 48 square units.
There is another one, 6 by 6 that would fit if the question doesn't specify non-square rectangle.
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The problems are really challenging. I like that.
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