An eccentric mathematician has a ladder with $ n$ rungs that he always ascends and descends in the following way: When he ascends, each step he takes covers $ a$ rungs of the ladder, and when he descends, each step he takes covers $ b$ rungs of the ladder, where $ a$ and $ b$ are fixed positive integers. By a sequence of ascending and descending steps he can climb from ground level to the top rung of the ladder and come back down to ground level again. Find, with proof, the minimum value of $ n,$ expressed in terms of $ a$ and $ b.$

Let $a_1, a_2,...$ be an infinite sequence of positive integers such that for any $k,\ell\in \mathbb{Z_+}$, $a_{k+\ell}$ is divisible by $\gcd(a_k,a_\ell)$. Prove that for any integers $1\leqslant k\leqslant n$, $a_na_{n-1}\dots a_{n-k+1}$ is divisible by $a_ka_{k-1}\dots a_1$.

Suppose that $x, y,$ and $z$ are positive integers with $xy=z^2 +1$. Prove that there exist integers $a, b, c,$ and $d$ such that $x=a^2 +b^2$, $y=c^2 +d^2$, and $z=ac+bd$.

$p$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients and for every natural $n$ we have $p(n)>n$. $x_k $ is a sequence that: $x_1=1, x_{i+1}=p(x_i)$ for every $N$ one of $x_i$ is divisible by $N.$ Prove that $p(x)=x+1$

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients that has at least one rational root. Let $n$ be a positive integer. Alan and Allan are playing a game. First, Alan writes down $n$ integers at $n$ different locations on a board. Then Allan may make moves of the following kind: choose a position that has integer $a$ written, then choose a different position that has integer $b$ written, then at the first position erase $a$ and in its place write $a+P(b)$. After any nonnegative number of moves, Allan may choose to end the game. Once Allan ends the game, his score is the number of times the mode (most common element) of the integers on the board appears. Find, in terms of $P(x)$ and $n$, the maximum score Allan can guarantee. [i]Henrick Rabinovitz[/i]

Let $n$ be a positive integer. Ana and Banana play a game. Banana thinks of a function $f\colon\mathbb{Z}\to\mathbb{Z}$ and a prime number $p$. He tells Ana that $f$ is nonconstant, $p<100$, and $f(x+p)=f(x)$ for all integers $x$. Ana's goal is to determine the value of $p$. She writes down $n$ integers $x_1,\dots,x_n$. After seeing this list, Banana writes down $f(x_1),\dots,f(x_n)$ in order. Ana wins if she can determine the value of $p$ from this information. Find the smallest value of $n$ for which Ana has a winning strategy. [i]Anthony Wang[/i]

Prove that for every square-free integer $n>1$, there exists a prime number $p$ and an integer $m$ satisfying \[ p \mid n \quad \text{and} \quad n \mid p^2+p\cdot m^p. \]

Let $a,b,c,d$ be positive integers such that $ad \neq bc$ and $gcd(a,b,c,d)=1$. Let $S$ be the set of values attained by $\gcd(an+b,cn+d)$ as $n$ runs through the positive integers. Show that $S$ is the set of all positive divisors of some positive integer.

Functions $f,g:\mathbb{Z}\to\mathbb{Z}$ satisfy $$f(g(x)+y)=g(f(y)+x)$$ for any integers $x,y$. If $f$ is bounded, prove that $g$ is periodic.

Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute triangle, and let $I_B, I_C,$ and $O$ denote its $B$-excenter, $C$-excenter, and circumcenter, respectively. Points $E$ and $Y$ are selected on $\overline{AC}$ such that $\angle ABY=\angle CBY$ and $\overline{BE}\perp\overline{AC}$. Similarly, points $F$ and $Z$ are selected on $\overline{AB}$ such that $\angle ACZ=\angle BCZ$ and $\overline{CF}\perp\overline{AB}$. Lines $\overleftrightarrow{I_BF}$ and $\overleftrightarrow{I_CE}$ meet at $P$. Prove that $\overline{PO}$ and $\overline{YZ}$ are perpendicular. [i]Proposed by Evan Chen and Telv Cohl[/i]

Let $m$ and $n$ be positive integers. Find the smallest positive integer $s$ for which there exists an $m \times n$ rectangular array of positive integers such that [list] [*]each row contains $n$ distinct consecutive integers in some order, [*]each column contains $m$ distinct consecutive integers in some order, and [*]each entry is less than or equal to $s$. [/list] [i]Proposed by Ankan Bhattacharya.[/i]

Can every positive rational number $q$ be written as $$\frac{a^{2021} + b^{2023}}{c^{2022} + d^{2024}},$$ where $a, b, c, d$ are all positive integers? [i]Proposed by Dominic Yeo, UK[/i]

Find all surjective functions $ f: \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ such that for every $ m,n \in \mathbb{N}$ and every prime $ p,$ the number $ f(m + n)$ is divisible by $ p$ if and only if $ f(m) + f(n)$ is divisible by $ p$. [i]Author: Mohsen Jamaali and Nima Ahmadi Pour Anari, Iran[/i]