Olympiad problems

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, G7

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , geometry , excircle , similar triangles

Let $ABC$ be an acute scalene triangle. Its $C$-excircle tangent to the segment $AB$ meets $AB$ at point $M$ and the extension of $BC$ beyond $B$ at point $N$. Analogously, its $B$-excircle tangent to the segment $AC$ meets $AC$ at point $P$ and the extension of $BC$ beyond $C$ at point $Q$. Denote by $A_1$ the intersection point of the lines $MN$ and $PQ$, and let $A_2$ be defined as the point, symmetric to $A$ with respect to $A_1$. Define the points $B_2$ and $C_2$, analogously. Prove that $\triangle ABC$ is similar to $\triangle A_2B_2C_2$.

2022 JBMO Shortlist, A6

Tags: Inequality , Junior , Balkan , shortlist , algebra , absolute value

Let $a, b,$ and $c$ be positive real numbers such that $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 3$. Prove that $$\frac{a^2 + b^2}{2ab} + \frac{b^2 + c^2}{2bc} + \frac{c^2 + a^2}{2ca} + \frac{2(ab + bc + ca)}{3} \ge 5 + |(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)|.$$

2021 Junior Balkаn Mathematical Olympiad, 2

Tags: Junior , Balkan , number theory , Sets , maximum

For any set $A = \{x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4, x_5\}$ of five distinct positive integers denote by $S_A$ the sum of its elements, and denote by $T_A$ the number of triples $(i, j, k)$ with $1 \le i < j < k \le 5$ for which $x_i + x_j + x_k$ divides $S_A$. Find the largest possible value of $T_A$.

2020 JBMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2020 , number theory

The positive integer $k$ and the set $A$ of distinct integers from $1$ to $3k$ inclusively are such that there are no distinct $a$, $b$, $c$ in $A$ satisfying $2b = a + c$. The numbers from $A$ in the interval $[1, k]$ will be called [i]small[/i]; those in $[k + 1, 2k]$ - [i]medium[/i] and those in $[2k + 1, 3k]$ - [i]large[/i]. It is always true that there are [b]no[/b] positive integers $x$ and $d$ such that if $x$, $x + d$, and $x + 2d$ are divided by $3k$ then the remainders belong to $A$ and those of $x$ and $x + d$ are different and are: a) small? $\hspace{1.5px}$ b) medium? $\hspace{1.5px}$ c) large? ([i]In this problem we assume that if a multiple of $3k$ is divided by $3k$ then the remainder is $3k$ rather than $0$[/i].)

2022 JBMO Shortlist, N2

Tags: number theory , LCM , Junior , Balkan , shortlist , AZE JBMO TST , Inequality

Let $a < b < c < d < e$ be positive integers. Prove that $$\frac{1}{[a, b]} + \frac{1}{[b, c]} + \frac{1}{[c, d]} + \frac{2}{[d, e]} \le 1$$ where $[x, y]$ is the least common multiple of $x$ and $y$ (e.g., $[6, 10] = 30$). When does equality hold?

2021 JBMO Shortlist, G4

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , geometry , concurrency

Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral with $\angle B = \angle D = 90^{\circ}$. Let $E$ be the point of intersection of $BC$ with $AD$ and let $M$ be the midpoint of $AE$. On the extension of $CD$, beyond the point $D$, we pick a point $Z$ such that $MZ = \frac{AE}{2}$. Let $U$ and $V$ be the projections of $A$ and $E$ respectively on $BZ$. The circumcircle of the triangle $DUV$ meets again $AE$ at the point $L$. If $I$ is the point of intersection of $BZ$ with $AE$, prove that the lines $BL$ and $CI$ intersect on the line $AZ$.

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, C6

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , combinatorics , colouring , graph

There is a population $P$ of $10000$ bacteria, some of which are friends (friendship is mutual), so that each bacterion has at least one friend and if we wish to assign to each bacterion a coloured membrane so that no two friends have the same colour, then there is a way to do it with $2021$ colours, but not with $2020$ or less. Two friends $A$ and $B$ can decide to merge in which case they become a single bacterion whose friends are precisely the union of friends of $A$ and $B$. (Merging is not allowed if $A$ and $B$ are not friends.) It turns out that no matter how we perform one merge or two consecutive merges, in the resulting population it would be possible to assign $2020$ colours or less so that no two friends have the same colour. Is it true that in any such population $P$ every bacterium has at least $2021$ friends?

2019 JBMO Shortlist, A4

Tags: algebra , Junior , JBMO , 2019 , Balkan , inequalities

Let $a$, $b$ be two distinct real numbers and let $c$ be a positive real numbers such that $a^4 - 2019a = b^4 - 2019b = c$. Prove that $- \sqrt{c} < ab < 0$.

2011 Romania Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: inequalities , inequalities proposed , Balkan

Let $n$ be an integer number greater than $2$, let $x_{1},x_{2},\ldots ,x_{n}$ be $n$ positive real numbers such that \[\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1}{x_{i}+1}=1\] and let $k$ be a real number greater than $1$. Show that: \[\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1}{x_{i}^{k}+1}\ge\frac{n}{(n-1)^{k}+1}\] and determine the cases of equality.

2020 JBMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2020 , geometry

Let $\triangle ABC$ be a right-angled triangle with $\angle BAC = 90^{\circ}$, and let $E$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to $BC$. Let $Z \neq A$ be a point on the line $AB$ with $AB = BZ$. Let $(c)$ and $(c_1)$ be the circumcircles of the triangles $\triangle AEZ$ and $\triangle BEZ$, respectively. Let $(c_2)$ be an arbitrary circle passing through the points $A$ and $E$. Suppose $(c_1)$ meets the line $CZ$ again at the point $F$, and meets $(c_2)$ again at the point $N$. If $P$ is the other point of intersection of $(c_2)$ with $AF$, prove that the points $N$, $B$, $P$ are collinear.

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, N2

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , number theory , Sequence , recursion , Existence , admiration

Denote by $l(n)$ the largest prime divisor of $n$. Let $a_{n+1} = a_n + l(a_n)$ be a recursively defined sequence of integers with $a_1 = 2$. Determine all natural numbers $m$ such that there exists some $i \in \mathbb{N}$ with $a_i = m^2$. [i]Proposed by Nikola Velov, North Macedonia[/i]

2011 Balkan MO Shortlist, A3

Tags: inequalities , inequalities proposed , Balkan

Let $n$ be an integer number greater than $2$, let $x_{1},x_{2},\ldots ,x_{n}$ be $n$ positive real numbers such that \[\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1}{x_{i}+1}=1\] and let $k$ be a real number greater than $1$. Show that: \[\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{1}{x_{i}^{k}+1}\ge\frac{n}{(n-1)^{k}+1}\] and determine the cases of equality.

2024 Junior Balkan MO, 2

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , collinear , Balkan , JBMO

Let $ABC$ be a triangle such that $AB < AC$. Let the excircle opposite to A be tangent to the lines $AB, AC$, and $BC$ at points $D, E$, and $F$, respectively, and let $J$ be its centre. Let $P$ be a point on the side $BC$. The circumcircles of the triangles $BDP$ and $CEP$ intersect for the second time at $Q$. Let $R$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to the line $FJ$. Prove that the points $P, Q$, and $R$ are collinear. (The [i]excircle[/i] of a triangle $ABC$ opposite to $A$ is the circle that is tangent to the line segment $BC$, to the ray $AB$ beyond $B$, and to the ray $AC$ beyond $C$.) [i]Proposed by Bozhidar Dimitrov, Bulgaria[/i]

2021 JBMO Shortlist, G5

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , geometry , Angle Chasing

Let $ABC$ be an acute scalene triangle with circumcircle $\omega$. Let $P$ and $Q$ be interior points of the sides $AB$ and $AC$, respectively, such that $PQ$ is parallel to $BC$. Let $L$ be a point on $\omega$ such that $AL$ is parallel to $BC$. The segments $BQ$ and $CP$ intersect at $S$. The line $LS$ intersects $\omega$ at $K$. Prove that $\angle BKP = \angle CKQ$. Proposed by [i]Ervin Macić, Bosnia and Herzegovina[/i]

2019 Junior Balkan MO, 4

Tags: combinatorics , Junior , Balkan , JBMO , 2019

A $5 \times 100$ table is divided into $500$ unit square cells, where $n$ of them are coloured black and the rest are coloured white. Two unit square cells are called [i]adjacent[/i] if they share a common side. Each of the unit square cells has at most two adjacent black unit square cells. Find the largest possible value of $n$.

2012 Balkan MO Shortlist, N3

Tags: function , AMC , USA(J)MO , USAMO , inequalities , functional equation , Balkan

Let $\mathbb{Z}^+$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f:\mathbb{Z}^+ \rightarrow\mathbb{Z}^+$ such that the following conditions both hold: (i) $f(n!)=f(n)!$ for every positive integer $n$, (ii) $m-n$ divides $f(m)-f(n)$ whenever $m$ and $n$ are different positive integers.

2022 Greece JBMO TST, 4

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , combinatorics , board

Let $n$ be a positive integer. We are given a $3n \times 3n$ board whose unit squares are colored in black and white in such way that starting with the top left square, every third diagonal is colored in black and the rest of the board is in white. In one move, one can take a $2 \times 2$ square and change the color of all its squares in such way that white squares become orange, orange ones become black and black ones become white. Find all $n$ for which, using a finite number of moves, we can make all the squares which were initially black white, and all squares which were initially white black. Proposed by [i]Boris Stanković and Marko Dimitrić, Bosnia and Herzegovina[/i]

2022 JBMO Shortlist, C1

Tags: combinatorics , game , Junior , Balkan , shortlist

Anna and Bob, with Anna starting first, alternately color the integers of the set $S = \{1, 2, ..., 2022 \}$ red or blue. At their turn each one can color any uncolored number of $S$ they wish with any color they wish. The game ends when all numbers of $S$ get colored. Let $N$ be the number of pairs $(a, b)$, where $a$ and $b$ are elements of $S$, such that $a$, $b$ have the same color, and $b - a = 3$. Anna wishes to maximize $N$. What is the maximum value of $N$ that she can achieve regardless of how Bob plays?

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, N4

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , number theory

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]

2021 JBMO Shortlist, N3

Tags: Junior , Balkan , number theory , Sets , maximum

For any set $A = \{x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4, x_5\}$ of five distinct positive integers denote by $S_A$ the sum of its elements, and denote by $T_A$ the number of triples $(i, j, k)$ with $1 \le i < j < k \le 5$ for which $x_i + x_j + x_k$ divides $S_A$. Find the largest possible value of $T_A$.

JBMO Geometry Collection, 2020

Tags: Junior , geometry , cyclic quadrilateral , Balkan

Let $\triangle ABC$ be a right-angled triangle with $\angle BAC = 90^{\circ}$ and let $E$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to $BC$. Let $Z \ne A$ be a point on the line $AB$ with $AB = BZ$. Let $(c)$ be the circumcircle of the triangle $\triangle AEZ$. Let $D$ be the second point of intersection of $(c)$ with $ZC$ and let $F$ be the antidiametric point of $D$ with respect to $(c)$. Let $P$ be the point of intersection of the lines $FE$ and $CZ$. If the tangent to $(c)$ at $Z$ meets $PA$ at $T$, prove that the points $T$, $E$, $B$, $Z$ are concyclic. Proposed by [i]Theoklitos Parayiou, Cyprus[/i]

2020 JBMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2020 , number theory , diophantine

Are there any positive integers $m$ and $n$ satisfying the equation $m^3 = 9n^4 + 170n^2 + 289$ ?

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, G5

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , geometry , reflection , parallel

Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with $AC > AB$ and circumcircle $\Gamma$. The tangent from $A$ to $\Gamma$ intersects $BC$ at $T$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$ and let $R$ be the reflection of $A$ in $B$. Let $S$ be a point so that $SABT$ is a parallelogram and finally let $P$ be a point on line $SB$ such that $MP$ is parallel to $AB$. Given that $P$ lies on $\Gamma$, prove that the circumcircle of $\triangle STR$ is tangent to line $AC$. [i]Proposed by Sam Bealing, United Kingdom[/i]

2020 JBMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: Junior , Balkan , shortlist , 2020 , algebra , Sequence

Consider the sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ defined by $a_1 = 9$ and $a_{n + 1} = \frac{(n + 5)a_n + 22}{n + 3}$ for $n \ge 1$. Find all natural numbers $n$ for which $a_n$ is a perfect square of an integer.

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, N1

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , number theory , arithmetic mean

Let $n \geq 2$ be an integer and let \[M=\bigg\{\frac{a_1 + a_2 + ... + a_k}{k}: 1 \le k \le n\text{ and }1 \le a_1 < \ldots < a_k \le n\bigg\}\] be the set of the arithmetic means of the elements of all non-empty subsets of $\{1, 2, ..., n\}$. Find \[\min\{|a - b| : a, b \in M\text{ with } a \neq b\}.\]