Olympiad problems

2015 Saudi Arabia GMO TST, 4

For each positive integer $n$, define $s(n) =\sum_{k=0}^n r_k$, where $r_k$ is the remainder when $n \choose k$ is divided by $3$. Find all positive integers $n$ such that $s(n) \ge n$. Malik Talbi

2005 iTest, 33

Tags: algebra , Binomial , binomial coefficients

If the coefficient of the third term in the binomial expansion of $(1 - 3x)^{1/4}$ is $-a/b$, where $ a$ and $b$ are relatively prime integers, find $a+b$.

1996 VJIMC, Problem 2

Tags: Sequences , recurrence relation , Summation , Binomial , algebra

Let $\{a_n\}^\infty_{n=0}$ be the sequence of integers such that $a_0=1$, $a_1=1$, $a_{n+2}=2a_{n+1}-2a_n$. Decide whether $$a_n=\sum_{k=0}^{\left\lfloor\frac n2\right\rfloor}\binom n{2k}(-1)^k.$$

1923 Eotvos Mathematical Competition, 2

Tags: binomial coefficients , Binomial , algebra , Sum

If $$s_n = 1 + q + q^2 +... + q^n$$ and $$ S_n = 1 +\frac{1 + q}{2}+ \left( \frac{1 + q}{2}\right)^2 +... + \left( \frac{1 + q}{2}\right)^n,$$ prove that $${n + 1 \choose 1}+{n + 1 \choose 2} s_1 + {n + 1 \choose 3} s_2 + ... + {n + 1 \choose n + 1} s_n = 2^nS_n$$