Olympiad problems

1986 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 2

Let $f(x)$ be a quadratic polynomial with two real roots in the interval $[-1,1]$. Prove that if the maximum value of $|f(x)|$ in the interval $[-1,1]$ is equal to $1$, then the maximum value of $|f'(x)|$ in the interval $[-1,1]$ is not less than $1$.

2013 Dutch IMO TST, 2

Tags: perfect square , number theory , rational

Determine all integers $n$ for which $\frac{4n-2}{n+5}$ is the square of a rational number.

2012 Tuymaada Olympiad, 4

Tags: quadratic , modular arithmetic , calculus , algebra , polynomial

Let $p=4k+3$ be a prime. Prove that if \[\dfrac {1} {0^2+1}+\dfrac{1}{1^2+1}+\cdots+\dfrac{1}{(p-1)^2+1}=\dfrac{m} {n}\] (where the fraction $\dfrac {m} {n}$ is in reduced terms), then $p \mid 2m-n$. [i]Proposed by A. Golovanov[/i]

2020 Tuymaada Olympiad, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial

The degrees of polynomials $P$ and $Q$ with real coefficients do not exceed $n$. These polynomials satisfy the identity \[ P(x) x^{n + 1} + Q(x) (x+1)^{n + 1} = 1. \] Determine all possible values of $Q \left( - \frac{1}{2} \right)$.

2019 District Olympiad, 4

Tags: continuous function , convergence , calculus , sequence

Let $f: [0, \infty) \to [0, \infty)$ be a continuous function with $f(0)>0$ and having the property $$x-y<f(y)-f(x) \le 0~\forall~0 \le x<y.$$ Prove that: $a)$ There exists a unique $\alpha \in (0, \infty)$ such that $(f \circ f)(\alpha)=\alpha.$ $b)$ The sequence $(x_n)_{n \ge 1},$ defined by $x_1 \ge 0$ and $x_{n+1}=f(x_n)~\forall~n \in \mathbb{N}$ is convergent.

2000 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: geometry , circumcircle

Two circles $C_{1}$ and $C_{2}$ intersect at points $P$ and $Q$. Their common tangent, closer to $P$ than to $Q$, touches $C_{1}$ at $A$ and $C_{2}$ at $B$. The tangents to $C_{1}$ and $C_{2}$ at $P$ meet the other circle at points $E \not = P$ and $F \not = P$ , respectively. Let $H$ and $K$ be the points on the rays $AF$ and $BE$ respectively such that $AH = AP$ and $BK = BP$ . Prove that $A,H,Q,K,B$ lie on a circle.

1980 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 5

Tags: combinatorics , word

A [i]word[/i] is a string of the symbols $a, b$ which can be formed by repeated application of the following: (1) $ab$ is a word; (2) if $X$ and $Y$ are words, then so is $XY$; (3) if $X$ is a word, then so is $aXb$. How many words have $12$ letters?

2009 Peru Iberoamerican Team Selection Test, P4

Tags: geometry

Let $ABC$ be a triangle such that $AB < BC$. Plot the height $BH$ with $H$ in $AC$. Let I be the incenter of triangle $ABC$ and $M$ the midpoint of $AC$. If line $MI$ intersects $BH$ at point $N$, prove that $BN < IM$.

1998 AMC 8, 25

Tags:

Three generous friends, each with some money, redistribute the money as follow: Amy gives enough money to Jan and Toy to double each amount has. Jan then gives enough to Amy and Toy to double their amounts. Finally, Toy gives enough to Amy and Jan to double their amounts. If Toy had 36 dollars at the beginning and 36 dollars at the end, what is the total amount that all three friends have? $\textbf{(A)}\ 108 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 180 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 216 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 252 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 288$

2012 Singapore MO Open, 2

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ so that $(x+y)(f(x)-f(y))=(x-y)f(x+y)$ for all $x,y$ that belongs to $\mathbb{R}$.

2011 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: inequalities , relatively prime , number theory

Two natural numbers $d$ and $d'$, where $d'>d$, are both divisors of $n$. Prove that $d'>d+\frac{d^2}{n}$.

1999 BAMO, 4

Tags: combinatorics , invariant , invariance principle

Finitely many cards are placed in two stacks, with more cards in the left stack than the right. Each card has one or more distinct names written on it, although different cards may share some names. For each name, we define a “shuffle” by moving every card that has this name written on it to the opposite stack. Prove that it is always possible to end up with more cards in the right stack by picking several distinct names, and doing in turn the shuffle corresponding to each name.

1989 Austrian-Polish Competition, 8

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , inradius , incenter , euler , inequalities , area of a triangle

$ABC$ is an acute-angled triangle and $P$ a point inside or on the boundary. The feet of the perpendiculars from $P$ to $BC, CA, AB$ are $A', B', C'$ respectively. Show that if $ABC$ is equilateral, then $\frac{AC'+BA'+CB'}{PA'+PB'+PC'}$ is the same for all positions of $P$, but that for any other triangle it is not.

2018 Iran Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: maximum value , algebra

Find the maximum possible value of $k$ for which there exist distinct reals $x_1,x_2,\ldots ,x_k $ greater than $1$ such that for all $1 \leq i, j \leq k$, $$x_i^{\lfloor x_j \rfloor }= x_j^{\lfloor x_i\rfloor}.$$ [i]Proposed by Morteza Saghafian[/i]

2024 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Tags: functional equation , function , algebra

Find the functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ that satisfy $$(f(x)-y)f(x+f(y))=f(x^2)-yf(y),$$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y.$

2004 IberoAmerican, 2

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , induction , ratio , geometric transformation , reflection , power of a point

In the plane are given a circle with center $ O$ and radius $ r$ and a point $ A$ outside the circle. For any point $ M$ on the circle, let $ N$ be the diametrically opposite point. Find the locus of the circumcenter of triangle $ AMN$ when $ M$ describes the circle.

2019 LIMIT Category A, Problem 8

Tags: number theory

If $n$ is a positive integer such that $8n+1$ is a perfect square, then $\textbf{(A)}~n\text{ must be odd}$ $\textbf{(B)}~n\text{ cannot be a perfect square}$ $\textbf{(C)}~n\text{ cannot be a perfect square}$ $\textbf{(D)}~\text{None of the above}$

2021 Balkan MO, 4

Tags:

Problem 4. Angel has a warehouse, which initially contains $100$ piles of $100$ pieces of rubbish each. Each morning, Angel performs exactly one of the following moves: (a) He clears every piece of rubbish from a single pile. (b) He clears one piece of rubbish from each pile. However, every evening, a demon sneaks into the warehouse and performs exactly one of the following moves: (a) He adds one piece of rubbish to each non-empty pile. (b) He creates a new pile with one piece of rubbish. What is the first morning when Angel can guarantee to have cleared all the rubbish from the warehouse?

1999 IberoAmerican, 3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , induction , pigeonhole principle , combinatorics

Let $P_1,P_2,\dots,P_n$ be $n$ distinct points over a line in the plane ($n\geq2$). Consider all the circumferences with diameters $P_iP_j$ ($1\leq{i,j}\leq{n}$) and they are painted with $k$ given colors. Lets call this configuration a ($n,k$)-cloud. For each positive integer $k$, find all the positive integers $n$ such that every possible ($n,k$)-cloud has two mutually exterior tangent circumferences of the same color.

2016 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: inequalities

Let a,b,c,d be real numbers satisfying $|a|,|b|,|c|,|d|>1$ and $abc+abd+acd+bcd+a+b+c+d=0$. Prove that $\frac {1} {a-1}+\frac {1} {b-1}+ \frac {1} {c-1}+ \frac {1} {d-1} >0$

MathLinks Contest 3rd, 3

Tags: 3d geometry , geometry , tetrahedron

We say that a tetrahedron is [i]median [/i] if and only if for each vertex the plane that passes through the midpoints of the edges emerging from the vertex is tangent to the inscribed sphere. Also a tetrahedron is called [i]regular [/i] if all its faces are congruent. Prove that a tetrahedron is regular if and only if it is median.

1994 AIME Problems, 13

Tags: trigonometry , algebra , polynomial , vieta

The equation \[ x^{10}+(13x-1)^{10}=0 \] has 10 complex roots $r_1, \overline{r_1}, r_2, \overline{r_2}, r_3, \overline{r_3}, r_4, \overline{r_4}, r_5, \overline{r_5},$ where the bar denotes complex conjugation. Find the value of \[ \frac 1{r_1\overline{r_1}}+\frac 1{r_2\overline{r_2}}+\frac 1{r_3\overline{r_3}}+\frac 1{r_4\overline{r_4}}+\frac 1{r_5\overline{r_5}}. \]

2012 USA Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Consider (3-variable) polynomials \[P_n(x,y,z)=(x-y)^{2n}(y-z)^{2n}+(y-z)^{2n}(z-x)^{2n}+(z-x)^{2n}(x-y)^{2n}\] and \[Q_n(x,y,z)=[(x-y)^{2n}+(y-z)^{2n}+(z-x)^{2n}]^{2n}.\] Determine all positive integers $n$ such that the quotient $Q_n(x,y,z)/P_n(x,y,z)$ is a (3-variable) polynomial with rational coefficients.

2021 Putnam, A2

Tags:

For every positive real number $x$, let \[ g(x)=\lim_{r\to 0} ((x+1)^{r+1}-x^{r+1})^{\frac{1}{r}}. \] Find $\lim_{x\to \infty}\frac{g(x)}{x}$. [hide=Solution] By the Binomial Theorem one obtains\\ $\lim_{x \to \infty} \lim_{r \to 0} \left((1+r)+\frac{(1+r)r}{2}\cdot x^{-1}+\frac{(1+r)r(r-1)}{6} \cdot x^{-2}+\dots \right)^{\frac{1}{r}}$\\ $=\lim_{r \to 0}(1+r)^{\frac{1}{r}}=\boxed{e}$ [/hide]

Mathley 2014-15, 6

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , bicentric quadrilateral , tangent circle

A quadrilateral is called bicentric if it has both an incircle and a circumcircle. $ABCD$ is a bicentric quadrilateral with $(O)$ being its circumcircle. Let $E, F$ be the intersections of $AB$ and $CD, AD$ and $BC$ respectively. Prove that there is a circle with center $O$ tangent to all of the circumcircles of the four triangles $EAD, EBC, FAB, FCD$. Nguyen Van Linh, a student of the Vietnamese College, Ha Noi