Olympiad problems

2017 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 2

Let $R^+$ be the set of positive real numbers. Find all function $f : R^+ \to R$ such that, for all positive real number $x$ and $y$, the following conditions are satisfied: i) $2f (x) + 2f (y) \le f (x + y)$ ii) $(x + y)[y f (x) + x f (y)] \ge x y f (x + y)$

2018 Dutch IMO TST, 2

Tags: Functional inequality , function , inequalities , algebra

Find all functions $f : R \to R$ such that $f(x^2)-f(y^2) \le (f(x)+y) (x-f(y))$ for all $x, y \in R$.

2014 IMO Shortlist, A5

Tags: IMO Shortlist , algebra , Functional inequality , Polynomials

Consider all polynomials $P(x)$ with real coefficients that have the following property: for any two real numbers $x$ and $y$ one has \[|y^2-P(x)|\le 2|x|\quad\text{if and only if}\quad |x^2-P(y)|\le 2|y|.\] Determine all possible values of $P(0)$. [i]Proposed by Belgium[/i]

2010 Belarus Team Selection Test, 5.3

Tags: function , inequalities , algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist

Let $f$ be any function that maps the set of real numbers into the set of real numbers. Prove that there exist real numbers $x$ and $y$ such that \[f\left(x-f(y)\right)>yf(x)+x\] [i]Proposed by Igor Voronovich, Belarus[/i]

2015 Costa Rica - Final Round, 5

Tags: algebra , inequalities , Functional inequality , functional

Let $f: N^+ \to N^+$ be a function that satisfies that $$kf(n) \le f (kn) \le kf(n)+ k- 1, \,\, \forall k,n \in N^+$$ Prove that $$f(a) + f(b) \le f (a + b) \le f(a) + f(b) + 1, \,\, \forall a, b \in N^+$$

2022 Abelkonkurransen Finale, 4a

Tags: Functional inequality , Functional Equations , algebra

Find all functions $f:\mathbb R^+ \to \mathbb R^+$ satisfying \begin{align*} f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right) \geq 1 - \frac{\sqrt{f(x)f\left(\frac{1}{x}\right)}}{x} \geq x^2 f(x), \end{align*} for all positive real numbers $x$.

2019 Dutch IMO TST, 3

Tags: Functional inequality , Find all functions , algebra

Find all functions $f : Z \to Z$ satisfying the following two conditions: (i) for all integers $x$ we have $f(f(x)) = x$, (ii) for all integers $x$ and y such that $x + y$ is odd, we have $f(x) + f(y) \ge x + y$.

2009 Switzerland - Final Round, 9

Tags: inequalities , Functional inequality , functional , algebra

Find all injective functions $f : N\to N$ such that holds for all natural numbers $n$: $$f(f(n)) \le \frac{f(n) + n}{2}$$

2024 Brazil Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist , AZE IMO TST , TST

Let $\mathbb R_{>0}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Determine all functions $f \colon \mathbb R_{>0} \to \mathbb R_{>0}$ such that \[x \big(f(x) + f(y)\big) \geqslant \big(f(f(x)) + y\big) f(y)\] for every $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.

2021-IMOC qualification, A3

Tags: function , Functional inequality , functional , inequalities , algebra

Find all injective function $f: N \to N$ satisfying that for all positive integers $m,n$, we have: $f(n(f(m)) \le nm$

2008 Brazil Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist

Consider those functions $ f: \mathbb{N} \mapsto \mathbb{N}$ which satisfy the condition \[ f(m \plus{} n) \geq f(m) \plus{} f(f(n)) \minus{} 1 \] for all $ m,n \in \mathbb{N}.$ Find all possible values of $ f(2007).$ [i]Author: Nikolai Nikolov, Bulgaria[/i]

2019 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: function , Functional inequality , algebra

Find the functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to (0, \infty)$ which satisfy $$2^{-x-y} \le \frac{f(x)f(y)}{(x^2+1)(y^2+1)} \le \frac{f(x+y)}{(x+y)^2+1},$$ for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}.$

2024 Romania Team Selection Tests, P4

Tags: algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist , AZE IMO TST , TST

Let $\mathbb R_{>0}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Determine all functions $f \colon \mathbb R_{>0} \to \mathbb R_{>0}$ such that \[x \big(f(x) + f(y)\big) \geqslant \big(f(f(x)) + y\big) f(y)\] for every $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.

2008 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: function , algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist

Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions: (i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$; (ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$. Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list] [i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]

2016 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, Level 3, 4

Tags: function , algebra , maximum , Functional inequality

Let $c > 1$ be a real number. A function $f: [0 ,1 ] \to R$ is called c-friendly if $f(0) = 0, f(1) = 1$ and $|f(x) -f(y)| \le c|x - y|$ for all the numbers $x ,y \in [0,1]$. Find the maximum of the expression $|f(x) - f(y)|$ for all [i]c-friendly[/i] functions $f$ and for all the numbers $x,y \in [0,1]$.

2015 Belarus Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: IMO Shortlist , algebra , Functional inequality , Polynomials

Consider all polynomials $P(x)$ with real coefficients that have the following property: for any two real numbers $x$ and $y$ one has \[|y^2-P(x)|\le 2|x|\quad\text{if and only if}\quad |x^2-P(y)|\le 2|y|.\] Determine all possible values of $P(0)$. [i]Proposed by Belgium[/i]

1994 Czech And Slovak Olympiad IIIA, 1

Tags: Functional inequality , function , algebra

Let $f : N \to N$ be a function which satisfies $f(x)+ f(x+2) \le 2 f(x+1)$ for any $x \in N$. Prove that there exists a line in the coordinate plane containing infinitely many points of the form $(n, f(n)), n \in N$.

1963 Swedish Mathematical Competition., 6

Tags: analysis , algebra , inequalities , function , Functional inequality

The real-valued function $f(x)$ is defined on the reals. It satisfies $|f(x)| \le A$, $|f''(x)| \le B$ for some positive $A, B$ (and all $x$). Show that $|f'(x)| \le C$, for some fixed$ C$, which depends only on $A$ and $B$. What is the smallest possible value of $C$?

2021 Peru EGMO TST, 6

Tags: algebra , function , Functional inequality , functional equation

Find all functions $f : R \to R$ such that $$f(x + y) \ge xf(x) + yf(y)$$, for all $x, y \in R$ .

2011 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: function , algebra , Functional inequality , IMO , IMO Shortlist

Let $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ be a real-valued function defined on the set of real numbers that satisfies \[f(x + y) \leq yf(x) + f(f(x))\] for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. Prove that $f(x) = 0$ for all $x \leq 0$. [i]Proposed by Igor Voronovich, Belarus[/i]

2008 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist

Consider those functions $ f: \mathbb{N} \mapsto \mathbb{N}$ which satisfy the condition \[ f(m \plus{} n) \geq f(m) \plus{} f(f(n)) \minus{} 1 \] for all $ m,n \in \mathbb{N}.$ Find all possible values of $ f(2007).$ [i]Author: Nikolai Nikolov, Bulgaria[/i]

2009 Ukraine Team Selection Test, 9

Tags: function , algebra , Functional inequality , IMO Shortlist

Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions: (i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$; (ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$. Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list] [i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]

2016 HMIC, 3

Tags: HMMT , algebra , Functional inequality , functional equation , HMIC

Denote by $\mathbb{N}$ the positive integers. Let $f:\mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ be a function such that, for any $w,x,y,z \in \mathbb{N}$, \[ f(f(f(z)))f(wxf(yf(z)))=z^{2}f(xf(y))f(w). \] Show that $f(n!) \ge n!$ for every positive integer $n$. [i]Pakawut Jiradilok[/i]

1972 IMO Longlists, 7

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation , Functional inequality , IMO , IMO 1972

$f$ and $g$ are real-valued functions defined on the real line. For all $x$ and $y, f(x+y)+f(x-y)=2f(x)g(y)$. $f$ is not identically zero and $|f(x)|\le1$ for all $x$. Prove that $|g(x)|\le1$ for all $x$.

1979 Kurschak Competition, 2

Tags: algebra , functional , Functional inequality , function

$f$ is a real-valued function defined on the reals such that $f(x) \le x$ and $f(x + y) \le f(x) + f(y)$ for all $x, y$. Prove that $f(x) = x$ for all $x$.