Olympiad problems

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, A4

Tags: Balkan , shortlist , 2021 , algebra , Functional inequality

Let $f, g$ be functions from the positive integers to the integers. Vlad the impala is jumping around the integer grid. His initial position is $x_0 = (0, 0)$, and for every $n \ge 1$, his jump is $x_n - x_{n - 1} = (\pm f(n), \pm g(n))$ or $(\pm g(n), \pm f(n)),$ with eight possibilities in total. Is it always possible that Vlad can choose his jumps to return to his initial location $(0, 0)$ infinitely many times when (a) $f, g$ are polynomials with integer coefficients? (b) $f, g$ are any pair of functions from the positive integers to the integers?

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 $x, y \in R$.

2024 Thailand TST, 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 $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.

1973 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 6

Tags: functional , Functional inequality , algebra

$f(x)$ is a real valued function defined for $x \geq 0$ such that $f(0) = 0$, $f(x+1)=f(x)+\sqrt{x}$ for all $x$, and \[ f(x) < \frac{1}{2}f\left(x - \frac{1}{2}\right)+\frac{1}{2}f\left(x + \frac{1}{2}\right) \quad \text{for all} \quad x \geq \frac{1}{2} \] Show that $f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$ is uniquely determined.

2021 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: functional equation , Functional inequality , algebra , memo , MEMO 2021

Determine all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that the inequality \[ f(x^2)-f(y^2) \le (f(x)+y)(x-f(y)) \] holds for all real numbers $x$ and $y$.

2023 Dutch BxMO TST, 2

Tags: Functional Equations , Functional inequality , algebra

Find all functions $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ for which \[f(a - b) f(c - d) + f(a - d) f(b - c) \leq (a - c) f(b - d),\] for all real numbers $a, b, c$ and $d$. Note that there is only one occurrence of $f$ on the right hand side!

1999 Korea - Final Round, 2

Tags: function , algebra , Functional inequality

Suppose $f(x)$ is a function satisfying $\left | f(m+n)-f(m) \right | \leq \frac{n}{m}$ for all positive integers $m$,$n$. Show that for all positive integers $k$: \[\sum_{i=1}^{k}\left |f(2^k)-f(2^i) \right |\leq \frac{k(k-1)}{2}\].

2001 Switzerland Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: function , Functional inequality , inequalities , algebra

A function $f : [0,1] \to R$ has the following properties: (a) $f(x) \ge 0$ for $0 < x < 1$, (b) $f(1) = 1$, (c) $f(x+y) \ge f(x)+ f(y) $ whenever $x,y,x+y \in [0,1]$. Prove that $f(x) \le 2x$ for all $x \in [0,1]$.

1972 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 2

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

Prove that there exists exactly one function $ƒ$ which is defined for all $x \in R$, and for which holds: $\bullet$ $x \le y \Rightarrow f(x) \le f(y)$, for all $x, y \in R$, and $\bullet$ $f(f(x)) = x$, for all $x \in R$.

1997 Slovenia Team Selection Test, 2

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

Find all polynomials $p$ with real coefficients such that for all real $x$ , $xp(x)p(1-x)+x^3 +100 \ge 0$.

2024 Azerbaijan IMO TST, 3

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 $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.

1972 IMO Shortlist, 1

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 $x$.

2007 IMO Shortlist, 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]

2010 Brazil Team Selection Test, 4

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]

2014 All-Russian Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , algebra , Russia , Functional inequality

Given a function $f\colon \mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R} $ with $f(x)^2\le f(y)$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R} $, $x>y$, prove that $f(x)\in [0,1] $ for all $x\in \mathbb{R}$.

1977 IMO Longlists, 2

Tags: algebra , Functional inequality , functional equation , IMO 1977 , IMO Shortlist , IMO , Hi

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{N}\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ satisfying following condition: \[f(n+1)>f(f(n)), \quad \forall n \in \mathbb{N}.\]

2025 Iran MO (2nd Round), 5

Tags: inequalities , function , Functional inequality , Iran 2nd Round

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y,z>0$ $$ 3(x^3+y^3+z^3)\geq f(x+y+z)\cdot f(xy+yz+xz) \geq (x+y+z)(xy+yz+xz). $$

1977 IMO, 3

Tags: function , algebra , Functional inequality , functional equation , IMO , IMO 1977

Let $\mathbb{N}$ be the set of positive integers. Let $f$ be a function defined on $\mathbb{N}$, which satisfies the inequality $f(n + 1) > f(f(n))$ for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Prove that for any $n$ we have $f(n) = n.$

2000 Nordic, 4

Tags: inequalities , Functional inequality , calculus

The real-valued function $f$ is defined for $0 \le x \le 1, f(0) = 0, f(1) = 1$, and $\frac{1}{2} \le \frac{ f(z) - f(y)}{f(y) - f(x)} \le 2$ for all $0 \le x < y < z \le 1$ with $z - y = y -x$. Prove that $\frac{1}{7} \le f (\frac{1}{3} ) \le \frac{4}{7}$.

2019 Regional Olympiad of Mexico Center Zone, 2

Tags: inequalities , Functional inequality , functional , algebra

Find all functions $ f: \mathbb {R} \rightarrow \mathbb {R} $ such that $ f (x + y) \le f (xy) $ for every pair of real $ x $, $ y$.

2017-IMOC, A4

Tags: fe , functional equation , Functional inequality , algebra

Show that for all non-constant functions $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$, there are two real numbers $x,y$ such that $$f(x+f(y))>xf(y)+x.$$

2023 ISL, A4

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 $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.

2009 IMO Shortlist, 5

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]

2016 Taiwan TST Round 1, 1

Tags: function , algebra , Taiwan , Functional inequality

Suppose function $f:[0,\infty)\to[0,\infty)$ satisfies (1)$\forall x,y \geq 0,$ we have $f(x)f(y)\leq y^2f(\frac{x}{2})+x^2f(\frac{y}{2})$; (2)$\forall 0 \leq x \leq 1, f(x) \leq 2016$. Prove that $f(x)\leq x^2$ for all $x\geq 0$.

2011 IMO, 3

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]