Olympiad problems

1988 IMO, 2

Tags: linear algebra , combinatorics , Set systems , Coloring , IMO , IMO 1988

Let $ n$ be an even positive integer. Let $ A_1, A_2, \ldots, A_{n \plus{} 1}$ be sets having $ n$ elements each such that any two of them have exactly one element in common while every element of their union belongs to at least two of the given sets. For which $ n$ can one assign to every element of the union one of the numbers 0 and 1 in such a manner that each of the sets has exactly $ \frac {n}{2}$ zeros?

1979 IMO, 2

Tags: algebra , system of equations , Diophantine Equations , IMO , Cauchy-Schwarz inequality

Determine all real numbers a for which there exists positive reals $x_{1}, \ldots, x_{5}$ which satisfy the relations $ \sum_{k=1}^{5} kx_{k}=a,$ $ \sum_{k=1}^{5} k^{3}x_{k}=a^{2},$ $ \sum_{k=1}^{5} k^{5}x_{k}=a^{3}.$

1994 IMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: number theory , Inequality , algebra , IMO , IMO 1994 , IMO Shortlist

Let $ m$ and $ n$ be two positive integers. Let $ a_1$, $ a_2$, $ \ldots$, $ a_m$ be $ m$ different numbers from the set $ \{1, 2,\ldots, n\}$ such that for any two indices $ i$ and $ j$ with $ 1\leq i \leq j \leq m$ and $ a_i \plus{} a_j \leq n$, there exists an index $ k$ such that $ a_i \plus{} a_j \equal{} a_k$. Show that \[ \frac {a_1 \plus{} a_2 \plus{} ... \plus{} a_m}{m} \geq \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2}. \]

2013 IMO Shortlist, C2

Tags: combinatorics , IMO , IMO 2013 , geometry , IMO Shortlist , combinatorical geometry

A configuration of $4027$ points in the plane is called Colombian if it consists of $2013$ red points and $2014$ blue points, and no three of the points of the configuration are collinear. By drawing some lines, the plane is divided into several regions. An arrangement of lines is good for a Colombian configuration if the following two conditions are satisfied: i) No line passes through any point of the configuration. ii) No region contains points of both colors. Find the least value of $k$ such that for any Colombian configuration of $4027$ points, there is a good arrangement of $k$ lines. Proposed by [i]Ivan Guo[/i] from [i]Australia.[/i]

1974 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory , coefficients , degree , IMO , IMO 1974

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients. We denote $\deg(P)$ its degree which is $\geq 1.$ Let $n(P)$ be the number of all the integers $k$ for which we have $(P(k))^{2}=1.$ Prove that $n(P)- \deg(P) \leq 2.$

1988 IMO Longlists, 23

Tags: geometry , incenter , ratio , right triangle , area of a triangle , IMO , IMO 1988

In a right-angled triangle $ ABC$ let $ AD$ be the altitude drawn to the hypotenuse and let the straight line joining the incentres of the triangles $ ABD, ACD$ intersect the sides $ AB, AC$ at the points $ K,L$ respectively. If $ E$ and $ E_1$ dnote the areas of triangles $ ABC$ and $ AKL$ respectively, show that \[ \frac {E}{E_1} \geq 2. \]

1987 IMO Longlists, 21

Tags: probability , counting , derangement , permutations , IMO , IMO 1987 , IMO Shortlist

Let $p_n(k)$ be the number of permutations of the set $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$ which have exactly $k$ fixed points. Prove that $\sum_{k=0}^nk p_n(k)=n!$.[i](IMO Problem 1)[/i] [b][i]Original formulation [/i][/b] Let $S$ be a set of $n$ elements. We denote the number of all permutations of $S$ that have exactly $k$ fixed points by $p_n(k).$ Prove: (a) $\sum_{k=0}^{n} kp_n(k)=n! \ ;$ (b) $\sum_{k=0}^{n} (k-1)^2 p_n(k) =n! $ [i]Proposed by Germany, FR[/i]

1977 IMO Shortlist, 1

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

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

2008 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , trigonometry , IMO 2008 , radical axis , IMO

Let $ H$ be the orthocenter of an acute-angled triangle $ ABC$. The circle $ \Gamma_{A}$ centered at the midpoint of $ BC$ and passing through $ H$ intersects the sideline $ BC$ at points $ A_{1}$ and $ A_{2}$. Similarly, define the points $ B_{1}$, $ B_{2}$, $ C_{1}$ and $ C_{2}$. Prove that the six points $ A_{1}$, $ A_{2}$, $ B_{1}$, $ B_{2}$, $ C_{1}$ and $ C_{2}$ are concyclic. [i]Author: Andrey Gavrilyuk, Russia[/i]

1988 IMO Longlists, 14

Tags: number theory , Divisibility , Diophantine equation , Perfect Square , Vieta Jumping , IMO , IMO 1988

Let $ a$ and $ b$ be two positive integers such that $ a \cdot b \plus{} 1$ divides $ a^{2} \plus{} b^{2}$. Show that $ \frac {a^{2} \plus{} b^{2}}{a \cdot b \plus{} 1}$ is a perfect square.

2021 IMO Shortlist, A6

Tags: IMO 2021 , algebra , linear algebra , IMO , Number system , other bases , combinatorics

Let $m\ge 2$ be an integer, $A$ a finite set of integers (not necessarily positive) and $B_1,B_2,...,B_m$ subsets of $A$. Suppose that, for every $k=1,2,...,m$, the sum of the elements of $B_k$ is $m^k$. Prove that $A$ contains at least $\dfrac{m}{2}$ elements.

2016 IMO Shortlist, A6

Tags: IMO , IMO 2016 , algebra , IMO Shortlist

The equation $$(x-1)(x-2)\cdots(x-2016)=(x-1)(x-2)\cdots (x-2016)$$ is written on the board, with $2016$ linear factors on each side. What is the least possible value of $k$ for which it is possible to erase exactly $k$ of these $4032$ linear factors so that at least one factor remains on each side and the resulting equation has no real solutions?

1971 IMO Longlists, 21

Tags: algebra , Inequality , n-variable inequality , IMO , IMO 1971

Let \[ E_n=(a_1-a_2)(a_1-a_3)\ldots(a_1-a_n)+(a_2-a_1)(a_2-a_3)\ldots(a_2-a_n)+\ldots+(a_n-a_1)(a_n-a_2)\ldots(a_n-a_{n-1}). \] Let $S_n$ be the proposition that $E_n\ge0$ for all real $a_i$. Prove that $S_n$ is true for $n=3$ and $5$, but for no other $n>2$.

1965 IMO, 3

Tags: geometry , 3D geometry , tetrahedron , prism , IMO , IMO 1965

Given the tetrahedron $ABCD$ whose edges $AB$ and $CD$ have lengths $a$ and $b$ respectively. The distance between the skew lines $AB$ and $CD$ is $d$, and the angle between them is $\omega$. Tetrahedron $ABCD$ is divided into two solids by plane $\epsilon$, parallel to lines $AB$ and $CD$. The ratio of the distances of $\epsilon$ from $AB$ and $CD$ is equal to $k$. Compute the ratio of the volumes of the two solids obtained.

1994 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation , IMO , IMO 1994 , increasing functions , david monk

Let $ S$ be the set of all real numbers strictly greater than −1. Find all functions $ f: S \to S$ satisfying the two conditions: (a) $ f(x \plus{} f(y) \plus{} xf(y)) \equal{} y \plus{} f(x) \plus{} yf(x)$ for all $ x, y$ in $ S$; (b) $ \frac {f(x)}{x}$ is strictly increasing on each of the two intervals $ \minus{} 1 < x < 0$ and $ 0 < x$.

2022 IMO Shortlist, N7

Tags: number theory , prime numbers , IMO , IMO 2022

Let $k$ be a positive integer and let $S$ be a finite set of odd prime numbers. Prove that there is at most one way (up to rotation and reflection) to place the elements of $S$ around the circle such that the product of any two neighbors is of the form $x^2+x+k$ for some positive integer $x$.

1979 IMO Shortlist, 25

Tags: trigonometry , geometry , 3D geometry , maximization , IMO , IMO 1979

We consider a point $P$ in a plane $p$ and a point $Q \not\in p$. Determine all the points $R$ from $p$ for which \[ \frac{QP+PR}{QR} \] is maximum.

1986 IMO Longlists, 47

Tags: geometry , rotation , polygon , Locus , Locus problems , IMO , IMO 1986

Let $A,B$ be adjacent vertices of a regular $n$-gon ($n\ge5$) with center $O$. A triangle $XYZ$, which is congruent to and initially coincides with $OAB$, moves in the plane in such a way that $Y$ and $Z$ each trace out the whole boundary of the polygon, with $X$ remaining inside the polygon. Find the locus of $X$.

1987 IMO Longlists, 69

Tags: number theory , polynomial , prime numbers , quadratics , IMO Shortlist , IMO , IMO 1987

Let $n\ge2$ be an integer. Prove that if $k^2+k+n$ is prime for all integers $k$ such that $0\le k\le\sqrt{n\over3}$, then $k^2+k+n$ is prime for all integers $k$ such that $0\le k\le n-2$.[i](IMO Problem 6)[/i] [b][i]Original Formulation[/i][/b] Let $f(x) = x^2 + x + p$, $p \in \mathbb N.$ Prove that if the numbers $f(0), f(1), \cdots , f(\sqrt{p\over 3} )$ are primes, then all the numbers $f(0), f(1), \cdots , f(p - 2)$ are primes. [i]Proposed by Soviet Union. [/i]

2014 Contests, 1

Tags: number theory , IMO

Find all integers $\,a,b,c\,$ with $\,1<a<b<c\,$ such that \[ (a-1)(b-1)(c-1) \] is a divisor of $abc-1.$

2014 IMO Shortlist, C3

Tags: pigeonhole principle , IMO , IMO 2014 , combinatorics , IMO Shortlist , global

Let $n \ge 2$ be an integer. Consider an $n \times n$ chessboard consisting of $n^2$ unit squares. A configuration of $n$ rooks on this board is [i]peaceful[/i] if every row and every column contains exactly one rook. Find the greatest positive integer $k$ such that, for each peaceful configuration of $n$ rooks, there is a $k \times k$ square which does not contain a rook on any of its $k^2$ unit squares.