Olympiad problems

1997 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: matrix , combinatorics , Coloring , IMO , IMO 1997 , induction

An $ n \times n$ matrix whose entries come from the set $ S \equal{} \{1, 2, \ldots , 2n \minus{} 1\}$ is called a [i]silver matrix[/i] if, for each $ i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n$, the $ i$-th row and the $ i$-th column together contain all elements of $ S$. Show that: (a) there is no silver matrix for $ n \equal{} 1997$; (b) silver matrices exist for infinitely many values of $ n$.

1997 IMO, 3

Tags: inequalities , permutation , combinatorics , IMO , IMO 1997

Let $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ be real numbers satisfying the conditions: \[ \left\{\begin{array}{cccc} |x_1 \plus{} x_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} x_n | & \equal{} & 1 & \ \\ |x_i| & \leq & \displaystyle \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2} & \ \textrm{ for }i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n. \end{array} \right. \] Show that there exists a permutation $ y_1$, $ y_2$, $ \ldots$, $ y_n$ of $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ such that \[ | y_1 \plus{} 2 y_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} n y_n | \leq \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2}. \]

1997 IMO, 4

Tags: matrix , combinatorics , Coloring , IMO , IMO 1997 , induction

An $ n \times n$ matrix whose entries come from the set $ S \equal{} \{1, 2, \ldots , 2n \minus{} 1\}$ is called a [i]silver matrix[/i] if, for each $ i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n$, the $ i$-th row and the $ i$-th column together contain all elements of $ S$. Show that: (a) there is no silver matrix for $ n \equal{} 1997$; (b) silver matrices exist for infinitely many values of $ n$.

1997 IMO Shortlist, 21

Tags: inequalities , permutation , combinatorics , IMO , IMO 1997

Let $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ be real numbers satisfying the conditions: \[ \left\{\begin{array}{cccc} |x_1 \plus{} x_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} x_n | & \equal{} & 1 & \ \\ |x_i| & \leq & \displaystyle \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2} & \ \textrm{ for }i \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots , n. \end{array} \right. \] Show that there exists a permutation $ y_1$, $ y_2$, $ \ldots$, $ y_n$ of $ x_1$, $ x_2$, $ \ldots$, $ x_n$ such that \[ | y_1 \plus{} 2 y_2 \plus{} \cdots \plus{} n y_n | \leq \frac {n \plus{} 1}{2}. \]

1997 IMO, 6

Tags: combinatorics , counting , Integer partitions , power of 2 , IMO , IMO 1997

For each positive integer $ n$, let $ f(n)$ denote the number of ways of representing $ n$ as a sum of powers of 2 with nonnegative integer exponents. Representations which differ only in the ordering of their summands are considered to be the same. For instance, $ f(4) \equal{} 4$, because the number 4 can be represented in the following four ways: 4; 2+2; 2+1+1; 1+1+1+1. Prove that, for any integer $ n \geq 3$ we have $ 2^{\frac {n^2}{4}} < f(2^n) < 2^{\frac {n^2}2}$.

1997 IMO, 5

Tags: number theory , equation , IMO , IMO 1997 , prime factorization

Find all pairs $ (a,b)$ of positive integers that satisfy the equation: $ a^{b^2} \equal{} b^a$.

1997 IMO, 2

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , perpendicular bisector , IMO , IMO 1997 , isosceles , Hi

It is known that $ \angle BAC$ is the smallest angle in the triangle $ ABC$. The points $ B$ and $ C$ divide the circumcircle of the triangle into two arcs. Let $ U$ be an interior point of the arc between $ B$ and $ C$ which does not contain $ A$. The perpendicular bisectors of $ AB$ and $ AC$ meet the line $ AU$ at $ V$ and $ W$, respectively. The lines $ BV$ and $ CW$ meet at $ T$. Show that $ AU \equal{} TB \plus{} TC$. [i]Alternative formulation:[/i] Four different points $ A,B,C,D$ are chosen on a circle $ \Gamma$ such that the triangle $ BCD$ is not right-angled. Prove that: (a) The perpendicular bisectors of $ AB$ and $ AC$ meet the line $ AD$ at certain points $ W$ and $ V,$ respectively, and that the lines $ CV$ and $ BW$ meet at a certain point $ T.$ (b) The length of one of the line segments $ AD, BT,$ and $ CT$ is the sum of the lengths of the other two.

1997 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: geometry , rectangle , combinatorics , counting , IMO , IMO 1997

In the plane the points with integer coordinates are the vertices of unit squares. The squares are coloured alternately black and white (as on a chessboard). For any pair of positive integers $ m$ and $ n$, consider a right-angled triangle whose vertices have integer coordinates and whose legs, of lengths $ m$ and $ n$, lie along edges of the squares. Let $ S_1$ be the total area of the black part of the triangle and $ S_2$ be the total area of the white part. Let $ f(m,n) \equal{} | S_1 \minus{} S_2 |$. a) Calculate $ f(m,n)$ for all positive integers $ m$ and $ n$ which are either both even or both odd. b) Prove that $ f(m,n) \leq \frac 12 \max \{m,n \}$ for all $ m$ and $ n$. c) Show that there is no constant $ C\in\mathbb{R}$ such that $ f(m,n) < C$ for all $ m$ and $ n$.

1997 IMO Shortlist, 24

Tags: combinatorics , counting , Integer partitions , power of 2 , IMO , IMO 1997

For each positive integer $ n$, let $ f(n)$ denote the number of ways of representing $ n$ as a sum of powers of 2 with nonnegative integer exponents. Representations which differ only in the ordering of their summands are considered to be the same. For instance, $ f(4) \equal{} 4$, because the number 4 can be represented in the following four ways: 4; 2+2; 2+1+1; 1+1+1+1. Prove that, for any integer $ n \geq 3$ we have $ 2^{\frac {n^2}{4}} < f(2^n) < 2^{\frac {n^2}2}$.

1997 IMO Shortlist, 17

Tags: number theory , equation , IMO , IMO 1997 , prime factorization

Find all pairs $ (a,b)$ of positive integers that satisfy the equation: $ a^{b^2} \equal{} b^a$.

1997 IMO, 1

Tags: geometry , rectangle , combinatorics , counting , IMO , IMO 1997

In the plane the points with integer coordinates are the vertices of unit squares. The squares are coloured alternately black and white (as on a chessboard). For any pair of positive integers $ m$ and $ n$, consider a right-angled triangle whose vertices have integer coordinates and whose legs, of lengths $ m$ and $ n$, lie along edges of the squares. Let $ S_1$ be the total area of the black part of the triangle and $ S_2$ be the total area of the white part. Let $ f(m,n) \equal{} | S_1 \minus{} S_2 |$. a) Calculate $ f(m,n)$ for all positive integers $ m$ and $ n$ which are either both even or both odd. b) Prove that $ f(m,n) \leq \frac 12 \max \{m,n \}$ for all $ m$ and $ n$. c) Show that there is no constant $ C\in\mathbb{R}$ such that $ f(m,n) < C$ for all $ m$ and $ n$.

1997 IMO Shortlist, 8

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , perpendicular bisector , IMO , IMO 1997 , isosceles , Hi

It is known that $ \angle BAC$ is the smallest angle in the triangle $ ABC$. The points $ B$ and $ C$ divide the circumcircle of the triangle into two arcs. Let $ U$ be an interior point of the arc between $ B$ and $ C$ which does not contain $ A$. The perpendicular bisectors of $ AB$ and $ AC$ meet the line $ AU$ at $ V$ and $ W$, respectively. The lines $ BV$ and $ CW$ meet at $ T$. Show that $ AU \equal{} TB \plus{} TC$. [i]Alternative formulation:[/i] Four different points $ A,B,C,D$ are chosen on a circle $ \Gamma$ such that the triangle $ BCD$ is not right-angled. Prove that: (a) The perpendicular bisectors of $ AB$ and $ AC$ meet the line $ AD$ at certain points $ W$ and $ V,$ respectively, and that the lines $ CV$ and $ BW$ meet at a certain point $ T.$ (b) The length of one of the line segments $ AD, BT,$ and $ CT$ is the sum of the lengths of the other two.