A jeweller makes a chain consisting of $N>3$ numbered links. A querulous customer then asks him to change the order of the links, in such a way that the number of links the jeweller must open is maximized. What is the maximum number?

If one can find a student with at least $k$ friends in any class which has $21$ students such that at least two of any three of these students are friends, what is the largest possible value of $k$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 8 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 9 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 11 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 12 $

The $25$ integers from $-10$ to $14,$ inclusive, can be arranged to form a $5$-by-$5$ square in which the sum of the numbers in each row, the sum of the numbers in each column, and the sum of the numbers along each of the main diagonals are all the same. What is the value of this common sum? $\textbf{(A) }2 \qquad\textbf{(B) } 5\qquad\textbf{(C) } 10\qquad\textbf{(D) } 25\qquad\textbf{(E) } 50$

Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ be the set of all positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ that satisfy the following conditions: - $f(xyz)+f(x)+f(y)+f(z)=f(\sqrt{xy})f(\sqrt{yz})f(\sqrt{zx})$ for all $x,y,z\in\mathbb{R}^+$; - $f(x)<f(y)$ for all $1\le x<y$. [i]Proposed by Hojoo Lee, Korea[/i]

Let $ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle and $P$ be a point in its interior. Let $P_A,P_B$ and $P_c$ be the images of $P$ under reflection in the sides $BC,CA$, and $AB$, respectively. If $P$ is the orthocentre of the triangle $P_AP_BP_C$ and if the largest angle of the triangle that can be formed by the line segments$ PA, PB$. and $PC$ is $x^o$, determine the value of $x$.

Find all pairs $(n,d)$ of positive integers such that $d\mid n^2$ and $(n-d)^2<2d$. [i]Linus Tang[/i]

Find all real numbers $a$ for which the following equation has a unique real solution: $$|x-1|+|x-2|+\ldots+|x-99|=a.$$

For positive integers $n,$ let $s(n)$ be the sum of the digits of $n.$ Over all four-digit positive integers $n,$ which value of $n$ maximizes the ratio $\frac{s(n)}{n}$? [i]Proposed by Michael Tang[/i]

Let $(a_n)_n$ be a sequence of positive irational numbers. a) Prove that for every $n\in\mathbb N^*$, the binomial development $(1+a_n)^n$ admits a unique maximum term and determine its rank $r_n\in\{1,2,\ldots,n+1\}$. b) We consider the sequences $x_n=a_n\sqrt n, n\in\mathbb N^*$ and $y_n=(1+a_n)^{r_n}, n\in\mathbb N^*$. Prove that $(x_n)_n$ is convergent if and only if the sequence $(y_n)_n$ is convergent. [i]Eugen Paltanea[/i]

Let $AA_1$ and $BB_1$ be the altitudes of an acute-angled, non-isosceles triangle $ABC$. Also, let $A_0$ and $B_0$ be the midpoints of its sides $BC$ and $CA$, respectively. The line $A_1B_1$ intersects the line $A_0B_0$ at a point $C'$. Prove that the line $CC'$ is perpendicular to the Euler line of the triangle $ABC$ (this is the line that joins the orthocenter and the circumcenter of the triangle $ABC$).

Prove that there are no integers $x$ and $y$ for which $$x^2 +3xy-2y^2 =122.$$

Given the polynomial $a_0x^n+a_1x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_{n-1}x+a_n$, where $n$ is a positive integer or zero, and $a_0$ is a positive integer. The remaining $a$'s are integers or zero. Set $h=n+a_0+|a_1|+|a_2|+\cdots+|a_n|$. [See example 25 for the meaning of $|x|$.] The number of polynomials with $h=3$ is: $ \textbf{(A)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 6\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 7\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 9 $

Danyang is doing math. He starts to draw an isosceles triangle, but only manages to draws an angle of $70^{\circ}$ before he has to leave for recess. Find the sum of all possible values for the smallest angle in Danyang's triangle.

The numbers $1$ to $n^2$ are written in an n×n squared paper in the usual ordering. Any sequence of right and downwards steps from a square to an adjacent one (by side) starting at square $1$ and ending at square $n^2$ is called a path. Denote by $L(C)$ the sum of the numbers through which path $C$ goes. (a) For a fixed $n$, let $M$ and $m$ be the largest and smallest $L(C)$ possible. Prove that $M-m$ is a perfect cube. (b) Prove that for no $n$ can one find a path $C$ with $L(C ) = 1996$.

For even $n$, prove that $\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\left((-1)^{i+1}\cdot\frac{1}{i}\right)}=2\sum_{i=1}^{n/2}{\frac{1}{n+2i}}$.

For a positive real number $r$, let $G(r)$ be the minimum value of $|r - \sqrt{m^2+2n^2}|$ for all integers $m$ and $n$. Prove or disprove the assertion that $\lim_{r\to \infty}G(r)$ exists and equals $0.$

In the tetrahedron $ABCD$ the radius of its inscribed sphere is $r$ and the radiuses of the exinscribed spheres (each tangent with a face of the tetrahedron and with the planes of the other faces) are $r_A, r_B, r_C, r_D.$ Prove the inequality $$\frac{1}{\sqrt{r_A^2-r_Ar_B+r_B^2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{r_B^2-r_Br_C+r_C^2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{r_C^2-r_Cr_D+r_D^2}}+\frac{1}{\sqrt{r_D^2-r_Dr_A+r_A^2}}\leq\frac{2}{r}.$$

Let $ABC$ be an isosceles triangle, and point $D$ in its interior such that $$D \hat{B} C=30^\circ, D \hat{B}A=50^\circ, D \hat{C}B=55^\circ$$ (a) Prove that $\hat B=\hat C=80^\circ$. (b) Find the measure of the angle $D \hat{A} C$.

Find the remainder when $$20^{20}+21^{21}-21^{20}-20^{21}$$ is divided by $100$.

In a triangle $ABC$, $\angle A$ is $60^\circ$. On sides $AB$ and $AC$ we make two equilateral triangles (outside the triangle $ABC$) $ABK$ and $ACL$. $CK$ and $AB$ intersect at $S$ , $AC$ and $BL$ intersect at $R$ , $BL$ and $CK$ intersect at $T$. Prove the radical centre of circumcircle of triangles $BSK, CLR$ and $BTC$ is on the median of vertex $A$ in triangle $ABC$. [i]Proposed by Ali Zamani[/i]

Find the largest positive integer $n$ such that for each prime $p$ with $2<p<n$ the difference $n-p$ is also prime.

Find the smallest natural number nonzero n so that it exists in real numbers $x_1, x_2,..., x_n$ which simultaneously check the conditions: 1) $x_i \in [1/2 , 2]$ , $i = 1, 2,... , n$ 2) $x_1+x_2+...+x_n \ge \frac{7n}{6}$ 3) $\frac{1}{x_1}+\frac{1}{x_2}+...+\frac{1}{x_n}\ge \frac{4n}{3}$

Three numbers $N,n,r$ are such that the digits of $N,n,r$ taken together are formed by $1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9$ without repetition. If $N = n^2 - r$, find all possible combinations of $N,n,r$.

Let $n \geq 2$ be a natural number, and let $\left( a_{1};\;a_{2};\;...;\;a_{n}\right)$ be a permutation of $\left(1;\;2;\;...;\;n\right)$. For any integer $k$ with $1 \leq k \leq n$, we place $a_k$ raisins on the position $k$ of the real number axis. [The real number axis is the $x$-axis of a Cartesian coordinate system.] Now, we place three children A, B, C on the positions $x_A$, $x_B$, $x_C$, each of the numbers $x_A$, $x_B$, $x_C$ being an element of $\left\{1;\;2;\;...;\;n\right\}$. [It is not forbidden to place different children on the same place!] For any $k$, the $a_k$ raisins placed on the position $k$ are equally handed out to those children whose positions are next to $k$. [So, if there is only one child lying next to $k$, then he gets the raisin. If there are two children lying next to $k$ (either both on the same position or symmetric with respect to $k$), then each of them gets one half of the raisin. Etc..] After all raisins are distributed, a child is unhappy if he could have received more raisins than he actually has received if he had moved to another place (while the other children would rest on their places). For which $n$ does there exist a configuration $\left( a_{1};\;a_{2};\;...;\;a_{n}\right)$ and numbers $x_A$, $x_B$, $x_C$, such that all three children are happy?

Prove that if $a$ is an integer and $d$ is a positive divisor of the number $a^4+a^3+2a^2-4a+3$, then $d$ is a fourth power modulo $13$.