Initially, the number $1$ and two positive numbers $x$ and $y$ are written on a blackboard. In each step, we can choose two numbers on the blackboard, not necessarily different, and write their sum or their difference on the blackboard. We can also choose a non-zero number of the blackboard and write its reciprocal on the blackboard. Is it possible to write on the blackboard, in a finite number of moves, the number [list][b]a)[/b] $x^2$; [b]b)[/b] $xy$?[/list]

A positive integer $t$ is called a Jane's integer if $t = x^3+y^2$ for some positive integers $x$ and $y$. Prove that for every integer $n \ge 2$ there exist infinitely many positive integers $m$ such that the set of $n^2$ consecutive integers $\{m+1,m+2,\dotsc,m+n^2\}$ contains exactly $n + 1$ Jane's integers.

A Retired Linguist (R.L.) writes in the first move a word consisting of $n$ letters, which are all different. In each move, he determines the maximum $i$, such that the word obtained by reversing the first $i$ letters of the last word hasn't been written before, and writes this new word. Prove that R.L. can make $n!$ moves.

Let $ABC$ be a triangle inscribed in circle $(O)$, with its altitudes $BH_b, CH_c$ intersect at orthocenter $H$ ($H_b \in AC$, $H_c \in AB$). $H_bH_c$ meets $BC$ at $P$. Let $N$ be the midpoint of $AH, L$ be the orthogonal projection of $O$ on the symmedian with respect to angle $A$ of triangle $ABC$. Prove that $\angle NLP = 90^o$.

Let $a,b$ and $c$ be real numbers such that $|a+b|+|b+c|+|c+a|=8.$ Find the maximum and minimum value of the expression $P=a^2+b^2+c^2.$

Let $ABCDE$ be a pentagon such that $\angle DCB < 90^{\circ} < \angle EDC$. The circle with diameter $BD$ intersects the line $BC$ again at $F$, and the circle with diameter $DE$ intersects the line $CE$ again at $G$. Prove that the second intersection ($\neq D$) of the circumcircle of $\triangle DFG$ and the circle with diameter $AD$ lies on $AC$. Proposed by [i]Petar Filipovski[/i]

Let $n\geq 2$ be an integer. Let $a_{ij}, \ i,j=1,2,\ldots,n$ be $n^2$ positive real numbers satisfying the following conditions: [list=1] [*]For all $i=1,\ldots,n$ we have $a_{ii}=1$ and, [*]For all $j=2,\ldots,n$ the numbers $a_{ij}, \ i=1,\ldots, j-1$ form a permutation of $1/a_{ji}, \ i=1,\ldots, j-1.$ [/list] Given that $S_i=a_{i1}+\cdots+a_{in}$, determine the maximum value of the sum $1/S_1+\cdots+1/S_n.$

Let $ABC$ ne a right triangle with $\angle ACB=90^o$. Let $E, F$ be respecitvely the midpoints of the $BC, AC$ and $CD$ be it's altitude. Next, let $P$ be the intersection of the internal angle bisector from $A$ and the line $EF$. Prove that $P$ is the center of the circle inscribed in the triangle $CDE$ .

The vertices of a regular dodecagon are coloured either blue or red. Find the number of all possible colourings which do not contain monochromatic sub-polygons. [i]Vasile Pop[/i]

How many positive integers not exceeding 2001 are multiple of 3 or 4 but not 5? $ \textbf{(A)} \ 768 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \ 801 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \ 934 \qquad \textbf{(D)} \ 1067 \qquad \textbf{(E)} \ 1167$

It is known that a certain mechanical balance can measure any object of integer mass anywhere between 1 and 2009 (both included). This balance has $k$ weights of integral values. What is the minimum $k$ for which there exist weights that satisfy this condition?

Let $a < b < c < d$ be real numbers and $(x,y, z,t)$ be any permutation of $a$,$b$, $c$ and $d$. What are the maximum and minimum values of the expression $$(x - y)^2 + (y- z)^2 + (z - t)^2 + (t - x)^2?$$

We say that a number is [i]superstitious [/i] when it is equal to $13$ times the sum of its digits . Find all superstitious numbers.

Let $ABCD$ be a rectangle and $P$ be a point on the side$ AD$ such that $\angle BPC = 90^o$. The perpendicular from $A$ on $BP$ cuts $BP$ at $M$ and the perpendicular from $D$ on $CP$ cuts $CP$ in $N$. Show that the center of the rectangle lies in the $MN$ segment.

Find all pairs $(n,r)$ with $n$ a positive integer and $r$ a real such that $2x^2+2x+1$ divides $(x+1)^n - r$.

Circles $o_1$ and $o_2$ tangent to some line at points $A$ and $B$, respectively, intersect at points $X$ and $Y$ ($X$ is closer to the line $AB$). Line $AX$ intersects $o_2$ at point $P\neq X$. Tangent to $o_2$ at point $P$ intersects line $AB$ at point $Q$. Prove that $\sphericalangle XYB = \sphericalangle BYQ$.

Consider the non-decreasing sequence of positive integers \[ 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5,... \] in which the $n^{\text{th}}$ positive integer appears $n$ times. The remainder when the $1993^{\text{rd}}$ term is divided by $5$ is $ \textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 4 $

Carl, James, Saif, and Ted play several games of two-player For The Win on the Art of Problem Solving website. If, among these games, Carl wins $5$ and loses $0,$ James wins $4$ and loses $2,$ Saif wins $1$ and loses $6,$ and Ted wins $4,$ how many games does Ted lose?

The workers laid a floor of size $n\times n$ ($10 <n <20$) with two types of tiles: $2 \times 2$ and $5\times 1$. It turned out that they were able to completely lay the floor so that the same number of tiles of each type was used. For which $n$ could this happen? (You can’t cut tiles and also put them on top of each other.)

Show that the sum $S=5+5^2+5^3+…+5^{2016}$ is divisible by $31$

The number $21!=51,090,942,171,709,440,000$ has over $60,000$ positive integer divisors. One of them is chosen at random. What is the probability that it is odd? $\textbf{(A)} \frac{1}{21} \qquad \textbf{(B)} \frac{1}{19} \qquad \textbf{(C)} \frac{1}{18} \qquad \textbf{(D)} \frac{1}{2} \qquad \textbf{(E)} \frac{11}{21}$

The rules for the movement of a king on a chessboard are as follows: The king can legally move to any of the (up to $8$) squares adjacent diagonally or on a side. Andrew places a king on an ordinary $8 \times 8$ chessboard. He then makes $64$ total moves with the king such that the king visits every square on the board, never crosses its own path, and winds up at its original position (where Andrew first placed it). Along the way, Andrew counts the number of times the king moves diagonally (from one square to another that shares no side). Call that number $M$. Find the maximum possible value of $M$.

For positive real numbers $a,b,c,d$ such that $$ \dfrac{a^2}{b+c+d} + \dfrac{b^2}{a+c+d} + \dfrac{c^2}{a+b+d} = \dfrac{3d^2}{a+b+c} $$ prove that $$ \dfrac{3}{a}+ \dfrac{3}{b} + \dfrac{3}{c}+ \dfrac{3}{d} \geq \dfrac{16}{a+b+2d} + \dfrac{16}{b+c+2d} + \dfrac{16}{a+c+2d}. $$ Proposed by [i]Mojtaba Zare[/i]

Given a regular $ 2n$-gon, show that each of its sides and diagonals can be assigned in such a way that the sum of the obtained vectors equals zero.

[b]p1.[/b] a) There are barrels weighing $1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 19, 20$ pounds. Is it possible to distribute them equally (by weight) into three trucks? b) The same question for barrels weighing $1, 2, 3, 4, ..., 9, 10$ pounds. [b]p2.[/b] There are apples and pears in the basket. If you add the same number of apples there as there are now pears (in pieces), then the percentage of apples will be twice as large as what you get if you add as many pears to the basket as there are now apples. What percentage of apples are in the basket now? [b]p3.[/b] What is the smallest number of integers from $1000$ to $1500$ that must be marked so that any number $x$ from $1000$ to $1500$ differs from one of the marked numbers by no more than $10\% $of the value of $x$? [b]p4.[/b] Draw a perpendicular from a given point to a given straight line, having a compass and a short ruler (the length of the ruler is significantly less than the distance from the point to the straight line; the compass reaches from the point to the straight line “with a margin”). [b]p5.[/b] There is a triangle on the chessboard (left figure). It is allowed to roll it around the sides (in this case, the triangle is symmetrically reflected relative to the side around which it is rolled). Can he, after a few steps, take the position shown in right figure? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/f/5/eeb96c92f30b837e7ed2cdf7cf77b0fbb8ceda.png[/img] [b]p6.[/b] The natural number $a$ is less than the natural number $b$. In this case, the sum of the digits of number $a$ is $100$ less than the sum of the digits of number $b$. Prove that between the numbers $ a$ and $b$ there is a number whose sum of digits is $43$ more than the sum of the digits of $a$. PS. You should use hide for answers. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c2416727_soros_olympiad_in_mathematics]here.[/url]