Olympiad problems

2005 Putnam, A4

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , inequalities , vector , ratio , absolute value

Let $H$ be an $n\times n$ matrix all of whose entries are $\pm1$ and whose rows are mutually orthogonal. Suppose $H$ has an $a\times b$ submatrix whose entries are all $1.$ Show that $ab\le n.$

2002 Baltic Way, 12

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , triangle inequality , combinatorics

A set $S$ of four distinct points is given in the plane. It is known that for any point $X\in S$ the remaining points can be denoted by $Y,Z$ and $W$ so that $|XY|=|XZ|+|XW|$ Prove that all four points lie on a line.

2009 China Western Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , geometry , geometric transformation , absolute value , algebra

Let $M$ be the set of the real numbers except for finitely many elements. Prove that for every positive integer $n$ there exists a polynomial $f(x)$ with $\deg f = n$, such that all the coefficients and the $n$ real roots of $f$ are all in $M$.

2015 AMC 10, 12

Tags: quadratic , algebra , polynomial , vieta , quadratic formula , absolute value

Points $(\sqrt{\pi}, a)$ and $(\sqrt{\pi}, b)$ are distinct points on the graph of $y^2+x^4=2x^2y+1$. What is $|a-b|$? $ \textbf{(A) }1\qquad\textbf{(B) }\dfrac{\pi}{2}\qquad\textbf{(C) }2\qquad\textbf{(D) }\sqrt{1+\pi}\qquad\textbf{(E) }1+\sqrt{\pi} $

2005 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

Tags: geometry , group theory , abstract algebra , geometric transformation , gauss , topology , absolute value

We define a relation between subsets of $\mathbb R ^n$. $A \sim B\Longleftrightarrow$ we can partition $A,B$ in sets $A_1,\dots,A_n$ and $B_1,\dots,B_n$(i.e $\displaystyle A=\bigcup_{i=1} ^n A_i,\ B=\bigcup_{i=1} ^n B_i, A_i\cap A_j=\emptyset,\ B_i\cap B_j=\emptyset$) and $A_i\simeq B_i$. Say the the following sets have the relation $\sim$ or not ? a) Natural numbers and composite numbers. b) Rational numbers and rational numbers with finite digits in base 10. c) $\{x\in\mathbb Q|x<\sqrt 2\}$ and $\{x\in\mathbb Q|x<\sqrt 3\}$ d) $A=\{(x,y)\in\mathbb R^2|x^2+y^2<1\}$ and $A\setminus \{(0,0)\}$

2022 China Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , function , absolute value , inequalities

Given a positive integer $n$, find all $n$-tuples of real number $(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n)$ such that \[ f(x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n)=\sum_{k_1=0}^{2} \sum_{k_2=0}^{2} \cdots \sum_{k_n=0}^{2} \big| k_1x_1+k_2x_2+\cdots+k_nx_n-1 \big| \] attains its minimum.

2005 Finnish National High School Mathematics Competition, 3

Tags: absolute value , algebra

Solve the group of equations: \[\begin{cases} (x + y)^3 = z \\ (y + z)^3 = x \\ (z + x)^3 = y \end{cases}\]

2011 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 3

Tags: absolute value , inequalities

Suppose that $x$, $y$, $z$ are real numbers satisfying \[x+y+z=12,\qquad\text{and}\qquad x^2+y^2+z^2=54.\] Prove that:[list](a) Each of the numbers $xy$, $yz$, $zx$ is at least $9$, but at most $25$. (b) One of the numbers $x$, $y$, $z$ is at most $3$, and another one is at least $5$.[/list]

2023 Romania EGMO TST, P4

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , algebra

Let $n\geqslant 3$ be an integer and $a_1,\ldots,a_n$ be nonzero real numbers, with sum $S{}$. Prove that \[\sum_{i=1}^n\left|\frac{S-a_i}{a_i}\right|\geqslant\frac{n-1}{n-2}.\]

2011 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: complex number , absolute value , geometry , rectangle , trigonometry

[b]a)[/b] Show that if four distinct complex numbers have the same absolute value and their sum vanishes, then they represent a rectangle. [b]b)[/b] Let $ x,y,z,t $ be four real numbers, and $ k $ be an integer. Prove the following implication: $$ \sum_{j\in\{ x,y,z,t\}} \sin j = 0 = \sum_{j\in\{ x,y,z,t\}} \cos j\implies \sum_{j\in\{ x,y,z,t\}} \sin (1+2n)j. $$

2011 Junior Balkan Team Selection Tests - Moldova, 1

Tags: absolute value , algebra , min

The absolute value of the difference of the solutions of the equation $x^2 + px + q = 0$, with $p, q \in R$, is equal to $4$. Find the solutions of the equation if it is known that $(q + 1) p^2 + q^2$ takes the minimum value.

2004 AMC 10, 4

Tags: function , absolute value

What is the value of $ x$ if $ |x \minus{} 1| \equal{} |x \minus{} 2|$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \minus{}\!\frac {1}{2}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \frac {1}{2}\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac {3}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2$

1990 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 517

Tags: inequalities , maximum , algebra , absolute value

What is the largest possible value of $|...| |a_1 - a_2| - a_3| - ... - a_{1990}|$, where $a_1, a_2, ... , a_{1990}$ is a permutation of $1, 2, 3, ... , 1990$?

2009 China National Olympiad, 1

Tags: symmetry , function , algebra , polynomial , absolute value , inequalities

Given an integer $ n > 3.$ Let $ a_{1},a_{2},\cdots,a_{n}$ be real numbers satisfying $ min |a_{i} \minus{} a_{j}| \equal{} 1, 1\le i\le j\le n.$ Find the minimum value of $ \sum_{k \equal{} 1}^n|a_{k}|^3.$

1980 Austrian-Polish Competition, 6

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , algebra , sequence

Let $a_1,a_2,a_3,\dots$ be a sequence of real numbers satisfying the inequality \[ |a_{k+m}-a_k-a_m| \leq 1 \quad \text{for all} \ k,m \in \mathbb{Z}_{>0}. \] Show that the following inequality holds for all positive integers $k,m$ \[ \left| \frac{a_k}{k}-\frac{a_m}{m} \right| < \frac{1}{k}+\frac{1}{m}. \]

2006 Iran Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: geometry , perimeter , induction , absolute value , combinatorics

Suppose we have a simple polygon (that is it does not intersect itself, but not necessarily convex). Show that this polygon has a diameter which is completely inside the polygon and the two arcs it creates on the polygon perimeter (the two arcs have 2 vertices in common) both have at least one third of the vertices of the polygon.

2013 IPhOO, 6

Tags: trigonometry , absolute value , magnetic field , centripetal force

A particle with charge $8.0 \, \mu\text{C}$ and mass $17 \, \text{g}$ enters a magnetic field of magnitude $\text{7.8 mT}$ perpendicular to its non-zero velocity. After 30 seconds, let the absolute value of the angle between its initial velocity and its current velocity, in radians, be $\theta$. Find $100\theta$. [i](B. Dejean, 5 points)[/i]

2009 All-Russian Olympiad, 5

Tags: absolute value , algebra , system of equations

Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$ be three real numbers satisfying that \[ \left\{\begin{array}{c c c} \left(a\plus{}b\right)\left(b\plus{}c\right)\left(c\plus{}a\right)&\equal{}&abc\\ \left(a^3\plus{}b^3\right)\left(b^3\plus{}c^3\right)\left(c^3\plus{}a^3\right)&\equal{}&a^3b^3c^3\end{array}\right.\] Prove that $ abc\equal{}0$.

2008 ITest, 41

Tags: floor function , absolute value

Suppose that \[x_1+1=x_2+2=x_3+3=\cdots=x_{2008}+2008=x_1+x_2+x_3+\cdots+x_{2008}+2009.\] Find the value of $\left\lfloor|S|\right\rfloor$, where $S=\displaystyle\sum_{n=1}^{2008}x_n$.

2009 Math Prize For Girls Problems, 1

Tags: hyperbola , floor function , absolute value , conic

How many ordered pairs of integers $ (x, y)$ are there such that \[ 0 < \left\vert xy \right\vert < 36?\]

2022 JBMO Shortlist, A6

Tags: inequality , shortlist , absolute value , algebra

Let $a, b,$ and $c$ be positive real numbers such that $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 3$. Prove that $$\frac{a^2 + b^2}{2ab} + \frac{b^2 + c^2}{2bc} + \frac{c^2 + a^2}{2ca} + \frac{2(ab + bc + ca)}{3} \ge 5 + |(a - b)(b - c)(c - a)|.$$

1956 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 3

Tags: system of equations , absolute value , algebra

Find all real pairs $x,y$ such that \begin{align*} x-|y+1|&=1, \\ x^2+y&=10. \end{align*}

2003 Putnam, 4

Tags: quadratic , function , calculus , derivative , inequalities , absolute value

Suppose that $a, b, c, A, B, C$ are real numbers, $a \not= 0$ and $A \not= 0$, such that \[|ax^2+ bx + c| \le |Ax^2+ Bx + C|\] for all real numbers $x$. Show that \[|b^2- 4ac| \le |B^2- 4AC|\]

2007 Turkey Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , induction , absolute value , combinatorics

We write $1$ or $-1$ on each unit square of a $2007 \times 2007$ board. Find the number of writings such that for every square on the board the absolute value of the sum of numbers on the square is less then or equal to $1$.

2001 AIME Problems, 14

Tags: trigonometry , complex number , absolute value

There are $2n$ complex numbers that satisfy both $z^{28}-z^{8}-1=0$ and $|z|=1$. These numbers have the form $z_{m}=\cos\theta_{m}+i\sin\theta_{m}$, where $0\leq\theta_{1}<\theta_{2}< \dots <\theta_{2n}<360$ and angles are measured in degrees. Find the value of $\theta_{2}+\theta_{4}+\dots+\theta_{2n}$.