Olympiad problems

2007 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Given a finite string $S$ of symbols $X$ and $O$, we denote $\Delta(s)$ as the number of$X'$s in $S$ minus the number of $O'$s (For example, $\Delta(XOOXOOX)=-1$). We call a string $S$ [b]balanced[/b] if every sub-string $T$ of (consecutive symbols) $S$ has the property $-1\leq \Delta(T)\leq 2.$ (Thus $XOOXOOX$ is not balanced, since it contains the sub-string $OOXOO$ whose $\Delta$ value is $-3.$ Find, with proof, the number of balanced strings of length $n$.

1969 AMC 12/AHSME, 25

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , logarithm

If it is known that $\log_2a+\log_2b\geq 6$, then the least value that can be taken on by $a+b$ is: $\textbf{(A) }2\sqrt6\qquad \textbf{(B) }6\qquad \textbf{(C) }8\sqrt2\qquad \textbf{(D) }16\qquad \textbf{(E) }\text{none of these.}$

2007 National Olympiad First Round, 28

Tags: absolute value

$n$ integers are arranged along a circle in such a way that each number is equal to the absolute value of the difference of the two numbers following that number in clockwise direction. If the sum of all numbers is $278$, how many different values can $n$ take? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 139 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{None of the above} $

2010 Belarus Team Selection Test, 7.1

Tags: number theory , minimum value , minimum , absolute value

Find the smallest value of the expression $|3 \cdot 5^m - 11 \cdot 13^n|$ for all $m,n \in N$. (Folklore)

2003 Romania National Olympiad, 2

Tags: complex number , absolute value , algebra , geometry , pentagon

Let be five nonzero complex numbers having the same absolute value and such that zero is equal to their sum, which is equal to the sum of their squares. Prove that the affixes of these numbers in the complex plane form a regular pentagon. [i]Daniel Jinga[/i]

2007 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: absolute value , combinatorics

Given a finite string $S$ of symbols $X$ and $O$, we denote $\Delta(s)$ as the number of$X'$s in $S$ minus the number of $O'$s (For example, $\Delta(XOOXOOX)=-1$). We call a string $S$ [b]balanced[/b] if every sub-string $T$ of (consecutive symbols) $S$ has the property $-1\leq \Delta(T)\leq 2.$ (Thus $XOOXOOX$ is not balanced, since it contains the sub-string $OOXOO$ whose $\Delta$ value is $-3.$ Find, with proof, the number of balanced strings of length $n$.

1961 Putnam, B4

Tags: absolute value , inequalities

Let $x_1 , x_2 ,\ldots, x_n$ be real numbers in $[0,1].$ Determine the maximum value of the sum of the $\frac{n(n-1)}{2}$ terms: $$\sum_{i<j}|x_i -x_j |.$$

2005 Taiwan TST Round 1, 2

Tags: absolute value , algebra

The absolute value of every number in the sequence $\{a_n\}$ is smaller than 2005, and \[a_{n+6}=a_{n+4}+a_{n+2}-a_n.\] holds for all positive integers n. Prove that $\{a_n\}$ is periodic. Incredibly, this was probably the most difficult problem of our independent study problems in the 1st TST (excluding the final exam).

1991 AMC 12/AHSME, 2

Tags: function , absolute value

$|3 - \pi| =$ $ \textbf{(A)}\ \frac{1}{7}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 0.14\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 3 - \pi\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 3 + \pi\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \pi - 3 $

1983 AIME Problems, 2

Tags: search , function , absolute value , complex number

Let $f(x) = |x - p| + |x - 15| + |x - p - 15|$, where $0 < p < 15$. Determine the minimum value taken by $f(x)$ for $x$ in the interval $p \le x \le 15$.

2019 Azerbaijan Junior NMO, 2

Tags: ratio , geometry , algebra , area , absolute value

Alice creates the graphs $y=|x-a|$ and $y=c-|x-b|$ , where $a,b,c\in\mathbb{R^+}$. She observes that these two graphs and $x$ axis divides the positive side of the plane ($x,y>0$) into two triangles and a quadrilateral. Find the ratio of sums of two triangles' areas to the area of quadrilateral. [hide=There might be a translation error] In the original statement,it says $XOY$ plane,instead of positive side of the plane. I think these 2 are the same,but I might be wrong [/hide]

1966 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 1

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , algebra

Consider a system of inequalities \begin{align*}y-x&\ge|x+1|-|x-1|, \\ |y&-x|-y+x\ge2.\end{align*} Draw solutions of each inequality in the plane separately and highlight solution of the system.

2012 Math Prize For Girls Problems, 16

Tags: geometry , ellipse , analytic geometry , absolute value , conic

Say that a complex number $z$ is [i]three-presentable[/i] if there is a complex number $w$ of absolute value $3$ such that $z = w - \frac{1}{w}$. Let $T$ be the set of all three-presentable complex numbers. The set $T$ forms a closed curve in the complex plane. What is the area inside $T$?

2020-21 IOQM India, 5

Tags: inequalities , absolute value , algebra

Find the number of integer solutions to $||x| - 2020| < 5$.

1997 IMC, 3

Tags: trigonometry , floor function , function , integration , absolute value , complex number , logarithm

Show that $\sum^{\infty}_{n=1}\frac{(-1)^{n-1}\sin(\log n)}{n^\alpha}$ converges iff $\alpha>0$.

2007 South africa National Olympiad, 2

Tags: polynomial , system of equations , absolute value , algebra

Consider the equation $ x^4 \equal{} ax^3 \plus{} bx^2 \plus{} cx \plus{} 2007$, where $ a,b,c$ are real numbers. Determine the largest value of $ b$ for which this equation has exactly three distinct solutions, all of which are integers.

1955 AMC 12/AHSME, 19

Tags: polynomial , absolute value , algebra

Two numbers whose sum is $ 6$ and the absolute value of whose difference is $ 8$ are roots of the equation: $ \textbf{(A)}\ x^2\minus{}6x\plus{}7\equal{}0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ x^2\minus{}6x\minus{}7\equal{}0 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ x^2\plus{}6x\minus{}8\equal{}0 \\ \textbf{(D)}\ x^2\minus{}6x\plus{}8\equal{}0 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ x^2\plus{}6x\minus{}7\equal{}0$

1957 AMC 12/AHSME, 14

Tags: absolute value

If $ y \equal{} \sqrt{x^2 \minus{} 2x \plus{} 1} \plus{} \sqrt{x^2 \plus{} 2x \plus{} 1}$, then $ y$ is: $ \textbf{(A)}\ 2x\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2(x \plus{} 1)\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 0\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ |x \minus{} 1| \plus{} |x \plus{} 1|\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these}$

2007 District Olympiad, 4

Tags: vector , absolute value , inequalities

[b]a)[/b] Let $ \bold {u,v,w,} $ be three coplanar vectors of absolute value $ 1. $ Show that there exist $ \varepsilon_1 ,\varepsilon_2, \varepsilon_3\in \{ \pm 1\} $ such that $$ \big| \varepsilon_1\bold u +\varepsilon_2\bold v +\varepsilon_3\bold w \big|\le 1. $$ [b]b)[/b] Give an example of three vectors such that the inequality above does not work for any sclaras from $ \{ \pm 1\} . $

2009 South africa National Olympiad, 6

Tags: function , linear equation , absolute value , algebra

Let $A$ denote the set of real numbers $x$ such that $0\le x<1$. A function $f:A\to \mathbb{R}$ has the properties: (i) $f(x)=2f(\frac{x}{2})$ for all $x\in A$; (ii) $f(x)=1-f(x-\frac{1}{2})$ if $\frac{1}{2}\le x<1$. Prove that (a) $f(x)+f(1-x)\ge \frac{2}{3}$ if $x$ is rational and $0<x<1$. (b) There are infinitely many odd positive integers $q$ such that equality holds in (a) when $x=\frac{1}{q}$.

2016 AMC 10, 3

Tags: absolute value

Let $x=-2016$. What is the value of $\left| \ \bigl \lvert { \ \lvert x\rvert -x }\bigr\rvert -|x|{\frac{}{}}^{}_{}\right|-x$? $\textbf{(A)}\ -2016\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 0\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2016\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 4032\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 6048$

1994 Baltic Way, 10

Tags: absolute value , number theory

How many positive integers satisfy the following three conditions: a) All digits of the number are from the set $\{1,2,3,4,5\}$; b) The absolute value of the difference between any two consecutive digits is $1$; c) The integer has $1994$ digits?

1963 Miklós Schweitzer, 7

Tags: function , integration , absolute value , real analysis

Prove that for every convex function $ f(x)$ defined on the interval $ \minus{}1\leq x \leq 1$ and having absolute value at most $ 1$, there is a linear function $ h(x)$ such that \[ \int_{\minus{}1}^1|f(x)\minus{}h(x)|dx\leq 4\minus{}\sqrt{8}.\] [L. Fejes-Toth]

2002 France Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: absolute value , combinatorics

Let $n$ be a positive integer and let $(a_1,a_2,\ldots ,a_{2n})$ be a permutation of $1,2,\ldots ,2n$ such that the numbers $|a_{i+1}-a_i|$ are pairwise distinct for $i=1,\ldots ,2n-1$. Prove that $\{a_2,a_4,\ldots ,a_{2n}\}=\{1,2,\ldots ,n\}$ if and only if $a_1-a_{2n}=n$.

2007 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 237

Tags: calculus , integration , absolute value , calculus computations , logarithm

Calculate $ \int \frac {dx}{x^{2008}(1 \minus{} x)}$