Olympiad problems

2024 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

A surjective function $g: \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb C$ is given. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{C} \to \mathbb C$ such that for all $x,y\in \mathbb C$ we have $$ |f(x)+g(y)| = | f(y) + g(x)|. $$ Proposed by [i]Mojtaba Zare, Amirabbas Mohammadi[/i]

2021 Israel TST, 1

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Which is greater: \[\frac{1^{-3}-2^{-3}}{1^{-2}-2^{-2}}-\frac{2^{-3}-3^{-3}}{2^{-2}-3^{-2}}+\frac{3^{-3}-4^{-3}}{3^{-2}-4^{-2}}-\cdots +\frac{2019^{-3}-2020^{-3}}{2019^{-2}-2020^{-2}}\] or \[1-\frac{1}{3}+\frac{1}{5}-\frac{1}{7}+\frac{1}{9}-\cdots +\frac{1}{5781}?\]

2022 Princeton University Math Competition, A6 / B8

Tags: algebra

Let $x,y,z$ be positive real numbers satisfying $4x^2 - 2xy + y^2 = 64, y^2 - 3yz +3z^2 = 36,$ and $4x^2 +3z^2 = 49.$ If the maximum possible value of $2xy +yz -4zx$ can be expressed as $\sqrt{n}$ for some positive integer $n,$ find $n.$

2013 Serbia National Math Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra

Let $k$ be a natural number. Bijection $f:\mathbb{Z} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$ has the following property: for any integers $i$ and $j$, $|i-j|\leq k$ implies $|f(i) - f(j)|\leq k$. Prove that for every $i,j\in \mathbb{Z}$ it stands: \[|f(i)-f(j)|= |i-j|.\]

2021 Irish Math Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , functional , functional equation

The function $g : [0, \infty) \to [0, \infty)$ satisfies the functional equation: $g(g(x)) = \frac{3x}{x + 3}$, for all $x \ge 0$. You are also told that for $2 \le x \le 3$: $g(x) = \frac{x + 1}{2}$. (a) Find $g(2021)$. (b) Find $g(1/2021)$.

2019 Simurgh, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Assume that every root of polynomial $P(x) = x^d - a_1x^{d-1} + ... + (-1)^{d-k}a_d$ is in $[0,1]$. Show that for every $k = 1,2,...,d$ the following inequality holds: $ a_k - a_{k+1} + ... + (-1)^{d-k}a_d \geq 0 $

2004 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , rational

We say that the real numbers $a$ and $b$ have property $P$ if: $a^2+b \in Q$ and $b^2 + a \in Q$.Prove that: a) The numbers $a= \frac{1+\sqrt2}{2}$ and $b= \frac{1-\sqrt2}{2}$ are irrational and have property $P$ b) If $a, b$ have property $P$ and $a+b \in Q -\{1\}$, then $a$ and $b$ are rational numbers c) If $a, b$ have property $P$ and $\frac{a}{b} \in Q$, then $a$ and $b$ are rational numbers.

2021 Peru IMO TST, P1

Tags: inequalities , algebra

Suppose positive real numers $x,y,z,w$ satisfy $(x^3+y^3)^4=z^3+w^3$. Prove that $$x^4z+y^4w\geq zw.$$

2017 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities

Let $x_0$ - is positive root of $x^{2017}-x-1=0$ and $y_0$ - is positive root of $y^{4034}-y=3x_0$ a) Compare $x_0$ and $y_0$ b) Find tenth digit after decimal mark in decimal representation of $|x_0-y_0|$

2010 Contests, 1

Tags: algebra

For a real number $t$ and positive real numbers $a,b$ we have \[2a^2-3abt+b^2=2a^2+abt-b^2=0\] Find $t.$

2015 Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Given are (not necessarily positive) real numbers $a, b$, and $c$ for which $|a - b| \ge |c| , |b - c| \ge |a|$ and $|c - a| \ge |b|$ . Prove that one of the numbers $a, b$, and $c$ is the sum of the other two.

2022 Dutch IMO TST, 2

Tags: algebra

Let $\lfloor x \rfloor$ denote the greatest integer less than or equal to $x.$ Let $\lambda \geq 1$ be a real number and $n$ be a positive integer with the property that $\lfloor \lambda^{n+1}\rfloor, \lfloor \lambda^{n+2}\rfloor ,\cdots, \lfloor \lambda^{4n}\rfloor$ are all perfect squares$.$ Prove that $\lfloor \lambda \rfloor$ is a perfect square$.$

2016 ISI Entrance Examination, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Consider the polynomial $ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$ where $a,b,c,d$ are integers such that $ad$ is odd and $bc$ is even.Prove that not all of its roots are rational..

2022 ELMO Revenge, 1

Tags: algebra

In terms of $p$ and $k$, compute the number of solutions in positive integers to the equation $ab+bc+ca=p^{2k}$ satisfying $a\leq b\leq c$ where $p$ is a fixed prime and $k$ is a fixed positive integer. [i]Proposed by Alexander Wang[/i]

2011 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , calculus , derivative , algebra , inequalities

Let $a$, $b$, $c$ be positive real numbers. Prove that \[ \frac{a}{b+c}+\frac{b}{c+a}+\frac{c}{a+b}+\sqrt{\frac{ab+bc+ca}{a^2+b^2+c^2}}\ge\frac52\] and determine when equality holds.

2011 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 10.1

Tags: algebra

Two runners started a race simultaneously. Initially they ran on the street toward the stadium and then 3 laps on the stadium. Both runners covered the whole distance at their own constant speed. During the whole race the first runner passed the second runner exactly twice. Prove that the speed of the first runner is at least double the speed of the second runner. (Author: I. Rubanov)

1991 IMO Shortlist, 30

Tags: algebra , game , game strategy , combinatorics

Two students $ A$ and $ B$ are playing the following game: Each of them writes down on a sheet of paper a positive integer and gives the sheet to the referee. The referee writes down on a blackboard two integers, one of which is the sum of the integers written by the players. After that, the referee asks student $ A:$ “Can you tell the integer written by the other student?” If A answers “no,” the referee puts the same question to student $ B.$ If $ B$ answers “no,” the referee puts the question back to $ A,$ and so on. Assume that both students are intelligent and truthful. Prove that after a finite number of questions, one of the students will answer “yes.”

2011 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 699

Tags: calculus , integration , trigonometry , algebra , function , domain , inequalities

Find the volume of the part bounded by $z=x+y,\ z=x^2+y^2$ in the $xyz$ space.

2022 Malaysia IMONST 2, 3

Tags: arithmetic , algebra , induction

Prove that $$1\cdot 4 + 2\cdot 5 + 3\cdot 6 + \cdots + n(n+3) = \frac{n(n+1)(n+5)}{3}$$ for all positive integer $n$.

2022 Saudi Arabia BMO + EGMO TST, p1

Tags: algebra , number theory

By $rad(x)$ we denote the product of all distinct prime factors of a positive integer $n$. Given $a \in N$, a sequence $(a_n)$ is defined by $a_0 = a$ and $a_{n+1} = a_n+rad(a_n)$ for all $n \ge 0$. Prove that there exists an index $n$ for which $\frac{a_n}{rad(a_n)} = 2022$

1993 Poland - First Round, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that if the polynomial $x^3 + ax^2 + bx + c$ has three distinct real roots, so does the polynomial $x^3 + ax^2 + \frac{1}{4}(a^2 + b)x + \frac{1}{8}(ab-c)$.

2023 CMIMC Algebra/NT, 5

Tags: number theory , algebra

Let $\mathcal{P}$ be a parabola that passes through the points $(0, 0)$ and $(12, 5)$. Suppose that the directrix of $\mathcal{P}$ takes the form $y = b$. (Recall that a parabola is the set of points equidistant from a point called the focus and line called the directrix) Find the minimum possible value of $|b|$. [i]Proposed by Kevin You[/i]

2009 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, Level 3, 1

Tags: quadratic , algebra

Find all pairs $(a, b)$ of real numbers with the following property: [list]Given any real numbers $c$ and $d$, if both of the equations $x^2+ax+1=c$ and $x^2+bx+1=d$ have real roots, then the equation $x^2+(a+b)x+1=cd$ has real roots.[/list]

2007 Princeton University Math Competition, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial

How many pairs of $2007$-digit numbers $\underline{a_1a_2}\cdots\underline{a_{2007}}$ and $\underline{b_1b_2}\cdots\underline{b_{2007}}$ are there such that $a_1b_1+a_2b_2+\cdots+a_{2007}b_{2007}$ is even? Express your answer as $a \** b^c + d \** e^f$ for integers $a$, $b$, $c$, $d$, $e$, and $f$ with $a \nmid b$ and $d \nmid e$.

2018 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , prime , prime number , number theory

Suppose $a_1,a_2, \dots$ is an infinite strictly increasing sequence of positive integers and $p_1, p_2, \dots$ is a sequence of distinct primes such that $p_n \mid a_n$ for all $n \ge 1$. It turned out that $a_n-a_k=p_n-p_k$ for all $n,k \ge 1$. Prove that the sequence $(a_n)_n$ consists only of prime numbers.