Olympiad problems

2004 Unirea, 1

Solve in the real numbers the equation $ |\sin 3x+\cos (7\pi /2 -5x)|=2. $

2005 Estonia Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: real root , polynomial , algebra

Find all pairs $(a, b)$ of real numbers such that the roots of polynomials $6x^2 -24x -4a$ and $x^3 + ax^2 + bx - 8$ are all non-negative real numbers.

2013 China Northern MO, 5

Tags: solve equation , floor function , algebra

Find all non-integers $x$ such that $x+\frac{13}{x}=[x]+\frac{13}{[x]} . $where$[x]$ mean the greatest integer $n$ , where $n\leq x.$

BIMO 2020, 1

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $ f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $ such that for all reals $ x, y $,$$ f(x^2+f(x+y))=y+xf(x+1) $$

1991 Hungary-Israel Binational, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Suppose $f(x)$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients such that $f(0) = 11$ and $f(x_1) = f(x_2) = ... = f(x_n) = 2002$ for some distinct integers $x_1, x_2, . . . , x_n$. Find the largest possible value of $n$.

2022 IFYM, Sozopol, 7

Tags: algebra

Find the least possible value of the following expression $\lfloor \frac{a+b}{c+d}\rfloor +\lfloor \frac{a+c}{b+d}\rfloor +\lfloor \frac{a+d}{b+c}\rfloor + \lfloor \frac{c+d}{a+b}\rfloor +\lfloor \frac{b+d}{a+c}\rfloor +\lfloor \frac{b+c}{a+d}\rfloor$ where $a$, $b$, $c$ and $d$ are positive real numbers.

2024/2025 TOURNAMENT OF TOWNS, P2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Two polynomials with real coefficients have the leading coefficients equal to 1 . Each polynomial has an odd degree that is equal to the number of its distinct real roots. The product of the values of the first polynomial at the roots of the second polynomial is equal to 2024. Find the product of the values of the second polynomial at the roots of the first one. Sergey Yanzhinov

2010 IFYM, Sozopol, 4

Tags: natural number , algebra

Let $x,y\in \mathbb{N}$ and $k=\frac{x^2+y^2}{2xy+1}$. Determine all natural values of $k$.

2018 Estonia Team Selection Test, 10

Tags: recurrence relation , sequence , algebra , inequalities

A sequence of positive real numbers $a_1, a_2, a_3, ... $ satisfies $a_n = a_{n-1} + a_{n-2}$ for all $n \ge 3$. A sequence $b_1, b_2, b_3, ...$ is defined by equations $b_1 = a_1$ , $b_n = a_n + (b_1 + b_3 + ...+ b_{n-1})$ for even $n > 1$ , $b_n = a_n + (b_2 + b_4 + ... +b_{n-1})$ for odd $n > 1$. Prove that if $n\ge 3$, then $\frac13 < \frac{b_n}{n \cdot a_n} < 1$

2007 Balkan MO Shortlist, A8

Tags: bmosl , sequence , recurrence relation , algebra

Let $c>2$ and $a_0,a_1, \ldots$ be a sequence of real numbers such that \begin{align*} a_n = a_{n-1}^2 - a_{n-1} < \frac{1}{\sqrt{cn}} \end{align*} for any $n$ $\in$ $\mathbb{N}$. Prove, $a_1=0$

1988 China Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction

There is a broken computer such that only three primitive data $c$, $1$ and $-1$ are reserved. Only allowed operation may take $u$ and $v$ and output $u \cdot v + v.$ At the beginning, $u,v \in \{c, 1, -1\}.$ After then, it can also take the value of the previous step (only one step back) besides $\{c, 1, -1\}$. Prove that for any polynomial $P_{n}(x) = a_0 \cdot x^n + a_1 \cdot x^{n-1} + \ldots + a_n$ with integer coefficients, the value of $P_n(c)$ can be computed using this computer after only finite operation.

2011 Cuba MO, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra , inequalities

Let $P(x) = x^3 + (t - 1)x^2 - (t + 3)x + 1$. For what values of real $t$ the sum of the squares and the reciprocals of the roots of $ P(x)$ is minimum?

2023 Taiwan TST Round 3, A

Tags: integer and fractional part , algebra

Show that there exists a positive constant $C$ such that, for all positive reals $a$ and $b$ with $a + b$ being an integer, we have $$\left\{a^3\right\} + \left\{b^3\right\} + \frac{C}{(a+b)^6} \le 2. $$ Here $\{x\} = x - \lfloor x\rfloor$ is the fractional part of $x$. [i]Proposed by Li4 and Untro368.[/i]

2013 Turkey Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: induction , algebra , function

Determine all functions $f:\mathbf{R} \rightarrow \mathbf{R}^+$ such that for all real numbers $x,y$ the following conditions hold: $\begin{array}{rl} i. & f(x^2) = f(x)^2 -2xf(x) \\ ii. & f(-x) = f(x-1)\\ iii. & 1<x<y \Longrightarrow f(x) < f(y). \end{array}$

1999 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 2

Tags: algebra

A fisherman has caught a number of fish. The three heaviest together make up $35\%$ of the total weight of the catch. He sells them. After that, the three lightest make up together $5/13$ of the weight of the rest. How many fish did he catch?

2005 Federal Math Competition of S&M, Problem 3

Tags: fe , polynomial , algebra , functional equation

Determine all polynomials $p$ with real coefficients for which $p(0)=0$ and $$f(f(n))+n=4f(n)\qquad\text{for all }n\in\mathbb N,$$where $f(n)=\lfloor p(n)\rfloor$.

1984 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: convex polygon , algebra , perimeter , geometric inequality , geometry

Let $ d$ be the sum of the lengths of all the diagonals of a plane convex polygon with $ n$ vertices (where $ n>3$). Let $ p$ be its perimeter. Prove that: \[ n\minus{}3<{2d\over p}<\Bigl[{n\over2}\Bigr]\cdot\Bigl[{n\plus{}1\over 2}\Bigr]\minus{}2,\] where $ [x]$ denotes the greatest integer not exceeding $ x$.

2016 SDMO (High School), 1

Tags: vieta , quadratic , algebra

Quadratic equation $ x^2\plus{}ax\plus{}b\plus{}1\equal{}0$ have 2 positive integer roots, for integers $ a,b$. Show that $ a^2\plus{}b^2$ is not a prime.

2006 Australia National Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , integration , algebra , calculus

Let $f$ be a function defined on the positive integers, taking positive integral values, such that $f(a)f(b) = f(ab)$ for all positive integers $a$ and $b$, $f(a) < f(b)$ if $a < b$, $f(3) \geq 7$. Find the smallest possible value of $f(3)$.

2023 4th Memorial "Aleksandar Blazhevski-Cane", P2

Tags: injectivity , positive real , surjectivity , fixed point , function , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}^{+}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^{+} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that for all $x,y>0$ we have $$f(xy+f(x))=yf(x)+x.$$ [i]Proposed by Nikola Velov[/i]

2008 Singapore Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , function

Find all functions $ f : \mathbb R \rightarrow \mathbb R$ such that $ (x \plus{} y)(f(x) \minus{} f(y)) \equal{} (x \minus{}y)f(x \plus{} y)$ for all $ x, y\in \mathbb R$

2023 Kyiv City MO Round 1, Problem 1

Tags: algebra

Find the integer which is closest to the value of the following expression: $$\left((3 + \sqrt{1})^{2023} - \left(\frac{1}{3 - \sqrt{1}}\right)^{2023} \right) \cdot \left((3 + \sqrt{2})^{2023} - \left(\frac{1}{3 - \sqrt{2}}\right)^{2023} \right) \cdot \ldots \cdot \left((3 + \sqrt{8})^{2023} - \left(\frac{1}{3 - \sqrt{8}}\right)^{2023} \right)$$

2012 Bosnia And Herzegovina - Regional Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , parameterization , equation

Solve equation $$x^2-\sqrt{a-x}=a$$ where $x$ is real number and $a$ is real parameter

2015 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $Q$ be a polynomial \[Q(x)=a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_nx^n,\] where $a_0,\ldots,a_n$ are nonnegative integers. Given that $Q(1)=4$ and $Q(5)=152$, find $Q(6)$.

2004 AMC 12/AHSME, 13

Tags: difference of squares , special factorizations , algebra , function

If $ f(x) \equal{} ax \plus{} b$ and $ f^{ \minus{} 1}(x) \equal{} bx \plus{} a$ with $ a$ and $ b$ real, what is the value of $ a \plus{} b$? $ \textbf{(A)} \minus{} \!2 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \minus{} \!1 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 2$