Olympiad problems

2021 IMO Shortlist, A5

Let $n\geq 2$ be an integer and let $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ be positive real numbers with sum $1$. Prove that $$\sum_{k=1}^n \frac{a_k}{1-a_k}(a_1+a_2+\cdots+a_{k-1})^2 < \frac{1}{3}.$$

2019 India IMO Training Camp, P2

Tags: function , algebra

Determine all functions $f:(0,\infty)\to\mathbb{R}$ satisfying $$\left(x+\frac{1}{x}\right)f(y)=f(xy)+f\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)$$ for all $x,y>0$.

2011 Morocco National Olympiad, 3

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , algebra

Solve in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ the following system \[\left\{\begin{matrix} \sqrt{x^{2}-y}=z-1\\ \sqrt{y^{2}-z}=x-1\\ \sqrt{z^{2}-x}=y-1 \end{matrix}\right.\]

2023 Israel Olympic Revenge, P3

Tags: functional equation , algebra , function

Find all (weakly) increasing $f\colon \mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ for which \[f(f(x)+y)=f(f(y)+x)\] holds for all $x, y\in \mathbb{R}$.

2010 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 5

Tags: calculus , algebra , polynomial , function

Let the functions $f(\alpha,x)$ and $g(\alpha)$ be defined as \[f(\alpha,x)=\dfrac{(\frac{x}{2})^\alpha}{x-1}\qquad\qquad\qquad g(\alpha)=\,\dfrac{d^4f}{dx^4}|_{x=2}\] Then $g(\alpha)$ is a polynomial is $\alpha$. Find the leading coefficient of $g(\alpha)$.

2022 Kyiv City MO Round 2, Problem 3

Tags: permutation , number theory , algebra

Find the largest $k$ for which there exists a permutation $(a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{2022})$ of integers from $1$ to $2022$ such that for at least $k$ distinct $i$ with $1 \le i \le 2022$ the number $\frac{a_1 + a_2 + \ldots + a_i}{1 + 2 + \ldots + i}$ is an integer larger than $1$. [i](Proposed by Oleksii Masalitin)[/i]

Russian TST 2018, P4

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Let $a_1,\ldots,a_{n+1}$ be positive real numbers satisfying $1/(a_1+1)+\cdots+1/(a_{n+1}+1)=n$. Prove that \[\sum_{i=1}^{n+1}\prod_{j\neq i}\sqrt[n]{a_j}\leqslant\frac{n+1}{n}.\]

2003 May Olympiad, 1

Tags: number theory , digit , algebra

Pedro writes all the numbers with four different digits that can be made with digits $a, b, c, d$, that meet the following conditions: $$ a\ne 0 \, , \, b=a+2 \, , \, c=b+2 \, , \, d=c+2$$ Find the sum of all the numbers Pedro wrote.

2011 Mathcenter Contest + Longlist, 7 sl9

Tags: functional equation , algebra , functional

Find the function $\displaystyle{f : \mathbb{R}-\left\{ 0\,\right\} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} }$ such that $$f(x)+f(1-\frac{1}{x}) = \frac{1}{x},\,\,\, \forall x \in \mathbb{R}- \{ 0, 1\,\}$$ [i](-InnoXenT-)[/i]

2024 Korea Summer Program Practice Test, 6

Tags: inequalities , sequence , algebra

Find all possible values of $C\in \mathbb R$ such that there exists a real sequence $\{a_n\}_{n=1}^\infty$ such that $$a_na_{n+1}^2\ge a_{n+2}^4 +C$$ for all $n\ge 1$.

KoMaL A Problems 2018/2019, A. 732

Tags: number theory , algebra

Does there exist an infinite sequence $a_1,a_2,\dotsc$ of real numbers which is bounded, not periodic, and satisfies the recursion $a_{n+1}=a_na_{n-1}+1$?

2018 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: algebra , sequence

Let $n\ge 2$ be a natural number. Let $a_1\le a_2\le a_3\le \cdots \le a_n$ be real numbers such that $a_1+a_2+\cdots +a_n>0$ and $n(a_1^2+a_2^2+\cdots +a_n^2)=2(a_1+a_2+\cdots +a_n)^2.$ If $m=\lfloor n/2\rfloor+1$, the smallest integer larger than $n/2$, then show that $a_m>0.$

2019 Danube Mathematical Competition, 2

Tags: function , find all functions , algebra , functional equation

Find all nondecreasing functions $ f:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ that verify the relation $$ f\left( f\left( x^2 \right) +y+f(y) \right) =x^2+2f(y) , $$ for any real numbers $ x,y. $

2004 Putnam, B1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory , relatively prime , rational root theorem

Let $P(x)=c_nx^n+c_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+c_0$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients. Suppose that $r$ is a rational number such that $P(r)=0$. Show that the $n$ numbers $c_nr, c_nr^2+c_{n-1}r, c_nr^3+c_{n-1}r^2+c_{n-1}r, \dots, c_nr^n+c_{n-1}r^{n-1}+\cdots+c_1r$ are all integers.

2000 Poland - Second Round, 5

Tags: algebra , number theory , function

Decide whether exists function $f: \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$, such that for each $n \in \mathbb{N}$ is $f(f(n) )= 2n$.

1996 Greece Junior Math Olympiad, 1

Tags: equation , algebra

Solve the equation $(x^2 + 2x + 1)^2+(x^2 + 3x + 2)^2+(x^2 + 4x +3)^2+...+(x^2 + 1996x + 1995)^2= 0$

2010 Kosovo National Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra

Prove that in any polygon, there exist two sides whose radio is less than $2$.(Essentialy if $a_1\geq a_2\geq...\geq a_n$ are the sides of a polygon prove that there exist $i,j\in\{1,2,..,n\}$ so that $i<j$ and $\frac {a_i}{a_j}<2$).

2006 Korea National Olympiad, 6

Tags: inequalities , algebra

Prove that for any positive real numbers $x,y$ and $z,$ $xyz(x+2)(y+2)(z+2)\le(1+\frac{2(xy+yz+zx)}{3})^3$

2016 Vietnam National Olympiad, 2

Tags: algebra , linear combination

a) Let $(a_n)$ be the sequence defined by $a_n=\ln (2n^2+1)-\ln (n^2+n+1)\,\,\forall n\geq 1.$ Prove that the set $\{n\in\mathbb{N}|\,\{a_n\}<\dfrac{1}{2}\}$ is a finite set; b) Let $(b_n)$ be the sequence defined by $a_n=\ln (2n^2+1)+\ln (n^2+n+1)\,\,\forall n\geq 1$. Prove that the set $\{n\in\mathbb{N}|\,\{b_n\}<\dfrac{1}{2016}\}$ is an infinite set.

2009 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Tags: linear algebra , algebra , polynomial

Let $A,B\in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{C})$ such that $AB=BA$ and $\det B\neq 0$. a) If $|\det(A+zB)|=1$ for any $z\in \mathbb{C}$ such that $|z|=1$, then $A^n=O_n$. b) Is the question from a) still true if $AB\neq BA$ ?

2023 Princeton University Math Competition, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

A quadratic polynomial $f(x)$ is called sparse if its degree is exactly 2 , if it has integer coefficients, and if there exists a nonzero polynomial $g(x)$ with integer coefficients such that $f(x) g(x)$ has degree at most 3 and $f(x) g(x)$ has at most two nonzero coefficients. Find the number of sparse quadratics whose coefficients lie between 0 and 10, inclusive.

1979 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 1

Tags: algebra , system of equations , system

Solve the equations: \[\left\{ \begin{array}{l} x_1 + 2 x_2 + 3 x_3 + \cdots + (n-1) x_{n-1} + n x_n = n \\ 2 x_1 + 3 x_2 + 4 x_3 + \cdots + n x_{n-1} + x_n = n-1 \\ 3 x_1 + 4 x_2 + 5 x_3 + \cdots + x_{n-1} + 2 x_n = n-2 \\ \cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots\cdot\cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots\cdot\cdots \cdots \cdots \cdots\cdot \\ (n-1) x_1 + n x_2 + x_3 + \cdots + (n-3) x_{n-1} + (n-2) x_n = 2 \\ n x_1 + x_2 + 2 x_3 + \cdots + (n-2) x_{n-1} + (n-1) x_n = 1 \end{array} \right. \]