Olympiad problems

2011 Princeton University Math Competition, A8

Tags: algebra

Let $1,\alpha_1,\alpha_2,...,\alpha_{10}$ be the roots of the polynomial $x^{11}-1$. It is a fact that there exists a unique polynomial of the form $f(x) = x^{10}+c_9x^9+ \dots + c_1x$ such that each $c_i$ is an integer, $f(0) = f(1) = 0$, and for any $1 \leq i \leq 10$ we have $(f(\alpha_i))^2 = -11$. Find $\left|c_1+2c_2c_9+3c_3c_8+4c_4c_7+5c_5c_6\right|$.

1966 IMO Shortlist, 61

Tags: trigonometry , induction , algebra , trigonometric identities

Prove that for every natural number $n$, and for every real number $x \neq \frac{k\pi}{2^t}$ ($t=0,1, \dots, n$; $k$ any integer) \[ \frac{1}{\sin{2x}}+\frac{1}{\sin{4x}}+\dots+\frac{1}{\sin{2^nx}}=\cot{x}-\cot{2^nx} \]

2018 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: algebra , inequalities

For an integer $n\ge 2$ find all $a_1,a_2,\cdots ,a_n, b_1,b_2,\cdots , b_n$ so that (a) $0\le a_1\le a_2\le \cdots \le a_n\le 1\le b_1\le b_2\le \cdots \le b_n;$ (b) $\sum_{k=1}^n (a_k+b_k)=2n;$ (c) $\sum_{k=1}^n (a_k^2+b_k^2)=n^2+3n.$

2025 6th Memorial "Aleksandar Blazhevski-Cane", P4

Tags: inequality , algebra , inequalities

Prove that for all real numbers $a, b, c > 1$ the inequality \[a(b^2 + c) + b(c^2 + a) + c(a^2 + b) \ge a^2 + b^2 + c^2 + 3abc\] holds. When does equality hold? Proposed by [i]Ilija Jovcevski[/i]

2009 National Olympiad First Round, 7

Tags: algebra , polynomial

The product of uncommon real roots of the two polynomials $ x^4 \plus{} 2x^3 \minus{} 8x^2 \minus{} 6x \plus{} 15$ and $ x^3 \plus{} 4x^2 \minus{} x \minus{} 10$ is ? $\textbf{(A)}\ \minus{} 4 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 4 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \minus{} 6 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{None}$

1985 Traian Lălescu, 1.1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta

$ n $ is a natural number, and $ S $ is the sum of all the solutions of the equations $$ x^2+a_k\cdot x+a_k=0,\quad a_k\in\mathbb{R} ,\quad k\in\{ 1,2,...,n\} . $$ Show that if $ |S|>2n\left( \sqrt[n]{n} -1\right) , $ then at least one of the equations has real solutions.

1987 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 6

Tags: polynomial , sum of roots , algebra

Determine all polynomials $ P_n(x)\equal{}x^n\plus{}a_1 x^{n\minus{}1}\plus{}...\plus{}a_{n\minus{}1} x\plus{}a_n$ with integer coefficients whose $ n$ zeros are precisely the numbers $ a_1,...,a_n$ (counted with their respective multiplicities).

2024 Kyiv City MO Round 1, Problem 1

Tags: algebra , mean

Four positive integers $a, b, c, d$ satisfy the condition: $a < b < c < d$. For what smallest possible value of $d$ could the following condition be true: the arithmetic mean of numbers $a, b, c$ is twice smaller than the arithmetic mean of numbers $a, b, c, d$?

1968 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 1

Tags: algebra

Find all natural values of $k$ for which the system $$\begin{cases}x_1+x_2+\ldots+x_k=9\\\frac1{x_1}+\frac1{x_2}+\ldots+\frac1{x_k}=1\end{cases}$$ has solutions in positive numbers. Find these solutions. [i]I. Dimovski[/i]

2001 China Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra

Let $k, n$ be positive integers, and let $\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \ldots, \alpha_n$ all be $k$-th roots of unity, satisfying: \[ \alpha_1^j + \alpha_2^j + \cdots + \alpha_n^j = 0 \quad \text{for any } j (0 < j < k). \] Prove that among $\alpha_1, \alpha_2, \ldots, \alpha_n$, each $k$-th root of unity appears the same number of times.

1990 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 2

Tags: sequence , perfect square , recurrence relation , algebra

The sequence $a_0,a_1,a_2,...$ is defined by $a_0 = 0, a_1 = a_2 = 1$ and $a_{n+2} +a_{n-1} = 2(a_{n+1} +a_n)$ for all $n \in N$. Show that all $a_n$ are perfect squares .

2019 Indonesia MO, 5

Tags: algebra

Given that $a$ and $b$ are real numbers such that for infinitely many positive integers $m$ and $n$, \[ \lfloor an + b \rfloor \ge \lfloor a + bn \rfloor \] \[ \lfloor a + bm \rfloor \ge \lfloor am + b \rfloor \] Prove that $a = b$.

2018 CMIMC Algebra, 4

Tags: algebra

2018 little ducklings numbered 1 through 2018 are standing in a line, with each holding a slip of paper with a nonnegative number on it; it is given that ducklings 1 and 2018 have the number zero. At some point, ducklings 2 through 2017 change their number to equal the average of the numbers of the ducklings to their left and right. Suppose the new numbers on the ducklings sum to 1000. What is the maximum possible sum of the original numbers on all 2018 slips?

1997 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 1

Tags: number theory , algebra , digit

Let $n =123456789101112 ... 998999$ be the natural number where is obtained by writing the natural numbers from $1$ to $999$ one after the other. What is the $1997$-th digit number in $n$?

2018 ELMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Elmo calls a monic polynomial with real coefficients [i]tasty[/i] if all of its coefficients are in the range $[-1,1]$. A monic polynomial $P$ with real coefficients and complex roots $\chi_1,\cdots,\chi_m$ (counted with multiplicity) is given to Elmo, and he discovers that there does not exist a monic polynomial $Q$ with real coefficients such that $PQ$ is tasty. Find all possible values of $\max\left(|\chi_1|,\cdots,|\chi_m|\right)$. [i]Proposed by Carl Schildkraut[/i]

2011 China Second Round Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , algebra

Find the range of the function $f(x)=\frac{\sqrt{x^2+1}}{x-1}$.

2018 Baltic Way, 1

Tags: algebra

A finite collection of positive real numbers (not necessarily distinct) is [i]balanced [/i]if each number is less than the sum of the others. Find all $m \ge 3$ such that every balanced finite collection of $m$ numbers can be split into three parts with the property that the sum of the numbers in each part is less than the sum of the numbers in the two other parts.

1998 India National Olympiad, 5

Tags: quadratic , algebra , polynomial , inequalities , sum of roots , area of a triangle

Suppose $a,b,c$ are three rela numbers such that the quadratic equation \[ x^2 - (a +b +c )x + (ab +bc +ca) = 0 \] has roots of the form $\alpha + i \beta$ where $\alpha > 0$ and $\beta \not= 0$ are real numbers. Show that (i) The numbers $a,b,c$ are all positive. (ii) The numbers $\sqrt{a}, \sqrt{b} , \sqrt{c}$ form the sides of a triangle.

2004 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 1

Tags: algebra , inequalities , 4-variable inequality

Prove without using advanced (differential) calculus: (a) For any real numbers a,b,c,d it holds that $a^6+b^6+c^6+d^6-6abcd \ge -2$. When does equality hold? (b) For which natural numbers $k$ does some inequality of the form $a^k +b^k +c^k +d^k -kabcd \ge M_k$ hold for all real $a,b,c,d$? For each such $k$,

2017 Peru IMO TST, 5

Tags: algebra

Find the smallest constant $C > 0$ for which the following statement holds: among any five positive real numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4,a_5$ (not necessarily distinct), one can always choose distinct subscripts $i,j,k,l$ such that \[ \left| \frac{a_i}{a_j} - \frac {a_k}{a_l} \right| \le C. \]

2021 BMT, 21

Tags: number theory , algebra

There exist integers $a$ and $b$ such that $(1 +\sqrt2)^{12}= a + b\sqrt2$. Compute the remainder when $ab$ is divided by $13$.

1990 IMO Longlists, 73

Tags: function , induction , algebra

Let $\mathbb Q$ be the set of all rational numbers and $\mathbb R$ be the set of real numbers. Function $f: \mathbb Q \to \mathbb R$ satisfies the following conditions: (i) $f(0) = 0$, and for any nonzero $a \in Q, f(a) > 0.$ (ii) $f(x + y) = f(x)f(y) \qquad \forall x,y \in \mathbb Q.$ (iii) $f(x + y) \leq \max\{f(x), f(y)\} \qquad \forall x,y \in \mathbb Q , x,y \neq 0.$ Let $x$ be an integer and $f(x) \neq 1$. Prove that $f(1 + x + x^2+ \cdots + x^n) = 1$ for any positive integer $n.$

2001 Flanders Math Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , quadratic , inequalities

A student concentrates on solving quadratic equations in $\mathbb{R}$. He starts with a first quadratic equation $x^2 + ax + b = 0$ where $a$ and $b$ are both different from 0. If this first equation has solutions $p$ and $q$ with $p \leq q$, he forms a second quadratic equation $x^2 + px + q = 0$. If this second equation has solutions, he forms a third quadratic equation in an identical way. He continues this process as long as possible. Prove that he will not obtain more than five equations.

2024 Pan-American Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , functional equation , real , constant

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that $f(f(x+y) - f(x)) + f(x)f(y) = f(x^2) - f(x+y),$ for all real numbers $x, y$.

1998 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 7

Tags: polynomial , vieta , algebra

Given that three roots of $f(x)=x^4+ax^2+bx+c$ are $2$, $-3$, and $5$, what is the value of $a+b+c$?