Let $P(x) = x^4 + ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$ and $Q(x) = x^2 + px + q$be two real polynomials. Suppose that there exista an interval $(r,s)$ of length greater than $2$ SUCH THAT BOTH $P(x)$ AND $Q(x)$ ARE nEGATIVE FOR $X \in (r,s)$ and both are positive for $x > s$ and $x<r$. Show that there is a real $x_0$ such that $P(x_0) < Q(x_0)$

Find all pairs of real numbers $(x, y)$ for which the inequality $y^2 + y + \sqrt{y - x^2 -xy} \le 3xy$ holds.

A collection of $n > 2$ numbers is called [i]crowded [/i] if each of them is less than their sum divided by $n - 1$ . Let $\{a, b, c, ,...\}$ be a crowded collection of $n$ numbers whose sum equals $S$. Prove that: (a) each of the numbers is positive, (b) we always have $a + b > c$, (c) we always have $a + b \ge \frac{S}{n-1}$ . (Regina Schleifer)

$X$ is a set of $2020$ distinct real numbers. Prove that there exist $a,b\in \mathbb{R}$ and $A\subset X$ such that $$\sum_{x\in A}(x-a)^2 +\sum_{x\in X\backslash A}(x-b)^2\le \frac{1009}{1010}\sum_{x\in X}x^2$$

Let $x\in\mathbb{R}$. What is the maximum value of the following expression: $\sqrt{x-2018} + \sqrt{2020-x}$ ?

Let $ a,b,$ and $ c$ denote three distinct integers, and let $ P$ denote a polynomial having integer coefficients. Show that it is impossible that $ P(a) \equal{} b, P(b) \equal{} c,$ and $ P(c) \equal{} a$.

Let $(a_n)^\infty_{n=1}$ be a non-decreasing sequence of natural numbers with $a_{20}=100$. A sequence $(b_n)$ is defined by $b_m=\min\{n|an\ge m\}$. Find the maximum value of $a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_{20}+b_1+b_2+\ldots+b_{100}$ over all such sequences $(a_n)$.

Find, with proof, all polynomials $f$ such that $f$ has nonnegative integer coefficients, $f$($1$) = $8$ and $f$($2$) = $2012$.

Consider the following sequence of positive real numbers $\dots<a_{-2}<a_{-1}<a_0<a_1<a_2<\dots$ infinite in both directions. For each positive integer $k$ let $b_k$ be the least integer such that the ratio between the sum of $k$ consecutive terms and the greatest of these $k$ terms is less than or equal to $b_k$(This fact occurs for any sequence of $k$ consecutive numbers). Prove that the sequence $b_1,b_2,b_3,...$ coincides with the sequence $1,2,3,...$ or is eventually constant.

How many ordered triples $(a, b, c)$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are from the set $\{ 1, 2, 3, \dots, 17 \}$, satisfy the equation \[ a^3 + b^3 + c^3 + 2abc = a^2b + a^2c + b^2c + ab^2 + ac^2 + bc^2 \, ? \]

Prove that if $0 < a, b < 1,$ then $$\frac{ab(1 - a)(1 - b)}{(1- ab)^2 }< \frac14.$$

Consider non-negative real numbers $a, b, c$ satisfying the condition $a^2 + b^2 + c^2 = 2$ . Find the maximum value of the following expression $$P=\frac{\sqrt{b^2+c^2}}{3-a}+\frac{\sqrt{c^2+a^2}}{3-b}+a+b-2022c$$

$N$ numbers - ones and twos - are arranged in a circle. We mean a number formed by several digits arranged in a row (clockwise or counterclockwise). For what is the smallest value of $N$, all four-digit numbers whose writing contains only numbers $1$ and $2$, could they be among those shown?

Anna and Lisa go for a bike ride. Anna's bike breaks down $30$ kilometers before their final destination. The two decide to complete the ride with Lisa's bike as follows: At the beginning, Anna is riding a bike and Lisa leaves. At some point, Anna gets off the bike, parks it on the side of the road and continues by foot. When Lisa gets to the bike, she takes it and rides until she catches up with Anna. After that, they repeat the same procedure. We don't know how many times the procedure is repeated, but they arrive at the final goal at the same time. Anna walks at a speed of $4$ km/h and cycles at a speed of $15$ km/h. Lisa walks at $5$ km/h and cycles with $20$ km/h. How long does it take them to cover the last $30$ km of the road? (Neglect the time it takes to park, lock, unlock the bike, etc.)

Solve the system of equations: $ \begin{matrix} |x+y| + |1-x| = 6 \\ |x+y+1| + |1-y| = 4. \end{matrix} $

[b]p1.[/b] Four positive numbers are placed at the vertices of a rectangle. Each number is at least as large as the average of the two numbers at the adjacent vertices. Prove that all four numbers are equal. [b]p2.[/b] The sum $498+499+500+501=1998$ is one way of expressing $1998$ as a sum of consecutive positive integers. Find all ways of expressing $1998$ as a sum of two or more consecutive positive integers. Prove your list is complete. [b]p3.[/b] An infinite strip (two parallel lines and the region between them) has a width of $1$ inch. What is the largest value of $A$ such that every triangle with area $A$ square inches can be placed on this strip? Justify your answer. [b]p4.[/b] A plane divides space into two regions. Two planes that intersect in a line divide space into four regions. Now suppose that twelve planes are given in space so that a) every two of them intersect in a line, b) every three of them intersect in a point, and c) no four of them have a common point. Into how many regions is space divided? Justify your answer. [b]p5.[/b] Five robbers have stolen $1998$ identical gold coins. They agree to the following: The youngest robber proposes a division of the loot. All robbers, including the proposer, vote on the proposal. If at least half the robbers vote yes, then that proposal is accepted. If not, the proposer is sent away with no loot and the next youngest robber makes a new proposal to be voted on by the four remaining robbers, with the same rules as above. This continues until a proposed division is accepted by at least half the remaining robbers. Each robber guards his best interests: He will vote for a proposal if and only if it will give him more coins than he will acquire by rejecting it, and the proposer will keep as many coins for himself as he can. How will the coins be distributed? Explain your reasoning. PS. You should use hide for answers. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2760506p24143309]here[/url].

Let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that there are positive real numbers $a_0, a_1, \dots, a_n$ such that for each choice of signs the polynomial $$\pm a_nx^n\pm a_{n-1}x^{n-1} \pm \dots \pm a_1x \pm a_0$$ has $n$ distinct real roots. (Proposed by Stephan Neupert, TUM, München)

Solve in integers the equation \[ x^2+xy+y^2 = \left(\frac{x+y}{3}+1\right)^3. \]

Find all sets of five consecutive integers with that property that the sum of the squares of the first three numbers is equal to the sum of the squares on the last two.

Given real numbers $x_1$, $x_2$, $x_3$, $x_4$, $x_5$, $x_6$. Let $M$ denote the maximum of their absolute values. Prove that it is valid $$ | x_1x_4-x_1x_5 +x_2x_5 -x_2x_6+x_3x_6-x_3x_4| \le 4M^2$$

a) Let $n$ be a positive integer. Prove that $ n\sqrt {x-n^2}\leq \frac {x}{2}$ , for $x\geq n^2$. b) Find real $x,y,z$ such that: $ 2\sqrt {x-1} +4\sqrt {y-4} + 6\sqrt {z-9} = x+y+z$

Let $ \mathbb{R}^\plus{}$ be the set of all non-negative real numbers. Given two positive real numbers $ a$ and $ b,$ suppose that a mapping $ f: \mathbb{R}^\plus{} \mapsto \mathbb{R}^\plus{}$ satisfies the functional equation: \[ f(f(x)) \plus{} af(x) \equal{} b(a \plus{} b)x.\] Prove that there exists a unique solution of this equation.

Compute the sum of the squares of the first $100$ terms of an arithmetic progression, given that their sum is $-1$ and that the sum of those among them having an even index is $1$.

Let $\mathbb Z$ be the set of all integers. Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z\to\mathbb Z$ satisfying the following conditions: 1. $f(f(x))=xf(x)-x^2+2$ for all $x\in\mathbb Z$; 2. $f$ takes all integer values. [i](I. Voronovich)[/i]

For any two rational numbers $ p$ and $ q$ in the interval $ (0,1)$ and function $ f$, there is always $ \displaystyle f \left( \frac{p\plus{}q}{2} \right) \leq \frac{f(p) \plus{} f(q)}{2}$. Then prove that for any rational numbers $ \lambda, x_1, x_2 \in (0,1)$, there is always: \[ f( \lambda x_1 \plus{} (1\minus{}\lambda) x_2 ) \leq \lambda f(x_i) \plus{} (1\minus{}\lambda) f(x_2)\]