For $n\geq 1$ let $M$ be an $n\times n$ complex array with distinct eigenvalues $\lambda_1,\lambda_2,\ldots,\lambda_k$, with multiplicities $m_1,m_2,\ldots,m_k$ respectively. Consider the linear operator $L_M$ defined by $L_MX=MX+XM^T$, for any complex $n\times n$ array $X$. Find its eigenvalues and their multiplicities. ($M^T$ denotes the transpose matrix of $M$).

Let $a, b, c$ be different real numbers. prove that $$\left(\frac{2a-b}{a-b}\right)^2+ \left(\frac{2b- c}{b-c}\right)^2+ \left(\frac{2c-a}{c-a}\right)^2 \ge 5. $$

Find the maximum possible length of a sequence consisting of non-zero integers, in which the sum of any seven consecutive terms is positive and that of any eleven consecutive terms is negative.

[b]p1.[/b] A light beam shines from the origin into the unit square at an angle of $\theta$ to one of the sides such that $\tan \theta = \frac{13}{17}$ . The light beam is reflected by the sides of the square. How many times does the light beam hit a side of the square before hitting a vertex of the square? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/5/7/1db0aad33ed9bf82bee3303c7fbbe0b7c2574f.png[/img] [b]p2.[/b] Alex is given points $A_1,A_2,...,A_{150}$ in the plane such that no three are collinear and $A_1$, $A_2$, $...$, $A_{100}$ are the vertices of a convex polygon $P$ containing $A_{101}$, $A_{102}$, $ ...$, $A_{150}$ in its interior. He proceeds to draw edges $A_iA_j$ such that no two edges intersect (except possibly at their endpoints), eventually dividing $P$ up into triangles. How many triangles are there? [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/d/5/12c757077e87809837d16128b018895a8bcc94.png[/img] [b]p3. [/b]The polynomial P(x) has the property that $P(1)$, $P(2)$, $P(3)$, $P(4)$, and $P(5)$ are equal to $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$,$5$ in some order. How many possibilities are there for the polynomial $P$, given that the degree of $P$ is strictly less than $4$? PS. You had better use hide for answers. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2760506p24143309]here[/url].

Let $a$ and $b$ be real numbers from interval $\left[0,\frac{\pi}{2}\right]$. Prove that $$\sin^6 {a}+3\sin^2 {a}\cos^2 {b}+\cos^6 {b}=1$$ if and only if $a=b$

An eighth degree polynomial funtion $ y \equal{} ax^8 \plus{} bx^7 \plus{} cx^6 \plus{} dx^5 \plus{} ex^4 \plus{} fx^3 \plus{} gx^2\plus{}hx\plus{}i\ (a\neq 0)$ touches the line $ y \equal{} px \plus{} q$ at $ x \equal{} \alpha ,\ \beta ,\ \gamma ,\ \delta \ (\alpha < \beta < \gamma <\delta).$ Find the area of the region bounded by these graphs in terms of $ a,\ \alpha ,\ \beta ,\gamma ,\ \delta .$

Consider all parabolas of the form $ y\equal{}x^2\plus{}2px\plus{}q$ for $ p,q \in \mathbb{R}$ which intersect the coordinate axes in three distinct points. For such $ p,q$, denote by $ C_{p,q}$ the circle through these three intersection points. Prove that all circles $ C_{p,q}$ have a point in common.

Given a complex number $z$ satisfies $\operatorname{Im}(z)=z^2-z$, find all possible values of $|z|$.

People are asked “Do you think that the new president will be better than the most recent one?” Suppose $a$ people say “better”,$ b$ say “the same” and $c$ “worse”. Sociologists then calculate two measures of “social optimism”: $m =a + \frac{b}{2}$ and $n = a - c$. Suppose exactly $100$ people respond to this survey and it turns out that $m = 40$. Find $n$. (A Kovaldji)

Let $\mathbb{R}$ denote the set of real numbers. Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(xf(y)+y)+f(-f(x))=f(yf(x)-y)+y\] for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$

Let $\mathbb{N}^*$ be the set of positive integers. Define $a_1=2$, and for $n=1, 2, \ldots,$\[ a_{n+1}=\min\{\lambda|\frac{1}{a_1}+\frac{1}{a_2}+\cdots\frac{1}{a_n}+\frac{1}{\lambda}<1,\lambda\in \mathbb{N}^*\}\] Prove that $a_{n+1}=a_n^2-a_n+1$ for $n=1,2,\ldots$.

Denote by $\mathbb{V}$ the real vector space of all real polynomials in one variable, and let $\gamma :\mathbb{V}\to \mathbb{R}$ be a linear map. Suppose that for all $f,g\in \mathbb{V}$ with $\gamma(fg)=0$ we have $\gamma(f)=0$ or $\gamma(g)=0$. Prove that there exist $c,x_0\in \mathbb{R}$ such that \[ \gamma(f)=cf(x_0)\quad \forall f\in \mathbb{V}\]

If $a(x), b(x), c(x)$ and $d(x)$ are polynomials in $ x$, show that $$ \int_{1}^{x} a(x) c(x)\; dx\; \cdot \int_{1}^{x} b(x) d(x) \; dx - \int_{1}^{x} a(x) d(x)\; dx\; \cdot \int_{1}^{x} b(x) c(x)\; dx$$ is divisible by $(x-1)^4.$

Solve in the real numbers the equation: $$ \cos^2 \frac{(x-2)\pi }{4} +\cos\frac{(x-2)\pi }{3} =\log_3 (x^2-4x+6) $$ [i]Gheorghe Mihai[/i]

The first term of a sequence is 2005. Each succeeding term is the sum of the cubes of the digits of the previous terms. What is the 2005th term of the sequence? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 29\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 55\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 85\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 133\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 250$

Define the sequence $a_i$ as follows: $a_1 = 1, a_2 = 2015$, and $a_n = \frac{na_{n-1}^2}{a_{n-1}+na_{n-2}}$ for $n > 2$. What is the least $k$ such that $a_k < a_{k-1}$?

Let $(u_n)$ be a sequence of real numbers which satisfies $$u_{n+2}=|u_{n+1}|-u_n\qquad\text{for all }n\in\mathbb N.$$Prove that there exists a positive integer $p$ such that $u_n=u_{n+p}$ holds for all $n\in\mathbb N$.

Give examples of a function $f : R \to R$ that satisfies $0 < f(x) < f(x + f(x)) <\sqrt2 x$, for all positive $x$, and show that there is no function $f : R \to R$ that satisfies $x < f(x + f(x)) <\sqrt2 f(x)$, for all positive $x$.

[color=darkred]Determine all functions $ f : [0; \plus{} \infty) \rightarrow [0; \plus{} \infty)$, such that \[ f(x \plus{} y \minus{} z) \plus{} f(2\sqrt {xz}) \plus{} f(2\sqrt {yz}) \equal{} f(x \plus{} y \plus{} z)\] for all $ x,y,z \in [0; \plus{} \infty)$, for which $ x \plus{} y\ge z$.[/color]

Determine all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that all real numbers $x$ and $y$ satisfy \[f(f(x)+y)=f(x^2-y)+4f(x)y.\]

[u]Round 5[/u] [b]p13.[/b] Find all ordered pairs of real numbers $(x, y)$ satisfying the following equations: $$\begin{cases} \dfrac{1}{xy} + \dfrac{y}{x}= 2 \\ \dfrac{1}{xy^2} + \dfrac{y^2}{x} = 7 \end{cases}$$ [b]p14.[/b] An egg plant is a hollow prism of negligible thickness, with height $2$ and an equilateral triangle base. Inside the egg plant, there is enough space for four spherical eggs of radius $1$. What is the minimum possible volume of the egg plant? [b]p15.[/b] How many ways are there for Farmer James to color each square of a $2\times 6$ grid with one of the three colors eggshell, cream, and cornsilk, so that no two adjacent squares are the same color? [u]Round 6[/u] [b]p16.[/b] In a triangle $ABC$, $\angle A = 45^o$, and let $D$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $A$ to segment $BC$. $BD = 2$ and $DC = 4$. Let $E$ be the intersection of the line $AD$ and the perpendicular line from $B$ to line $AC$. Find the length of $AE$. [b]p17.[/b] Find the largest positive integer $n$ such that there exists a unique positive integer $m$ satisfying $$\frac{1}{10} \le \frac{m}{n} \le \frac19$$ [b]p18.[/b] How many ordered pairs $(A,B)$ of positive integers are there such that $A+B = 10000$ and the number $A^2 + AB + B$ has all distinct digits in base $10$? [u]Round 7[/u] [b]p19.[/b] Pentagon $JAMES$ satisfies $JA = AM = ME = ES = 2$. Find the maximum possible area of $JAMES$. [b]p20.[/b] $P(x)$ is a monic polynomial (a polynomial with leading coecient $1$) of degree $4$, such that $P(2^n+1) =8^n + 1$ when $n = 1, 2, 3, 4$. Find the value of $P(1)$. [b]p21[/b]. PEAcock and Zombie Hen Hao are at the starting point of a circular track, and start running in the same direction at the same time. PEAcock runs at a constant speed that is $2018$ times faster than Zombie Hen Hao's constant speed. At some point in time, Farmer James takes a photograph of his two favorite chickens, and he notes that they are at different points along the track. Later on, Farmer James takes a second photograph, and to his amazement, PEAcock and Zombie Hen Hao have now swapped locations from the first photograph! How many distinct possibilities are there for PEAcock and Zombie Hen Hao's positions in Farmer James's first photograph? (Assume PEAcock and Zombie Hen Hao have negligible size.) [u]Round 8[/u] [b]p22.[/b] How many ways are there to scramble the letters in $EGGSEATER$ such that no two consecutive letters are the same? [b]p23.[/b] Let $JAMES$ be a regular pentagon. Let $X$ be on segment $JA$ such that $\frac{JX}{XA} = \frac{XA}{JA}$ . There exists a unique point $P$ on segment $AE$ such that $XM = XP$. Find the ratio $\frac{AE}{PE}$ . [b]p24.[/b] Find the minimum value of the function $$f(x) = \left|x - \frac{1}{x} \right|+ \left|x - \frac{2}{x} \right| + \left|x - \frac{3}{x} \right|+... + \left|x - \frac{9}{x} \right|+ \left|x - \frac{10}{x} \right|$$ over all nonzero real numbers $x$. PS. You should use hide for answers. Rounds 1-4 have been posted [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c3h2949191p26406082]here[/url]. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2760506p24143309]here[/url].

Real numbers $a \neq 0, b, c$ are given. Prove that there is a polynomial $P(x)$ with real coefficients such that the polynomial $x^2+1$ divides the polynomial $aP(x)^2+bP(x)+c$. [i]Proposed by A. Golovanov[/i]

Prove that in any set of $2000$ distinct real numbers there exist two pairs $a>b$ and $c>d$ with $a \neq c$ or $b \neq d $, such that \[ \left| \frac{a-b}{c-d} - 1 \right|< \frac{1}{100000}. \]

For which real values of $m$ does the equation $x^2-\frac{m^2+1}{m -1}x+2m+2=0$ has root $x=-1$?

Prove that if $m,n$ are relatively prime positive integers, $x^m-y^n$ is irreducible in the complex numbers. (A polynomial $P(x,y)$ is irreducible if there do not exist nonconstant polynomials $f(x,y)$ and $g(x,y)$ such that $P(x,y) = f(x,y)g(x,y)$ for all $x,y$.) [i]David Yang.[/i]