Olympiad problems

2013 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 12

If $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ satisfies the condition $|f(x)| < 1; \forall x \in [-1, 1]$, prove that the equation $f(x) = 2x^2 - 1$ has two real roots.

2015 Bulgaria National Olympiad, 4

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R^+}\to\mathbb {R^+} $ such that for all $x,y\in R^+$ the followings hold: $i) $ $f (x+y)\ge f (x)+y $ $ii) $ $f (f (x))\le x $

1969 IMO Shortlist, 67

Tags: inequality , algebra

Given real numbers $x_1,x_2,y_1,y_2,z_1,z_2$ satisfying $x_1>0,x_2>0,x_1y_1>z_1^2$, and $x_2y_2>z_2^2$, prove that: \[ {8\over(x_1+x_2)(y_1+y_2)-(z_1+z_2)^2}\le{1\over x_1y_1-z_1^2}+{1\over x_2y_2-z_2^2}. \] Give necessary and sufficient conditions for equality.

2007 Balkan MO, 2

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all real functions $f$ defined on $ \mathbb R$, such that \[f(f(x)+y) = f(f(x)-y)+4f(x)y ,\] for all real numbers $x,y$.

2009 Kurschak Competition, 3

Tags: function , algebra

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{Z}\to \mathbb{Q}$ with the following properties: if $f(x)<c<f(y)$ for some rational $c$, then $f$ takes on the value of $c$, and \[f(x)+f(y)+f(z)=f(x)f(y)f(z)\] whenever $x+y+z=0$.

2011 Kosovo National Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra

Suppose that the roots $p,q$ of the equation $x^2-x+c=0$ where $c \in \mathbb{R}$, are rational numbers. Prove that the roots of the equation $x^2+px-q=0$ are also rational numbers.

1983 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: inequality system , algebra , inequalities

Suppose that ${x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n}$ are positive integers for which $x_1 + x_2 + \cdots+ x_n = 2(n + 1)$. Show that there exists an integer $r$ with $0 \leq r \leq n - 1$ for which the following $n - 1$ inequalities hold: \[x_{r+1} + \cdots + x_{r+i} \leq 2i+ 1, \qquad \qquad \forall i, 1 \leq i \leq n - r; \] \[x_{r+1} + \cdots + x_n + x_1 + \cdots+ x_i \leq 2(n - r + i) + 1, \qquad \qquad \forall i, 1 \leq i \leq r - 1.\] Prove that if all the inequalities are strict, then $r$ is unique and that otherwise there are exactly two such $r.$

2022 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 7

Tags: algebra

Let $(x_1, y_1)$, $(x_2, y_2)$, $(x_3, y_3)$, $(x_4, y_4)$, and $(x_5, y_5)$ be the vertices of a regular pentagon centered at $(0, 0)$. Compute the product of all positive integers k such that the equality $x_1^k+x_2^k+x_3^k+x_4^k+x_5^k=y_1^k+y_2^k+y_3^k+y_4^k+y_5^k$ must hold for all possible choices of the pentagon.

2022 Kyiv City MO Round 1, Problem 1

Tags: fraction , construction , algebra

Represent $\frac{1}{2021}$ as a difference of two irreducible fractions with smaller denominators. [i](Proposed by Bogdan Rublov)[/i]

2022 Balkan MO Shortlist, A1

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(x(x + f(y))) = (x + y)f(x),\] for all $x, y \in\mathbb{R}$.

2005 Switzerland - Final Round, 6

Tags: algebra , sum

Let $a, b, c$ be positive real numbers with $abc = 1$. Find all possible values of the expression $$\frac{1 + a}{1 + a + ab}+\frac{1 + b}{1 + b + bc}+\frac{1 + c}{1 + c + ca}$$ can take.

2006 Moldova National Olympiad, 11.1

Tags: limit , trigonometry , algebra

Let $n\in\mathbb{N}^*$. Prove that \[ \lim_{x\to 0}\frac{ \displaystyle (1+x^2)^{n+1}-\prod_{k=1}^n\cos kx}{ \displaystyle x\sum_{k=1}^n\sin kx}=\frac{2n^2+n+12}{6n}. \]

1957 AMC 12/AHSME, 41

Tags: system of equations , algebra

Given the system of equations \[ ax \plus{} (a \minus{} 1)y \equal{} 1 \\ (a \plus{} 1)x \minus{} ay \equal{} 1. \] For which one of the following values of $ a$ is there no solution $ x$ and $ y$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 0\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ \minus{} 1\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac {\pm \sqrt {2}}{2}\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \pm\sqrt {2}$

1991 French Mathematical Olympiad, Problem 5

Tags: polynomial , algebra , roots of unity , complex number , geometry

(a) For given complex numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4$, we define a function $P:\mathbb C\to\mathbb C$ by $P(z)=z^5+a_4z^4+a_3z^3+a_2z^2+a_1z$. Let $w_k=e^{2ki\pi/5}$, where $k=0,\ldots,4$. Prove that $$P(w_0)+P(w_1)+P(w_2)+P(w_3)+P(w_4)=5.$$(b) Let $A_1,A_2,A_3,A_4,A_5$ be five points in the plane. A pentagon is inscribed in the circle with center $A_1$ and radius $R$. Prove that there is a vertex $S$ of the pentagon for which $$SA_1\cdot SA_2\cdot SA_3\cdot SA_4\cdot SA_5\ge R^5.$$

LMT Accuracy Rounds, 2022 S2

Tags: algebra

Let $a \spadesuit b = \frac{a^2-b^2}{2b-2a}$ . Given that $3 \spadesuit x = -10$, compute $x$.

VI Soros Olympiad 1999 - 2000 (Russia), 9.10

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Let $x, y, z$ be real numbers from interval $(0, 1)$. Prove that $$\frac{1}{x(1-y)}+\frac{1}{y(1-x)}+\frac{1}{z(1-x)}\ge \frac{3}{xyz+(1-x)(1-y)(1-z)}$$

2023 Princeton University Math Competition, A1 / B3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let p>3 be a prime and k>0 an integer. Find the multiplicity of X-1 in the factorization of $ f(X)= X^{p^k-1}+X^{p^k-2}+\cdots+X+1$ modulo p; in other words, find the unique non-negative integer r such that $ (X - 1)^r $ divides f(X) \modulo p, but$ (X - 1)^{r+1} $does not divide f(X) \modulo p.

2018 Thailand TSTST, 4

Tags: algebra , recurrence relation , sequence , inequality

Define the numbers $a_0, a_1, \ldots, a_n$ in the following way: \[ a_0 = \frac{1}{2}, \quad a_{k+1} = a_k + \frac{a^2_k}{n} \quad (n > 1, k = 0,1, \ldots, n-1). \] Prove that \[ 1 - \frac{1}{n} < a_n < 1.\]

2020 DMO Stage 1, 2.

Tags: algebra , polynomial

[b]Q.[/b] Find all polynomials $P: \mathbb{R \times R}\to\mathbb{R\times R}$ with real coefficients, such that $$P(x,y) = P(x+y,x-y), \ \forall\ x,y \in \mathbb{R}.$$ [i]Proposed by TuZo[/i]

2017 Czech And Slovak Olympiad III A, 3

Tags: functional equation , functional , algebra

Find all functions $f: R \to R$ such that for all real numbers $x, y$ holds $f(y - xy) = f(x)y + (x - 1)^2 f(y)$

2023 Malaysian Squad Selection Test, 5

Tags: algebra

Find the maximal value of $c>0$ such that for any $n\ge 1$, and for any $n$ real numbers $x_1, \cdots, x_n$ there exists real numbers $a ,b$ such that $$\{x_i-a\}+\{x_{i+1}-b\}\le \frac{1}{2024}$$ for at least $cn$ indices $i$. Here, $x_{n+1}=x_1$ and $\{x\}$ denotes the fractional part of $x$. [i]Proposed by Wong Jer Ren[/i]

2002 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

Tags: function , limit , algebra

$f: \mathbb R\longrightarrow\mathbb R^{+}$ is a non-decreasing function. Prove that there is a point $a\in\mathbb R$ that \[f(a+\frac1{f(a)})<2f(a)\]

2015 Mathematical Talent Reward Programme, SAQ: P 6

Tags: algebra

In the following figure, the bigger wheel has circumference $12$m and the inscribed wheel has circumference $8 $m. $P_{1}$ denotes a point on the bigger wheel and $P_{2}$ denotes a point on the smaller wheel. Initially $P_{1}$ and $P_{2}$ coincide as in the figure. Now we roll the wheels on a smooth surface and the smaller wheel also rolls in the bigger wheel smoothly. What distance does the bigger wheel have to roll so that the points will be together again?

2008 Junior Balkan Team Selection Tests - Moldova, 10

Tags: number theory , prime number , algebra

Solve in prime numbers: $ \{\begin{array}{c}\ \ 2a - b + 7c = 1826 \ 3a + 5b + 7c = 2007 \end{array}$

2020 CMIMC Algebra & Number Theory, 5

Tags: algebra , number theory

Let $f(x) = 2^x + 3^x$. For how many integers $1 \leq n \leq 2020$ is $f(n)$ relatively prime to all of $f(0), f(1), \dots, f(n-1)$?