For the various values of the parameter $a \in R$, solve the equation $ ||x - 4| - 2x + 8| = ax + 4$

Let $n$ be a positive integer. What is the largest $k$ for which there exist $n\times n$ matrices $M_1,\dots,M_k$ and $N_1,\dots,N_k$ with real entries such that for all $i$ and $j,$ the matrix product $M_iN_j$ has a zero entry somewhere on its diagonal if and only if $i\ne j?$

If $\min \left \{ \frac{ax^2+b}{\sqrt{x^2+1}} \mid x \in \mathbb{R}\right \} = 3$, then (1) Find the range of $b$; (2) for every given $b$, find $a$.

Let $S_0=\{z\in\mathbb C:|z|=1,z\ne-1\}$ and $f(z)=\frac{\operatorname{Im}z}{1+\operatorname{Re}z}$. Prove that $f$ is a bijection between $S_0$ and $\mathbb R$. Find $f^{-1}$.

[b]p1.[/b] In their class Introduction to Ladders at Greendale Community College, Jan takes four tests. They realize that their test scores in chronological order form a strictly increasing arithmetic progression with integer terms, and that the average of those scores is an integer greater than or equal to $94$. How many possible combinations of test scores could they have had? (Test scores at Greendale range between $0$ and $100$, inclusive.) [b]p2.[/b] Suppose that $A$ and $B$ are digits between $1$ and $9$ such that $$0.\overline{ABABAB...}+ B \cdot (0.\overline{AAA...}) = A \cdot (0.\overline{B1B1B1...}) + 1$$ Find the sum of all possible values of $10A + B$. [b]p3.[/b] Let $ABC$ be an isosceles right triangle with $m\angle ABC = 90^o$. Let $D$ and $E$ lie on segments $\overline{AC}$ and $\overline{BC}$, respectively, such that triangles $\vartriangle ADB$ and $\vartriangle CDE$ are similar and $DE =EB$. If $\frac{AC}{AD} = 1 +\frac{\sqrt{a}}{b}$ with $a$, $b$ positive integers and $a$ squarefree, then find $a + b$. [b]p4.[/b] Five bowling pins $P_1, P_2, ..., P_5$ are lined up in a row. Each turn, Jemma picks a pin at random from the standing pins, and throws a bowling ball at that pin; that pin and each pin directly adjacent to it are knocked down. If the expected value of the number of turns Jemma will take to knock down all the pins is $\frac{a}{b}$ where $a$ and $b$ are relatively prime, find $a + b$. (Pins $P_i$ and $P_j$ are adjacent if and only if $|i - j| = 1$.) [b]p5.[/b] How many terms in the expansion of $$(1 + x + x^2 + x^3 +... + x^{2021})(1 + x^2 + x^4 + x^6 + ... + x^{4042})$$ have coeffcients equal to $1011$? [b]p6.[/b] Suppose $f(x)$ is a monic quadratic polynomial with distinct nonzero roots $p$ and $q$, and suppose $g(x)$ is a monic quadratic polynomial with roots $p + \frac{1}{q}$ and $q + \frac{1}{p}$ . If we are given that $g(-1) = 1$ and $f(0)\ne -1$, then there exists some real number $r$ that must be a root of $f(x)$. Find $r$. PS. You had better use hide for answers. Collected [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2760506p24143309]here[/url].

Find the graph of the function $y=x-|x+x^2|$

Let $P(X)=X^n+a_1X^{n-1}+\ldots+a_n$ be a plynomial with real roots $x_1. x_2,\ldots,x_n$. Denote $E_k=x_1^k+x_2^k+\ldots+x_n^k, \forall k\in\mathbb{N}$. There exists an $m\in\mathbb{N}$ such that $E_m=E_{m+1}=E_{m+2}=1$. Find $\max\{P(-2),P(2)\}$.

Let $n$ be an integer greater than $1$. Define \[x_1 = n, y_1 = 1, x_{i+1} =\left[ \frac{x_i+y_i}{2}\right] , y_{i+1} = \left[ \frac{n}{x_{i+1}}\right], \qquad \text{for }i = 1, 2, \ldots\ ,\] where $[z]$ denotes the largest integer less than or equal to $z$. Prove that \[ \min \{x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n \} =[ \sqrt n ]\]

Find all triples $(f,g,h)$ of injective functions from the set of real numbers to itself satisfying \begin{align*} f(x+f(y)) &= g(x) + h(y) \\ g(x+g(y)) &= h(x) + f(y) \\ h(x+h(y)) &= f(x) + g(y) \end{align*} for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. (We say a function $F$ is [i]injective[/i] if $F(a)\neq F(b)$ for any distinct real numbers $a$ and $b$.) [i]Proposed by Evan Chen[/i]

Let $f : R^+ \to R$ be a strictly increasing function such that $f\left(\frac{x+y}{2}\right) < \frac{f(x)+ f(y)}{2}$ for all $x,y > 0$. Prove that the sequence $a_n = f(n)$ ($n \in N$) does not contain an infinite arithmetic progression.

Compute the base 10 value of $14641_{99}$

Prove that all roots of $ 11z^{10} \plus{} 10iz^9 \plus{} 10iz \minus{}11 \equal{} 0$ have unit modulus (or equivalent $ |z| \equal{} 1$).

Find the largest possible value of $a$ such that there exist real numbers $b,c>1$ such that \[a^{\log_b c}\cdot b^{\log_c a}=2023.\] [i]Proposed by Howard Halim[/i]

A function $f$ is defined on the set of all real numbers except $0$ and takes all real values except $1$. It is also known that $\color{white}\ . \ \color{black}\ \quad f(xy)=f(x)f(-y)-f(x)+f(y)$ for any $x,y\not= 0$ and that $\color{white}\ . \ \color{black}\ \quad f(f(x))=\frac{1}{f(\frac{1}{x})}$ for any $x\not\in\{ 0,1\}$. Determine all such functions $f$.

Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers such that $a+b+c=1$. Prove that \[\frac {a}{b} + \frac {a}{c} + \frac {c}{b} + \frac {c}{a} + \frac {b}{c} + \frac {b}{a} + 6 \geq 2\sqrt{2}\left (\sqrt{\frac{1-a}{a}} + \sqrt{\frac{1-b}{b}} + \sqrt{\frac{1-c}{c}}\right ).\] When does equality hold?

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{Z}\rightarrow \mathbb{Z}$ satisfying \[f^{a^{2} + b^{2}}(a+b) = af(a) +bf(b)\] for all integers $a$ and $b$

Let $R_+=(0,+\infty)$. Find all functions $f: R_+ \to R_+$ such that $f(xf(y))+f(yf(z))+f(zf(x))=xy+yz+zx$, for all $x,y,z \in R_+$. by Athanasios Kontogeorgis (aka socrates)

Prove the inequality [b]a.)[/b] $ \left( a_{1}+a_{2}+...+a_{k}\right) ^{2}\leq k\left( a_{1}^{2}+a_{2}^{2}+...+a_{k}^{2}\right) , $ where $k\geq 1$ is a natural number and $a_{1},$ $a_{2},$ $...,$ $a_{k}$ are arbitrary real numbers. [b]b.)[/b] Using the inequality (1), show that if the real numbers $a_{1},$ $a_{2},$ $...,$ $a_{n}$ satisfy the inequality \[ a_{1}+a_{2}+...+a_{n}\geq \sqrt{\left( n-1\right) \left( a_{1}^{2}+a_{2}^{2}+...+a_{n}^{2}\right) }, \] then all of these numbers $a_{1},$ $a_{2},$ $\ldots,$ $a_{n}$ are non-negative.

Let \[f(x)=\int_0^1 |t-x|t \, dt\] for all real $x$. Sketch the graph of $f(x)$. What is the minimum value of $f(x)$?

A group of clerks is assigned the task of sorting $1775$ files. Each clerk sorts at a constant rate of $30$ files per hour. At the end of the first hour, some of the clerks are reassigned to another task; at the end of the second hour, the same number of the remaining clerks are also reassigned to another task, and a similar reassignment occurs at the end of the third hour. The group finishes the sorting in $3$ hours and $10$ minutes. Find the number of files sorted during the first one and a half hours of sorting.

The triangle table is constructed according to the rule: You put the natural number $a>1$ in the upper row, and then you write under the number $k$ from the left side $k^2$, and from the right side -- $(k+1)$. For example, if $a = 2$, you get the table on the picture. Prove that all the numbers on each particular line are different. 2 / \ / \ 4 3 / \ / \ 16 5 9 4 / \ / \ /\ / \

Determine all polynomials $a(x)$, $b(x)$, $c(x)$, $d(x)$ with real coefficients satisfying the simultaneous equations \begin{align*} b(x) c(x) + a(x) d(x) & = 0 \\ a(x) c(x) + (1 - x^2) b(x) d(x) & = x + 1. \end{align*}

Find all functions $f : R \to R$ that satisfies the condition $$f(f(x - y)) = f(x)f(y) - f(x) + f(y) - xy$$ for all real numbers $x, y$.

Find all functions $ f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R} $ such that for all reals $ x, y $,$$ f(x^2+f(x+y))=y+xf(x+1) $$

Numbers $ a,b,c$ are such that the equation $ x^3 \plus{} ax^2 \plus{} bx \plus{} c$ has three real roots.Prove that if $ \minus{} 2\leq a \plus{} b \plus{} c\leq 0$,then at least one of these roots belongs to the segment $ [0,2]$