Olympiad problems

2007 Bulgarian Autumn Math Competition, Problem 9.1

We're given the functions $f(x)=|x-1|-|x-2|$ and $g(x)=|x-3|$. a) Draw the graph of the function $f(x)$. b) Determine the area of the section enclosed by the functions $f(x)$ and $g(x)$.

2014 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 9

Tags: polynomial , geometry , algebra , function , hmmt , complex number , fermat point

Given $a$, $b$, and $c$ are complex numbers satisfying \[ a^2+ab+b^2=1+i \] \[ b^2+bc+c^2=-2 \] \[ c^2+ca+a^2=1, \] compute $(ab+bc+ca)^2$. (Here, $i=\sqrt{-1}$)

2004 Austrian-Polish Competition, 3

Tags: matrix , trigonometry , algebra , linear algebra , system of equations

Solve the following system of equations in $\mathbb{R}$ where all square roots are non-negative: $ \begin{matrix} a - \sqrt{1-b^2} + \sqrt{1-c^2} = d \\ b - \sqrt{1-c^2} + \sqrt{1-d^2} = a \\ c - \sqrt{1-d^2} + \sqrt{1-a^2} = b \\ d - \sqrt{1-a^2} + \sqrt{1-b^2} = c \\ \end{matrix} $

1995 Greece National Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra

If the equation $ ax^2+(c-b)x+(e-d)=0$ has real roots greater than $1$, prove that the equation $ax^4+bx^3+cx^2+dx+e=0$ has at least one real root.

2007 Singapore Senior Math Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , inequalities , min , max

Find the maximum and minimum of $x + y$ such that $x + y = \sqrt{2x-1}+\sqrt{4y+3}$

2016 Israel Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ satisfying (for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$): $f(x+y)^2 - f(2x^2) = f(y-x)f(y+x) + 2x\cdot f(y)$.

2017 CentroAmerican, 2

Tags: algebra , number theory

We call a pair $(a,b)$ of positive integers, $a<391$, [i]pupusa[/i] if $$\textup{lcm}(a,b)>\textup{lcm}(a,391)$$ Find the minimum value of $b$ across all [i]pupusa[/i] pairs. Fun Fact: OMCC 2017 was held in El Salvador. [i]Pupusa[/i] is their national dish. It is a corn tortilla filled with cheese, meat, etc.

2018 Azerbaijan JBMO TST, 2

Tags: algebra , inequality

a) Find : $A=\{(a,b,c) \in \mathbb{R}^{3} | a+b+c=3 , (6a+b^2+c^2)(6b+c^2+a^2)(6c+a^2+b^2) \neq 0\}$ b) Prove that for any $(a,b,c) \in A$ next inequality hold : \begin{align*} \frac{a}{6a+b^2+c^2}+\frac{b}{6b+c^2+a^2}+\frac{c}{6c+a^2+b^2} \le \frac{3}{8} \end{align*}

1972 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 3

Tags: trigonometry , algebra

Prove the equality: $$\sum_{k=1}^{n-1}\frac1{\sin^2\frac{(2k+1)\pi}{2n}}=n^2$$ where $n$ is a natural number. [i]H. Lesov[/i]

2021 Estonia Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra , integer polynomial

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integral coefficients whose values at points $x = 1, 2, . . . , 2021$ are numbers $1, 2, . . . , 2021$ in some order.

2024 CMIMC Algebra and Number Theory, 7

Tags: algebra

Let $x_0$, $x_1$, $x_2$, and $x_3$ be complex numbers forming a square centered at $0$ in the complex plane with side length $2$. For each $0\leq k\leq 3$, there are four more complex numbers $z_{4k}, z_{4k+1}$, $z_{4k+2}$, and $z_{4k+3}$ forming a square centered at $x_k$ with side length $\sqrt 2$. Given that $\prod_{i=0}^{15} z_i$ is a positive integer, how many possible values could it take? [i]Proposed by Hari Desikan[/i]

2010 ELMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: function , induction , algebra

Determine all strictly increasing functions $f: \mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{N}$ satisfying $nf(f(n))=f(n)^2$ for all positive integers $n$. [i]Carl Lian and Brian Hamrick.[/i]

1962 German National Olympiad, 2

Tags: inequalities , algebra

Let $u, v$ and$ w$ be any positive numbers smaller than $1$. Prove that among the numbers $u(1 -v)$, $v(1 -w)$, $w(1 - u)$ there is always at least one value not greater than $\frac14$ .

2021 LMT Spring, A22 B23

Tags: algebra

A Haiku is a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five. Ada has been told To write down five haikus plus Two more every hour. Such that she needs to Write down five in the first hour Seven, nine, so on. Ada has so far Forty haikus and writes down Seven every hour. At which hour after She begins will she not have Enough haikus done? [i]Proposed by Ada Tsui[/i]

2017 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

For each $n \ge 2$ define the polynomial $$f_n(x)=x^n-x^{n-1}-\dots-x-1.$$ Prove that (a) For each $n \ge 2$, $f_n(x)=0$ has a unique positive real root $\alpha_n$; (b) $(\alpha_n)_n$ is a strictly increasing sequence; (c) $\lim_{n \rightarrow \infty} \alpha_n=2.$

2018 Peru MO (ONEM), 2

Tags: algebra , inequalities

2) Let $a, b, c$ be real numbers such that $$a+\frac{b}{c}=b+\frac{c}{a}=c+\frac{a}{b}=1$$a) Prove that $ab+bc+ca=0$ and $a+b+c=3$. b) Prove that $|a|+|b|+|c|< 5$

IV Soros Olympiad 1997 - 98 (Russia), 9.3

Tags: algebra

Several machines were working in the workshop. After reconstruction, the number of machines decreased, and the percentage by which the number of machines decreased turned out to be equal to the number of remaining machines. What was the smallest number of machines that could have been in the workshop before the reconstruction?

2017 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , inequalities , maximum

Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers so that $a+b+c = \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}$. Find the maximum value of $$27abc+a\sqrt{a^2+2bc}+b\sqrt{b^2+2ca}+c\sqrt{c^2+2ab}.$$

2020 Iran RMM TST, 6

Tags: polynomial , algebra

For all $n>1$. Find all polynomials with complex coefficient and degree more than one such that $(p(x)-x)^2$ divides $p^n(x)-x$. ($p^0(x)=x , p^i(x)=p(p^{i-1}(x))$) [i]Proposed by Navid Safaie[/i]

II Soros Olympiad 1995 - 96 (Russia), 9.9

Tags: algebra

There are $5$ ingots weighing $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$ and $5$ kg with an unknown copper content that varies in different ingots. Each ingot must be divided into $5$ parts and $5$ new ingots of the same mass of $1$, $2$, $3$, $4$ and $5$ kg must be made. This requires that the percentage of copper in all pieces be the same, regardless of what it was in the original pieces. What parts should each piece be divided into?

2013 Balkan MO Shortlist, A1

Tags: algebra , inequality

Positive real numbers $a, b,c$ satisfy $ab + bc+ ca = 3$. Prove the inequality $$\frac{1}{4+(a+b)^2}+\frac{1}{4+(b+c)^2}+\frac{1}{4+(c+a)^2}\le \frac{3}{8}$$

2023 Auckland Mathematical Olympiad, 10

Tags: inequalities , algebra

Find the maximum of the expression $$||...||x_1 - x_2|- x_3| -... | - x_{2023}|,$$ where $x_1,x_2,..., x_{2023}$ are distinct natural numbers between $1$ and $2023$.

2008 IMO, 2

Tags: inequalities , algebra , calculus , vieta

[b](a)[/b] Prove that \[\frac {x^{2}}{\left(x \minus{} 1\right)^{2}} \plus{} \frac {y^{2}}{\left(y \minus{} 1\right)^{2}} \plus{} \frac {z^{2}}{\left(z \minus{} 1\right)^{2}} \geq 1\] for all real numbers $x$, $y$, $z$, each different from $1$, and satisfying $xyz=1$. [b](b)[/b] Prove that equality holds above for infinitely many triples of rational numbers $x$, $y$, $z$, each different from $1$, and satisfying $xyz=1$. [i]Author: Walther Janous, Austria[/i]

2022 District Olympiad, P1

Tags: function , algebra , arithmetic function , functional equation

Let $f:\mathbb{N}^*\rightarrow \mathbb{N}^*$ be a function such that $\frac{x^3+3x^2f(y)}{x+f(y)}+\frac{y^3+3y^2f(x)}{y+f(x)}=\frac{(x+y)^3}{f(x+y)},~(\forall)x,y\in\mathbb{N}^*.$ $a)$ Prove that $f(1)=1.$ $b)$ Find function $f.$

2001 Romania Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: relatively prime , number theory , polynomial , algebra

Find all polynomials with real coefficients $P$ such that \[ P(x)P(2x^2-1)=P(x^2)P(2x-1)\] for every $x\in\mathbb{R}$.