Olympiad problems

2022 Saint Petersburg Mathematical Olympiad, 7

Given is a graph $G$ of $n+1$ vertices, which is constructed as follows: initially there is only one vertex $v$, and one a move we can add a vertex and connect it to exactly one among the previous vertices. The vertices have non-negative real weights such that $v$ has weight $0$ and each other vertex has a weight not exceeding the avarage weight of its neighbors, increased by $1$. Prove that no weight can exceed $n^2$.

2007 AMC 8, 9

Tags: algebra , binomial theorem

To complete the grid below, each of the digits 1 through 4 must occur once in each row and once in each column. What number will occupy the lower right-hand square? \[ \begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline 1 & & 2 & \\ \hline 2 & 3 & & \\ \hline & &&4\\ \hline & &&\\ \hline\end{tabular} \] $\textbf{(A)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 3\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 4\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{cannot be determined}$

2000 District Olympiad (Hunedoara), 2

Tags: algebra , complex number

Let $ z_1,z_2,z_3\in\mathbb{C} $ such that $\text{(i)}\quad \left|z_1\right| = \left|z_2\right| = \left|z_3\right| = 1$ $\text{(ii)}\quad z_1+z_2+z_3\neq 0 $ $\text{(iii)}\quad z_1^2 +z_2^2+z_3^2 =0. $ Show that $ \left| z_1^3+z_2^3+z_3^3\right| = 1. $

2013 APMO, 3

Tags: algebra , floor function , arithmetic sequence

For $2k$ real numbers $a_1, a_2, ..., a_k$, $b_1, b_2, ..., b_k$ define a sequence of numbers $X_n$ by \[ X_n = \sum_{i=1}^k [a_in + b_i] \quad (n=1,2,...). \] If the sequence $X_N$ forms an arithmetic progression, show that $\textstyle\sum_{i=1}^k a_i$ must be an integer. Here $[r]$ denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to $r$.

2007 Mathematics for Its Sake, 3

Tags: algebra , floor function , equation

Solve in the real numbers the equation $ \lfloor ax \rfloor -\lfloor (1+a)x \rfloor = (1+a)(1-x) . $ [i]Dumitru Acu[/i]

2010 Argentina National Olympiad, 6

Tags: algebra , combinatorics

In a row the numbers $1,2,...,2010$ have been written. Two players, taking turns, write $+$ or $\times$ between two consecutive numbers whenever possible. The first player wins if the algebraic sum obtained is divisible by $3$; otherwise, the second player wins. Find a winning strategy for one of the players.

2013 Miklós Schweitzer, 2

Tags: algebra , number theory , polynomial , vieta

Prove there exists a constant $k_0$ such that for any $k\ge k_0$, the equation \[a^{2n}+b^{4n}+2013=ka^nb^{2n}\] has no positive integer solutions $a,b,n$. [i]Proposed by István Pink.[/i]

2017 Pan African, Problem 4

Tags: algebra , integer part

Find all the real numbers $x$ such that $\frac{1}{[x]}+\frac{1}{[2x]}=\{x\}+\frac{1}{3}$ where $[x]$ denotes the integer part of $x$ and $\{x\}=x-[x]$. For example, $[2.5]=2, \{2.5\} = 0.5$ and $[-1.7]= -2, \{-1.7\} = 0.3$

2003 Manhattan Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: number theory , algebra , polynomial , modular arithmetic

Let $p$ and $a$ be positive integer numbers having no common divisors except of $1$. Prove that $p$ is prime if and only if all the coefficients of the polynomial \[ F(x) = (x-a)^p - (x^p - a) \] are divisible by $p$.

1962 AMC 12/AHSME, 12

Tags: algebra , binomial theorem

When $ \left ( 1 \minus{} \frac{1}{a} \right ) ^6$ is expanded the sum of the last three coefficients is: $ \textbf{(A)}\ 22 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 11 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 10 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \minus{}10 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \minus{}11$

2007 Hong kong National Olympiad, 2

Tags: number theory , algebra , polynomial , modular arithmetic

is there any polynomial of $deg=2007$ with integer coefficients,such that for any integer $n$,$f(n),f(f(n)),f(f(f(n))),...$ is coprime to each other?

1964 Poland - Second Round, 4

Tags: algebra , system of equations , system

Find the real numbers $ x, y, z $ satisfying the system of equations $$(z - x)(x - y) = a $$ $$(x - y)(y - z) = b$$ $$(y - z)(z - x) = c$$ where $ a, b, c $ are given real numbers.

2011 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: counting , algebra

Let $ n $ be a natural number. How many numbers of the form $ \pm 1\pm 2\pm 3\pm\cdots\pm n $ are there?

2022 Cyprus TST, 1

Tags: system of equations , algebra

Find all pairs of real numbers $(x,y)$ for which \[ \begin{aligned} x^2+y^2+xy&=133 \\ x+y+\sqrt{xy}&=19 \end{aligned} \]

1999 Abels Math Contest (Norwegian MO), 1a

Tags: algebra , function

Find a function $f$ such that $f(t^2 +t +1) = t$ for all real $t \ge 0$

2001 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, Level 3, 4

Tags: functional equation , algebra , find all functions

Find all functions $f: R \to R$ such that, for any $x, y \in R$: $f\left( f\left( x \right)-y \right)\cdot f\left( x+f\left( y \right) \right)={{x}^{2}}-{{y}^{2}}$

1993 Baltic Way, 9

Tags: algebra

Solve the system of equations \[\begin{cases}x^5=y+y^5\\ y^5=z+z^5\\ z^5=t+t^5\\ t^5=x+x^5.\end{cases}\]

1997 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , floor function , equation

Consider the numbers $a,b, \alpha, \beta \in \mathbb{R}$ and the sets $$A=\left \{x \in \mathbb{R} : x^2+a|x|+b=0 \right \},$$ $$B=\left \{ x \in \mathbb{R} : \lfloor x \rfloor^2 + \alpha \lfloor x \rfloor + \beta = 0\right \}.$$ If $A \cap B$ has exactly three elements, prove that $a$ cannot be an integer.

2020 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Let $u_1, u_2, \dots, u_{2019}$ be real numbers satisfying \[u_{1}+u_{2}+\cdots+u_{2019}=0 \quad \text { and } \quad u_{1}^{2}+u_{2}^{2}+\cdots+u_{2019}^{2}=1.\] Let $a=\min \left(u_{1}, u_{2}, \ldots, u_{2019}\right)$ and $b=\max \left(u_{1}, u_{2}, \ldots, u_{2019}\right)$. Prove that \[ a b \leqslant-\frac{1}{2019}. \]

2017 Azerbaijan BMO TST, 3

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Find all funtions $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ such that: $$f(xy-1)+f(x)f(y)=2xy-1$$ for all $x,y\in \mathbb{R}$.

2012 AMC 12/AHSME, 13

Tags: algebra , linear equation

Paula the painter and her two helpers each paint at constant, but different, rates. They always start at $\text{8:00 AM}$, and all three always take the same amount of time to eat lunch. On Monday the three of them painted $50\%$ of a house, quitting at $\text{4:00 PM}$. On Tuesday, when Paula wasn't there, the two helpers painted only $24\%$ of the house and quit at $\text{2:12 PM}$. On Wednesday Paula worked by herself and finished the house by working until $\text{7:12 PM}$. How long, in minutes, was each day's lunch break? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 30 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 36 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 42 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 48 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 60 $

2016 Iran Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra

A real function has been assigned to every cell of an $n \times n$ table. Prove that a function can be assigned to each row and each column of this table such that the function assigned to each cell is equivalent to the combination of functions assigned to the row and the column containing it.

2003 Austrian-Polish Competition, 2

Tags: algebra , sequence

The sequence $a_0, a_1, a_2, ..$ is defined by $a_0 = a, a_{n+1} = a_n + L(a_n)$, where $L(m)$ is the last digit of $m$ (eg $L(14) = 4$). Suppose that the sequence is strictly increasing. Show that infinitely many terms must be divisible by $d = 3$. For what other d is this true?

2024 India National Olympiad, 4

Tags: combinatorics , algebra , function

A finite set $\mathcal{S}$ of positive integers is called cardinal if $\mathcal{S}$ contains the integer $|\mathcal{S}|$ where $|\mathcal{S}|$ denotes the number of distinct elements in $\mathcal{S}$. Let $f$ be a function from the set of positive integers to itself such that for any cardinal set $\mathcal{S}$, the set $f(\mathcal{S})$ is also cardinal. Here $f(\mathcal{S})$ denotes the set of all integers that can be expressed as $f(a)$ where $a \in \mathcal{S}$. Find all possible values of $f(2024)$ $\quad$ Proposed by Sutanay Bhattacharya

2022 HMIC, 3

Tags: number theory , algebra

For a nonnegative integer $n$, let $s(n)$ be the sum of the digits of the binary representation of $n$. Prove that $$\sum_{n=1}^{2^{2022}-1} \frac{(-1)^{s(n)}}{n+2022}>0.$$