Olympiad problems

2011 ELMO Problems, 3

Determine whether there exist two reals $x,y$ and a sequence $\{a_n\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ of nonzero reals such that $a_{n+2}=xa_{n+1}+ya_n$ for all $n\ge0$ and for every positive real number $r$, there exist positive integers $i,j$ such that $|a_i|<r<|a_j|$. [i]Alex Zhu.[/i]

2015 IMO Shortlist, A1

Tags: algebra

Suppose that a sequence $a_1,a_2,\ldots$ of positive real numbers satisfies \[a_{k+1}\geq\frac{ka_k}{a_k^2+(k-1)}\] for every positive integer $k$. Prove that $a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n\geq n$ for every $n\geq2$.

1982 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 347

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Can you find three polynomials $P,Q,R$ of three variables $x,y,z$, providing the condition: a)$P(x-y+z)^3 + Q(y-z-1)^3 +R(z-2x+1)^3 = 1$ b)$P(x-y+z)^3 + Q(y-z-1)^3 +R(z-x+1)^3 = 1$ for all $x,y,z$?

2020 Nigerian Senior MO Round 2, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra , algebra polynomials

Let $k$ be a real number. Define on the set of reals the operation $x*y$= $\frac{xy}{x+y+k}$ whenever $x+y$ does not equal $-k$. Let $x_1<x_2<x_3<x_4$ be the roots of $t^4=27(t^2+t+1)$.suppose that $[(x_1*x_2)*x_3]*x_4=1$. Find all possible values of $k$

1994 Canada National Olympiad, 2

Tags: algebra

Prove that $(\sqrt{2}-1)^n$ $\forall n\in \mathbb{Z}^{+}$ can be represented as $\sqrt{m}-\sqrt{m-1}$ for some $m\in \mathbb{Z}^{+}$.

2014 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 5

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Find all polynomials $P(x),Q(x)$ which have integer coefficients and satify the following condtion: For the sequence $(x_n )$ defined by \[x_0=2014,x_{2n+1}=P(x_{2n}),x_{2n}=Q(x_{2n-1}) \quad n\geq 1\] for every positive integer $m$ is a divisor of some non-zero element of $(x_n )$

2018 Purple Comet Problems, 26

Tags: algebra

Let $a, b$, and $c$ be real numbers. Let $u = a^2 + b^2 + c^2$ and $v = 2ab + 2bc + 2ca$. Suppose $2018u = 1001v + 1024$. Find the maximum possible value of $35a - 28b - 3c$.

2009 Brazil Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: function , algebra , functional inequality

Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions: (i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$; (ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$. Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list] [i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]

1958 AMC 12/AHSME, 46

Tags: function , algebra , calculus , derivative , domain

For values of $ x$ less than $ 1$ but greater than $ \minus{}4$, the expression \[ \frac{x^2 \minus{} 2x \plus{} 2}{2x \minus{} 2} \] has: $ \textbf{(A)}\ \text{no maximum or minimum value}\qquad \\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{a minimum value of }{\plus{}1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{a maximum value of }{\plus{}1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{a minimum value of }{\minus{}1}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{a maximum value of }{\minus{}1}$

2023 Olimphíada, 1

Tags: algebra , fibonacci , sequence

The Fibonacci sequence is defined by $F_1 = F_2 = 1$ and $F_{n+2} = F_{n+1}+F_n$ for every integer $n$. Let $k$ be a fixed integer. A sequence $(a_n)$ of integers is said to be $\textit{phirme}$ if $a_n + a_{n+1} = F_{n+k}$ for all $n \geq 1$. Find all $\textit{phirme}$ sequences in terms of $n$ and $k$.

2023 Benelux, 1

Tags: algebra

Find all functions $f\colon\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $(x-y)\bigl(f(x)+f(y)\bigr)\leqslant f\bigl(x^2-y^2\bigr)$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$.

2022 Taiwan TST Round 1, A

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Find all $f:\mathbb{Z}\to\mathbb{Z}$ such that \[f\left(\left\lfloor\frac{f(x)+f(y)}{2}\right\rfloor\right)+f(x)=f(f(y))+\left\lfloor\frac{f(x)+f(y)}{2}\right\rfloor\] holds for all $x,y\in\mathbb{Z}$. [i]Proposed by usjl[/i]

1996 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 8.1

Tags: algebra

Ice cream costs $2000$ rubles. Petya has $$400^5 - 399^2\cdot (400^3 + 2\cdot 400^2 + 3\cdot 400 + 4)$$ rubles. Does Petya have enough money for ice cream?

1998 Brazil National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , quadratic , game , combinatorial game

Two players play a game as follows. The first player chooses two non-zero integers A and B. The second player forms a quadratic with A, B and 1998 as coefficients (in any order). The first player wins iff the equation has two distinct rational roots. Show that the first player can always win.

2016 Azerbaijan National Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , function

Let $\mathbb R$ be the set of real numbers. Determine all functions $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ that satisfy the equation $$\sum_{i=1}^{2015} f(x_i + x_{i+1}) + f\left( \sum_{i=1}^{2016} x_i \right) \le \sum_{i=1}^{2016} f(2x_i)$$ for all real numbers $x_1, x_2, ... , x_{2016}.$

1983 Austrian-Polish Competition, 1

Tags: algebra , inequalities

Nonnegative real numbers $a, b,x,y$ satisfy $a^5 + b^5 \le $1 and $x^5 + y^5 \le 1$. Prove that $a^2x^3 + b^2y^3 \le 1$.

2014 Saudi Arabia Pre-TST, 4.2

Tags: inequalities , algebra

Given $x \ge 0$, prove that $$\frac{(x^2 + 1)^6}{2^7}+\frac12 \ge x^5 - x^3 + x$$

2001 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , floor function , system of equations

Find all possible pairs of real numbers $ (x, y) $ that satisfy the equalities $ y ^ 2- [x] ^ 2 = 2001 $ and $ x ^ 2 + [y] ^ 2 = 2001 $.

2015 AIME Problems, 10

Tags: algebra , absolute value , polynomial

Let $f(x)$ be a third-degree polynomial with real coefficients satisfying \[|f(1)|=|f(2)|=|f(3)|=|f(5)|=|f(6)|=|f(7)|=12.\] Find $|f(0)|$.

1982 IMO Longlists, 32

Tags: function , functional equation , algebra

The function $f(n)$ is defined on the positive integers and takes non-negative integer values. $f(2)=0,f(3)>0,f(9999)=3333$ and for all $m,n:$ \[ f(m+n)-f(m)-f(n)=0 \text{ or } 1. \] Determine $f(1982)$.

PEN A Problems, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , search , vieta , symmetry , quadratic , divisibility theory

If $a, b, c$ are positive integers such that \[0 < a^{2}+b^{2}-abc \le c,\] show that $a^{2}+b^{2}-abc$ is a perfect square.

1998 Singapore Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: inequalities , algebra , n-variable inequality

Let $ a_1\geq \cdots \geq a_n \geq a_{n \plus{} 1} \equal{} 0$ be real numbers. Show that \[ \sqrt {\sum_{k \equal{} 1}^n a_k} \leq \sum_{k \equal{} 1}^n \sqrt k (\sqrt {a_k} \minus{} \sqrt {a_{k \plus{} 1}}). \] [i]Proposed by Romania[/i]

2021 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , number theory , diophantine equation

Given positive integers $a,b,c$ which are pairwise coprime. Let $f(n)$ denotes the number of the non-negative integer solution $(x,y,z)$ to the equation $$ax+by+cz=n.$$ Prove that there exists constants $\alpha, \beta, \gamma \in \mathbb{R}$ such that for any non-negative integer $n$, $$|f(n)- \left( \alpha n^2+ \beta n + \gamma \right) | < \frac{1}{12} \left( a+b+c \right).$$

1984 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 8

Tags: polynomial , algebra , determinant , remainder

Find the remainder upon division by $x^2-1$ of the determinant $$\begin{vmatrix} x^3+3x & 2 & 1 & 0 \\ x^2+5x & 3 & 0 & 2 \\x^4 +x^2+1 & 2 & 1 & 3 \\x^5 +1 & 1 & 2 & 3 \\ \end{vmatrix}$$

1997 Slovenia Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra , inequalities , functional , functional inequality

Find all polynomials $p$ with real coefficients such that for all real $x$ , $xp(x)p(1-x)+x^3 +100 \ge 0$.