Olympiad problems

2013 Vietnam National Olympiad, 2

Define a sequence $\{a_n\}$ as: $\left\{\begin{aligned}& a_1=1 \\ & a_{n+1}=3-\frac{a_{n}+2}{2^{a_{n}}}\ \ \text{for} \ n\geq 1.\end{aligned}\right.$ Prove that this sequence has a finite limit as $n\to+\infty$ . Also determine the limit.

2001 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, Part 2, 1

Tags: modular arithmetic , floor function , algebra proposed , algebra

Prove that $\frac{1}{25} \sum_{k=0}^{2001} \left[ \frac{2^k}{25}\right]$ is a positive integer.

2005 Romania National Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , LaTeX , algebra proposed , algebra

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ for which \[ x(f(x+1)-f(x)) = f(x), \] for all $x\in\mathbb{R}$ and \[ | f(x) - f(y) | \leq |x-y| , \] for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$. [i]Mihai Piticari[/i]

1992 Brazil National Olympiad, 1

Tags: calculus , derivative , analytic geometry , graphing lines , slope , algebra proposed , algebra

The equation $x^3+px+q=0$ has three distinct real roots. Show that $p<0$

1987 Iran MO (2nd round), 2

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $f$ be a real function defined in the interval $[0, +\infty )$ and suppose that there exist two functions $f', f''$ in the interval $[0, +\infty )$ such that \[f''(x)=\frac{1}{x^2+f'(x)^2 +1} \qquad \text{and} \qquad f(0)=f'(0)=0.\] Let $g$ be a function for which \[g(0)=0 \qquad \text{and} \qquad g(x)=\frac{f(x)}{x}.\] Prove that $g$ is bounded.

2005 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}^{*}$ be the set of non-zero real numbers. Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R}^{*} \to \mathbb{R}^{*}$ such that $f(x^{2}+y) = (f(x))^{2} + \frac{f(xy)}{f(x)}$, for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}^{*}$ and $-x^{2} \not= y$.

2006 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find all real polynomials that \[p(x+p(x))=p(x)+p(p(x))\]

2009 Indonesia TST, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction , algebra proposed

Let $ f(x)\equal{}a_{2n}x^{2n}\plus{}a_{2n\minus{}1}x^{2n\minus{}1}\plus{}\cdots\plus{}a_1x\plus{}a_0$, with $ a_i\equal{}a_{2n\minus{}1}$ for all $ i\equal{}1,2,\ldots,n$ and $ a_{2n}\ne0$. Prove that there exists a polynomial $ g(x)$ of degree $ n$ such that $ g\left(x\plus{}\frac1x\right)x^n\equal{}f(x)$.

2014 Iran Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that $x,y\in \mathbb{R}^{+},$ \[ f\left(\frac{y}{f(x+1)}\right)+f\left(\frac{x+1}{xf(y)}\right)=f(y) \]

1994 Taiwan National Olympiad, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

For $-1\leq x\leq 1$ and $n\in\mathbb N$ define $T_{n}(x)=\frac{1}{2^{n}}[(x+\sqrt{1-x^{2}})^{n}+(x-\sqrt{1-x^{2}})^{n}]$. a)Prove that $T_{n}$ is a monic polynomial of degree $n$ in $x$ and that the maximum value of $|T_{n}(x)|$ is $\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$. b)Suppose that $p(x)=x^{n}+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_{1}x+a_{0}\in\mathbb{R}[x]$ is a monic polynomial of degree $n$ such that $p(x)>-\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$ forall $x$, $-1\leq x\leq 1$. Prove that there exists $x_{0}$, $-1\leq x_{0}\leq 1$ such that $p(x_{0})\geq\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$.

1997 Bulgaria National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , floor function , algebra proposed

Consider the polynomial $P_n(x) = \binom {n}{2}+\binom {n}{5}x+\binom {n}{8}x^2 + \cdots + \binom {n}{3k+2}x^{3k}$ where $n \ge 2$ is a natural number and $k = \left\lfloor \frac{n-2}{3} \right \rfloor$ [b](a)[/b] Prove that $P_{n+3}(x)=3P_{n+2}(x)-3P_{n+1}(x)+(x+1)P_n(x)$ [b](b)[/b] Find all integer numbers $a$ such that $P_n(a^3)$ is divisible by $3^{ \lfloor \frac{n-1}{2} \rfloor}$ for all $n \ge 2$

2010 Contests, 2

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $(a_n), (b_n)$, $n = 1,2,...$ be two sequences of integers defined by $a_1 = 1, b_1 = 0$ and for $n \geq 1$ $a_{n+1} = 7a_n + 12b_n + 6$ $b_{n+1} = 4a_n + 7b_n + 3$ Prove that $a_n^2$ is the difference of two consecutive cubes.

2012 Iran MO (2nd Round), 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , Vieta , complex numbers , algebra proposed

Consider the second degree polynomial $x^2+ax+b$ with real coefficients. We know that the necessary and sufficient condition for this polynomial to have roots in real numbers is that its discriminant, $a^2-4b$ be greater than or equal to zero. Note that the discriminant is also a polynomial with variables $a$ and $b$. Prove that the same story is not true for polynomials of degree $4$: Prove that there does not exist a $4$ variable polynomial $P(a,b,c,d)$ such that: The fourth degree polynomial $x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$ can be written as the product of four $1$st degree polynomials if and only if $P(a,b,c,d)\ge 0$. (All the coefficients are real numbers.) [i]Proposed by Sahand Seifnashri[/i]

2005 Georgia Team Selection Test, 9

Tags: induction , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $ a_{0},a_{1},\ldots,a_{n}$ be integers, one of which is nonzero, and all of the numbers are not less than $ \minus{} 1$. Prove that if \[ a_{0} \plus{} 2a_{1} \plus{} 2^{2}a_{2} \plus{} \cdots \plus{} 2^{n}a_{n} \equal{} 0,\] then $ a_{0} \plus{} a_{1} \plus{} \cdots \plus{} a_{n} > 0$.

2006 Switzerland Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: invariant , function , algebra proposed , algebra

The three roots of $P(x) = x^3 - 2x^2 - x + 1$ are $a>b>c \in \mathbb{R}$. Find the value of $a^2b+b^2c+c^2a$. :D

2002 IMC, 3

Tags: induction , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $n$ be a positive integer and let $a_k = \dfrac{1}{\binom{n}{k}}, b_k = 2^{k-n},\ (k=1..n)$. Show that $\sum_{k=1}^n \dfrac{a_k-b_k}{k} = 0$.

2009 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction , modular arithmetic , binomial coefficients , algebra proposed

Let $ f(x)$ be a $ n \minus{}$degree polynomial all of whose coefficients are equal to $ \pm 1$, and having $ x \equal{} 1$ as its $ m$ multiple root. If $ m\ge 2^k (k\ge 2,k\in N)$, then $ n\ge 2^{k \plus{} 1} \minus{} 1.$

2011 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: induction , algebra proposed , algebra

The sequence $(a_n)_{n>=1}$ satisfies that : $a_1=a_2=1$ $a_n=7a_{n-1}-a_{n-2}$ ($n>=3$) , prove that : for all positive integer n , number $a_n+2+a_{n+1}$ is a perfect square .

1987 Romania Team Selection Test, 5

Tags: inequalities , rearrangement inequality , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $A$ be the set $\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$, $n\geq 2$. Find the least number $n$ for which there exist permutations $\alpha$, $\beta$, $\gamma$, $\delta$ of the set $A$ with the property: \[ \sum_{i=1}^n \alpha(i) \beta (i) = \dfrac {19}{10} \sum^n_{i=1} \gamma(i)\delta(i) . \] [i]Marcel Chirita[/i]

1993 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: calculus , trigonometry , real analysis , algebra proposed , algebra

$f : [-\sqrt{1995},\sqrt{1995}] \to\mathbb{R}$ is defined by $f(x) = x(1993+\sqrt{1995-x^{2}})$. Find its maximum and minimum values.

1991 Turkey Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: probability , algebra proposed , algebra

A frog is jumping on $N$ stones which are numbered from $1$ to $N$ from left to right. The frog is jumping to the previous stone (to the left) with probability $p$ and is jumping to the next stone (to the right) with probability $1-p$. If the frog has jumped to the left from the leftmost stone or to the right from the rightmost stone, it will fall into the water. The frog is initially on the leftmost stone. If $p< \tfrac 13$, show that the frog will fall into the water from the rightmost stone with a probability higher than $\tfrac 12$.

2014 India Regional Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Three positive real numbers $a,b,c$ are such that $a^2+5b^2+4c^2-4ab-4bc=0$. Can $a,b,c$ be the lengths of te sides of a triangle? Justify your answer.

2012 Iran Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function , algebra proposed

Let $g(x)$ be a polynomial of degree at least $2$ with all of its coefficients positive. Find all functions $f:\mathbb R^+ \longrightarrow \mathbb R^+$ such that \[f(f(x)+g(x)+2y)=f(x)+g(x)+2f(y) \quad \forall x,y\in \mathbb R^+.\] [i]Proposed by Mohammad Jafari[/i]

2008 CentroAmerican, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find a polynomial $ p\left(x\right)$ with real coefficients such that $ \left(x\plus{}10\right)p\left(2x\right)\equal{}\left(8x\minus{}32\right)p\left(x\plus{}6\right)$ for all real $ x$ and $ p\left(1\right)\equal{}210$.

2008 Korea - Final Round, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory , relatively prime , algebra proposed

Find all integer polynomials $f$ such that there are infinitely many pairs of relatively prime natural numbers $(a,b)$ so that $a+b \mid f(a)+f(b)$.