Olympiad problems

2024 Abelkonkurransen Finale, 2a

Positive integers $a_0<a_1<\dots<a_n$, are to be chosen so that $a_j-a_i$ is not a prime for any $i,j$ with $0 \le i <j \le n$. For each $n \ge 1$, determine the smallest possible value of $a_n$.

2011 ELMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: induction , complex numbers , imaginary numbers , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $N$ be a positive integer. Define a sequence $a_0,a_1,\ldots$ by $a_0=0$, $a_1=1$, and $a_{n+1}+a_{n-1}=a_n(2-1/N)$ for $n\ge1$. Prove that $a_n<\sqrt{N+1}$ for all $n$. [i]Evan O'Dorney.[/i]

2004 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Find the maximum possible value of the product of distinct positive integers whose sum is $2004$.

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)$.

2003 Tournament Of Towns, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

$P(x)$ is a polynomial with real coefficients such that $P(a_1) = 0, P(a_{i+1}) = a_i$ ($i = 1, 2,\ldots$) where $\{a_i\}_{i=1,2,\ldots}$ is an infinite sequence of distinct natural numbers. Determine the possible values of degree of $P(x)$.

2012 ELMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function , algebra proposed

Prove that any polynomial of the form $1+a_nx^n + a_{n+1}x^{n+1} + \cdots + a_kx^k$ ($k\ge n$) has at least $n-2$ non-real roots (counting multiplicity), where the $a_i$ ($n\le i\le k$) are real and $a_k\ne 0$. [i]David Yang.[/i]

2011 Paraguay Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Find the value of the following expression: $\frac{1}{2} + (\frac{1}{3} + \frac{2}{3}) + (\frac{1}{4} + \frac{2}{4} + \frac{3}{4}) + \ldots + (\frac{1}{1000} + \frac{2}{1000} + \ldots + \frac{999}{1000})$

2013 Cono Sur Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Four distinct points are marked in a line. For each point, the sum of the distances from said point to the other three is calculated; getting in total 4 numbers. Decide whether these 4 numbers can be, in some order: a) $29,29,35,37$ b) $28,29,35,37$ c) $28,34,34,37$

1985 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: trigonometry , function , algebra proposed , algebra

Find all real values of a for which the equation $ (a \minus{} 3x^2 \plus{} \cos \frac {9\pi x}{2})\sqrt {3 \minus{} ax} \equal{} 0$ has an odd number of solutions in the interval $ [ \minus{} 1,5]$

2004 Romania Team Selection Test, 10

Tags: induction , algebra proposed , algebra

Prove that for all positive integers $n,m$, with $m$ odd, the following number is an integer \[ \frac 1{3^mn}\sum^m_{k=0} { 3m \choose 3k } (3n-1)^k. \]

1996 Taiwan National Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , Vieta , algebra proposed

Show that for any real numbers $a_{3},a_{4},...,a_{85}$, not all the roots of the equation $a_{85}x^{85}+a_{84}x^{84}+...+a_{3}x^{3}+3x^{2}+2x+1=0$ are real.

2024 Francophone Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed , game

Let $d$ and $m$ be two fixed positive integers. Pinocchio and Geppetto know the values of $d$ and $m$ and play the following game: In the beginning, Pinocchio chooses a polynomial $P$ of degree at most $d$ with integer coefficients. Then Geppetto asks him questions of the following form "What is the value of $P(n)$?'' for $n \in \mathbb{Z}$. Pinocchio usually says the truth, but he can lie up to $m$ times. What is, as a function of $d$ and $m$, the minimal number of questions that Geppetto needs to ask to be sure to determine $P$, no matter how Pinocchio chooses to reply?

2001 Iran MO (2nd round), 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find all polynomials $P$ with real coefficients such that $\forall{x\in\mathbb{R}}$ we have: \[ P(2P(x))=2P(P(x))+2(P(x))^2. \]

2009 Vietnam National Olympiad, 2

Tags: limit , algebra proposed , algebra

The sequence $ \{x_n\}$ is defined by \[ \left\{ \begin{array}{l}x_1 \equal{} \frac{1}{2} \\x_n \equal{} \frac{{\sqrt {x_{n \minus{} 1} ^2 \plus{} 4x_{n \minus{} 1} } \plus{} x_{n \minus{} 1} }}{2} \\\end{array} \right.\] Prove that the sequence $ \{y_n\}$, where $ y_n\equal{}\sum_{i\equal{}1}^{n}\frac{1}{{{x}_{i}}^{2}}$, has a finite limit and find that limit.

2010 Contests, 2

Tags: function , parameterization , induction , inequalities , rearrangement inequality , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $n$ be a positive integer number and let $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ be $n$ positive real numbers. Prove that $f : [0, \infty) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$, defined by \[f(x) = \dfrac{a_1 + x}{a_2 + x} + \dfrac{a_2 + x}{a_3 + x} + \cdots + \dfrac{a_{n-1} + x}{a_n + x} + \dfrac{a_n + x}{a_1 + x}, \] is a decreasing function. [i]Dan Marinescu et al.[/i]

2008 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}^{+}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Find all real numbers $a$ for which there exists a function $f :\mathbb{R}^{+} \to \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that $3(f(x))^{2}=2f(f(x))+ax^{4}$, for all $x \in \mathbb{R}^{+}$.

2007 Indonesia TST, 2

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $ a,b,c$ be non-zero real numbers satisfying \[ \dfrac{1}{a}\plus{}\dfrac{1}{b}\plus{}\dfrac{1}{c}\equal{}\dfrac{1}{a\plus{}b\plus{}c}.\] Find all integers $ n$ such that \[ \dfrac{1}{a^n}\plus{}\dfrac{1}{b^n}\plus{}\dfrac{1}{c^n}\equal{}\dfrac{1}{a^n\plus{}b^n\plus{}c^n}.\]

1997 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: quadratics , algebra , polynomial , inequalities , algebra proposed

Let $P(x)$ be a quadratic polynomial with nonnegative coeficients. Show that for any real numbers $x$ and $y$, we have the inequality $P(xy)^2 \leqslant P(x^2)P(y^2)$. [i]E. Malinnikova[/i]

2011 Iran MO (3rd Round), 7

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra

Suppose that $f:P(\mathbb N)\longrightarrow \mathbb N$ and $A$ is a subset of $\mathbb N$. We call $f$ $A$-predicting if the set $\{x\in \mathbb N|x\notin A, f(A\cup x)\neq x \}$ is finite. Prove that there exists a function that for every subset $A$ of natural numbers, it's $A$-predicting. [i]proposed by Sepehr Ghazi-Nezami[/i]

2003 Silk Road, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra , combinatorics proposed

Let $a_1, a_2, ....., a_{2003}$ be sequence of reals number. Call $a_k$ $leading$ element, if at least one of expression $a_k; a_k+a_{k+1}; a_k+a_{k+1}+a_{k+2}; ....; a_k+a{k+1}+a_{k+2}+....+a_{2003}$ is positive. Prove, that if exist at least one $leading$ element, then sum of all $leading$'s elements is positive. Official solution [url=http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=125&t=365714&p=2011659#p2011659]here[/url]

2009 Junior Balkan Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , system of equations , algebra proposed

Given are natural numbers $ a,b$ and $ n$ such that $ a^2\plus{}2nb^2$ is a complete square. Prove that the number $ a^2\plus{}nb^2$ can be written as a sum of squares of $ 2$ natural numbers.

2010 Contests, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Show that a sequence $(a_n)$ of $+1$ and $-1$ is periodic with period a power of $2$ if and only if $a_n=(-1)^{P(n)}$, where $P$ is an integer-valued polynomial with rational coefficients.

2007 Baltic Way, 1

Tags: inequalities , quadratics , function , logarithms , induction , rearrangement inequality , algebra proposed

For a positive integer $n$ consider any partition of the set $\{ 1,2,\ldots ,2n \}$ into $n$ two-element subsets $P_1,P_2\ldots,P_n$. In each subset $P_i$, let $p_i$ be the product of the two numbers in $P_i$. Prove that \[\frac{1}{p_1}+\frac{1}{p_2}+\ldots + \frac{1}{p_n}<1 \]

2010 District Olympiad, 3

Tags: floor function , algebra proposed , algebra

For any real number $ x$ prove that: \[ x\in \mathbb{Z}\Leftrightarrow \lfloor x\rfloor \plus{}\lfloor 2x\rfloor\plus{}\lfloor 3x\rfloor\plus{}...\plus{}\lfloor nx\rfloor\equal{}\frac{n(\lfloor x\rfloor\plus{}\lfloor nx\rfloor)}{2}\ ,\ (\forall)n\in \mathbb{N}^*\]

2009 India IMO Training Camp, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , complex numbers , algebra proposed

Let $ f(x)$and $ g(y)$ be two monic polynomials of degree=$ n$ having complex coefficients. We know that there exist complex numbers $ a_i,b_i,c_i \forall 1\le i \le n$, such that $ f(x)\minus{}g(y)\equal{}\prod_{i\equal{}1}^n{(a_ix\plus{}b_iy\plus{}c_i)}$. Prove that there exists $ a,b,c\in\mathbb{C}$ such that $ f(x)\equal{}(x\plus{}a)^n\plus{}c\text{ and }g(y)\equal{}(y\plus{}b)^n\plus{}c$.