Olympiad problems

2000 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 4

Consider the sums of the form $\sum_{k=1}^{n} \epsilon_k k^3,$ where $\epsilon_k \in \{-1, 1\}.$ Is any of these sums equal to $0$ if [b](a)[/b] $n=2000;$ [b](b)[/b] $n=2001 \ ?$

2009 Balkan MO Shortlist, A4

Tags: function , induction , algebra proposed , algebra

Denote by $ S$ the set of all positive integers. Find all functions $ f: S \rightarrow S$ such that \[ f (f^2(m) \plus{} 2f^2(n)) \equal{} m^2 \plus{} 2 n^2\] for all $ m,n \in S$. [i]Bulgaria[/i]

2007 Tournament Of Towns, 6

Tags: induction , irrational number , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $a_0$ be an irrational number such that $0 < a_0 < \frac 12$ . Define $a_n = \min \{2a_{n-1},1 - 2a_{n-1}\}$ for $n \geq 1$. [list][b](a)[/b] Prove that $a_n < \frac{3}{16}$ for some $n$. [b](b)[/b] Can it happen that $a_n > \frac{7}{40}$ for all $n$?[/list]

2012 Regional Competition For Advanced Students, 3

Tags: modular arithmetic , arithmetic sequence , algebra proposed , algebra

In an arithmetic sequence, the difference of consecutive terms in constant. We consider sequences of integers in which the difference of consecutive terms equals the sum of the differences of all preceding consecutive terms. Which of these sequences with $a_0 = 2012$ and $1\leqslant d = a_1-a_0 \leqslant 43$ contain square numbers?

2010 Contests, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction , strong induction , algebra proposed

Let $p(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$ be a monic polynomial of degree $n>2$, with real coefficients and all its roots real and different from zero. Prove that for all $k=0,1,2,\cdots,n-2$, at least one of the coefficients $a_k,a_{k+1}$ is different from zero.

1995 Czech and Slovak Match, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $ a_1\equal{}2, a_2\equal{}5$ and $ a_{n\plus{}2}\equal{}(2\minus{}n^2)a_{n\plus{}1}\plus{} (2\plus{}n^2)a_n$ for $ n\geq 1$. Do there exist $ p,q,r$ so that $ a_pa_q \equal{}a_r$?

1971 IMO Longlists, 30

Tags: parameterization , algebra , system of equations , algebra proposed

Prove that the system of equations \[2yz+x-y-z=a,\\ 2xz-x+y-z=a,\\ 2xy-x-y+z=a, \] $a$ being a parameter, cannot have five distinct solutions. For what values of $a$ does this system have four distinct integer solutions?

2014 Greece Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find all real non-zero polynomials satisfying $P(x)^3+3P(x)^2=P(x^{3})-3P(-x)$ for all $x\in\mathbb{R}$.

2003 Mediterranean Mathematics Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Prove that the equation $x^2 + y^2 + z^2 = x + y + z + 1$ has no rational solutions.

2007 Romania Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function , ratio , induction , algebra proposed

The problem is about real polynomial functions, denoted by $f$, of degree $\deg f$. a) Prove that a polynomial function $f$ can`t be wrriten as sum of at most $\deg f$ periodic functions. b) Show that if a polynomial function of degree $1$ is written as sum of two periodic functions, then they are unbounded on every interval (thus, they are "wild"). c) Show that every polynomial function of degree $1$ can be written as sum of two periodic functions. d) Show that every polynomial function $f$ can be written as sum of $\deg f+1$ periodic functions. e) Give an example of a function that can`t be written as a finite sum of periodic functions. [i]Dan Schwarz[/i]

2003 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: function , trigonometry , calculus , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $f: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ is a function such that $f( \cot x ) = \cos 2x+\sin 2x$ for all $0 < x < \pi$. Define $g(x) = f(x) f(1-x)$ for $-1 \leq x \leq 1$. Find the maximum and minimum values of $g$ on the closed interval $[-1, 1].$

1997 Brazil National Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Let $f(x)= x^2-C$ where $C$ is a rational constant. Show that exists only finitely many rationals $x$ such that $\{x,f(x),f(f(x)),\ldots\}$ is finite

2002 Bosnia Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $x,y,z$ be real numbers that satisfy \[x+y+z= 3 \ \ \text{ and } \ \ xy+yz+zx= a\]where $a$ is a real parameter. Find the value of $a$ for which the difference between the maximum and minimum possible values of $x$ equals $8$.

2012 Romania Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: inequalities , vector , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $m$ and $n$ be two positive integers for which $m<n$. $n$ distinct points $X_1,\ldots , X_n$ are in the interior of the unit disc and at least one of them is on its border. Prove that we can find $m$ distinct points $X_{i_1},\ldots , X_{i_m}$ so that the distance between their center of gravity and the center of the circle is at least $\frac{1}{1+2m(1- 1/n)}$.

2009 India IMO Training Camp, 9

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Let $ f(x)\equal{}\sum_{k\equal{}1}^n a_k x^k$ and $ g(x)\equal{}\sum_{k\equal{}1}^n \frac{a_k x^k}{2^k \minus{}1}$ be two polynomials with real coefficients. Let g(x) have $ 0,2^{n\plus{}1}$ as two of its roots. Prove That $ f(x)$ has a positive root less than $ 2^n$.

2012 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: function , group theory , abstract algebra , floor function , induction , algebra proposed , algebra

$n$ being a given integer, find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{Z} \to \mathbb{Z}$, such that for all integers $x,y$ we have $f\left( {x + y + f(y)} \right) = f(x) + ny$.

2006 Baltic Way, 5

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

An occasionally unreliable professor has devoted his last book to a certain binary operation $*$. When this operation is applied to any two integers, the result is again an integer. The operation is known to satisfy the following axioms: $\text{a})\ x*(x*y)=y$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{Z}$; $\text{b})\ (x*y)*y=x$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{Z}$. The professor claims in his book that $1.$ The operation $*$ is commutative: $x*y=y*x$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{Z}$. $2.$ The operation $*$ is associative: $(x*y)*z=x*(y*z)$ for all $x,y,z\in\mathbb{Z}$. Which of these claims follow from the stated axioms?

2004 Regional Olympiad - Republic of Srpska, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Define the sequence $(a_n)_{n\geq 1}$ by $a_1=1$, $a_2=p$ and \[a_{n+1}=pa_n-a_{n-1} \textrm { for all } n>1.\] Prove that for $n>1$ the polynomial $x^n-a_nx+a_{n-1}$ is divisible by $x^2-px+1$. Using this result, solve the equation \[x^4-56x+15=0.\]

2023 Germany Team Selection Test, 3

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

Let $f(x)$ be a monic polynomial of degree $2023$ with positive integer coefficients. Show that for any sufficiently large integer $N$ and any prime number $p>2023N$, the product \[f(1)f(2)\dots f(N)\] is at most $\binom{2023}{2}$ times divisible by $p$. [i]Proposed by Ashwin Sah[/i]

2010 China Girls Math Olympiad, 5

Tags: function , analytic geometry , graphing lines , slope , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $f(x)$ and $g(x)$ be strictly increasing linear functions from $\mathbb R $ to $\mathbb R $ such that $f(x)$ is an integer if and only if $g(x)$ is an integer. Prove that for any real number $x$, $f(x)-g(x)$ is an integer.

2009 Moldova Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

[color=darkred]For any $ m \in \mathbb{N}^*$ solve the ecuation \[ \left\{\left( x \plus{} \frac {1}{m}\right) ^3\right\} \equal{} x^3 \] [/color]

2012 Iran MO (3rd Round), 5

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $p$ be an odd prime number and let $a_1,a_2,...,a_n \in \mathbb Q^+$ be rational numbers. Prove that \[\mathbb Q(\sqrt[p]{a_1}+\sqrt[p]{a_2}+...+\sqrt[p]{a_n})=\mathbb Q(\sqrt[p]{a_1},\sqrt[p]{a_2},...,\sqrt[p]{a_n}).\]

2004 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , linear algebra , matrix , complex numbers , system of equations , algebra proposed

Let n be a positive integer. Find all complex numbers $x_{1}$, $x_{2}$, ..., $x_{n}$ satisfying the following system of equations: $x_{1}+2x_{2}+...+nx_{n}=0$, $x_{1}^{2}+2x_{2}^{2}+...+nx_{n}^{2}=0$, ... $x_{1}^{n}+2x_{2}^{n}+...+nx_{n}^{n}=0$.

2015 Brazil National Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra , polynomial

Is that true that there exist a polynomial $f(x)$ with rational coefficients, not all integers, with degree $n>0$, a polynomial $g(x)$, with integer coefficients, and a set $S$ with $n+1$ integers such that $f(t)=g(t)$ for all $t \in S$?

2002 China National Olympiad, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Given the polynomial sequence $(p_{n}(x))$ satisfying $p_{1}(x)=x^{2}-1$, $p_{2}(x)=2x(x^{2}-1)$, and $p_{n+1}(x)p_{n-1}(x)=(p_{n}(x)^{2}-(x^{2}-1)^{2}$, for $n\geq 2$, let $s_{n}$ be the sum of the absolute values of the coefficients of $p_{n}(x)$. For each $n$, find a non-negative integer $k_{n}$ such that $2^{-k_{n}}s_n$ is odd.