Olympiad problems

2008 Romania Team Selection Test, 1

Let $ n$ be a nonzero positive integer. Find $ n$ such that there exists a permutation $ \sigma \in S_{n}$ such that \[ \left| \{ |\sigma(k) \minus{} k| \ : \ k \in \overline{1, n} \}\right | = n.\]

1993 Balkan MO, 1

Tags: AMC , USA(J)MO , USAMO , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $a,b,c,d,e,f$ be six real numbers with sum 10, such that \[ (a-1)^2+(b-1)^2+(c-1)^2+(d-1)^2+(e-1)^2+(f-1)^2 = 6. \] Find the maximum possible value of $f$. [i]Cyprus[/i]

2010 Contests, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

For a real number $t$ and positive real numbers $a,b$ we have \[2a^2-3abt+b^2=2a^2+abt-b^2=0\] Find $t.$

2004 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, Part 1, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Find all quadruples $(a, b, c, d)$ of real numbers such that \[a + bcd = b + cda = c + dab = d + abc.\]

1997 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: quadratics , algebra proposed , algebra

Of the quadratic trinomials $x^2 + px + q$ where $p$; $q$ are integers and $1\leqslant p, q \leqslant 1997$, which are there more of: those having integer roots or those not having real roots? [i]M. Evdokimov[/i]

2005 Baltic Way, 3

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Consider the sequence $\{a_k\}_{k \geq 1}$ defined by $a_1 = 1$, $a_2 = \frac{1}{2}$ and \[ a_{k + 2} = a_k + \frac{1}{2}a_{k + 1} + \frac{1}{4a_ka_{k + 1}}\ \textrm{for}\ k \geq 1. \] Prove that \[ \frac{1}{a_1a_3} + \frac{1}{a_2a_4} + \frac{1}{a_3a_5} + \cdots + \frac{1}{a_{98}a_{100}} < 4. \]

2009 International Zhautykov Olympiad, 2

Tags: inequalities , function , algebra proposed , algebra

Find all real $ a$, such that there exist a function $ f: \mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ satisfying the following inequality: \[ x\plus{}af(y)\leq y\plus{}f(f(x)) \] for all $ x,y\in\mathbb{R}$

2007 USA Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: inequalities , induction , function , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $n$ be a positive integer and let $a_1 \le a_2 \le \dots \le a_n$ and $b_1 \le b_2 \le \dots \le b_n$ be two nondecreasing sequences of real numbers such that \[ a_1 + \dots + a_i \le b_1 + \dots + b_i \text{ for every } i = 1, \dots, n \] and \[ a_1 + \dots + a_n = b_1 + \dots + b_n. \] Suppose that for every real number $m$, the number of pairs $(i,j)$ with $a_i-a_j=m$ equals the numbers of pairs $(k,\ell)$ with $b_k-b_\ell = m$. Prove that $a_i = b_i$ for $i=1,\dots,n$.

2010 Contests, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find all two-variable polynomials $p(x,y)$ such that for each $a,b,c\in\mathbb R$: \[p(ab,c^2+1)+p(bc,a^2+1)+p(ca,b^2+1)=0\]

2010 Contests, 2

Tags: function , inequalities , Cauchy Inequality , absolute value , algebra proposed , algebra

For each positive integer $n$, find the largest real number $C_n$ with the following property. Given any $n$ real-valued functions $f_1(x), f_2(x), \cdots, f_n(x)$ defined on the closed interval $0 \le x \le 1$, one can find numbers $x_1, x_2, \cdots x_n$, such that $0 \le x_i \le 1$ satisfying \[|f_1(x_1)+f_2(x_2)+\cdots f_n(x_n)-x_1x_2\cdots x_n| \ge C_n\] [i]Marko Radovanović, Serbia[/i]

1978 IMO Longlists, 37

Tags: logarithms , algebra proposed , algebra

Simplify \[\frac{1}{\log_a(abc)}+\frac{1}{\log_b(abc)}+\frac{1}{\log_c(abc)},\] where $a, b, c$ are positive real numbers.

2001 Hong kong National Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Let $k\geq 4$ be an integer number. $P(x)\in\mathbb{Z}[x]$ such that $0\leq P(c)\leq k$ for all $c=0,1,...,k+1$. Prove that $P(0)=P(1)=...=P(k+1)$.

2011 ELMO Shortlist, 8

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

Let $n>1$ be an integer and $a,b,c$ be three complex numbers such that $a+b+c=0$ and $a^n+b^n+c^n=0$. Prove that two of $a,b,c$ have the same magnitude. [i]Evan O'Dorney.[/i]

1999 Czech and Slovak Match, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algebra proposed

Find all positive integers $k$ for which the following assertion holds: If $F(x)$ is polynomial with integer coefficients ehich satisfies $F(c) \leq k$ for all $c \in \{0,1, \cdots,k+1 \}$, then \[F(0)= F(1) = \cdots =F(k+1).\]

2013 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Given three distinct real numbers $a$, $b$, and $c$, show that at least two of the three following equations \[(x-a)(x-b)=x-c\] \[(x-c)(x-b)=x-a\] \[(x-c)(x-a)=x-b\] have real solutions.

2004 Romania National Olympiad, 1

Tags: function , inequalities , algebra proposed , algebra

Find the strictly increasing functions $f : \{1,2,\ldots,10\} \to \{ 1,2,\ldots,100 \}$ such that $x+y$ divides $x f(x) + y f(y)$ for all $x,y \in \{ 1,2,\ldots,10 \}$. [i]Cristinel Mortici[/i]

2009 Kyrgyzstan National Olympiad, 8

Tags: function , limit , algebra proposed , algebra

Does there exist a function $ f: {\Bbb N} \to {\Bbb N}$ such that $ f(f(n \minus{} 1)) \equal{} f(n \plus{} 1) \minus{} f(n)$ for all $ n > 2$.

2021 Baltic Way, 1

Tags: algebra , algebra proposed , functional equation

Let $n$ be a positive integer. Find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ that satisfy the equation $$ (f(x))^n f(x+y) = (f(x))^{n+1} + x^n f(y) $$ for all $x ,y \in \mathbb{R}$.

2003 Baltic Way, 5

Tags: inequalities , induction , algebra proposed , algebra

The sequence $(a_n)$ is defined by $a_1=\sqrt{2}$, $a_2=2$, and $a_{n+1}=a_na_{n-1}^2$ for $n\ge 2$. Prove that for every $n\ge 1$ \[(1+a_1)(1+a_2)\cdots (1+a_n)<(2+\sqrt{2})a_1a_2\cdots a_n. \]

2010 Indonesia TST, 3

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra , Function equations

Determine all real numbers $ a$ such that there is a function $ f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ satisfying \[ x\plus{}f(y)\equal{}af(y\plus{}f(x))\] for all real numbers $ x$ and $ y$. [i]Hery Susanto, Malang[/i]

2007 Bulgaria National Olympiad, 3

Tags: function , trigonometry , algebra , polynomial , search , algebra proposed

Find the least positive integer $n$ such that $\cos\frac{\pi}{n}$ cannot be written in the form $p+\sqrt{q}+\sqrt[3]{r}$ with $p,q,r\in\mathbb{Q}$. [i]O. Mushkarov, N. Nikolov[/i] [hide]No-one in the competition scored more than 2 points[/hide]

1984 Iran MO (2nd round), 8

Tags: algebra proposed , algebra

Define the operation $\bigoplus$ on the set of real numbers such that \[x \bigoplus y = x+y-xy \qquad \forall x,y \in \mathbb R.\] Prove that this operation is associative.

2006 Iran Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: ceiling function , logarithms , algebra proposed , algebra

Let $n$ be a fixed natural number. [b]a)[/b] Find all solutions to the following equation : \[ \sum_{k=1}^n [\frac x{2^k}]=x-1 \] [b]b)[/b] Find the number of solutions to the following equation ($m$ is a fixed natural) : \[ \sum_{k=1}^n [\frac x{2^k}]=x-m \]

2003 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: function , algebra proposed , algebra

Find all functions $f: \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ such that for all reals $x$ and $y$, \[f(x+y)+f(x)f(y)=f(xy)+f(x)+f(y).\]

1987 India National Olympiad, 6

Tags: quadratics , greatest common divisor , algebra , polynomial , Rational Root Theorem , algebra proposed

Prove that if coefficients of the quadratic equation $ ax^2\plus{}bx\plus{}c\equal{}0$ are odd integers, then the roots of the equation cannot be rational numbers.