Found problems: 30
2004 Germany Team Selection Test, 1
Consider pairs of the sequences of positive real numbers \[a_1\geq a_2\geq a_3\geq\cdots,\qquad b_1\geq b_2\geq b_3\geq\cdots\] and the sums \[A_n = a_1 + \cdots + a_n,\quad B_n = b_1 + \cdots + b_n;\qquad n = 1,2,\ldots.\] For any pair define $c_n = \min\{a_i,b_i\}$ and $C_n = c_1 + \cdots + c_n$, $n=1,2,\ldots$.
(1) Does there exist a pair $(a_i)_{i\geq 1}$, $(b_i)_{i\geq 1}$ such that the sequences $(A_n)_{n\geq 1}$ and $(B_n)_{n\geq 1}$ are unbounded while the sequence $(C_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is bounded?
(2) Does the answer to question (1) change by assuming additionally that $b_i = 1/i$, $i=1,2,\ldots$?
Justify your answer.
1974 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 4
Let $\mathcal M$ be the set of all polynomial functions $f$ of degree at most 3 such that \[\forall x\in[-1,1]:\ |f(x)|\le 1.\] Denote $a$ the (possibly zero) coefficient of $f$ at $x^3.$ Show that there is a positive number $k$ such that \[\forall f\in\mathcal M:\ |a|\le k\] and find the least $k$ with this property.
2007 IMO Shortlist, 5
Let $ c > 2,$ and let $ a(1), a(2), \ldots$ be a sequence of nonnegative real numbers such that
\[ a(m \plus{} n) \leq 2 \cdot a(m) \plus{} 2 \cdot a(n) \text{ for all } m,n \geq 1,
\]
and $ a\left(2^k \right) \leq \frac {1}{(k \plus{} 1)^c} \text{ for all } k \geq 0.$ Prove that the sequence $ a(n)$ is bounded.
[i]Author: Vjekoslav Kovač, Croatia[/i]
2025 All-Russian Olympiad, 10.6
What is the smallest value of \( k \) such that for any polynomial \( f(x) \) of degree $100$ with real coefficients, there exists a polynomial \( g(x) \) of degree at most \( k \) with real coefficients such that the graphs of \( y = f(x) \) and \( y = g(x) \) intersect at exactly $100$ points? \\
2002 IMO Shortlist, 2
Let $a_1,a_2,\ldots$ be an infinite sequence of real numbers, for which there exists a real number $c$ with $0\leq a_i\leq c$ for all $i$, such that \[\left\lvert a_i-a_j \right\rvert\geq \frac{1}{i+j} \quad \text{for all }i,\ j \text{ with } i \neq j. \] Prove that $c\geq1$.
2003 IMO Shortlist, 3
Consider pairs of the sequences of positive real numbers \[a_1\geq a_2\geq a_3\geq\cdots,\qquad b_1\geq b_2\geq b_3\geq\cdots\] and the sums \[A_n = a_1 + \cdots + a_n,\quad B_n = b_1 + \cdots + b_n;\qquad n = 1,2,\ldots.\] For any pair define $c_n = \min\{a_i,b_i\}$ and $C_n = c_1 + \cdots + c_n$, $n=1,2,\ldots$.
(1) Does there exist a pair $(a_i)_{i\geq 1}$, $(b_i)_{i\geq 1}$ such that the sequences $(A_n)_{n\geq 1}$ and $(B_n)_{n\geq 1}$ are unbounded while the sequence $(C_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is bounded?
(2) Does the answer to question (1) change by assuming additionally that $b_i = 1/i$, $i=1,2,\ldots$?
Justify your answer.
2024 Singapore Senior Math Olympiad, Q5
Let $a_1,a_2,\dots$ be a sequence of positive numbers satisfying, for any positive integers $k,l,m,n$ such that $k+n=m+l$, $$\frac{a_k+a_n}{1+a_ka_n}=\frac{a_m+a_l}{1+a_ma_l}.$$Show that there exist positive numbers $b,c$ so that $b\le a_n\le c$ for any positive integer $n$.
1998 Moldova Team Selection Test, 10
Let $P(x)$ denote the product of all (decimal) digits of a natural number $x$. For any positive integer $x_1$, define the sequence $(x_n)$ recursively by $x_{n+1} = x_n + P(x_n)$. Prove or disprove that the sequence $(x_n)$ is necessarily bounded.
1981 Austrian-Polish Competition, 6
The sequences $(x_n), (y_n), (z_n)$ are given by $x_{n+1}=y_n +\frac{1}{x_n}$,$ y_{n+1}=z_n +\frac{1}{y_n}$,$z_{n+1}=x_n +\frac{1}{z_n} $ for $n \ge 0$ where $x_0,y_0, z_0$ are given positive numbers. Prove that these sequences are unbounded.
2015 Postal Coaching, 2
Prove that there exists a real number $C > 1$ with the following property.
Whenever $n > 1$ and $a_0 < a_1 < a_2 <\cdots < a_n$ are positive integers such that $\frac{1}{a_0},\frac{1}{a_1} \cdots \frac{1}{a_n}$ form an arithmetic progression, then $a_0 > C^n$.
2020 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 3
Determine all bounded functions $f: R \to R$, such that $f (f (x) + y) = f (x) + f (y)$, for all real $x, y$.
2005 Germany Team Selection Test, 1
Let $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be an infinite sequence of real numbers satisfying the equation $a_n=\left|a_{n+1}-a_{n+2}\right|$ for all $n\geq 0$, where $a_0$ and $a_1$ are two different positive reals.
Can this sequence $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be bounded?
[i]Proposed by Mihai Bălună, Romania[/i]
1991 IMO, 3
An infinite sequence $ \,x_{0},x_{1},x_{2},\ldots \,$ of real numbers is said to be [b]bounded[/b] if there is a constant $ \,C\,$ such that $ \, \vert x_{i} \vert \leq C\,$ for every $ \,i\geq 0$. Given any real number $ \,a > 1,\,$ construct a bounded infinite sequence $ x_{0},x_{1},x_{2},\ldots \,$ such that
\[ \vert x_{i} \minus{} x_{j} \vert \vert i \minus{} j \vert^{a}\geq 1
\]
for every pair of distinct nonnegative integers $ i, j$.
1991 IMO Shortlist, 28
An infinite sequence $ \,x_{0},x_{1},x_{2},\ldots \,$ of real numbers is said to be [b]bounded[/b] if there is a constant $ \,C\,$ such that $ \, \vert x_{i} \vert \leq C\,$ for every $ \,i\geq 0$. Given any real number $ \,a > 1,\,$ construct a bounded infinite sequence $ x_{0},x_{1},x_{2},\ldots \,$ such that
\[ \vert x_{i} \minus{} x_{j} \vert \vert i \minus{} j \vert^{a}\geq 1
\]
for every pair of distinct nonnegative integers $ i, j$.
1982 Austrian-Polish Competition, 4
Let $P(x)$ denote the product of all (decimal) digits of a natural number $x$. For any positive integer $x_1$, define the sequence $(x_n)$ recursively by $x_{n+1} = x_n + P(x_n)$. Prove or disprove that the sequence $(x_n)$ is necessarily bounded.
2005 Germany Team Selection Test, 1
Let $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be an infinite sequence of real numbers satisfying the equation $a_n=\left|a_{n+1}-a_{n+2}\right|$ for all $n\geq 0$, where $a_0$ and $a_1$ are two different positive reals.
Can this sequence $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be bounded?
[i]Proposed by Mihai Bălună, Romania[/i]
1965 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 5
Let $S$ be the set of all real polynomials $f(x) = ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$ such that $|f(x)| \le 1$ for all $ -1 \le x \le 1$. Show that the set of possible $|a|$ for $f$ in $S$ is bounded above and find the smallest upper bound.
2019 Kosovo Team Selection Test, 2
Determine all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for every $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$
$$f(x^{4}-y^{4})+4f(xy)^{2}=f(x^{4}+y^{4})$$
2015 China Northern MO, 8
The sequence $\{a_n\}$ is defined as follows: $a_1$ is a positive rational number, $a_n= \frac{p_n}{q_n}$, ($n= 1,2,…$) is a positive integer, where $p_n$ and $q_n$ are positive integers that are relatively prime, then $a_{n+1} = \frac{p_n^2+2015}{p_nq_n}$ Is there a$_1>2015$, making the sequence $\{a_n\}$ a bounded sequence? Justify your conclusion.
2001 Nordic, 2
Let ${f}$ be a bounded real function defined for all real numbers and satisfying for all real numbers ${x}$ the condition ${ f \Big(x+\frac{1}{3}\Big) + f \Big(x+\frac{1}{2}\Big)=f(x)+ f \Big(x+\frac{5}{6}\Big)}$ . Show that ${f}$ is periodic.
2005 Morocco TST, 3
Let $a_1,a_2,\ldots$ be an infinite sequence of real numbers, for which there exists a real number $c$ with $0\leq a_i\leq c$ for all $i$, such that \[\left\lvert a_i-a_j \right\rvert\geq \frac{1}{i+j} \quad \text{for all }i,\ j \text{ with } i \neq j. \] Prove that $c\geq1$.
2024 Mexican University Math Olympiad, 6
Let \( p \) be a monic polynomial with all distinct real roots. Show that there exists \( K \) such that
\[
(p(x)^2)'' \leq K(p'(x))^2.
\]
1975 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 2
Show that the system of equations
\begin{align*}
\lfloor x\rfloor^2+\lfloor y\rfloor &=0, \\
3x+y &=2,
\end{align*}
has infinitely many solutions and all these solutions satisfy bounds
\begin{align*}
0<\ &x <4, \\
-9\le\ &y\le 1.
\end{align*}
2005 Taiwan TST Round 3, 1
Let $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be an infinite sequence of real numbers satisfying the equation $a_n=\left|a_{n+1}-a_{n+2}\right|$ for all $n\geq 0$, where $a_0$ and $a_1$ are two different positive reals.
Can this sequence $a_0$, $a_1$, $a_2$, ... be bounded?
[i]Proposed by Mihai Bălună, Romania[/i]
2004 Germany Team Selection Test, 1
Consider pairs of the sequences of positive real numbers \[a_1\geq a_2\geq a_3\geq\cdots,\qquad b_1\geq b_2\geq b_3\geq\cdots\] and the sums \[A_n = a_1 + \cdots + a_n,\quad B_n = b_1 + \cdots + b_n;\qquad n = 1,2,\ldots.\] For any pair define $c_n = \min\{a_i,b_i\}$ and $C_n = c_1 + \cdots + c_n$, $n=1,2,\ldots$.
(1) Does there exist a pair $(a_i)_{i\geq 1}$, $(b_i)_{i\geq 1}$ such that the sequences $(A_n)_{n\geq 1}$ and $(B_n)_{n\geq 1}$ are unbounded while the sequence $(C_n)_{n\geq 1}$ is bounded?
(2) Does the answer to question (1) change by assuming additionally that $b_i = 1/i$, $i=1,2,\ldots$?
Justify your answer.