The parabola $ y \equal{} ax^2 \plus{} bx \plus{} c$ has vertex $ (p,p)$ and $ y$-intercept $ (0, \minus{} p)$, where $ p\neq 0$. What is $ b$? $ \textbf{(A) } \minus{} p \qquad \textbf{(B) } 0 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 2 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 4 \qquad \textbf{(E) } p$

Let be two real reducible quadratic polynomials $ P,Q $ in one variable. Prove that if $ P-Q $ is irreducible, then $ P+Q $ is reducible.

Given is an ellipse $ e$ in the plane. Find the locus of all points $ P$ in space such that the cone of apex $ P$ and directrix $ e$ is a right circular cone.

Find the positive value of $ a$ such that the curve $ C_1: x \equal{} \sqrt {2y^2 \plus{} \frac {25}{2}}$ tangent to the parabola $ C_2: y \equal{} ax^2$, then find the equation of the tangent line of $ C_1$ at the point of tangency.

The vertices of the convex quadrilateral $ABCD$ lie on the parabola $y=x^2$. It is known that $ABCD$ is cyclic and $AC$ is a diameter of its circumcircle. Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of the diagonals of $AC$ and $BD$ respectively. Find the length of the projection of the segment $MN$ on the axis $Oy$.

A square of side $2a$, lying always in the first quadrant of the $xy$-plane, moves so that two consecutive vertices are always on the $x$- and $y$-axes respectively. Prove that a point within or on the boundary of the square will in general describe a portion of a conic. For what points of the square does this locus degenerate?

Let $ABC$ be an acute, scalene triangle, and let $P$ be an arbitrary point in its interior. Let $\mathcal{P}_A$ be the parabola with focus $P$ and directrix $BC$, and define $\mathcal{P}_B$ and $\mathcal{P}_C$ similarly. (a) Show that if $Q$ is an intersection point of $\mathcal{P}_B$ and $\mathcal{P}_C$, then $P$ and $Q$ are on the same side of $AB$, and $P$ and $Q$ are on the same side of $AC$. (b) You are given that $\mathcal{P}_B$ and $\mathcal{P}_C$ intersect at exactly two points. Let $\ell_A$ be the line between these points, and define $\ell_B$ and $\ell_C$ similarly. Show that $\ell_A$, $\ell_B$, and $\ell_C$ concur. [i]Note: A parabola with focus point $X$ and directrix line $\ell$ is the set of all points $Z$ that are the same distance from $X$ and $\ell$.[/i]

Define a parabola $C$ by $y=x^2+1$ on the coordinate plane. Let $s,\ t$ be real numbers with $t<0$. Denote by $l_1,\ l_2$ the tangent lines drawn from the point $(s,\ t)$ to the parabola $C$. (1) Find the equations of the tangents $l_1,\ l_2$. (2) Let $a$ be positive real number. Find the pairs of $(s,\ t)$ such that the area of the region enclosed by $C,\ l_1,\ l_2$ is $a$.

Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral and let $P$ be the point of intersection of $AC$ and $BD$. Suppose that $AC+AD=BC+BD$. Prove that the internal angle bisectors of $\angle ACB$, $\angle ADB$ and $\angle APB$ meet at a common point.

Let $ABCD$ be a quadrilateral inscribed in a circle $k$. $AC$ and $BD$ meet at $E$. The rays $\overrightarrow{CB}, \overrightarrow{DA}$ meet at $F$. Prove that the line through the incenters of $\triangle ABE\,,\, \triangle ABF$ and the line through the incenters of $\triangle CDE\,,\, \triangle CDF$ meet at a point lying on the circle $k$. [i]Proposed by N. Beluhov[/i]

$P$ is a point on hyperbola $\frac{x^2}{16}-\frac{y^2}{9}=1$, if the distance from $P$ to right directrix is the arithmetic mean of the distance from $P$ to two focal points, then the $x$-axis of $P$ is________.

Consider all line segments of length 4 with one end-point on the line $y=x$ and the other end-point on the line $y=2x$. Find the equation of the locus of the midpoints of these line segments.

$A(1,1)$ is a point on parabola $y=x^2$. Draw the tangent line of the parabola that passes $A$, the line intersects $x$-axis at $D$, intersects $y$-axis at $B$. $C$ is a point on the parabola, and $E$ is a point on segment $AC$, such that $\frac{AE}{EC}=\lambda_1$, $F$ is a point on segment $BC$, such that $\frac{BF}{FC}=\lambda_2$. If $\lambda_1+\lambda_2=1$, $CD$ and $EF$ intersect at $P$. When $C$ moves, find the path equation of $P$.

Let $a,\ b$ be real numbers. Suppose that a function $f(x)$ satisfies $f(x)=a\sin x+b\cos x+\int_{-\pi}^{\pi} f(t)\cos t\ dt$ and has the maximum value $2\pi$ for $-\pi \leq x\leq \pi$. Find the minimum value of $\int_{-\pi}^{\pi} \{f(x)\}^2dx.$ [i]2010 Chiba University entrance exam[/i]

Prove that the systems of hyperbolas \begin{align*}x^2-y^2&=a\\xy&=b\end{align*}are orthogonal.

The monic polynomial $P(x) = x^n + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} +...+ a_0$ of degree $n > 1$ has $n$ distinct negative roots. Prove that $a_1P(1) > 2n^2a_o$

Let $A, B$ be two variable points on a parabola $P_{0}$, such that the tangents at $A$ and $B$ are perpendicular to each other. Show that the locus of the centroid of the triangle formed by $A,B$ and the vertex of $P_0$ is a parabola $P_1 .$ Apply the same process to $P_1$ and repeat the process, obtaining the sequence of parabolas $P_1, P_2 , \ldots, P_n$. If the equation of $P_0$ is $y=m x^2$, find the equation of $P_n .$

A variable tangent $t$ to the circle $C_1$, of radius $r_1$, intersects the circle $C_2$, of radius $r_2$ in $A$ and $B$. The tangents to $C_2$ through $A$ and $B$ intersect in $P$. Find, as a function of $r_1$ and $r_2$, the distance between the centers of $C_1$ and $C_2$ such that the locus of $P$ when $t$ varies is contained in an equilateral hyperbola. [b]Note[/b]: A hyperbola is said to be [i]equilateral[/i] if its asymptotes are perpendicular.

Let $ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle, and let $P$ and $Q$ be two points on its side $BC$. Construct a point $C_{1}$ in such a way that the convex quadrilateral $APBC_{1}$ is cyclic, $QC_{1}\parallel CA$, and $C_{1}$ and $Q$ lie on opposite sides of line $AB$. Construct a point $B_{1}$ in such a way that the convex quadrilateral $APCB_{1}$ is cyclic, $QB_{1}\parallel BA$, and $B_{1}$ and $Q$ lie on opposite sides of line $AC$. Prove that the points $B_{1}$, $C_{1}$, $P$, and $Q$ lie on a circle.

The parabola with equation $y = x^2 - 4$ is rotated $60^\circ$ counterclockwise around the origin. The unique point in the fourth quadrant where the original parabola and its image intersect has $y$-coordinate $\frac{a - \sqrt{b}}{c}$, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are positive integers, and $a$ and $c$ are relatively prime. Find $a + b + c$.

Let $ \mathcal P$ be a parabola, and let $ V_1$ and $ F_1$ be its vertex and focus, respectively. Let $ A$ and $ B$ be points on $ \mathcal P$ so that $ \angle AV_1 B \equal{} 90^\circ$. Let $ \mathcal Q$ be the locus of the midpoint of $ AB$. It turns out that $ \mathcal Q$ is also a parabola, and let $ V_2$ and $ F_2$ denote its vertex and focus, respectively. Determine the ratio $ F_1F_2/V_1V_2$.

Construct a triangle, by straight edge and compass, if the three points where the extensions of the medians intersect the circumcircle of the triangle are given.

Let $E$ be an ellipse with foci $A$ and $B$. Suppose there exists a parabola $P$ such that $\bullet$ $P$ passes through $A$ and $B$, $\bullet$ the focus $F$ of $P$ lies on $E$, $\bullet$ the orthocenter $H$ of $\vartriangle F AB$ lies on the directrix of $P$. If the major and minor axes of $E$ have lengths $50$ and $14$, respectively, compute $AH^2 + BH^2$.

Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with altitude $\overline{AH}$, and let $P$ be a variable point such that the angle bisectors $k$ and $\ell$ of $\angle PBC$ and $\angle PCB$, respectively, meet on $\overline{AH}$. Let $k$ meet $\overline{AC}$ at $E$, $\ell$ meet $\overline{AB}$ at $F$, and $\overline{EF}$ meet $\overline{AH}$ at $Q$. Prove that as $P$ varies, line $PQ$ passes through a fixed point.

Find the necessary and sufficient conditions for two conics that every tangent to one of them contains a real point of the other.