An urn contains balls of $k$ different colors; there are $n_i$ balls of $i-th$ color. Balls are selected at random from the urn, one by one, without replacement, until among the selected balls $m$ balls of the same color appear. Find the greatest number of selections.

A square $ (n \minus{} 1) \times (n \minus{} 1)$ is divided into $ (n \minus{} 1)^2$ unit squares in the usual manner. Each of the $ n^2$ vertices of these squares is to be coloured red or blue. Find the number of different colourings such that each unit square has exactly two red vertices. (Two colouring schemse are regarded as different if at least one vertex is coloured differently in the two schemes.)

Call a positive integer [i]monotonous[/i] if it is a one-digit number or its digits, when read from left to right, form either a strictly increasing or a strictly decreasing sequence. For example, 3, 23578, and 987620 are monotonous, but 88, 7434, and 23557 are not. How many monotonous positive integers are there? $\textbf{(A)} \text{ 1024} \qquad \textbf{(B)} \text{ 1524} \qquad \textbf{(C)} \text{ 1533} \qquad \textbf{(D)} \text{ 1536} \qquad \textbf{(E)} \text{ 2048}$

Let $p >3$ be a prime number. For each nonempty subset $T$ of $\{0,1,2,3, \ldots , p-1\}$, let $E(T)$ be the set of all $(p-1)$-tuples $(x_1, \ldots ,x_{p-1} )$, where each $x_i \in T$ and $x_1+2x_2+ \ldots + (p-1)x_{p-1}$ is divisible by $p$ and let $|E(T)|$ denote the number of elements in $E(T)$. Prove that \[|E(\{0,1,3\})| \geq |E(\{0,1,2\})|\] with equality if and only if $p = 5$.

Let $A$ be a subset of $\{1,2,\ldots,2020\}$ such that the difference of any two distinct elements in $A$ is not prime. Determine the maximum number of elements in set $A$.

For positive integer $n \ge 3$, find the number of ordered pairs $(a_1, a_2, ... , a_n)$ of integers that satisfy the following two conditions [list=disc] [*]For positive integer $i$ such that $1\le i \le n$, $1 \le a_i \le i$ [*]For positive integers $i,j,k$ such that $1\le i < j < k \le n$, if $a_i = a_j$ then $a_j \ge a_k$ [/list]

Find the number of permutations $( p_1, p_2, p_3 , p_4 , p_5 , p_6)$ of $1, 2 ,3,4,5,6$ such that for any $k, 1 \leq k \leq 5$, $(p_1, \ldots, p_k)$ does not form a permutation of $1 , 2, \ldots, k$.

Let $n > 1$ be a positive integer. A 2-dimensional grid, infinite in all directions, is given. Each 1 by 1 square in a given $n$ by $n$ square has a counter on it. A [i]move[/i] consists of taking $n$ adjacent counters in a row or column and sliding them each by one space along that row or column. A [i]returning sequence[/i] is a finite sequence of moves such that all counters again fill the original $n$ by $n$ square at the end of the sequence. [list] [*] Assume that all counters are distinguishable except two, which are indistinguishable from each other. Prove that any distinguishable arrangement of counters in the $n$ by $n$ square can be reached by a returning sequence. [*] Assume all counters are distinguishable. Prove that there is no returning sequence that switches two counters and returns the rest to their original positions.[/list] [i]Mitchell Lee and Benjamin Gunby.[/i]

Let $ S \equal{} \{x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{k \plus{} l}\}$ be a $ (k \plus{} l)$-element set of real numbers contained in the interval $ [0, 1]$; $ k$ and $ l$ are positive integers. A $ k$-element subset $ A\subset S$ is called [i]nice[/i] if \[ \left |\frac {1}{k}\sum_{x_i\in A} x_i \minus{} \frac {1}{l}\sum_{x_j\in S\setminus A} x_j\right |\le \frac {k \plus{} l}{2kl}\] Prove that the number of nice subsets is at least $ \dfrac{2}{k \plus{} l}\dbinom{k \plus{} l}{k}$. [i]Proposed by Andrey Badzyan, Russia[/i]

We have some identical paper squares which are black on one side of the sheet and white on the other side. We can join nine squares together to make a $3$ by $3$ sheet of squares by placing each of the nine squares either white side up or black side up. Two of these $3$ by $3$ sheets are distinguishable if neither can be made to look like the other by rotating the sheet or by turning it over. How many distinguishable $3$ by $3$ squares can we form?

A square $ABCD$ is divided into $n^2$ equal small (fundamental) squares by drawing lines parallel to its sides.The vertices of the fundamental squares are called vertices of the grid.A rhombus is called [i]nice[/i] when: $\bullet$ It is not a square $\bullet$ Its vertices are points of the grid $\bullet$ Its diagonals are parallel to the sides of the square $ABCD$ Find (as a function of $n$) the number of the [i]nice[/i] rhombuses ($n$ is a positive integer greater than $2$).

Four boys and four girls each bring one gift to a Christmas gift exchange. On a sheet of paper, each boy randomly writes down the name of one girl, and each girl randomly writes down the name of one boy. At the same time, each person passes their gift to the person whose name is written on their sheet. Determine the probability that [i]both[/i] of these events occur: [list] [*] (i) Each person receives exactly one gift; [*] (ii) No two people exchanged presents with each other (i.e., if $A$ gave his gift to $B$, then $B$ did not give her gift to $A$).[/list]

A biologist watches a chameleon. The chameleon catches flies and rests after each catch. The biologist notices that: [list=1][*]the first fly is caught after a resting period of one minute; [*]the resting period before catching the $2m^\text{th}$ fly is the same as the resting period before catching the $m^\text{th}$ fly and one minute shorter than the resting period before catching the $(2m+1)^\text{th}$ fly; [*]when the chameleon stops resting, he catches a fly instantly.[/list] [list=a][*]How many flies were caught by the chameleon before his first resting period of $9$ minutes in a row? [*]After how many minutes will the chameleon catch his $98^\text{th}$ fly? [*]How many flies were caught by the chameleon after 1999 minutes have passed?[/list]

How many $ 15$-letter arrangements of $ 5$ A's, $ 5$ B's, and $ 5$ C's have no A's in the first $ 5$ letters, no B's in the next $ 5$ letters, and no C's in the last $ 5$ letters? $ \textbf{(A)}\ \sum_{k\equal{}0}^5\binom{5}{k}^3 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 3^5\cdot 2^5 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2^{15} \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \frac{15!}{(5!)^3} \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 3^{15}$

Let $n \geq 2$ be an integer. There are $n$ distinct circles in general position, that is, any two of them meet in two distinct points and there are no three of them meeting at one point. Those circles divide the plane in limited regions by circular edges, that meet at vertices (note that each circle have exactly $2n-2$ vertices). For each circle, temporarily color its vertices alternately black and white (note that, doing this, each vertex is colored twice, one for each circle passing through it). If the two temporarily colouring of a vertex coincide, this vertex is definitely colored with this common color; otherwise, it will be colored with gray. Show that if a circle has more than $n-2 + \sqrt{n-2}$ gray points, all vertices of some region are grey. Observation: In this problem, a region cannot contain vertices or circular edges on its interior. Also, the outer region of all circles also counts as a region.

Denote by $a_n$ the greatest number that is not divisible by $3$ and that divides $n$. Consider the sequence $s_0 = 0, s_n = a_1 +a_2+\cdots+a_n, n \in \mathbb N$. Denote by $A(n)$ the number of all sums $s_k \ (0 \leq k \leq 3^n, k \in \mathbb N_0)$ that are divisible by $3$. Prove the formula \[A(n) = 3^{n-1} + 2 \cdot 3^{(n/2)-1} \cos \left(\frac{n\pi}{6}\right), \qquad n\in \mathbb N_0.\]

Each of the positive integers $1,2,\dots,n$ is colored in one of the colors red, blue or yellow regarding the following rules: (1) A Number $x$ and the smallest number larger than $x$ colored in the same color as $x$ always have different parities. (2) If all colors are used in a coloring, then there is exactly one color, such that the smallest number in that color is even. Find the number of possible colorings.

Let $f(k)$ be the number of integers $n$ satisfying the following conditions: (i) $0\leq n < 10^k$ so $n$ has exactly $k$ digits (in decimal notation), with leading zeroes allowed; (ii) the digits of $n$ can be permuted in such a way that they yield an integer divisible by $11$. Prove that $f(2m) = 10f(2m-1)$ for every positive integer $m$. [i]Proposed by Dirk Laurie, South Africa[/i]

Rohit is counting the minimum number of lines $m$, that can be drawn so that the number of distinct points of intersection exceeds $2020$. Find $m$. (A)$63$ (B)$64$ (C)$65$ (D)$66$

Erin the ant starts at a given corner of a cube and crawls along exactly $7$ edges in such a way that she visits every corner exactly once and then finds that she is unable to return along an edge to her starting point. How many paths are there meeting these conditions? $ \textbf{(A) }\text{6}\qquad\textbf{(B) }\text{9}\qquad\textbf{(C) }\text{12}\qquad\textbf{(D) }\text{18}\qquad\textbf{(E) }\text{24} $

A number is called [i]trilegal[/i] if its digits belong to the set \(\{1, 2, 3\}\) and if it is divisible by \(99\). How many trilegal numbers with \(10\) digits are there?

Prove that $\sum \frac{1}{i_1i_2 \ldots i_k} = n$ is taken over all non-empty subsets $\left\{i_1,i_2, \ldots, i_k\right\}$ of $\left\{1,2,\ldots,n\right\}$. (The $k$ is not fixed, so we are summing over all the $2^n-1$ possible nonempty subsets.)

Let $n \ge 2$ be an integer. There are $n$ beads numbered $1, 2, \ldots, n$. Two necklaces made out of some of these beads are considered the same if we can get one by rotating the other (with no flipping allowed). For example, with $n \ge 5$, the necklace with four beads $1, 5, 3, 2$ in the clockwise order is same as the one with $5, 3, 2, 1$ in the clockwise order, but is different from the one with $1, 2, 3, 5$ in the clockwise order. We denote by $D_0(n)$ (respectively $D_1(n)$) the number of ways in which we can use all the beads to make an even number (resp. an odd number) of necklaces each of length at least $3$. Prove that $n - 1$ divides $D_1(n) - D_0(n)$.

Let $A$ and $E$ be opposite vertices of an octagon. A frog starts at vertex $A.$ From any vertex except $E$ it jumps to one of the two adjacent vertices. When it reaches $E$ it stops. Let $a_n$ be the number of distinct paths of exactly $n$ jumps ending at $E$. Prove that: \[ a_{2n-1}=0, \quad a_{2n}={(2+\sqrt2)^{n-1} - (2-\sqrt2)^{n-1} \over\sqrt2}. \]

Given $n>4$ points in the plane, no three collinear. Prove that there are at least $\frac{(n-3)(n-4)}{2}$ convex quadrilaterals with vertices amongst the $n$ points.