Olympiad problems

1967 Putnam, B6

Let $f$ be a real-valued function having partial derivatives and which is defined for $x^2 +y^2 \leq1$ and is such that $|f(x,y)|\leq 1.$ Show that there exists a point $(x_0, y_0 )$ in the interior of the unit circle such that $$\left( \frac{ \partial f}{\partial x}(x_0 ,y_0 ) \right)^{2}+ \left( \frac{ \partial f}{\partial y}(x_0 ,y_0 ) \right)^{2} \leq 16.$$

2009 Moldova Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: function , calculus , derivative , rearrangement inequality , logarithm , inequalities

[color=darkred]Let $ m,n\in \mathbb{N}$, $ n\ge 2$ and numbers $ a_i > 0$, $ i \equal{} \overline{1,n}$, such that $ \sum a_i \equal{} 1$. Prove that $ \small{\dfrac{a_1^{2 \minus{} m} \plus{} a_2 \plus{} ... \plus{} a_{n \minus{} 1}}{1 \minus{} a_1} \plus{} \dfrac{a_2^{2 \minus{} m} \plus{} a_3 \plus{} ... \plus{} a_n}{1 \minus{} a_1} \plus{} ... \plus{} \dfrac{a_n^{2 \minus{} m} \plus{} a_1 \plus{} ... \plus{} a_{n \minus{} 2}}{1 \minus{} a_1}\ge n \plus{} \dfrac{n^m \minus{} n}{n \minus{} 1}}$[/color]

2005 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 81

Tags: calculus , integration , trigonometry , inequalities , derivative , function , logarithm

Prove the following inequality. \[\frac{1}{12}(\pi -6+2\sqrt{3})\leq \int_{\frac{\pi}{6}}^{\frac{\pi}{4}} \ln (1+\cos 2x) dx\leq \frac{1}{4}(2-\sqrt{3})\]

1991 Arnold's Trivium, 87

Tags: calculus , derivative , quadratic , vector , linear algebra , matrix , function

Find the derivatives of the lengths of the semiaxes of the ellipsoid $x^2 + y^2 + z^2 + xy + yz + zx = 1 + \epsilon xy$ with respect to $\epsilon$ at $\epsilon = 0$.

1992 Putnam, B4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , derivative

Let $p(x)$ be a nonzero polynomial of degree less than $1992$ having no nonconstant factor in common with $x^3 -x$. Let $$ \frac{d^{1992}}{dx^{1992}} \left( \frac{p(x)}{x^3 -x } \right) =\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}$$ for polynomials $f(x)$ and $g(x).$ Find the smallest possible degree of $f(x)$.

1991 Arnold's Trivium, 20

Tags: calculus , derivative , parameterization , function , inequalities

Find the derivative of the solution of the equation $\ddot{x} =x + A\dot{x}^2$, with initial conditions $x(0) = 1$, $\dot{x}(0) = 0$, with respect to the parameter $A$ for $A = 0$.

2007 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 6

Tags: calculus , function , derivative

The elliptic curve $y^2=x^3+1$ is tangent to a circle centered at $(4,0)$ at the point $(x_0,y_0)$. Determine the sum of all possible values of $x_0$.

2025 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Tags: calculus , derivative , real analysis , function

Prove that, for a function $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$, the following $2$ statements are equivalent: a) $f$ is differentiable, with continuous first derivative. b) For any $a\in\mathbb{R}$ and for any two sequences $(x_n)_{n\geq 1},(y_n)_{n\geq 1}$, convergent to $a$, such that $x_n \neq y_n$ for any positive integer $n$, the sequence $\left(\frac{f(x_n)-f(y_n)}{x_n-y_n}\right)_{n\geq 1}$ is convergent.

2022 JHMT HS, 1

Tags: calculus , derivative , integration

Compute the value of \[ \frac{d}{dx}\int_{1}^{10} x^3\,dx. \]

1970 IMO Longlists, 47

Tags: polynomial , calculus , derivative , algebra

Given a polynomial \[P(x) = ab(a - c)x^3 + (a^3 - a^2c + 2ab^2 - b^2c + abc)x^2 +(2a^2b + b^2c + a^2c + b^3 - abc)x + ab(b + c),\] where $a, b, c \neq 0$, prove that $P(x)$ is divisible by \[Q(x) = abx^2 + (a^2 + b^2)x + ab\] and conclude that $P(x_0)$ is divisible by $(a + b)^3$ for $x_0 = (a + b + 1)^n, n \in \mathbb N$.

2012 Online Math Open Problems, 40

Tags: calculus , derivative , trigonometry , geometry , circumcircle , algebra

Suppose $x,y,z$, and $w$ are positive reals such that \[ x^2 + y^2 - \frac{xy}{2} = w^2 + z^2 + \frac{wz}{2} = 36 \] \[ xz + yw = 30. \] Find the largest possible value of $(xy + wz)^2$. [i]Author: Alex Zhu[/i]

2011 Putnam, A5

Tags: function , vector , calculus , derivative

Let $F:\mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$ and $g:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ be twice continuously differentiable functions with the following properties: • $F(u,u)=0$ for every $u\in\mathbb{R};$ • for every $x\in\mathbb{R},g(x)>0$ and $x^2g(x)\le 1;$ • for every $(u,v)\in\mathbb{R}^2,$ the vector $\nabla F(u,v)$ is either $\mathbf{0}$ or parallel to the vector $\langle g(u),-g(v)\rangle.$ Prove that there exists a constant $C$ such that for every $n\ge 2$ and any $x_1,\dots,x_{n+1}\in\mathbb{R},$ we have \[\min_{i\ne j}|F(x_i,x_j)|\le\frac{C}{n}.\]

1975 Canada National Olympiad, 7

Tags: function , trigonometry , quadratic , calculus , derivative , limit , algebra

A function $ f(x)$ is [i]periodic[/i] if there is a positive number $ p$ such that $ f(x\plus{}p) \equal{} f(x)$ for all $ x$. For example, $ \sin x$ is periodic with period $ 2 \pi$. Is the function $ \sin(x^2)$ periodic? Prove your assertion.

2012 Pre - Vietnam Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: calculus , derivative , logarithm , inequalities

For $a,b,c>0: \; abc=1$ prove that \[a^3+b^3+c^3+6 \ge (a+b+c)^2\]

2012 Graduate School Of Mathematical Sciences, The Master Course, Kyoto University, 4

Tags: calculus , derivative , topology

Define mapping $F : \mathbb{R}^4\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^4$ as $F(x,\ y,\ z,\ w)=(xy,\ y,\ z,\ w)$ and let mapping $f : S^3\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^4$ be restriction of $F$ to 3 dimensional ball $S^3=\{(x,\ y,\ z,\ w)\in{\mathbb{R}^4} | x^2+y^2+z^2+w^2=1\}$. Find the rank of $df_p$, or the differentiation of $f$ at every point $p$ in $S^3$.

2010 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 615

Tags: calculus , integration , derivative , calculus computations , logarithm

For $0\leq a\leq 2$, find the minimum value of $\int_0^2 \left|\frac{1}{1+e^x}-\frac{1}{1+e^a}\right|\ dx.$ [i]2010 Kyoto Institute of Technology entrance exam/Textile e.t.c.[/i]

2009 Indonesia TST, 3

Tags: calculus , derivative , 3d geometry , function , inequalities , geometry

Let $ x,y,z$ be real numbers. Find the minimum value of $ x^2\plus{}y^2\plus{}z^2$ if $ x^3\plus{}y^3\plus{}z^3\minus{}3xyz\equal{}1$.

1983 USAMO, 2

Tags: calculus , derivative , quadratic , algebra , marvio

Prove that the roots of\[x^5 + ax^4 + bx^3 + cx^2 + dx + e = 0\] cannot all be real if $2a^2 < 5b$.

2014 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 10

Tags: function , calculus , derivative , logarithm

Fix a positive real number $c>1$ and positive integer $n$. Initially, a blackboard contains the numbers $1,c,\ldots, c^{n-1}$. Every minute, Bob chooses two numbers $a,b$ on the board and replaces them with $ca+c^2b$. Prove that after $n-1$ minutes, the blackboard contains a single number no less than \[\left(\dfrac{c^{n/L}-1}{c^{1/L}-1}\right)^L,\] where $\phi=\tfrac{1+\sqrt 5}2$ and $L=1+\log_\phi(c)$.

2025 Bulgarian Spring Mathematical Competition, 12.1

Tags: derivative , calculus , inequalities , algebra

In terms of the real numbers $a$ and $b$ determine the minimum value of $$ \sqrt{(x+a)^2+1}+\sqrt{(x+1-a)^2+1}+\sqrt{(x+b)^2+1}+\sqrt{(x+1-b)^2+1}$$ as well as all values of $x$ which attain it.

2001 Federal Math Competition of S&M, Problem 1

Tags: calculus , derivative , number theory

Solve in positive integers \[ x^y + y = y^x + x \]

1957 AMC 12/AHSME, 10

Tags: parabola , analytic geometry , quadratic , function , calculus , derivative , conic

The graph of $ y \equal{} 2x^2 \plus{} 4x \plus{} 3$ has its: $ \textbf{(A)}\ \text{lowest point at } {(\minus{}1,9)}\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{lowest point at } {(1,1)}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{lowest point at } {(\minus{}1,1)}\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ \text{highest point at } {(\minus{}1,9)}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ \text{highest point at } {(\minus{}1,1)}$

2012 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 804

Tags: calculus , integration , derivative , function , calculus computations , logarithm

For $a>0$, find the minimum value of $I(a)=\int_1^e |\ln ax|\ dx.$

2023 239 Open Mathematical Olympiad, 8

Tags: inequalities , derivative , algebra

Let $r\geqslant 0$ be a real number and define $f(x)=1/(1+x^2)^r$. Prove that \[|f^{(k)}(x)|\leqslant\frac{2r\cdot(2r+1)\cdots(2r+k-1)}{(1+x^2)^{r+k/2}},\]for every natural number $k{}$. Here, $f^{(k)}(x)$ denotes the $k^{\text{th}}$ derivative of $f$.

2008 Purple Comet Problems, 19

Tags: geometry , calculus , derivative

One side of a triangle has length $75$. Of the other two sides, the length of one is double the length of the other. What is the maximum possible area for this triangle