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]

A group of people is lined up in [i]almost-order[/i] if, whenever person $A$ is to the left of person $B$ in the line, $A$ is not more than $8$ centimeters taller than $B$. For example, five people with heights $160, 165, 170, 175$, and $180$ centimeters could line up in [i]almost-order[/i] with heights (from left-to-right) of $160, 170, 165, 180, 175$ centimeters. (b) How many different ways are there to line up $20$ people in [i]almost-order[/i] if their heights are $120, 125, 130,$ $135,$ $140,$ $145,$ $150,$ $155,$ $160,$ $164, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205$, and $210$ centimeters? (Note that there is someone of height $164$ centimeters.)

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(x+y) + f(x)f(y) = f(xy) + (y+1)f(x) + (x+1)f(y)\] for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$.

[b]Evaluate[/b] $\int^{\pi/2}_0 \frac{\cos^4x + \sin x \cos^3 x + \sin^2x\cos^2x + \sin^3x\cos x}{\sin^4x + \cos^4x + 2\ sinx\cos^3x + 2\sin^2x\cos^2x + 2\sin^3x\cos x} dx$

Let $ K_n(n=1,2,\ldots)$ be periodical continuous functions of period $ 2 \pi$, and write \[ k_n(f;x)= \int_0^{2\pi}f(t)K_n(x-t)dt .\] Prove that the following statements are equivalent: (i) $ \int_0^{2\pi}|k_n(f;x)-f(x)|dx \rightarrow 0 \;(n \rightarrow \infty)$ for all $ f \in \mathcal{L}_1[0,2 \pi]$. (ii) $ k_n(f;0) \rightarrow f(0)$ for all continuous, $ 2 \pi$-periodic functions $ f$. [i]V. Totik[/i]

Determine the positive numbers $a{}$ for which the following statement true: for any function $f:[0,1]\to\mathbb{R}$ which is continuous at each point of this interval and for which $f(0)=f(1)=0$, the equation $f(x+a)-f(x)=0$ has at least one solution. [i]Proposed by I. Yaglom[/i]

Find the least number which is divisible by 2009 and its sum of digits is 2009.

Let $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ be a bijective function. Does there always exist an infinite number of functions $g:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $f(g(x))=g(f(x))$ for all $x\in\mathbb{R}$? [i]Proposed by Daniel Liu[/i]

The plot of the $y=f(x)$ function, being rotated by the (right) angle around the $(0,0)$ point is not changed. a) Prove that the equation $f(x)=x$ has the unique solution. b) Give an example of such a function.

Find the least a. positive real number b. positive integer $t$ such that the equation $(x^2+y^2)^2 + 2tx(x^2 + y^2) = t^2y^2$ has a solution where $x,y$ are positive integers.

Let $f:[0,1]\to\mathbb R$ be a continuous function such that $f(0)=f(1)=0$. Prove that the set $$A:=\{h\in[0,1]:f(x+h)=f(x)\text{ for some }x\in[0,1]\}$$is Lebesgue measureable and has Lebesgue measure at least $\frac12$.

Is is true that if the perfect set $F\subseteq [0,1]$ is of zero Lebesgue measure then those functions in $C^1[0,1]$ which are one-to-one on $F$ form a dense subset of $C^1[0,1]$? (We use the metric $$d(f,g)=\sup_{x\in[0,1]} |f(x)-g(x)| + \sup_{x\in[0,1]} |f'(x)-g'(x)|$$ to define the topology in the space $C^1[0,1]$ of continuously differentiable real functions on $[0,1]$.)

Prove that there is no function $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ with $f(0) >0$, and such that \[f(x+y) \geq f(x) +yf(f(x)) \text{ for all } x,y \in \mathbb{R}. \]

Let $S$ be a finite set, and let $\mathcal{A}$ be the set of all functions from $S$ to $S$. Let $f$ be an element of $\mathcal{A}$, and let $T=f(S)$ be the image of $S$ under $f$. Suppose that $f\circ g\circ f\ne g\circ f\circ g$ for every $g$ in $\mathcal{A}$ with $g\ne f$. Show that $f(T)=T$.

Find all functions $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ so that the following relation holds for all $x, y\in\mathbb R$. $$f(f(x)f(y)-1) = xy - 1$$

$ABC$ is a triangle, with inradius $r$ and circumradius $R.$ Show that: \[ \sin \left( \frac{A}{2} \right) \cdot \sin \left( \frac{B}{2} \right) + \sin \left( \frac{B}{2} \right) \cdot \sin \left( \frac{C}{2} \right) + \sin \left( \frac{C}{2} \right) \cdot \sin \left( \frac{A}{2} \right) \leq \frac{5}{8} + \frac{r}{4 \cdot R}. \]

The range of function $y=x+\sqrt{x^2-3x+2}(x\in\mathbb{R})$ is________.

Hi guys, I was just reading over old posts that I made last year ( :P ) and saw how much the level of Getting Started became harder. To encourage more people from posting, I decided to start a Problem of the Day. This is how I'll conduct this: 1. In each post (not including this one since it has rules, etc) everyday, I'll post the problem. I may post another thread after it to give hints though. 2. Level of problem.. This is VERY important. All problems in this thread will be all AHSME or problems similar to this level. No AIME. Some AHSME problems, however, that involve tough insight or skills will not be posted. The chosen problems will be usually ones that everyone can solve after working. Calculators are allowed when you solve problems but it is NOT necessary. 3. Response.. All you have to do is simply solve the problem and post the solution. There is no credit given or taken away if you get the problem wrong. This isn't like other threads where the number of problems you get right or not matters. As for posting, post your solutions here in this thread. Do NOT PM me. Also, here are some more restrictions when posting solutions: A. No single answer post. It doesn't matter if you put hide and say "Answer is ###..." If you don't put explanation, it simply means you cheated off from some other people. I've seen several posts that went like "I know the answer" and simply post the letter. What is the purpose of even posting then? Huh? B. Do NOT go back to the previous problem(s). This causes too much confusion. C. You're FREE to give hints and post different idea, way or answer in some cases in problems. If you see someone did wrong or you don't understand what they did, post here. That's what this thread is for. 4. Main purpose.. This is for anyone who visits this forum to enjoy math. I rememeber when I first came into this forum, I was poor at math compared to other people. But I kindly got help from many people such as JBL, joml88, tokenadult, and many other people that would take too much time to type. Perhaps without them, I wouldn't be even a moderator in this forum now. This site clearly made me to enjoy math more and more and I'd like to do the same thing. That's about the rule.. Have fun problem solving! Next post will contain the Day 1 Problem. You can post the solutions until I post one. :D

$\pi(n)$ is the number of primes that are not bigger than $n$. For $n=2,3,4,6,8,33,\dots$ we have $\pi(n)|n$. Does exist infinitely many integers $n$ that $\pi(n)|n$?

Given is a function $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that $|f(x+y)-f(x)-f(y)|\leq 1$. Prove the existence of an additive function $g:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ (that is $g(x+y)=g(x)+g(y)$) such that $|f(x)-g(x)|\leq 1$ for any $x \in \mathbb{R}$

Let $f$ be a function defined on $(0, \infty )$ as follows: \[f(x)=x+\frac1x\] Let $h$ be a function defined for all $x \in (0,1)$ as \[h(x)=\frac{x^4}{(1-x)^6}\] Suppose that $g(x)=f(h(x))$ for all $x \in (0,1)$. (a) Show that $h$ is a strictly increasing function. (b) Show that there exists a real number $x_0 \in (0,1)$ such that $g$ is strictly decreasing in the interval $(0,x_0]$ and strictly increasing in the interval $[x_0,1)$.

Find all functions $f:\mathbb {Z}\to\mathbb Z$, satisfy that for any integer ${a}$, ${b}$, ${c}$, $$2f(a^2+b^2+c^2)-2f(ab+bc+ca)=f(a-b)^2+f(b-c)^2+f(c-a)^2$$

Let $C$ be a real number, and let $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a three times differentiable function such that $$ \lim_{x \to \infty} f(x)=C, \;\; \; \lim_{x \to \infty} f'''(x)=0.$$ Prove that $$ \lim_{x \to \infty} f'(x) =0 \;\; \text{and} \;\; \lim_{x \to \infty} f''(x)=0.$$

Let $f : [a, b] \rightarrow [a, b]$ be a continuous function and let $p \in [a, b]$. Define $p_0 = p$ and $p_{n+1} = f(p_n)$ for $n = 0, 1, 2,...$. Suppose that the set $T_p = \{p_n : n = 0, 1, 2,...\}$ is closed, i.e., if $x \not\in T_p$ then $\exists \delta > 0$ such that for all $x' \in T_p$ we have $|x'-x|\ge\delta$. Show that $T_p$ has finitely many elements.

Find all the functions $f:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{R}$ that satisfy \[ f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y) \] for all $x,y\in\mathbb{N}$ satisfying $10^6-\frac{1}{10^6} < \frac{x}{y} < 10^6+\frac{1}{10^6}$. Note: $\mathbb{N}$ denotes the set of positive integers and $\mathbb{R}$ denotes the set of real numbers.