Let $a$ be a real number. Suppose the function $f(x) = \frac{a}{x-1} + \frac{1}{x-2} + \frac{1}{x-6}$ defined in the interval $3 < x < 5$ attains its maximum at $x=4$. Find the value of $a.$

How many functions $f : f\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}\longrightarrow\{1, 2, 3, 4, 5\}$ satisfy $f(f(x)) = f(x)$ for all $x\in\{ 1,2, 3, 4, 5\}$?

Let $ r$ be the distance from the origion to a point $ P$ with coordinates $ x$ and $ y$. Designate the ratio $ \frac{y}{r}$ by $ s$ and the ratio $ \frac{x}{r}$ by $ c$. Then the values of $ s^2 \minus{} c^2$ are limited to the numbers: $ \textbf{(A)}\ \text{less than }{\minus{}1}\text{ are greater than }{\plus{}1}\text{, both excluded}\qquad\\ \textbf{(B)}\ \text{less than }{\minus{}1}\text{ are greater than }{\plus{}1}\text{, both included}\qquad \\ \textbf{(C)}\ \text{between }{\minus{}1}\text{ and }{\plus{}1}\text{, both excluded}\qquad \\ \textbf{(D)}\ \text{between }{\minus{}1}\text{ and }{\plus{}1}\text{, both included}\qquad \\ \textbf{(E)}\ {\minus{}1}\text{ and }{\plus{}1}\text{ only}$

Find the range of $ k$ for which the following inequality holds for $ 0\leq x\leq 1$. \[ \int_0^x \frac {dt}{\sqrt {(3 \plus{} t^2)^3}}\geq k\int _0^x \frac {dt}{\sqrt {3 \plus{} t^2}}\] If necessary, you may use $ \ln 3 \equal{} 1.10$.

Determine all the injective functions $f : \mathbb{Z}_+ \to \mathbb{Z}_+$, such that for each pair of integers $(m, n)$ the following conditions hold: $a)$ $f(mn) = f(m)f(n)$ $b)$ $f(m^2 + n^2) \mid  f(m^2) + f(n^2).$

Given eight distinguishable rings, let $n$ be the number of possible five-ring arrangements on the four fingers (not the thumb) of one hand. The order of rings on each finger is significant, but it is not required that each finger have a ring. Find the leftmost three nonzero digits of $n.$

On the coordinate plane, Let $C$ be the graph of $y=(\ln x)^2\ (x>0)$ and for $\alpha >0$, denote $L(\alpha)$ be the tangent line of $C$ at the point $(\alpha ,\ (\ln \alpha)^2).$ (1) Draw the graph. (2) Let $n(\alpha)$ be the number of the intersection points of $C$ and $L(\alpha)$. Find $n(\alpha)$. (3) For $0<\alpha <1$, let $S(\alpha)$ be the area of the region bounded by $C,\ L(\alpha)$ and the $x$-axis. Find $S(\alpha)$. 2010 Tokyo Institute of Technology entrance exam, Second Exam.

Let $ f,g:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ be functions with the property that $$ f\left( g(x) \right) =g\left( f(x) \right) =-x,\quad\forall x\in\mathbb{R} $$ [b]a)[/b] Show that $ f,g $ are odd. [b]b)[/b] Give a concrete example of such $ f,g. $

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that $x,y\in \mathbb{R}^{+},$ \[ f\left(\frac{y}{f(x+1)}\right)+f\left(\frac{x+1}{xf(y)}\right)=f(y) \]

Let $P$ be a polynomial with real coefficients. Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that there exists a real number $t$ such that \[f(x+t) - f(x) = P(x)\] for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$.

In $\triangle ABC$, shown on the right, let $r$ denote the radius of the inscribed circle, and let $r_A$, $r_B$, and $r_C$ denote the radii of the smaller circles tangent to the inscribed circle and to the sides emanating from $A$, $B$, and $C$, respectively. Prove that $r \leq r_A + r_B + r_C$

Let $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ be a continuous function with the following property: for all $\alpha \in \mathbb{R}_{>0}$, the sequence $(a_n)_{n \in \mathbb{N}}$ defined as $a_n = f(n\alpha)$ satisfies $\lim_{n \to \infty} a_n = 0$. Is it necessarily true that $\lim_{x \to +\infty} f(x) = 0$?

Let $ f: \mathbb{R}^2\to\mathbb{R}$ be a function such that $ f(x,y)\plus{}f(y,z)\plus{}f(z,x)\equal{}0$ for real numbers $ x,y,$ and $ z.$ Prove that there exists a function $ g: \mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $ f(x,y)\equal{}g(x)\minus{}g(y)$ for all real numbers $ x$ and $ y.$

Let $f: [0,\infty)\to\mathbb R$ be a function such that for any $x>0$ the sequence $\{f(nx)\}_{n\geq 0}$ is increasing. a) If the function is also continuous on $[0,1]$ is it true that $f$ is increasing? b) The same question if the function is continuous on $\mathbb Q \cap [0, \infty)$.

Find the least real number $k$ with the following property: if the real numbers $x$, $y$, and $z$ are not all positive, then \[k(x^{2}-x+1)(y^{2}-y+1)(z^{2}-z+1)\geq (xyz)^{2}-xyz+1.\]

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

Let $I\subset \mathbb{R}$ be an interval and $f(x)$ a continuous real-valued function on $I$. Let $y_1$ and $y_2$ be linearly independent solutions of $y''=f(x)y$ taking positive values on $I$. Show that for some positive number $k$ the function $k\cdot\sqrt{y_1 y_2}$ is a solution of $y''+\frac{1}{y^{3}}=f(x)y$.

A positive proper divisor is a positive divisor of a number, excluding itself. For positive integers $n \ge 2$, let $f(n)$ denote the number that is one more than the largest proper divisor of $n$. Determine all positive integers $n$ such that $f(f(n)) = 2$.

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y\in \mathbb{R}$: $$f\left(f(x)^2-y^2\right)^2+f(2xy)^2=f\left(x^2+y^2\right)^2$$ [i]Proposed by Ali Behrouz - Mojtaba Zare Bidaki[/i]

For every positive integer $n$, let $s(n)$ be the sum of the exponents of $71$ and $97$ in the prime factorization of $n$; for example, $s(2021) = s(43 \cdot 47) = 0$ and $s(488977) = s(71^2 \cdot 97) = 3$. If we define $f(n)=(-1)^{s(n)}$, prove that the limit \[ \lim_{n \to +\infty} \frac{f(1) + f(2) + \cdots+ f(n)}{n} \] exists and determine its value.

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z}^+\rightarrow \mathbb{Z}^+$ such that for all positive integers $m,n$ with $m\ge n$, $$f(m\varphi(n^3)) = f(m)\cdot \varphi(n^3).$$ Here $\varphi(n)$ denotes the number of positive integers coprime to $n$ and not exceeding $n$.

It is known that for quadratic polynomials $P(x)=x^2+ax+b$ and $Q(x)=x^2+cx+d$ the equation $P(Q(x))=Q(P(x))$ does not have real roots. Prove that $b \neq d$.

A simple pendulum experiment is constructed from a point mass $m$ attached to a pivot by a massless rod of length $L$ in a constant gravitational field. The rod is released from an angle $\theta_0 < \frac{\pi}{2}$ at rest and the period of motion is found to be $T_0$. Ignore air resistance and friction. The experiment is repeated with a new pendulum with a rod of length $4L$, using the same angle $\theta_0$, and the period of motion is found to be $T$. Which of the following statements is correct? $\textbf{(A) } T = 2T_0 \text{ regardless of the value of } \theta_0\\ \textbf{(B) } T > 2T_0 \text{ with } T \approx 2T_0 \text{ if } \theta_0 \ll 1\\ \textbf{(C) } T < 2T_0 \text{ with } T \approx 2T_0 \text{ if } \theta_0 \ll 1\\ \textbf{(D) } T < 2T_0 \text{ with some values of } \theta_0 \text{ and } T > 2T_0 \text{ for other values of } \theta_0\\ \textbf{(E) } T \text{ and } T_0 \text{ are not defined because the motion is not periodic unless } \theta_0 \ll 1$

Ten boxes are arranged in a circle. Each box initially contains a positive number of golf balls. A move consists of taking all of the golf balls from one of the boxes and placing them into the boxes that follow it in a counterclockwise direction, putting one ball into each box. Prove that if the next move always starts with the box where the last ball of the previous move was placed, then after some number of moves, we get back to the initial distribution of golf balls in the boxes.

Solve the equation $|x^2 -1|+ |x^2 - 4| = mx$ as a function of the parameter $m$. Which pairs $(x,m)$ of integers satisfy this equation?