Olympiad problems

2010 Thailand Mathematical Olympiad, 5

Determine all functions $f : R \times R \to R$ satisfying the equation $f(x - t, y) + f(x + t, y) + f(x, y - t) + f(x, y + t) = 2010$ for all real numbers $x, y$ and for all nonzero $t$

2000 Switzerland Team Selection Test, 12

Tags: functional equation , functional , algebra

Find all functions $f : R \to R$ such that for all real $x,y$, $f(f(x)+y) = f(x^2 -y)+4y f(x)$

2016 Baltic Way, 8

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all real numbers $a$ for which there exists a non-constant function $f :\Bbb R \to \Bbb R$ satisfying the following two equations for all $x\in \Bbb R:$ i) $f(ax) = a^2f(x)$ and ii) $f(f(x)) = a f(x).$

2021 Balkan MO Shortlist, A5

Tags: shortlist , algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^{+} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that $$f(xf(x + y)) = yf(x) + 1$$ holds for all $x, y \in \mathbb{R}^{+}$. [i]Proposed by Nikola Velov, North Macedonia[/i]

2004 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: function , number theory , continued fraction , algebra , functional equation

Does there exist a function $s\colon \mathbb{Q} \rightarrow \{-1,1\}$ such that if $x$ and $y$ are distinct rational numbers satisfying ${xy=1}$ or ${x+y\in \{0,1\}}$, then ${s(x)s(y)=-1}$? Justify your answer. [i]Proposed by Dan Brown, Canada[/i]

2019 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 1

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Determine all functions $f: R\to R$, such that $f (2x + f (y)) = x + y + f (x)$ for all $x, y \in R$. (Gerhard Kirchner)

The Golden Digits 2024, P1

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Determine all functions $f:\mathbb{R}_+\to\mathbb{R}_+$ which satisfy \[f\left(\frac{y}{f(x)}\right)+x=f(xy)+f(f(x)),\]for any positive real numbers $x$ and $y$. [i]Proposed by Pavel Ciurea[/i]

PEN K Problems, 27

Tags: function , induction , strong induction , functional equation

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{N}\to \mathbb{N}$ such that for all $m,n\in \mathbb{N}$: \[f(f(m)+f(n))=m+n.\]

2017 Taiwan TST Round 2, 4

Tags: function , algebra , number theory , functional equation , combinatorics

Find all integer $c\in\{0,1,...,2016\}$ such that the number of $f:\mathbb{Z}\rightarrow\{0,1,...,2016\}$ which satisfy the following condition is minimal:\\ (1) $f$ has periodic $2017$\\ (2) $f(f(x)+f(y)+1)-f(f(x)+f(y))\equiv c\pmod{2017}$\\ Proposed by William Chao

2016 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 2

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}$ denote the set of the reals. Find all $f : \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$ f(x)f(y) = xf(f(y-x)) + xf(2x) + f(x^2) $$ for all real $x, y$.

2017-IMOC, A7

Tags: iteration , function , functional equation , algebra

Determine all non negative integers $k$ such that there is a function $f : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ that satisfies \[ f^n(n) = n + k \] for all $n \in \mathbb{N}$

2011 Belarus Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , functional , functional equation

Find all functions $f:R\to R$ such that for all real $x,y$ with $y\ne 0$ $$f(x-f(x/y))=xf(1-f(1/y))$$ and a) $f(1-f(1))\ne 0$ b) $ f(1-f(1))= 0$ S. Kuzmich, I.Voronovich

2024 Dutch BxMO/EGMO TST, IMO TSTST, 3

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all pairs of positive integers $(a, b)$ such that $f(x)=x$ is the only function $f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ that satisfies $$f^a(x)f^b(y)+f^b(x)f^a(y)=2xy$$ for all $x, y\in \mathbb{R}$.

2013 IMO, 5

Tags: algebra , function , functional equation

Let $\mathbb Q_{>0}$ be the set of all positive rational numbers. Let $f:\mathbb Q_{>0}\to\mathbb R$ be a function satisfying the following three conditions: (i) for all $x,y\in\mathbb Q_{>0}$, we have $f(x)f(y)\geq f(xy)$; (ii) for all $x,y\in\mathbb Q_{>0}$, we have $f(x+y)\geq f(x)+f(y)$; (iii) there exists a rational number $a>1$ such that $f(a)=a$. Prove that $f(x)=x$ for all $x\in\mathbb Q_{>0}$. [i]Proposed by Bulgaria[/i]

2009 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: function , induction , triangle inequality , functional equation

Determine all functions $ f$ from the set of positive integers to the set of positive integers such that, for all positive integers $ a$ and $ b$, there exists a non-degenerate triangle with sides of lengths \[ a, f(b) \text{ and } f(b \plus{} f(a) \minus{} 1).\] (A triangle is non-degenerate if its vertices are not collinear.) [i]Proposed by Bruno Le Floch, France[/i]

2013 Switzerland - Final Round, 4

Tags: algebra , functional , functional equation

Find all functions $f : R_{>0} \to R_{>0}$ with the following property: $$f \left( \frac{x}{y + 1}\right) = 1 - xf(x + y)$$ for all $x > y > 0$ .

2018 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 2

Tags: function , functional equation , sum , algebra

Consider all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ satisfying $f(1-f(x))=x$ for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$. a) By giving a concrete example, show that such a function exists. b) For each such function define the sum \[S_f=f(-2017)+f(-2016)+\dots+f(-1)+f(0)+f(1)+\dots+f(2017)+f(2018).\] Determine all possible values of $S_f$.

2001 Czech And Slovak Olympiad IIIA, 6

Tags: functional equation , function , algebra

Let be given natural numbers $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ and a function $f : Z \to R$ such that $f(x) = 1$ for all integers $x < 0$ and $f(x) = 1- f(x-a_1)f(x-a_2)... f(x-a_n)$ for all integers $x \ge 0$. Prove that there exist natural numbers $s$ and $t$ such that for all integers $x > s$ it holds that $f(x+t) = f(x)$.

2024 Baltic Way, 2

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ be the set of all positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+\to\mathbb{R}^+$ such that \[ \frac{f(a)}{1+a+ca}+\frac{f(b)}{1+b+ab}+\frac{f(c)}{1+c+bc} = 1 \] for all $a,b,c \in \mathbb{R}^+$ that satisfy $abc=1$.

2000 Moldova National Olympiad, Problem 4

Tags: functional equation , fe , polynomial , algebra

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with real coefficients that satisfy the relation $$1+P(x)=\frac{P(x-1)+P(x+1)}2.$$

VMEO I 2004, 5

Tags: algebra , functional equation , functional

Find all the functions $f:R \to R$ satisfying $$(x + y)(f (x)-f (y)) = f (x^2) - f (y^2),\, \forall x, y \in R$$

2012 Belarus Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

Determine all pairs $(f,g)$ of functions from the set of real numbers to itself that satisfy \[g(f(x+y)) = f(x) + (2x + y)g(y)\] for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. [i]Proposed by Japan[/i]

PEN K Problems, 25

Tags: functional equation , function , induction

Consider all functions $f:\mathbb{N}\to\mathbb{N}$ satisfying $f(t^2 f(s)) = s(f(t))^2$ for all $s$ and $t$ in $N$. Determine the least possible value of $f(1998)$.

2025 China Team Selection Test, 24

Tags: number theory , functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z\to\mathbb Z$ such that $f$ is unbounded and \[2f(m)f(n)-f(n-m)-1\] is a perfect square for all integer $m,n.$

2018 IFYM, Sozopol, 2

Tags: functional equation , algebra

a) The real number $a$ and the continuous function $f : [a, \infty) \rightarrow [a, \infty)$ are such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < |x–y|$ for every two different $x, y \in [a, \infty)$. Is it always true that the equation $f(x)=x$ has only one solution in the interval $[a, \infty)$? b) The real numbers $a$ and $b$ and the continuous function $f : [a, b] \rightarrow [a, b]$ are such that $|f(x)-f(y)| < |x–y|$, for every two different $x, y \in [a, b]$. Is it always true that the equation $f(x)=x$ has only one solution in the interval $[a, b]$?