Olympiad problems

2014 IMO Shortlist, A6

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{Z} \to\mathbb{ Z}$ such that \[ n^2+4f(n)=f(f(n))^2 \] for all $n\in \mathbb{Z}$. [i]Proposed by Sahl Khan, UK[/i]

2018 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 4

Tags: functional , functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $f : Z \to Z$ such that $x f (2f (y) - x) + y^2 f (2x - f (y)) = \frac{(f (x))^2}{x} + f (y f (y))$ , for all $x, y \in Z$, $x \ne 0$.

1990 IMO Shortlist, 25

Tags: function , number theory , algebra , functional equation

Let $ {\mathbb Q}^ \plus{}$ be the set of positive rational numbers. Construct a function $ f : {\mathbb Q}^ \plus{} \rightarrow {\mathbb Q}^ \plus{}$ such that \[ f(xf(y)) \equal{} \frac {f(x)}{y} \] for all $ x$, $ y$ in $ {\mathbb Q}^ \plus{}$.

2008 VJIMC, Problem 2

Tags: fe , functional equation , recurrence relation , algebra , sequence

Find all functions $f:(0,\infty)\to(0,\infty)$ such that $$f(f(f(x)))+4f(f(x))+f(x)=6x.$$

2016 Balkan MO Shortlist, A8

Tags: functional equation , functional equation in z , algebra , function , linear function

Find all functions $f : Z \to Z$ for which $f(g(n)) - g(f(n))$ is independent on $n$ for any $g : Z \to Z$.

2022 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 3

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Given $m\in\mathbb{N}$. Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R^{+}}\rightarrow\mathbb{R^{+}}$ such that $$f(f(x)+y)-f(x)=\left( \frac{f(y)}{y}-1\right)x+f^m(y)$$ holds for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R^{+}}.$ ($f^m(x) =$ $f$ applies $m$ times.)

2004 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: trigonometry , function , functional equation , system of equations , algebra

Determine all functionf $f : \mathbb{R} \mapsto \mathbb{R}$ such that \[ f(x+y) = f(x)f(y) - c \sin{x} \sin{y} \] for all reals $x,y$ where $c> 1$ is a given constant.

Gheorghe Țițeica 2025, P3

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $ f: \mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }\to\mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }$ satisfying $ f\left(x \plus{} f\left(y\right)\right) \equal{} f\left(x \plus{} y\right) \plus{} f\left(y\right)$ for all pairs of positive reals $ x$ and $ y$. Here, $ \mathbb{R}^{ \plus{} }$ denotes the set of all positive reals. [i]Proposed by Paisan Nakmahachalasint, Thailand[/i]

2018 Iran MO (2nd Round), 4

Tags: algebra , function , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\Bbb {R} \rightarrow \Bbb {R} $ such that: $$f(x+y)f(x^2-xy+y^2)=x^3+y^3$$ for all reals $x, y $.

1988 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: function , functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Q} \mapsto \mathbb{C}$ satisfying (i) For any $x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{1988} \in \mathbb{Q}$, $f(x_{1} + x_{2} + \ldots + x_{1988}) = f(x_1)f(x_2) \ldots f(x_{1988})$. (ii) $\overline{f(1988)}f(x) = f(1988)\overline{f(x)}$ for all $x \in \mathbb{Q}$.

2021 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 5

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Determine all functions $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ satisfying $$f(f(x+y)-f(x-y))=y^2f(x)$$ for all $x, y \in \mathbb{R}$.

2024 Taiwan TST Round 2, A

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Let $\mathbb{R}_+$ be the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{R}_+ \to \mathbb{R}_+$ such that \[f(xy + x + y) + f \left( \frac1x \right) f\left( \frac1y \right) = 1\] for every $x$, $y\in \mathbb{R}_+$. [i]Proposed by Li4 and Untro368.[/i]

2003 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Find all $f:R-R$ such that $f(x^2+y+f(y))=2y+f(x)^2$

2018 Irish Math Olympiad, 6

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all real-valued functions $f$ satisfying $f(2x + f(y)) + f(f(y)) = 4x + 8y$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$.

2023 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, 1

Tags: functional equation , algebra

Given a non-zero real number $a$. Find all functions $f : R \to R$, such that $$f(f(x + y)) = f(x + y) + f(x)f(y) + axy$$ for all $x, y \in R$.

JOM 2024, 3

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^+\rightarrow\mathbb{R}^+$ such that for all $x, y\in\mathbb{R}^+$, \[ \frac{f(x)}{y^2} - \frac{f(y)}{x^2} \le \left(\frac{1}{x}-\frac{1}{y}\right)^2\] ($\mathbb{R}^+$ denotes the set of positive real numbers.) [i](Proposed by Ivan Chan Guan Yu)[/i]

1979 IMO Shortlist, 8

Tags: algebra , binary representation , functional equation , function

For all rational $x$ satisfying $0 \leq x < 1$, the functions $f$ is defined by \[f(x)=\begin{cases}\frac{f(2x)}{4},&\mbox{for }0 \leq x < \frac 12,\\ \frac 34+ \frac{f(2x - 1)}{4}, & \mbox{for } \frac 12 \leq x < 1.\end{cases}\] Given that $x = 0.b_1b_2b_3 \cdots $ is the binary representation of $x$, find, with proof, $f(x)$.

2020 Greece Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: functional , functional equation , algebra

Let $R_+=(0,+\infty)$. Find all functions $f: R_+ \to R_+$ such that $f(xf(y))+f(yf(z))+f(zf(x))=xy+yz+zx$, for all $x,y,z \in R_+$. by Athanasios Kontogeorgis (aka socrates)

2018 Belarusian National Olympiad, 10.2

Tags: functional equation , inequalities , function , algebra

Determine, whether there exist a function $f$ defined on the set of all positive real numbers and taking positive values such that $f(x+y)\geqslant yf(x)+f(f(x))$ for all positive x and y?

1986 Traian Lălescu, 2.1

Tags: calculus , integration , function , real analysis , algebra , functional equation , primitive

Let be a nonnegative integer $ n. $ Find all continuous functions $ f:\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ for which the following equation holds: $$ (1+n)\int_0^x f(t) dt =nxf(x) ,\quad\forall x>0. $$

2023 Dutch BxMO TST, 2

Tags: functional equation , functional inequality , algebra

Find all functions $f : \mathbb R \to \mathbb R$ for which \[f(a - b) f(c - d) + f(a - d) f(b - c) \leq (a - c) f(b - d),\] for all real numbers $a, b, c$ and $d$. Note that there is only one occurrence of $f$ on the right hand side!

MathLinks Contest 3rd, 2

Tags: functional , functional equation , algebra , number theory

Find all functions $f : \{1, 2, ... , n,...\} \to Z$ with the following properties (i) if $a, b$ are positive integers and $a | b$, then $f(a) \ge f(b)$; (ii) if $a, b$ are positive integers then $f(ab) + f(a^2 + b^2) = f(a) + f(b)$.

1990 Polish MO Finals, 1

Tags: function , functional equation , algebra

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R} \longrightarrow \mathbb{R}$ that satisfy \[ (x - y)f(x + y) - (x + y)f(x - y) = 4xy(x^2 - y^2) \]

2021 Francophone Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: number theory , functional equation , functional , algebra

Let $\mathbb{N}_{\ge 1}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f \colon \mathbb{N}_{\ge 1} \to \mathbb{N}_{\ge 1}$ such that, for all positive integers $m$ and $n$: (a) $n = \left(f(2n)-f(n)\right)\left(2 f(n) - f(2n)\right)$, (b)$f(m)f(n) - f(mn) = \left(f(2m)-f(m)\right)\left(2 f(n) - f(2n)\right) + \left(f(2n)-f(n)\right)\left(2 f(m) - f(2m)\right)$, (c) $m-n$ divides $f(2m)-f(2n)$ if $m$ and $n$ are distinct odd prime numbers.

2025 Korea Winter Program Practice Test, P1

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Determine all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^{+} \to \mathbb{R}^{+}$ such that for any positive reals $x,y$, $$f(xy+f(xy)) = xf(y) + yf(x)$$