Olympiad problems

2011 QEDMO 10th, 9

Let $X = Q-\{-1,0,1\}$. We consider the function $f: X\to X$ given by $f (x) = x -\frac{1}{x} .$ Is there an $a \in X$ such that for every natural number n there is a $y \in X$ with $f (f (...( f (y)) ...)) = a$ where $f$ occurs exactly $n$ times on the left side?

2019 ELMO Shortlist, A2

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\mathbb Z\to \mathbb Z$ such that for all surjective functions $g:\mathbb Z\to \mathbb Z$, $f+g$ is also surjective. (A function $g$ is surjective over $\mathbb Z$ if for all integers $y$, there exists an integer $x$ such that $g(x)=y$.) [i]Proposed by Sean Li[/i]

2019 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

Tags: functional equation

Find all function $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for any three real number $a,b,c$ , if $ a + f(b) + f(f(c)) = 0$ : $$ f(a)^3 + bf(b)^2 + c^2f(c) = 3abc $$. [i]Proposed by Amirhossein Zolfaghari [/i]

2022 Costa Rica - Final Round, 4

Tags: algebra , function , functional equation

Maria was a brilliant mathematician who found the following property about her year of birth: if $f$ is a function defined in the set of natural numbers $N = \{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,...\}$ such that $f(1) = 1335$ and $f(n+1) = f(n)-2n+43$ for all $n \in N$, then his year of birth is the maximum value that $f(n)$ can reach when $n$ takes values in $N$. Determine the year of birth of Mary.

2012 Germany Team Selection Test, 3

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]

2010 IMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

Denote by $\mathbb{Q}^+$ the set of all positive rational numbers. Determine all functions $f : \mathbb{Q}^+ \mapsto \mathbb{Q}^+$ which satisfy the following equation for all $x, y \in \mathbb{Q}^+:$ \[f\left( f(x)^2y \right) = x^3 f(xy).\] [i]Proposed by Thomas Huber, Switzerland[/i]

2000 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

The function $ F$ is defined on the set of nonnegative integers and takes nonnegative integer values satisfying the following conditions: for every $ n \geq 0,$ (i) $ F(4n) \equal{} F(2n) \plus{} F(n),$ (ii) $ F(4n \plus{} 2) \equal{} F(4n) \plus{} 1,$ (iii) $ F(2n \plus{} 1) \equal{} F(2n) \plus{} 1.$ Prove that for each positive integer $ m,$ the number of integers $ n$ with $ 0 \leq n < 2^m$ and $ F(4n) \equal{} F(3n)$ is $ F(2^{m \plus{} 1}).$

2020 Baltic Way, 4

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ so that \[f(f(x)+x+y) = f(x+y) + y f(y)\] for all real numbers $x, y$.

2003 USA Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: function , parameterization , induction , functional equation , strong induction , algebra

Let $\mathbb{N}$ denote the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ such that \[ f(m+n)f(m-n) = f(m^2) \] for $m,n \in \mathbb{N}$.

2014 Taiwan TST Round 2, 2

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

Let $\mathbb{Z}_{\ge 0}$ be the set of all nonnegative integers. Find all the functions $f: \mathbb{Z}_{\ge 0} \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}_{\ge 0} $ satisfying the relation \[ f(f(f(n))) = f(n+1 ) +1 \] for all $ n\in \mathbb{Z}_{\ge 0}$.

2018 Dutch IMO TST, 4

Tags: functional equation , function , algebra

Let $A$ be a set of functions $f : R\to R$. For all $f_1, f_2 \in A$ there exists a $f_3 \in A$ such that $f_1(f_2(y) - x)+ 2x = f_3(x + y)$ for all $x, y \in R$. Prove that for all $f \in A$, we have $f(x - f(x))= 0$ for all $x \in R$.

2018 Iran MO (3rd Round), 2

Tags: algebra , functional equation

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^{\ge 0} \to \mathbb{R}^{\ge 0}$ such that: $f(x^3+xf(xy))=f(xy)+x^2f(x+y) \forall x,y \in \mathbb{R}^{\ge 0}$

1977 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: algebra , functional inequality , functional equation

Find all functions $f : \mathbb{N}\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ satisfying following condition: \[f(n+1)>f(f(n)), \quad \forall n \in \mathbb{N}.\]

1975 IMO Shortlist, 10

Tags: algebra , polynomial , functional equation

Determine the polynomials P of two variables so that: [b]a.)[/b] for any real numbers $t,x,y$ we have $P(tx,ty) = t^n P(x,y)$ where $n$ is a positive integer, the same for all $t,x,y;$ [b]b.)[/b] for any real numbers $a,b,c$ we have $P(a + b,c) + P(b + c,a) + P(c + a,b) = 0;$ [b]c.)[/b] $P(1,0) =1.$

2012 Brazil National Olympiad, 6

Tags: function , ratio , arithmetic sequence , algebra , functional equation

Find all surjective functions $f\colon (0,+\infty) \to (0,+\infty)$ such that $2x f(f(x)) = f(x)(x+f(f(x)))$ for all $x>0$.

2024 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 2

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

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

1980 IMO Shortlist, 7

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

The function $f$ is defined on the set $\mathbb{Q}$ of all rational numbers and has values in $\mathbb{Q}$. It satisfies the conditions $f(1) = 2$ and $f(xy) = f(x)f(y) - f(x+y) + 1$ for all $x,y \in \mathbb{Q}$. Determine $f$.

2017-IMOC, N1

Tags: fe , functional equation , number theory

If $f:\mathbb N\to\mathbb R$ is a function such that $$\prod_{d\mid n}f(d)=2^n$$holds for all $n\in\mathbb N$, show that $f$ sends $\mathbb N$ to $\mathbb N$.

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 $x, y \in R$.

2024-IMOC, A4

Tags: algebra , functional equation

find all function $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(x^3-xf(y)^2)=xf(x+y)f(x-y)\] holds for all real number $x$, $y$. [i]Proposed by chengbilly[/i]

2024 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Tags: function , algebra , functional equation

Find the functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ that satisfy $$(f(x)-y)f(x+f(y))=f(x^2)-yf(y),$$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y.$

2009 Dutch IMO TST, 4

Tags: functional equation , functional equation in z , algebra

Find all functions $f : Z \to Z$ satisfying $f(m + n) + f(mn -1) = f(m)f(n) + 2$ for all $m, n \in Z$.

2014 Polish MO Finals, 1

Tags: function , functional equation

Denote the set of positive rational numbers by $\mathbb{Q}_{+}$. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Q}_{+}\rightarrow \mathbb{Q}_{+}$ that satisfy $$\underbrace{f(f(f(\dots f(f}_{n}(q))\dots )))=f(nq)$$ for all integers $n\ge 1$ and rational numbers $q>0$.

2024 IFYM, Sozopol, 5

Tags: algebra , functional equation

The function $f: A \rightarrow A$ is such that $f(x) \leq x^2 \mbox{ and } f(x+y) \leq f(x) + f(y) + 2xy$ for any $x, y \in A$. a) If $A = \mathbb{R}$, find all functions satisfying the conditions. b) If $A = \mathbb{R}^{-}$, prove that there are infinitely many functions satisfying the conditions. [i](With $\mathbb{R}^{-}$ we denote the set of negative real numbers.)[/i]

1972 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , trigonometry , functional equation , algebra

Let $\alpha$ be an arbitrary angle and let $x = cos\alpha, y = cosn\alpha$ ($n \in Z$). i) Prove that to each value $x \in [-1, 1]$ corresponds one and only one value of $y$. Thus we can write $y$ as a function of $x, y = T_n(x)$. Compute $T_1(x), T_2(x)$ and prove that $T_{n+1}(x) = 2xT_n(x) - T_{n-1}(x)$. From this it follows that $T_n(x)$ is a polynomial of degree $n$. ii) Prove that the polynomial $T_n(x$) has $n$ distinct roots in $[-1, 1]$.