Found problems: 98
2010 Belarus Team Selection Test, 5.3
Let $f$ be any function that maps the set of real numbers into the set of real numbers. Prove that there exist real numbers $x$ and $y$ such that \[f\left(x-f(y)\right)>yf(x)+x\]
[i]Proposed by Igor Voronovich, Belarus[/i]
2021 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 4
Give examples of a function $f : R \to R$ that satisfies $0 < f(x) < f(x + f(x)) <\sqrt2 x$, for all positive $x$,
and show that there is no function $f : R \to R$ that satisfies $x < f(x + f(x)) <\sqrt2 f(x)$, for all positive $x$.
2009 Germany Team Selection Test, 2
Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions:
(i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$;
(ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$.
Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list]
[i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]
2021 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 1
Determine all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that the inequality
\[ f(x^2)-f(y^2) \le (f(x)+y)(x-f(y)) \]
holds for all real numbers $x$ and $y$.
2016 Taiwan TST Round 1, 1
Suppose function $f:[0,\infty)\to[0,\infty)$ satisfies
(1)$\forall x,y \geq 0,$ we have $f(x)f(y)\leq y^2f(\frac{x}{2})+x^2f(\frac{y}{2})$;
(2)$\forall 0 \leq x \leq 1, f(x) \leq 2016$.
Prove that $f(x)\leq x^2$ for all $x\geq 0$.
2017 IFYM, Sozopol, 6
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Z}^+ \rightarrow \mathbb{Z}^+$, for which
$f(k+1)>f(f(k)) \quad \forall k \geq 1$.
2008 Switzerland - Final Round, 2
Determine all functions $f : R^+ \to R^+$, so that for all $x, y > 0$:
$$f(xy) \le \frac{xf(y) + yf(x)}{2}$$
2008 IMO Shortlist, 3
Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions:
(i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$;
(ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$.
Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list]
[i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]
2000 Nordic, 4
The real-valued function $f$ is defined for $0 \le x \le 1, f(0) = 0, f(1) = 1$, and $\frac{1}{2} \le \frac{ f(z) - f(y)}{f(y) - f(x)} \le 2$ for all $0 \le x < y < z \le 1$ with $z - y = y -x$. Prove that $\frac{1}{7} \le f (\frac{1}{3} ) \le \frac{4}{7}$.
2019 Thailand Mathematical Olympiad, 6
Determine all function $f:\mathbb{R}\to\mathbb{R}$ such that $xf(y)+yf(x)\leqslant xy$ for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$.
2024 Thailand TST, 2
Let $\mathbb R_{>0}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Determine all functions $f \colon \mathbb R_{>0} \to \mathbb R_{>0}$ such that \[x \big(f(x) + f(y)\big) \geqslant \big(f(f(x)) + y\big) f(y)\] for every $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.
2010 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 3
Let $a > 0$ be a real number and let $f : R \to R$ be a function satisfying $$f(x_1) + f(x_2) \ge a f(x_1 + x_2), \forall x_1 ,x_2 \in R.$$ Prove that $$f(x_1) + f(x_2) +(x_3) \ge \frac{3a^2}{a+2} f(x_1+ x_2 + x_3), \forall x_1 ,x_2,x_3 \in R$$.
2010 Brazil Team Selection Test, 4
Let $f$ be any function that maps the set of real numbers into the set of real numbers. Prove that there exist real numbers $x$ and $y$ such that \[f\left(x-f(y)\right)>yf(x)+x\]
[i]Proposed by Igor Voronovich, Belarus[/i]
2015 Taiwan TST Round 3, 2
Consider all polynomials $P(x)$ with real coefficients that have the following property: for any two real numbers $x$ and $y$ one has \[|y^2-P(x)|\le 2|x|\quad\text{if and only if}\quad |x^2-P(y)|\le 2|y|.\] Determine all possible values of $P(0)$.
[i]Proposed by Belgium[/i]
1972 IMO Longlists, 7
$f$ and $g$ are real-valued functions defined on the real line. For all $x$ and $y, f(x+y)+f(x-y)=2f(x)g(y)$. $f$ is not identically zero and $|f(x)|\le1$ for all $x$. Prove that $|g(x)|\le1$ for all $x$.
2009 Peru IMO TST, 6
Let $ S\subseteq\mathbb{R}$ be a set of real numbers. We say that a pair $ (f, g)$ of functions from $ S$ into $ S$ is a [i]Spanish Couple[/i] on $ S$, if they satisfy the following conditions:
(i) Both functions are strictly increasing, i.e. $ f(x) < f(y)$ and $ g(x) < g(y)$ for all $ x$, $ y\in S$ with $ x < y$;
(ii) The inequality $ f\left(g\left(g\left(x\right)\right)\right) < g\left(f\left(x\right)\right)$ holds for all $ x\in S$.
Decide whether there exists a Spanish Couple [list][*] on the set $ S \equal{} \mathbb{N}$ of positive integers; [*] on the set $ S \equal{} \{a \minus{} \frac {1}{b}: a, b\in\mathbb{N}\}$[/list]
[i]Proposed by Hans Zantema, Netherlands[/i]
2024 Brazil Team Selection Test, 2
Let $\mathbb R_{>0}$ be the set of positive real numbers. Determine all functions $f \colon \mathbb R_{>0} \to \mathbb R_{>0}$ such that \[x \big(f(x) + f(y)\big) \geqslant \big(f(f(x)) + y\big) f(y)\] for every $x, y \in \mathbb R_{>0}$.
1994 Austrian-Polish Competition, 1
A function $f: R \to R$ satisfies the conditions:
$f (x + 19) \le f (x) + 19$ and $f (x + 94) \ge f (x) + 94$ for all $x \in R$.
Prove that $f (x + 1) = f (x) + 1$ for all $x \in R$.
2019 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 5
Let $f$ be a function that is defined for all positive integers and whose values are positive integers. For $f$ it also holds that $f (n + 1)> f (n)$ and $f (f (n)) = 3n$, for each positive integer $n$. Calculate $f (2019)$.
2022 IMO Shortlist, A3
Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ such that for each $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$, there is exactly one $y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ satisfying $$xf(y)+yf(x) \leq 2$$
2014 VTRMC, Problem 6
Let $S$ denote the set of $2$ by $2$ matrices with integer entries and determinant $1$, and let $T$ denote those matrices of $S$ which are congruent to the identity matrix $I\pmod3$ (so $\begin{pmatrix}a&b\\c&d\end{pmatrix}\in T$ means that $a,b,c,d\in\mathbb Z,ad-bc=1,$ and $3$ divides $b,c,a-1,d-1$).
(a) Let $f:T\to\mathbb R$ be a function such that for every $X,Y\in T$ with $Y\ne I$, either $f(XY)>f(X)$ or $f(XY^{-1})>f(X)$. Show that given two finite nonempty subsets $A,B$ of $T$, there are matrices $a\in A$ and $b\in B$ such that if $a'\in A$, $b'\in B$ and $a'b'=ab$, then $a'=a$ and $b'=b$.
(b) Show that there is no $f:S\to\mathbb R$ such that for every $X,Y\in S$ with $Y\ne\pm I$, either $f(XY)>f(X)$ or $f(XY^{-1})>f(X)$.
1977 IMO Shortlist, 1
Find all functions $f : \mathbb{N}\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ satisfying following condition:
\[f(n+1)>f(f(n)), \quad \forall n \in \mathbb{N}.\]
1972 IMO, 2
$f$ and $g$ are real-valued functions defined on the real line. For all $x$ and $y, f(x+y)+f(x-y)=2f(x)g(y)$. $f$ is not identically zero and $|f(x)|\le1$ for all $x$. Prove that $|g(x)|\le1$ for all $x$.
1973 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 6
$f(x)$ is a real valued function defined for $x \geq 0$ such that $f(0) = 0$, $f(x+1)=f(x)+\sqrt{x}$ for all $x$, and
\[
f(x) < \frac{1}{2}f\left(x - \frac{1}{2}\right)+\frac{1}{2}f\left(x + \frac{1}{2}\right) \quad \text{for all} \quad x \geq \frac{1}{2}
\]
Show that $f\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)$ is uniquely determined.
2019 Dutch IMO TST, 3
Find all functions $f : Z \to Z$ satisfying the following two conditions:
(i) for all integers $x$ we have $f(f(x)) = x$,
(ii) for all integers $x$ and y such that $x + y$ is odd, we have $f(x) + f(y) \ge x + y$.