Olympiad problems

1969 IMO Longlists, 69

$(YUG 1)$ Suppose that positive real numbers $x_1, x_2, x_3$ satisfy $x_1x_2x_3 > 1, x_1 + x_2 + x_3 <\frac{1}{x_1}+\frac{1}{x_2}+\frac{1}{x_3}$ Prove that: $(a)$ None of $x_1, x_2, x_3$ equals $1$. $(b)$ Exactly one of these numbers is less than $1.$

2020 Balkan MO Shortlist, A2

Tags: algebra , inequality

Given are positive reals $a, b, c$, such that $\frac{1}{a}+\frac{1}{b}+\frac{1}{c}=3$. Prove that $\frac{\sqrt{a+\frac{b}{c}}+\sqrt{b+\frac{c}{a}}+\sqrt{c+\frac{a}{b}}}{3}\leq \frac{a+b+c-1}{\sqrt{2}}$. [i]Albania[/i]

2020 Centroamerican and Caribbean Math Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequality , inequalities , n-variable inequality

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with real non-negative coefficients. Let $k$ be a positive integer and $x_1, x_2, \dots, x_k$ positive real numbers such that $x_1x_2\cdots x_k=1$. Prove that $$P(x_1)+P(x_2)+\cdots+P(x_k)\geq kP(1).$$

2017 Saudi Arabia JBMO TST, 5

Tags: algebra , inequality

Let $a,b,c>0$ and $a+b+c=6$ . Prove that $$ \frac{1}{a^2b+16}+\frac{1}{b^2c+16}+\frac{1}{c^2a+16} \ge \frac{1}{8}.$$

2014 IFYM, Sozopol, 8

Tags: inequality , triangle inequality , inequalities , algebra

Prove that, if $a,b,c$ are sides of a triangle, then we have the following inequality: $3(a^3 b+b^3 c+c^3 a)+2(ab^3+bc^3+ca^3 )\geq 5(a^2 b^2+a^2 c^2+b^2 c^2 )$.

2014 India PRMO, 14

Tags: inequality

One morning, each member of Manjul’s family drank an $8$-ounce mixture of coffee and milk. The amounts of coffee and milk varied from cup to cup, but were never zero. Manjul drank $1/7$-th of the total amount of milk and $2/17$-th of the total amount of coffee. How many people are there in Manjul’s family?

1971 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , inequality , combinatorial inequality

The matrix \[A=\begin{pmatrix} a_{11} & \ldots & a_{1n} \\ \vdots & \ldots & \vdots \\ a_{n1} & \ldots & a_{nn} \end{pmatrix}\] satisfies the inequality $\sum_{j=1}^n |a_{j1}x_1 + \cdots+ a_{jn}x_n| \leq M$ for each choice of numbers $x_i$ equal to $\pm 1$. Show that \[|a_{11} + a_{22} + \cdots+ a_{nn}| \leq M.\]

2012 Israel National Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , inequality , symmetric inequality , inequalities

Let $a,b,c$ be real numbers such that $a^3(b+c)+b^3(a+c)+c^3(a+b)=0$. Prove that $ab+bc+ca\leq0$.

2021 Greece JBMO TST, 1

Tags: inequality , algebra

If positive reals $x,y$ are such that $2(x+y)=1+xy$, find the minimum value of expression $$A=x+\frac{1}{x}+y+\frac{1}{y}$$

2004 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: inequalities , algebra , inequality

Prove that if $a,b,c \ge 1$ and $a+b+c=9$, then $\sqrt{ab+bc+ca} \le \sqrt{a} +\sqrt{b} + \sqrt{c}$

1969 IMO Shortlist, 35

Tags: inequality , series summation

$(HUN 2)$ Prove that $1+\frac{1}{2^3}+\frac{1}{3^3}+\cdots+\frac{1}{n^3}<\frac{5}{4}$

2020 IMO Shortlist, A3

Tags: algebra , inequality , 4-variable inequality , inequalities

Suppose that $a,b,c,d$ are positive real numbers satisfying $(a+c)(b+d)=ac+bd$. Find the smallest possible value of $$\frac{a}{b}+\frac{b}{c}+\frac{c}{d}+\frac{d}{a}.$$ [i]Israel[/i]

1974 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: inequality , polynomial , distance , minimization , optimization

The sum of the squares of five real numbers $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, a_5$ equals $1$. Prove that the least of the numbers $(a_i - a_j)^2$, where $i, j = 1, 2, 3, 4,5$ and $i \neq j$, does not exceed $\frac{1}{10}.$

1979 IMO Longlists, 54

Tags: recurrence relation , inequality , sequence , number theory

Consider the sequences $(a_n), (b_n)$ defined by \[a_1=3, \quad b_1=100 , \quad a_{n+1}=3^{a_n} , \quad b_{n+1}=100^{b_n} \] Find the smallest integer $m$ for which $b_m > a_{100}.$

1983 IMO Longlists, 60

Tags: algebra , summation , series summation , approximation , inequality

Find the greatest integer less than or equal to $\sum_{k=1}^{2^{1983}} k^{\frac{1}{1983} -1}.$

1984 IMO, 1

Tags: inequality , three variable inequality , calculus , maximization

Prove that $0\le yz+zx+xy-2xyz\le{7\over27}$, where $x,y$ and $z$ are non-negative real numbers satisfying $x+y+z=1$.

2023 China Western Mathematical Olympiad, 7

Tags: algebra , inequality , number theory

For positive integers $x, y, $ $r_x(y)$ to represent the smallest positive integer $ r $ such that $ r \equiv y(\text{mod x})$ .For any positive integers $a, b, n ,$ Prove that $$\sum_{i=1}^{n} r_b(a i)\leq \frac{n(a+b)}{2}$$

2010 Junior Balkan Team Selection Tests - Romania, 3

Tags: algebra , inequality

Let $a, b, c$ be real numbers with the property as $ab + bc + ca = 1$. Show that: $$\frac {(a + b) ^ 2 + 1} {c ^ 2 + 2} + \frac {(b + c) ^ 2 + 1} {a ^ 2 + 2} + \frac {(c + a) ^ 2 + 1} {b ^ 2 + 2} \ge 3 $$.

2024 Brazil EGMO TST, 1

Tags: inequality , algebra , inequalities

Decide whether there exists a positive real number $ a < 1 $ such that, for any positive real numbers $ x $ and $ y $, the inequality \[ \frac{2xy^2}{x^2 + y^2} \leq (1 - a)x + ay \] holds true.

2019 District Olympiad, 1

Tags: inequality , identity , cauchy inequality , algebra

Let $n \in \mathbb{N}, n \ge 2$ and the positive real numbers $a_1,a_2,…,a_n$ and $b_1,b_2,…,b_n$ such that $a_1+a_2+…+a_n=b_1+b_2+…+b_n=S.$ $\textbf{a)}$ Prove that $\sum\limits_{k=1}^n \frac{a_k^2}{a_k+b_k} \ge \frac{S}{2}.$ $\textbf{b)}$ Prove that $\sum\limits_{k=1}^n \frac{a_k^2}{a_k+b_k}= \sum\limits_{k=1}^n \frac{b_k^2}{a_k+b_k}.$

2023 Belarusian National Olympiad, 10.3

Tags: inequality , algebra , inequalities

Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers, that satisfy $abc=1$. Prove the inequality: $$\frac{ab}{1+c}+\frac{bc}{1+a}+\frac{ca}{1+b} \geq \frac{27}{(a+b+c)(3+a+b+c)}$$

1992 IMO Longlists, 79

Tags: floor function , algebra , sequence , fibonacci , fibonacci sequence , inequality

Let $ \lfloor x \rfloor$ denote the greatest integer less than or equal to $ x.$ Pick any $ x_1$ in $ [0, 1)$ and define the sequence $ x_1, x_2, x_3, \ldots$ by $ x_{n\plus{}1} \equal{} 0$ if $ x_n \equal{} 0$ and $ x_{n\plus{}1} \equal{} \frac{1}{x_n} \minus{} \left \lfloor \frac{1}{x_n} \right \rfloor$ otherwise. Prove that \[ x_1 \plus{} x_2 \plus{} \ldots \plus{} x_n < \frac{F_1}{F_2} \plus{} \frac{F_2}{F_3} \plus{} \ldots \plus{} \frac{F_n}{F_{n\plus{}1}},\] where $ F_1 \equal{} F_2 \equal{} 1$ and $ F_{n\plus{}2} \equal{} F_{n\plus{}1} \plus{} F_n$ for $ n \geq 1.$

1969 IMO Longlists, 67

Tags: inequality , algebra

Given real numbers $x_1,x_2,y_1,y_2,z_1,z_2$ satisfying $x_1>0,x_2>0,x_1y_1>z_1^2$, and $x_2y_2>z_2^2$, prove that: \[ {8\over(x_1+x_2)(y_1+y_2)-(z_1+z_2)^2}\le{1\over x_1y_1-z_1^2}+{1\over x_2y_2-z_2^2}. \] Give necessary and sufficient conditions for equality.

1979 IMO Shortlist, 19

Tags: number theory , recurrence relation , inequality , sequence

Consider the sequences $(a_n), (b_n)$ defined by \[a_1=3, \quad b_1=100 , \quad a_{n+1}=3^{a_n} , \quad b_{n+1}=100^{b_n} \] Find the smallest integer $m$ for which $b_m > a_{100}.$

1983 IMO Longlists, 66

Tags: algebra , polynomial , rearrangement inequality , triangle inequality , inequality

Let $ a$, $ b$ and $ c$ be the lengths of the sides of a triangle. Prove that \[ a^{2}b(a \minus{} b) \plus{} b^{2}c(b \minus{} c) \plus{} c^{2}a(c \minus{} a)\ge 0. \] Determine when equality occurs.