Olympiad problems

2018 Ukraine Team Selection Test, 8

Tags: function , algebra

A sequence of real numbers $a_1,a_2,\ldots$ satisfies the relation $$a_n=-\max_{i+j=n}(a_i+a_j)\qquad\text{for all}\quad n>2017.$$ Prove that the sequence is bounded, i.e., there is a constant $M$ such that $|a_n|\leq M$ for all positive integers $n$.

2023 Israel TST, P1

Tags: combinatorics , pentagon

A real number is written next to each vertex of a regular pentagon. All five numbers are different. A triple of vertices is called [b] successful[/b] if they form an isosceles triangle for which the number written on the top vertex is either larger than both numbers written on the base vertices, or smaller than both. Find the maximum possible number of successful triples.

2014 Online Math Open Problems, 15

Tags: probability , ceiling function , linear algebra , matrix , modular arithmetic

In Prime Land, there are seven major cities, labelled $C_0$, $C_1$, \dots, $C_6$. For convenience, we let $C_{n+7} = C_n$ for each $n=0,1,\dots,6$; i.e. we take the indices modulo $7$. Al initially starts at city $C_0$. Each minute for ten minutes, Al flips a fair coin. If the coin land heads, and he is at city $C_k$, he moves to city $C_{2k}$; otherwise he moves to city $C_{2k+1}$. If the probability that Al is back at city $C_0$ after $10$ moves is $\tfrac{m}{1024}$, find $m$. [i]Proposed by Ray Li[/i]

2023 Balkan MO, 2

Tags: geometry

In triangle $ABC$, the incircle touches sides $BC,CA,AB$ at $D,E,F$ respectively. Assume there exists a point $X$ on the line $EF$ such that \[\angle{XBC} = \angle{XCB} = 45^{\circ}.\] Let $M$ be the midpoint of the arc $BC$ on the circumcircle of $ABC$ not containing $A$. Prove that the line $MD$ passes through $E$ or $F$. United Kingdom

2024 Turkey Olympic Revenge, 4

Tags: radical axis , geometry

Let the circumcircle of a triangle $ABC$ be $\Gamma$. The tangents to $\Gamma$ at $B,C$ meet at point $E$. For a point $F$ on line $BC$ which is not on the segment $BC$, let the midpoint of $EF$ be $G$. Lines $GB,GC$ meet $\Gamma$ again at points $I,H$ respectively. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Prove that the points $F,I,H,M$ lie on a circle. Proposed by [i]Mehmet Can Baştemir[/i]

2004 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: combinatorics , inequalities

Let $ k$ be a positive integer. Set $ A \subseteq \mathbb{Z}$ is called a $ \textbf{k \minus{} set}$ if there exists $ x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_k \in \mathbb{Z}$ such that for any $ i \neq j$, $ (x_i \plus{} A) \cap (x_j \plus{} A) \equal{} \emptyset$, where $ x \plus{} A \equal{} \{ x \plus{} a \mid a \in A \}$. Prove that if $ A_i$ is $ \textbf{k}_i\textbf{ \minus{} set}$($ i \equal{} 1,2, \cdots, t$), and $ A_1 \cup A_2 \cup \cdots \cup A_t \equal{} \mathbb{Z}$, then $ \displaystyle \frac {1}{k_1} \plus{} \frac {1}{k_2} \plus{} \cdots \plus{} \frac {1}{k_t} \geq 1$.

2006 India IMO Training Camp, 3

Tags: modular arithmetic , invariant , combinatorics

There are $ n$ markers, each with one side white and the other side black. In the beginning, these $ n$ markers are aligned in a row so that their white sides are all up. In each step, if possible, we choose a marker whose white side is up (but not one of the outermost markers), remove it, and reverse the closest marker to the left of it and also reverse the closest marker to the right of it. Prove that, by a finite sequence of such steps, one can achieve a state with only two markers remaining if and only if $ n \minus{} 1$ is not divisible by $ 3$. [i]Proposed by Dusan Dukic, Serbia[/i]

2020 Cono Sur Olympiad, 5

Tags: invariant , product , operation

There is a pile with $15$ coins on a table. At each step, Pedro choses one of the piles in the table with $a>1$ coins and divides it in two piles with $b\geq1$ and $c\geq1$ coins and writes in the board the product $abc$. He continues until there are $15$ piles with $1$ coin each. Determine all possible values that the final sum of the numbers in the board can have.

2008 Regional Olympiad of Mexico Center Zone, 3

Tags: coloring , combinatorics

Consider a $n \times n$ grid divided into $n ^ 2$ squares of $1 \times 1$. Each of the $(n + 1) ^ 2 $ vertices of the grid is colored red or blue. Find the number of coloring such that each unit square has two red and two blue vertices.

2020 Durer Math Competition Finals, 1

Tags: equal area , geometry

Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle where $AC > BC$. Let $T$ denote the foot of the altitude from vertex $C$, denote the circumcentre of the triangle by $O$. Show that quadrilaterals $ATOC$ and $BTOC$ have equal area.

2018-2019 Fall SDPC, 4

Tags: function , algebra

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

2008 IMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: combinatorics , probabilistic method , counting

Let $ S \equal{} \{x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_{k \plus{} l}\}$ be a $ (k \plus{} l)$-element set of real numbers contained in the interval $ [0, 1]$; $ k$ and $ l$ are positive integers. A $ k$-element subset $ A\subset S$ is called [i]nice[/i] if \[ \left |\frac {1}{k}\sum_{x_i\in A} x_i \minus{} \frac {1}{l}\sum_{x_j\in S\setminus A} x_j\right |\le \frac {k \plus{} l}{2kl}\] Prove that the number of nice subsets is at least $ \dfrac{2}{k \plus{} l}\dbinom{k \plus{} l}{k}$. [i]Proposed by Andrey Badzyan, Russia[/i]

2008 Purple Comet Problems, 13

Tags: probability , number theory , relatively prime

If you roll six fair dice, let $\mathsf{ p}$ be the probability that exactly five different numbers appear on the upper faces of the six dice. If $\mathsf{p} = \frac{m}{n}$ where $ m $ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers, find $m+n.$

2014 China National Olympiad, 1

Tags: induction , algebra , number theory , logarithm

Let $n=p_1^{a_1}p_2^{a_2}\cdots p_t^{a_t}$ be the prime factorisation of $n$. Define $\omega(n)=t$ and $\Omega(n)=a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_t$. Prove or disprove: For any fixed positive integer $k$ and positive reals $\alpha,\beta$, there exists a positive integer $n>1$ such that i) $\frac{\omega(n+k)}{\omega(n)}>\alpha$ ii) $\frac{\Omega(n+k)}{\Omega(n)}<\beta$.

2017 ASDAN Math Tournament, 5

Tags:

Compute the maximum value attained by $f(x)=x^{1/x^2}$.

1978 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 265

Tags: combinatorics , combinatorial geometry , lattice points

Given a simple number $p>3$. Consider the set $M$ of the pairs $(x,y)$ with the integer coordinates in the plane such that $0 \le x < p, 0 \le y < p$. Prove that it is possible to mark $p$ points of $M$ such that not a triple of marked points will belong to one line and there will be no parallelogram with the vertices in the marked points.

2017 Iberoamerican, 6

Tags: inequalities

Let $n > 2$ be an even positive integer and let $a_1 < a_2 < \dots < a_n$ be real numbers such that $a_{k + 1} - a_k \leq 1$ for each $1 \leq k \leq n - 1$. Let $A$ be the set of ordered pairs $(i, j)$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$ such that $j - i$ is even, and let $B$ the set of ordered pairs $(i, j)$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$ such that $j - i$ is odd. Show that $$\prod_{(i, j) \in A} (a_j - a_i) > \prod_{(i, j) \in B} (a_j - a_i)$$

Estonia Open Junior - geometry, 2005.2.3

Tags: geometry , regular , octagon , square

The vertices of the square $ABCD$ are the centers of four circles, all of which pass through the center of the square. Prove that the intersections of the circles on the square $ABCD$ sides are vertices of a regular octagon.

Geometry Mathley 2011-12, 5.4

Tags: concurrent circles , circles , geometry , concurrency

Let $ABC$ be a triangle inscribed in a circle $(O)$. Let $P$ be an arbitrary point in the plane of triangle $ABC$. Points $A',B',C'$ are the reflections of $P$ about the lines $BC,CA,AB$ respectively. $X$ is the intersection, distinct from $A$, of the circle with diameter $AP$ and the circumcircle of triangle $AB'C'$. Points $Y,Z$ are defined in the same way. Prove that five circles $(O), (AB'C')$, $(BC'A'), (CA'B'), (XY Z)$ have a point in common. Nguyễn Văn Linh

2012 JBMO ShortLists, 1

Tags: geometry , circumcircle

Let $ABC$ be an equilateral triangle , and $P$ be a point on the circumcircle of the triangle but distinct from $A$ ,$B$ and $C$. The lines through $P$ and parallel to $BC$ , $CA$ , $AB$ intersect the lines $CA$ , $AB$ , $BC$ at $M$ , $N$ and $Q$ respectively .Prove that $M$ , $N$ and $Q$ are collinear .

2015 Turkey MO (2nd round), 3

Tags: combinatorics

$n$ points are given on a plane where $n\ge4$. All pairs of points are connected with a segment. Find the maximal number of segments which don't intersect with any other segments in their interior.

2015 AMC 8, 17

Tags:

Jeremy's father drives him to school in rush hour traffic in 20 minutes. One day there is no traffic, so his father can drive him 18 miles per hour faster and gets him to school in 12 minutes. How far in miles is it to school? $ \textbf{(A) } 4 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 6 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 8 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 9 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 12 $

2025 CMIMC Algebra/NT, 7

Tags: algebra , number theory

Consider a recursively defined sequence $a_n$ with $a_1=1$ such that, for $n \ge 2,$ $a_n$ is formed by appending the last digit of $n$ to the end of $a_{n-1}.$ For a positive integer $m,$ let $\nu_3(m)$ be the largest integer $t$ such that $3^t \mid m.$ Compute $$\sum_{n=1}^{810} \nu_3(a_n).$$

1989 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 4

Tags: egyptian fractions , number theory , divisor

Let $n$ be an odd positive integer. Show that the equation $$ \frac{4}{n} =\frac{1}{x} + \frac{1}{y}$$ has a solution in the positive integers if and only if $n$ has a divisor of the form $4k+3$.

2015 Mediterranean Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: combinatorics

In a mathematical contest, some of the competitors are friends and friendship is mutual. Prove that there is a subset $M$ of the competitors such that each element of $M$ has at most three friends in $M$ and such that each competitor who is not in $M,$ has at least four friends in $M.$