This website contains problems from math contests. Problems and corresponding tags were obtained from the Art of Problem Solving website.

Tags were heavily modified to better represent problems.

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Found problems: 259

2002 Miklós Schweitzer, 9

Let $M$ be a connected, compact $C^{\infty}$-differentiable manifold, and denote the vector space of smooth real functions on $M$ by $C^{\infty}(M)$. Let the subspace $V\le C^{\infty}(M)$ be invariant under $C^{\infty}$-diffeomorphisms of $M$, that is, let $f\circ h\in V$ for every $f\in V$ and for every $C^{\infty}$-diffeomorphism $h\colon M\rightarrow M$. Prove that if $V$ is different from the subspaces $\{ 0\}$ and $C^{\infty}(M)$ then $V$ only contains the constant functions.

1989 IMO Shortlist, 19

A natural number is written in each square of an $ m \times n$ chess board. The allowed move is to add an integer $ k$ to each of two adjacent numbers in such a way that non-negative numbers are obtained. (Two squares are adjacent if they have a common side.) Find a necessary and sufficient condition for it to be possible for all the numbers to be zero after finitely many operations.

2016 Tournament Of Towns, 5

On a blackboard, several polynomials of degree $37$ are written, each of them has the leading coefficient equal to $1$. Initially all coefficients of each polynomial are non-negative. By one move it is allowed to erase any pair of polynomials $f, g$ and replace it by another pair of polynomials $f_1, g_1$ of degree $37$ with the leading coefficients equal to $1$ such that either $f_1+g_1 = f+g$ or $f_1g_1 = fg$. Prove that it is impossible that after some move each polynomial on the blackboard has $37$ distinct positive roots. [i](8 points)[/i] [i]Alexandr Kuznetsov[/i]

2006 India IMO Training Camp, 3

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]

1996 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Prove that $ \forall x\in \mathbb{R} $ , $ \cos ^7x+\cos ^7(x+\frac {2\pi}{3})+\cos ^7(x+\frac {4\pi}{3})=\frac {63}{64}\cos 3x $

1988 IMO Longlists, 83

A number of signal lights are equally spaced along a one-way railroad track, labeled in oder $ 1,2, \ldots, N, N \geq 2.$ As a safety rule, a train is not allowed to pass a signal if any other train is in motion on the length of track between it and the following signal. However, there is no limit to the number of trains that can be parked motionless at a signal, one behind the other. (Assume the trains have zero length.) A series of $ K$ freight trains must be driven from Signal 1 to Signal $ N.$ Each train travels at a distinct but constant spped at all times when it is not blocked by the safety rule. Show that, regardless of the order in which the trains are arranged, the same time will elapse between the first train's departure from Signal 1 and the last train's arrival at Signal $ N.$

1961 All-Soviet Union Olympiad, 5

Consider a $2^k$-tuple of numbers $(a_1,a_2,\dots,a_{2^k})$ all equal to $1$ or $-1$. In one step, we transform it to $(a_1a_2,a_2a_3,\dots,a_{2^k}a_1)$. Prove that eventually, we will obtain a $2^k$-tuple consisting only of $1$'s.

1998 IMO Shortlist, 7

A solitaire game is played on an $m\times n$ rectangular board, using $mn$ markers which are white on one side and black on the other. Initially, each square of the board contains a marker with its white side up, except for one corner square, which contains a marker with its black side up. In each move, one may take away one marker with its black side up, but must then turn over all markers which are in squares having an edge in common with the square of the removed marker. Determine all pairs $(m,n)$ of positive integers such that all markers can be removed from the board.

2017 Germany, Landesrunde - Grade 11/12, 2

Three circles $k_1,k_2$ and $k_3$ go through the points $A$ and $B$. A secant through $A$ intersects the circles $k_1,k_2$ and $k_3$ again in the points $C,D$ resp. $E$. Prove that the ratio $|CD|:|DE|$ does not depend on the choice of the secant.

2023 Indonesia TST, 2

Let $n > 3$ be a positive integer. Suppose that $n$ children are arranged in a circle, and $n$ coins are distributed between them (some children may have no coins). At every step, a child with at least 2 coins may give 1 coin to each of their immediate neighbors on the right and left. Determine all initial distributions of the coins from which it is possible that, after a finite number of steps, each child has exactly one coin.

2017 Greece Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , invariant
Some positive integers are initially written on a board, where each $2$ of them are different. Each time we can do the following moves: (1) If there are 2 numbers (written in the board) in the form $n, n+1$ we can erase them and write down $n-2$ (2) If there are 2 numbers (written in the board) in the form $n, n+4$ we can erase them and write down $n-1$ After some moves, there might appear negative numbers. Find the maximum value of the integer $c$ such that: Independetly of the starting numbers, each number which appears in any move is greater or equal to $c$

2013 Brazil Team Selection Test, 1

Several positive integers are written in a row. Iteratively, Alice chooses two adjacent numbers $x$ and $y$ such that $x>y$ and $x$ is to the left of $y$, and replaces the pair $(x,y)$ by either $(y+1,x)$ or $(x-1,x)$. Prove that she can perform only finitely many such iterations. [i]Proposed by Warut Suksompong, Thailand[/i]

2009 Germany Team Selection Test, 3

Initially, on a board there a positive integer. If board contains the number $x,$ then we may additionally write the numbers $2x+1$ and $\frac{x}{x+2}.$ At some point 2008 is written on the board. Prove, that this number was there from the beginning.

MathLinks Contest 7th, 2.1

Let $ k$ be an integer, $ k \geq 2$, and let $ p_{1},\ p_{2},\ \ldots,\ p_{k}$ be positive reals with $ p_{1} \plus{} p_{2} \plus{} \ldots \plus{} p_{k} \equal{} 1$. Suppose we have a collection $ \left(A_{1,1},\ A_{1,2},\ \ldots,\ A_{1,k}\right)$, $ \left(A_{2,1},\ A_{2,2},\ \ldots,\ A_{2,k}\right)$, $ \ldots$, $ \left(A_{m,1},\ A_{1,2},\ \ldots,\ A_{m,k}\right)$ of $ k$-tuples of finite sets satisfying the following two properties: (i) for every $ i$ and every $ j \neq j^{\prime}$, $ A_{i,j}\cap A_{i,j^{\prime}} \equal{} \emptyset$, and (ii) for every $ i\neq i^{\prime}$ there exist $ j\neq j^{\prime}$ for which $ A_{i,j} \cap A_{i^{\prime},j^{\prime}}\neq\emptyset$. Prove that \[ \sum_{b \equal{} 1}^{m}{\prod_{a \equal{} 1}^{k}{p_{a}^{|A_{b,a}|}}} \leq 1. \]

1988 IMO Longlists, 85

Around a circular table an even number of persons have a discussion. After a break they sit again around the circular table in a different order. Prove that there are at least two people such that the number of participants sitting between them before and after a break is the same.

PEN I Problems, 2

Prove that for any positive integer $n$, \[\left\lfloor \frac{n}{3}\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor \frac{n+2}{6}\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor \frac{n+4}{6}\right\rfloor = \left\lfloor \frac{n}{2}\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor \frac{n+3}{6}\right\rfloor .\]

2020 Final Mathematical Cup, 3

Given a paper on which the numbers $1,2,3\dots ,14,15$ are written. Andy and Bobby are bored and perform the following operations, Andy chooses any two numbers (say $x$ and $y$) on the paper, erases them, and writes the sum of the numbers on the initial paper. Meanwhile, Bobby writes the value of $xy(x+y)$ in his book. They were so bored that they both performed the operation until only $1$ number remained. Then Bobby adds up all the numbers he wrote in his book, let’s call $k$ as the sum. $a$. Prove that $k$ is constant which means it does not matter how they perform the operation, $b$. Find the value of $k$.

2025 All-Russian Olympiad, 9.6

Petya chooses $100$ pairwise distinct positive numbers less than $1$ and arranges them in a circle. In one operation, he may take three consecutive numbers \( a, b, c \) (in this order) and replace \( b \) with \( a - b + c \). What is the greatest value of \( k \) such that Petya could initially choose the numbers and perform several operations so that \( k \) of the resulting numbers are integers? \\

2022 China Team Selection Test, 3

Let $a, b, c, p, q, r$ be positive integers with $p, q, r \ge 2$. Denote \[Q=\{(x, y, z)\in \mathbb{Z}^3 : 0 \le x \le a, 0 \le y \le b , 0 \le z \le c \}. \] Initially, some pieces are put on the each point in $Q$, with a total of $M$ pieces. Then, one can perform the following three types of operations repeatedly: (1) Remove $p$ pieces on $(x, y, z)$ and place a piece on $(x-1, y, z)$ ; (2) Remove $q$ pieces on $(x, y, z)$ and place a piece on $(x, y-1, z)$ ; (3) Remove $r$ pieces on $(x, y, z)$ and place a piece on $(x, y, z-1)$. Find the smallest positive integer $M$ such that one can always perform a sequence of operations, making a piece placed on $(0,0,0)$, no matter how the pieces are distributed initially.

2010 Contests, 2

In each cell of an $n\times n$ board is a lightbulb. Initially, all of the lights are off. Each move consists of changing the state of all of the lights in a row or of all of the lights in a column (off lights are turned on and on lights are turned off). Show that if after a certain number of moves, at least one light is on, then at this moment at least $n$ lights are on.

2014 IMO Shortlist, C2

We have $2^m$ sheets of paper, with the number $1$ written on each of them. We perform the following operation. In every step we choose two distinct sheets; if the numbers on the two sheets are $a$ and $b$, then we erase these numbers and write the number $a + b$ on both sheets. Prove that after $m2^{m -1}$ steps, the sum of the numbers on all the sheets is at least $4^m$ . [i]Proposed by Abbas Mehrabian, Iran[/i]

2006 District Olympiad, 2

Let $G= \{ A \in \mathcal M_2 \left( \mathbb C \right) \mid |\det A| = 1 \}$ and $H =\{A \in \mathcal M_2 \left( \mathbb C \right) \mid \det A = 1 \}$. Prove that $G$ and $H$ together with the operation of matrix multiplication are two non-isomorphical groups.

2010 Saint Petersburg Mathematical Olympiad, 7

$200 \times 200$ square is colored in chess order. In one move we can take every $2 \times 3$ rectangle and change color of all its cells. Can we make all cells of square in same color ?

2011 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 5

On the table lay a pencil, sharpened at one end. The student can rotate the pencil around one of its ends at $45^{\circ}$ clockwise or counterclockwise. Can the student, after a few turns of the pencil, go back to the starting position so that the sharpened end and the not sharpened are reversed?

2007 IMC, 5

For each positive integer $ k$, find the smallest number $ n_{k}$ for which there exist real $ n_{k}\times n_{k}$ matrices $ A_{1}, A_{2}, \ldots, A_{k}$ such that all of the following conditions hold: (1) $ A_{1}^{2}= A_{2}^{2}= \ldots = A_{k}^{2}= 0$, (2) $ A_{i}A_{j}= A_{j}A_{i}$ for all $ 1 \le i, j \le k$, and (3) $ A_{1}A_{2}\ldots A_{k}\ne 0$.