Let $0<k<\frac{1}{2}$ be a real number and let $a_0, b_0$ be arbitrary real numbers in $(0,1)$. The sequences $(a_n)_{n\ge 0}$ and $(b_n)_{n\ge 0}$ are then defined recursively by $$a_{n+1} = \dfrac{a_n+1}{2} \text{ and } b_{n+1} = b_n^k$$ for $n\ge 0$. Prove that $a_n<b_n$ for all sufficiently large $n$. [i]Proposed by Michael Ma

Let $n \ge 3$ be a fixed integer. A game is played by $n$ players sitting in a circle. Initially, each player draws three cards from a shuffled deck of $3n$ cards numbered $1, 2, \dots, 3n$. Then, on each turn, every player simultaneously passes the smallest-numbered card in their hand one place clockwise and the largest-numbered card in their hand one place counterclockwise, while keeping the middle card. Let $T_r$ denote the configuration after $r$ turns (so $T_0$ is the initial configuration). Show that $T_r$ is eventually periodic with period $n$, and find the smallest integer $m$ for which, regardless of the initial configuration, $T_m=T_{m+n}$. [i]Proposed by Carl Schildkraut and Colin Tang[/i]

Define sequence $(a_{n})_{n=1}^{\infty}$ by $a_1=a_2=a_3=1$ and $a_{n+3}=a_{n+1}+a_{n}$ for all $n \geq 1$. Also, define sequence $(b_{n})_{n=1}^{\infty}$ by $b_1=b_2=b_3=b_4=b_5=1$ and $b_{n+5}=b_{n+4}+b_{n}$ for all $n \geq 1$. Prove that $\exists N \in \mathbb{N}$ such that $a_n = b_{n+1} + b_{n-8}$ for all $n \geq N$.

Find all subsets $A$ of $\left\{ 1, 2, 3, 4, \ldots \right\}$, with $|A| \geq 2$, such that for all $x,y \in A, \, x \neq y$, we have that $\frac{x+y}{\gcd (x,y)}\in A$. [i]Dan Schwarz[/i]

Consider a function f defined on the positive integers that meets the following conditions: $$f(1) = 1 \, , \,\, f(2n) = 2f(n) \, , \,\, nf(2n + 1) = (2n + 1)(f(n) + n) $$ for all $n \ge 1$. a) Prove that $f(n)$ is an integer for all $n$. b) Find all positive integers $m$ less than $2013$ that satisfy the equation $f(m) = 2m$.

Find a method by which one can compute the coefficients of $P(x) = x^6 + a_1x^5 + \cdots+ a_6$ from the roots of $P(x) = 0$ by performing not more than $15$ additions and $15$ multiplications.

(a) For each integer $k\ge 3$, find a positive integer $n$ that can be represented as the sum of exactly $k$ mutually distinct positive divisors of $n$. (b) Suppose that $n$ can be expressed as the sum of exactly $k$ mutually distinct positive divisors of $n$ for some $k\ge 3$. Let $p$ be the smallest prime divisor of $n$. Show that \[\frac1p+\frac1{p+1}+\cdots+\frac{1}{p+k-1}\ge1.\]

Prove that if the function $ f : \mathbb{R}^2 \rightarrow [0,1]$ is continuous and its average on every circle of radius $ 1$ equals the function value at the center of the circle, then $ f$ is constant. [i]V. Totik[/i]

In each square of a garden shaped like a $2022 \times 2022$ board, there is initially a tree of height $0$. A gardener and a lumberjack alternate turns playing the following game, with the gardener taking the first turn: [list] [*] The gardener chooses a square in the garden. Each tree on that square and all the surrounding squares (of which there are at most eight) then becomes one unit taller. [*] The lumberjack then chooses four different squares on the board. Each tree of positive height on those squares then becomes one unit shorter. [/list] We say that a tree is [i]majestic[/i] if its height is at least $10^6$. Determine the largest $K$ such that the gardener can ensure there are eventually $K$ majestic trees on the board, no matter how the lumberjack plays.

A polygon can be divided into 100 rectangles, but not into 99. Prove that it cannot be divided into 100 triangles. [i]A. Shapovalov[/i]

Let \(n\) be a positive integer and consider an \(n\times n\) square grid. For \(1\le k\le n\), a [i]python[/i] of length \(k\) is a snake that occupies \(k\) consecutive cells in a single row, and no other cells. Similarly, an [i]anaconda[/i] of length \(k\) is a snake that occupies \(k\) consecutive cells in a single column, and no other cells. The grid contains at least one python or anaconda, and it satisfies the following properties: [list] [*]No cell is occupied by multiple snakes. [*]If a cell in the grid is immediately to the left or immediately to the right of a python, then that cell must be occupied by an anaconda. [*]If a cell in the grid is immediately to above or immediately below an anaconda, then that cell must be occupied by a python. [/list] Prove that the sum of the squares of the lengths of the snakes is at least \(n^2\). [i]Proposed by Linus Tang[/i]

Given a positive integer $n$, find all $n$-tuples of real number $(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n)$ such that \[ f(x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n)=\sum_{k_1=0}^{2} \sum_{k_2=0}^{2} \cdots \sum_{k_n=0}^{2} \big| k_1x_1+k_2x_2+\cdots+k_nx_n-1 \big| \] attains its minimum.

On a table there is a pile with $ T$ tokens which incrementally shall be converted into piles with three tokens each. Each step is constituted of selecting one pile removing one of its tokens. And then the remaining pile is separated into two piles. Is there a sequence of steps that can accomplish this process? a.) $ T \equal{} 1000$ (Cono Sur) b.) $ T \equal{} 2001$ (BWM)

A polygon (not necessarily convex) on the coordinate plane is called [i]plump[/i] if it satisfies the following conditions: $\bullet$ coordinates of vertices are integers; $\bullet$ each side forms an angle of $0^\circ$, $90^\circ$, or $45^\circ$ with the abscissa axis; $\bullet$ internal angles belong to the interval $[90^\circ, 270^\circ]$. Prove that if a square of each side length of a plump polygon is even, then such a polygon can be cut into several convex plump polygons. [i](A. Yuran)[/i]

Let $n\ge 3$ be an integer. Two players, Ana and Beto, play the following game. Ana tags the vertices of a regular $n$- gon with the numbers from $1$ to $n$, in any order she wants. Every vertex must be tagged with a different number. Then, we place a turkey in each of the $n$ vertices. These turkeys are trained for the following. If Beto whistles, each turkey moves to the adjacent vertex with greater tag. If Beto claps, each turkey moves to the adjacent vertex with lower tag. Beto wins if, after some number of whistles and claps, he gets to move all the turkeys to the same vertex. Ana wins if she can tag the vertices so that Beto can't do this. For each $n\ge 3$, determine which player has a winning strategy. [i]Proposed by Victor and Isaías de la Fuente[/i]