Let $b_1$, $\dots$ , $b_n$ be nonnegative integers with sum $2$ and $a_0$, $a_1$, $\dots$ , $a_n$ be real numbers such that $a_0=a_n=0$ and $|a_i-a_{i-1}|\leq b_i$ for each $i=1$, $\dots$ , $n$. Prove that $$\sum_{i=1}^n(a_i+a_{i-1})b_i\leq 2$$ [hide]I believe that the original problem was for nonnegative real numbers and it was a typo on the version of the exam paper we had but I'm not sure the inequality would hold[/hide]

Define a sequence recursively by $t_1 = 20$, $t_2 = 21$, and$$t_n = \frac{5t_{n-1}+1}{25t_{n-2}}$$for all $n \ge 3$. Then $t_{2020}$ can be written as $\frac{p}{q}$, where $p$ and $q$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $p+q$.

We consider the real sequence $(x_n)$ defined by $x_0=0, x_1=1$ and $x_{n+2}=3x_{n+1}-2x_n$ for $n=0,1,...$ We define the sequence $(y_n)$ by $y_n=x_n^2+2^{n+2}$ for every non negative integer $n$. Prove that for every $n>0$, $y_n$ is the square of an odd integer

Let $ a$, $ b$, $ c$, $ d$, $ e$, $ f$ be positive integers and let $ S = a+b+c+d+e+f$. Suppose that the number $ S$ divides $ abc+def$ and $ ab+bc+ca-de-ef-df$. Prove that $ S$ is composite.

Let $A$ and $E$ be opposite vertices of an octagon. A frog starts at vertex $A.$ From any vertex except $E$ it jumps to one of the two adjacent vertices. When it reaches $E$ it stops. Let $a_n$ be the number of distinct paths of exactly $n$ jumps ending at $E$. Prove that: \[ a_{2n-1}=0, \quad a_{2n}={(2+\sqrt2)^{n-1} - (2-\sqrt2)^{n-1} \over\sqrt2}. \]

There are two airlines A and B and finitely many airports. For each pair of airports, there is exactly one airline among A and B whose flights operates in both directions. Each airline plans to develop world travel packages which pass each airport exactly once using only its flights. Let $a$ and $b$ be the number of possible packages which belongs to A and B respectively. Prove that $a-b$ is a multiple of $4$. The official statement of the problem has been changed. The above is the form which appeared during the contest. Now the condition 'the number of airports is no less than 4'is attached. Cite the following link. [url]https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h2923697p26140823[/url]

The sequences $(a_{n})$, $(b_{n})$ are defined by $a_{1} = \alpha$, $b_{1} = \beta$, $a_{n+1} = \alpha a_{n} - \beta b_{n}$, $b_{n+1} = \beta a_{n} + \alpha b_{n}$ for all $n > 0.$ How many pairs $(\alpha, \beta)$ of real numbers are there such that $a_{1997} = b_{1}$ and $b_{1997} = a_{1}$?

What is the value of $2(2(2(2(2(2+1)+1)+1)+1)+1)+1$? $\textbf{(A) } 70 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 97 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 127 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 159 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 729 $

Call a subset of $\{1,2,\ldots, n\}$ [i]unfriendly[/i] if no two of its elements are consecutive. Show that the number of unfriendly subsets with $k$ elements is $\binom{n-k+1}{k}.$

The polynomials $P_n(x,y), n=1,2,... $ are defined by \[P_1(x,y)=1, P_{n+1}(x,y)=(x+y-1)(y+1)P_n(x,y+2)+(y-y^2)P_n(x,y)\] Prove that $P_{n}(x,y)=P_{n}(y,x)$ for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$ and $n $.

Let $n$ be a positive integer, and let $a_0,\,a_1,\dots,\,a_n$ be nonnegative integers such that $a_0\ge a_1\ge \dots\ge a_n.$ Prove that \[ \sum_{i=0}^n i\binom{a_i}{2}\le\frac{1}{2}\binom{a_0+a_1+\dots+a_n}{2}. \] [i]Note:[/i] $\binom{k}{2}=\frac{k(k-1)}{2}$ for all nonnegative integers $k$.

A rectangle $\mathcal{R}$ with odd integer side lengths is divided into small rectangles with integer side lengths. Prove that there is at least one among the small rectangles whose distances from the four sides of $\mathcal{R}$ are either all odd or all even. [i]Proposed by Jeck Lim, Singapore[/i]

Let $f\in C^1[a,b]$, $f(a)=0$ and suppose that $\lambda\in\mathbb R$, $\lambda >0$, is such that $$|f'(x)|\leq \lambda |f(x)|$$ for all $x\in [a,b]$. Is it true that $f(x)=0$ for all $x\in [a,b]$?

An infinite arithmetic progression whose terms are positive integers contains the square of an integer and the cube of an integer. Show that it contains the sixth power of an integer.

Three strictly increasing sequences \[a_1, a_2, a_3, \ldots,\qquad b_1, b_2, b_3, \ldots,\qquad c_1, c_2, c_3, \ldots\] of positive integers are given. Every positive integer belongs to exactly one of the three sequences. For every positive integer $n$, the following conditions hold: (a) $c_{a_n}=b_n+1$; (b) $a_{n+1}>b_n$; (c) the number $c_{n+1}c_{n}-(n+1)c_{n+1}-nc_n$ is even. Find $a_{2010}$, $b_{2010}$ and $c_{2010}$. [i](4th Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, Team Competition, Problem 1)[/i]