Olympiad problems

1969 IMO Longlists, 48

$(NET 3)$ Let $x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4,$ and $x_5$ be positive integers satisfying \[x_1 +x_2 +x_3 +x_4 +x_5 = 1000,\] \[x_1 -x_2 +x_3 -x_4 +x_5 > 0,\] \[x_1 +x_2 -x_3 +x_4 -x_5 > 0,\] \[-x_1 +x_2 +x_3 -x_4 +x_5 > 0,\] \[x_1 -x_2 +x_3 +x_4 -x_5 > 0,\] \[-x_1 +x_2 -x_3 +x_4 +x_5 > 0\] $(a)$ Find the maximum of $(x_1 + x_3)^{x_2+x_4}$ $(b)$ In how many different ways can we choose $x_1, . . . , x_5$ to obtain the desired maximum?

1966 IMO Shortlist, 44

Tags: combinatorics , packing , 3d geometry , maximization

What is the greatest number of balls of radius $1/2$ that can be placed within a rectangular box of size $10 \times 10 \times 1 \ ?$

1979 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: inequality , maximization , calculus , optimization , lagrange

Given real numbers $x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n \ (n \geq 2)$, with $x_i \geq \frac 1n \ (i = 1, 2, \dots, n)$ and with $x_1^2+x_2^2+\cdots+x_n^2 = 1$ , find whether the product $P = x_1x_2x_3 \cdots x_n$ has a greatest and/or least value and if so, give these values.

1995 IMO, 4

Tags: algebra , sequence , maximization , maximum value

Find the maximum value of $ x_{0}$ for which there exists a sequence $ x_{0},x_{1}\cdots ,x_{1995}$ of positive reals with $ x_{0} \equal{} x_{1995}$, such that \[ x_{i \minus{} 1} \plus{} \frac {2}{x_{i \minus{} 1}} \equal{} 2x_{i} \plus{} \frac {1}{x_{i}}, \] for all $ i \equal{} 1,\cdots ,1995$.

1966 IMO Longlists, 46

Tags: algebra , maximization , optimization , function

Let $a,b,c$ be reals and \[f(a, b, c) = \left| \frac{ |b-a|}{|ab|} +\frac{b+a}{ab} -\frac 2c \right| +\frac{ |b-a|}{|ab|} +\frac{b+a}{ab} +\frac 2c\] Prove that $f(a, b, c) = 4 \max \{\frac 1a, \frac 1b,\frac 1c \}.$

1984 IMO Shortlist, 5

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 $x+y+z=1$.

1979 IMO Longlists, 60

Tags: algebra , maximization , optimization , lagrange , calculus

Given the integer $n > 1$ and the real number $a > 0$ determine the maximum of $\sum_{i=1}^{n-1} x_i x_{i+1}$ taken over all nonnegative numbers $x_i$ with sum $a.$

2001 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: geometry , trigonometry , maximization , triangle , perpendicular

Let $M$ be a point in the interior of triangle $ABC$. Let $A'$ lie on $BC$ with $MA'$ perpendicular to $BC$. Define $B'$ on $CA$ and $C'$ on $AB$ similarly. Define \[ p(M) = \frac{MA' \cdot MB' \cdot MC'}{MA \cdot MB \cdot MC}. \] Determine, with proof, the location of $M$ such that $p(M)$ is maximal. Let $\mu(ABC)$ denote this maximum value. For which triangles $ABC$ is the value of $\mu(ABC)$ maximal?

1989 IMO Longlists, 84

Tags: maximization , minimization , optimization , calculus , algebra

Let $ n \in \mathbb{Z}^\plus{}$ and let $ a, b \in \mathbb{R}.$ Determine the range of $ x_0$ for which \[ \sum^n_{i\equal{}0} x_i \equal{} a \text{ and } \sum^n_{i\equal{}0} x^2_i \equal{} b,\] where $ x_0, x_1, \ldots , x_n$ are real variables.

1979 IMO Longlists, 29

Tags: inequality , maximization , calculus , optimization , lagrange

Given real numbers $x_1, x_2, \dots , x_n \ (n \geq 2)$, with $x_i \geq \frac 1n \ (i = 1, 2, \dots, n)$ and with $x_1^2+x_2^2+\cdots+x_n^2 = 1$ , find whether the product $P = x_1x_2x_3 \cdots x_n$ has a greatest and/or least value and if so, give these values.

1995 IMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: algebra , sequence , maximization , maximum value

Find the maximum value of $ x_{0}$ for which there exists a sequence $ x_{0},x_{1}\cdots ,x_{1995}$ of positive reals with $ x_{0} \equal{} x_{1995}$, such that \[ x_{i \minus{} 1} \plus{} \frac {2}{x_{i \minus{} 1}} \equal{} 2x_{i} \plus{} \frac {1}{x_{i}}, \] for all $ i \equal{} 1,\cdots ,1995$.

1991 IMO Shortlist, 27

Tags: inequalities , maximum value , maximization

Determine the maximum value of the sum \[ \sum_{i < j} x_ix_j (x_i \plus{} x_j) \] over all $ n \minus{}$tuples $ (x_1, \ldots, x_n),$ satisfying $ x_i \geq 0$ and $ \sum^n_{i \equal{} 1} x_i \equal{} 1.$

1984 IMO Longlists, 20

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 $x+y+z=1$.

1967 IMO Longlists, 19

Tags: geometry , point set , euclidean distance , maximization

The $n$ points $P_1,P_2, \ldots, P_n$ are placed inside or on the boundary of a disk of radius 1 in such a way that the minimum distance $D_n$ between any two of these points has its largest possible value $D_n.$ Calculate $D_n$ for $n = 2$ to 7. and justify your answer.

2016 Iran Team Selection Test, 4

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

Let $n$ be a fixed positive integer. Find the maximum possible value of \[ \sum_{1 \le r < s \le 2n} (s-r-n)x_rx_s, \] where $-1 \le x_i \le 1$ for all $i = 1, \cdots , 2n$.

1981 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: maximization , optimization , algebra , inequality

Find the minimum value of \[\max(a + b + c, b + c + d, c + d + e, d + e + f, e + f + g)\] subject to the constraints (i) $a, b, c, d, e, f, g \geq 0,$ (ii)$ a + b + c + d + e + f + g = 1.$

2024 Indonesia TST, C

Tags: combinatorics , maximization

Given a sequence of integers $A_1,A_2,\cdots A_{99}$ such that for every sub-sequence that contains $m$ consecutive elements, there exist not more than $max\{ \frac{m}{3} ,1\}$ odd integers. Let $S=\{ (i,j) \ | i<j \}$ such that $A_i$ is even and $A_j$ is odd. Find $max\{ |S|\}$.

1967 IMO Longlists, 13

Tags: geometry , quadrilateral , area , maximization

Find whether among all quadrilaterals, whose interiors lie inside a semi-circle of radius $r$, there exist one (or more) with maximum area. If so, determine their shape and area.

2016 Taiwan TST Round 1, 2

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

Let $n$ be a fixed positive integer. Find the maximum possible value of \[ \sum_{1 \le r < s \le 2n} (s-r-n)x_rx_s, \] where $-1 \le x_i \le 1$ for all $i = 1, \cdots , 2n$.

2002 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 3

Tags: modular arithmetic , combinatorics , extremal combinatorics , maximization

Let $A = (a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{2001})$ be a sequence of positive integers. Let $m$ be the number of 3-element subsequences $(a_i,a_j,a_k)$ with $1 \leq i < j < k \leq 2001$, such that $a_j = a_i + 1$ and $a_k = a_j + 1$. Considering all such sequences $A$, find the greatest value of $m$.

1977 IMO Shortlist, 15

Tags: linear algebra , algebra , sequence , maximization , extremal combinatorics

In a finite sequence of real numbers the sum of any seven successive terms is negative and the sum of any eleven successive terms is positive. Determine the maximum number of terms in the sequence.

1979 IMO Longlists, 15

Tags: graph theory , number theory , maximization , extremal graph theory , extremal combinatorics

Let $n \geq 2$ be an integer. Find the maximal cardinality of a set $M$ of pairs $(j, k)$ of integers, $1 \leq j < k \leq n$, with the following property: If $(j, k) \in M$, then $(k,m) \not \in M$ for any $m.$

1983 IMO Longlists, 35

Tags: geometry , geometric inequality , optimization , minimization , maximization , point set

Let $P_1, P_2, \dots , P_n$ be distinct points of the plane, $n \geq 2$. Prove that \[ \max_{1\leq i<j\leq n} P_iP_j > \frac{\sqrt 3}{2}(\sqrt n -1) \min_{1\leq i<j\leq n} P_iP_j \]

2015 Romania Team Selection Tests, 5

Tags: maximization , algebra , inequalities , sum

Given an integer $N \geq 4$, determine the largest value the sum $$\sum_{i=1}^{\left \lfloor{\frac{k}{2}}\right \rfloor+1}\left( \left \lfloor{\frac{n_i}{2}}\right \rfloor+1\right)$$ may achieve, where $k, n_1, \ldots, n_k$ run through the integers subject to $k \geq 3$, $n_1 \geq \ldots\geq n_k\geq 1$ and $n_1 + \ldots + n_k = N$.

1997 Nordic, 1

Tags: combinatorics , maximization , triplets , extremal combinatorics

Let $A$ be a set of seven positive numbers. Determine the maximal number of triples $(x, y, z)$ of elements of $A$ satisfying $x < y$ and $x + y = z$.