Olympiad problems

2011 Indonesia TST, 3

Tags: perpendicular , trigonometry , maximization , triangle , geometry

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?

1984 IMO, 1

Tags: inequality , three variable inequality , maximization , calculus

Prove that $0\le yz+zx+xy-2xyz\le{7\over27}$, where $x,y$ and $z$ are non-negative real numbers satisfying $x+y+z=1$.

2001 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: combinatorics , extremal combinatorics , maximization , modular arithmetic

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 $m$.

1989 IMO Longlists, 74

Tags: geometry , combinatorics , 3d geometry , sphere , maximization , geometric inequality

For points $ A_1, \ldots ,A_5$ on the sphere of radius 1, what is the maximum value that $ min_{1 \leq i,j \leq 5} A_iA_j$ can take? Determine all configurations for which this maximum is attained. (Or: determine the diameter of any set $ \{A_1, \ldots ,A_5\}$ for which this maximum is attained.)

1969 IMO Longlists, 48

Tags: algebra , inequality system , maximization

$(NET 3)$ 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?

1967 IMO Longlists, 13

Tags: geometry , quadrilateral , maximization , area

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.

2001 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: maximization , triangle , perpendicular , trigonometry , geometry

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?

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.

1999 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: inequalities , algebra , maximization

Let $n \geq 2$ be a fixed integer. Find the least constant $C$ such the inequality \[\sum_{i<j} x_{i}x_{j} \left(x^{2}_{i}+x^{2}_{j} \right) \leq C \left(\sum_{i}x_{i} \right)^4\] holds for any $x_{1}, \ldots ,x_{n} \geq 0$ (the sum on the left consists of $\binom{n}{2}$ summands). For this constant $C$, characterize the instances of equality.

1981 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: algebra , maximization , optimization , 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.$

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 Shortlist, 5

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

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 $m.$

1967 IMO Shortlist, 3

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.

1976 IMO Shortlist, 10

Tags: number theory , product , maximization

Determine the greatest number, who is the product of some positive integers, and the sum of these numbers is $1976.$

1995 Nordic, 3

Tags: algebra , inequalities , maximization

Let $n \ge 2$ and let $x_1, x_2, ..., x_n$ be real numbers satisfying $x_1 +x_2 +...+x_n \ge 0$ and $x_1^2+x_2^2+...+x_n^2=1$. Let $M = max \{x_1, x_2,... , x_n\}$. Show that $M \ge \frac{1}{\sqrt{n(n-1)}}$ (1) .When does equality hold in (1)?

1984 IMO Longlists, 20

Tags: calculus , inequality , three variable inequality , maximization

Prove that $0\le yz+zx+xy-2xyz\le{7\over27}$, where $x,y$ and $z$ are non-negative real numbers satisfying $x+y+z=1$.

1982 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , sequence , maximization , minimization , rearrangement

[b](a)[/b] Find the rearrangement $\{a_1, \dots , a_n\}$ of $\{1, 2, \dots, n\}$ that maximizes \[a_1a_2 + a_2a_3 + \cdots + a_na_1 = Q.\] [b](b)[/b] Find the rearrangement that minimizes $Q.$

2015 Romania Team Selection Tests, 5

Tags: maximization , sum , algebra , inequalities

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 $n_1 + \ldots + n_k = N$.

1995 Czech and Slovak Match, 3

Tags: geometry , lattice points , ratio , maximization

Consider all triangles $ABC$ in the cartesian plane whose vertices are at lattice points (i.e. with integer coordinates) and which contain exactly one lattice point (to be denoted $P$) in its interior. Let the line $AP$ meet $BC$ at $E$. Determine the maximum possible value of the ratio $\frac{AP}{PE}$.

2023 Indonesia Regional, 3

Tags: algebra , combinatorics , maximization

Find the maximum value of an integer $B$ such that for every 9 distinct natural number with the sum of $2023$, there must exist a sum of 4 of the number that is greater than or equal to $B$

2015 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 6

Tags: algebra , maximization , number theory

Let $a,b,c,d,e$ be nonnegative integers such that $625a+250b+100c+40d+16e=15^3$. What is the maximum possible value of $a+b+c+d+e$?

1979 IMO Longlists, 29

Tags: calculus , inequality , maximization , 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.

2015 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 5

Tags: algebra , maximization , inequalities

Let $a,b,c$ be positive real numbers such that $a+b+c=10$ and $ab+bc+ca=25$. Let $m=\min\{ab,bc,ca\}$. Find the largest possible value of $m$.

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 $f(a, b, c) = 4 \max \{\frac 1a, \frac 1b,\frac 1c \}.$

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 $max\{ |S|\}$.