Olympiad problems

2014 HMNT, 10

Let $z$ be a complex number and k a positive integer such that $z^k$ is a positive real number other than $1$. Let $f(n)$ denote the real part of the complex number $z^n$. Assume the parabola $p(n) = an^2 +bn+c$ intersects $f(n)$ four times, at $n = 0, 1, 2, 3$. Assuming the smallest possible value of $k$, find the largest possible value of $a$.

2008 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 6

Tags: quadratic , inequalities , function , parabola , analytic geometry , absolute value , conic

Determine all real numbers $ a$ such that the inequality $ |x^2 \plus{} 2ax \plus{} 3a|\le2$ has exactly one solution in $ x$.

1964 AMC 12/AHSME, 2

Tags: parabola , ellipse , conic

The graph of $x^2-4y^2=0$ is: ${{ \textbf{(A)}\ \text{a parabola} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{an ellipse} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{a pair of straight lines} \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{a point} }\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{none of these} } $

2010 USAJMO, 4

Tags: parabola , analytic geometry , nt , conic

A triangle is called a parabolic triangle if its vertices lie on a parabola $y = x^2$. Prove that for every nonnegative integer $n$, there is an odd number $m$ and a parabolic triangle with vertices at three distinct points with integer coordinates with area $(2^nm)^2$.

2011 Romanian Masters In Mathematics, 3

Tags: geometry , circumcircle , geometric transformation , trigonometry , parabola , conic

A triangle $ABC$ is inscribed in a circle $\omega$. A variable line $\ell$ chosen parallel to $BC$ meets segments $AB$, $AC$ at points $D$, $E$ respectively, and meets $\omega$ at points $K$, $L$ (where $D$ lies between $K$ and $E$). Circle $\gamma_1$ is tangent to the segments $KD$ and $BD$ and also tangent to $\omega$, while circle $\gamma_2$ is tangent to the segments $LE$ and $CE$ and also tangent to $\omega$. Determine the locus, as $\ell$ varies, of the meeting point of the common inner tangents to $\gamma_1$ and $\gamma_2$. [i](Russia) Vasily Mokin and Fedor Ivlev[/i]

2005 AMC 12/AHSME, 8

Tags: parabola , conic

For how many values of $ a$ is it true that the line $ y \equal{} x \plus{} a$ passes through the vertex of the parabola $ y \equal{} x^2 \plus{} a^2$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 0\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 1\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 10\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ \text{infinitely many}$

Kvant 2024, M2823

Tags: geometry , algebra , parabola , conic

A parabola $p$ is drawn on the coordinate plane — the graph of the equation $y =-x^2$, and a point $A$ is marked that does not lie on the parabola $p$. All possible parabolas $q$ of the form $y = x^2+ax+b$ are drawn through point $A$, intersecting $p$ at two points $X$ and $Y$ . Prove that all possible $XY$ lines pass through a fixed point in the plane. [i]P.A.Kozhevnikov[/i]

2011 Belarus Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: parabola , circles , parallel , geometry , conic , chord

$AB$ and $CD$ are two parallel chords of a parabola. Circle $S_1$ passing through points $A,B$ intersects circle $S_2$ passing through $C,D$ at points $E,F$. Prove that if $E$ belongs to the parabola, then $F$ also belongs to the parabola. I.Voronovich

1990 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 2

Tags: parabola , conic

Let be given a real number $\alpha\ne0$. Show that there is a unique point $P$ in the coordinate plane, such that for every line through $P$ which intersects the parabola $y=\alpha x^2$ in two distinct points $A$ and $B$, segments $OA$ and $OB$ are perpendicular (where $O$ is the origin).

2012 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 779

Tags: calculus , integration , parabola , analytic geometry , geometry , calculus computations , conic

Consider parabolas $C_a: y=-2x^2+4ax-2a^2+a+1$ and $C: y=x^2-2x$ in the coordinate plane. When $C_a$ and $C$ have two intersection points, find the maximum area enclosed by these parabolas.

1991 National High School Mathematics League, 14

Tags: parabola , conic , geometry

$O$ is the vertex of a parabola, $F$ is its focus. $PQ$ is a chord of the parabola. If $|OF|=a,|PQ|=b$, find the area of $\triangle OPQ$.

1976 Euclid, 3

Tags: function , parabola

Source: 1976 Euclid Part A Problem 3 ----- The minimum value of the function $2x^2+6x+7$ is $\textbf{(A) } 7 \qquad \textbf{(B) } \frac{5}{2} \qquad \textbf{(C) } \frac{9}{4} \qquad \textbf{(D) } -\frac{9}{2} \qquad \textbf{(E) } \frac{5}{4}$

Today's calculation of integrals, 874

Tags: calculus , integration , parabola , geometry , calculus computations , conic

Given a parabola $C : y=1-x^2$ in $xy$-palne with the origin $O$. Take two points $P(p,\ 1-p^2),\ Q(q,\ 1-q^2)\ (p<q)$ on $C$. (1) Express the area $S$ of the part enclosed by two segments $OP,\ OQ$ and the parabalola $C$ in terms of $p,\ q$. (2) If $q=p+1$, then find the minimum value of $S$. (3) If $pq=-1$, then find the minimum value of $S$.

1966 IMO Shortlist, 50

Tags: parameterization , trigonometry , parabola , trigonometric equation

Solve the equation $\frac{1}{\sin x}+\frac{1}{\cos x}=\frac 1p$ where $p$ is a real parameter. Discuss for which values of $p$ the equation has at least one real solution and determine the number of solutions in $[0, 2\pi)$ for a given $p.$

1992 National High School Mathematics League, 1

Tags: parabola , conic

For any positive integer $n$, $A_n$ and $B_n$ are intersection of parabola $y=(n^2+n)x^2-(2n+1)x+1$ and $x$-axis. Then, the value of $|A_1B_1|+|A_2B_2|+\cdots+|A_{1992}B_{1992}|$ is $\text{(A)}\frac{1991}{1992}\qquad\text{(B)}\frac{1992}{1993}\qquad\text{(C)}\frac{1991}{1993}\qquad\text{(D)}\frac{1993}{1992}$

2005 National High School Mathematics League, 11

Tags: geometry , parabola , conic

One side of a square in on line $y=2x-17$, and two other points are on parabola $y=x^2$, then the minumum value of the area of the square is________.

2002 AMC 12/AHSME, 25

Tags: parabola , inequalities , analytic geometry , geometry , special factorizations , conic

Let $ f(x)\equal{}x^2\plus{}6x\plus{}1$, and let $ R$ denote the set of points $ (x,y)$ in the coordinate plane such that \[ f(x)\plus{}f(y)\le0\text{ and }f(x)\minus{}f(y)\le0 \]The area of $ R$ is closest to $ \textbf{(A)}\ 21 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 22 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 23 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 24 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 25$

Kvant 2025, M2837

Tags: function , algebra , geometry , parabola

On the graphic of the function $y=x^2$ were selected $1000$ pairwise distinct points, abscissas of which are integer numbers from the segment $[0; 100000]$. Prove that it is possible to choose six different selected points $A$, $B$, $C$, $A'$, $B'$, $C'$ such that areas of triangles $ABC$ and $A'B'C'$ are equals. [i]A. Tereshin[/i]

2013 Stanford Mathematics Tournament, 7

Tags: geometry , parabola , conic

$ABCD$ is a square such that $AB$ lies on the line $y=x+4$ and points $C$ and $D$ lie on the graph of parabola $y^2=x$. Compute the sum of all possible areas of $ABCD$.

2010 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 655

Tags: calculus , integration , geometry , parabola , calculus computations , conic

Find the area of the region of the points such that the total of three tangent lines can be drawn to two parabolas $y=x-x^2,\ y=a(x-x^2)\ (a\geq 2)$ in such a way that there existed the points of tangency in the first quadrant.

2013 Waseda University Entrance Examination, 1

Tags: parabola , analytic geometry , ellipse , hyperbola , geometry , angle bisector , conic

Given a parabola $C: y^2=4px\ (p>0)$ with focus $F(p,\ 0)$. Let two lines $l_1,\ l_2$ passing through $F$ intersect orthogonaly each other, $C$ intersects with $l_1$ at two points $P_1,\ P_2$ and $C$ intersects with $l_2$ at two points $Q_1,\ Q_2$. Answer the following questions. (1) Set the equation of $l_1$ as $x=ay+p$ and let the coordinates of $P_1,\ P_2$ as $(x_1,\ y_1),\ (x_2,\ y_2)$, respectively. Express $y_1+y_2,\ y_1y_2$ in terms of $a,\ p$. (2) Show that $\frac{1}{P_1P_2}+\frac{1}{Q_1Q_2}$ is constant regardless of way of taking $l_1,\ l_2$.

1999 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 1

Tags: parabola , tangent , conic , circles

In a coordinate system, a circle with radius $7$ and center is on the y-axis placed inside the parabola with equation $y = x^2$ , so that it just touches the parabola in two points. Determine the coordinate set for the center of the circle.

2001 Finnish National High School Mathematics Competition, 2

Tags: parabola , geometry , perpendicular bisector , algebra , conic

Equations of non-intersecting curves are $y = ax^2 + bx + c$ and $y = dx^2 + ex + f$ where $ad < 0.$ Prove that there is a line of the plane which does not meet either of the curves.

2020 Tuymaada Olympiad, 5

Tags: parabola , construction , geometry , algebra , analytic geometry , quadratic , conic

Coordinate axes (without any marks, with the same scale) and the graph of a quadratic trinomial $y = x^2 + ax + b$ are drawn in the plane. The numbers $a$ and $b$ are not known. How to draw a unit segment using only ruler and compass?

1976 Euclid, 4

Tags: parabola , conic

Source: 1976 Euclid Part A Problem 4 ----- The points $(1,y_1)$ and $(-1,y_2)$ lie on the curve $y=px^2+qx+5$. If $y_1+y_2=14$, then the value of $p$ is $\textbf{(A) } 2 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 7 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 5 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 2-q \qquad \textbf{(E) }\text{none of these}$