Olympiad problems

2000 Slovenia National Olympiad, Problem 2

Find all real numbers $a$ for which the following equation has a unique real solution: $$|x-1|+|x-2|+\ldots+|x-99|=a.$$

2008 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, Level 3, 1

Tags: modular arithmetic , parameterization , number theory

Can the positive integers be partitioned into $12$ subsets such that for each positive integer $k$, the numbers $k, 2k,\ldots,12k$ belong to different subsets?

2022 Israel TST, 1

Tags: algebra , system of equations , parameterization

Let $n>1$ be an integer. Find all $r\in \mathbb{R}$ so that the system of equations in real variables $x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n$: \begin{align*} &(r\cdot x_1-x_2)(r\cdot x_1-x_3)\dots (r\cdot x_1-x_n)=\\ =&(r\cdot x_2-x_1)(r\cdot x_2-x_3)\dots (r\cdot x_2-x_n)=\\ &\qquad \qquad \qquad \qquad \vdots \\ =&(r\cdot x_n-x_1)(r\cdot x_n-x_2)\dots (r\cdot x_n-x_{n-1}) \end{align*} has a solution where the numbers $x_1, x_2, \dots, x_n$ are pairwise distinct.

2005 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: inequalities , parameterization , probability , combinatorics , binomial coefficient

Given $n$ chairs around a circle which are marked with numbers from 1 to $n$ .There are $k$, $k \leq 4 \cdot n$ students sitting on those chairs .Two students are called neighbours if there is no student sitting between them. Between two neighbours students ,there are at less 3 chairs. Find the number of choices of $k$ chairs so that $k$ students can sit on those and the condition is satisfied.

2012 Gulf Math Olympiad, 2

Tags: inequalities , parameterization , algebra

Prove that if $a, b, c$ are positive real numbers, then the least possible value of \[6a^3 + 9b^3 + 32c^3 + \frac{1}{4abc}\] is $6$. For which values of $a, b$ and $c$ is equality attained?

2011 Bosnia And Herzegovina - Regional Olympiad, 1

Tags: parameterization , algebra

Determine value of real parameter $\lambda$ such that equation $$\frac{1}{\sin{x}} + \frac{1}{\cos{x}} = \lambda $$ has root in interval $\left(0,\frac{\pi}{2}\right)$

1954 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 1

Tags: quadratic polynomial , equation , parameter , parameterization

Solve the equation $$ax^2+2(a-1)x+a-5=0$$ in real numbers with respect to (real) parametr $a$.

2013 Tuymaada Olympiad, 5

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , linear algebra , matrix , parameterization , algebra

Prove that every polynomial of fourth degree can be represented in the form $P(Q(x))+R(S(x))$, where $P,Q,R,S$ are quadratic trinomials. [i]A. Golovanov[/i] [b]EDIT.[/b] It is confirmed that assuming the coefficients to be [b]real[/b], while solving the problem, earned a maximum score.

2010 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 607

Tags: calculus , integration , analytic geometry , geometry , function , parameterization , logarithm

On the coordinate plane, Let $C$ be the graph of $y=(\ln x)^2\ (x>0)$ and for $\alpha >0$, denote $L(\alpha)$ be the tangent line of $C$ at the point $(\alpha ,\ (\ln \alpha)^2).$ (1) Draw the graph. (2) Let $n(\alpha)$ be the number of the intersection points of $C$ and $L(\alpha)$. Find $n(\alpha)$. (3) For $0<\alpha <1$, let $S(\alpha)$ be the area of the region bounded by $C,\ L(\alpha)$ and the $x$-axis. Find $S(\alpha)$. 2010 Tokyo Institute of Technology entrance exam, Second Exam.

2014 AMC 12/AHSME, 25

Tags: parabola , calculus , derivative , vector , analytic geometry , parameterization , conic

The parabola $P$ has focus $(0,0)$ and goes through the points $(4,3)$ and $(-4,-3)$. For how many points $(x,y)\in P$ with integer coefficients is it true that $|4x+3y|\leq 1000$? $\textbf{(A) }38\qquad \textbf{(B) }40\qquad \textbf{(C) }42\qquad \textbf{(D) }44\qquad \textbf{(E) }46\qquad$

VII Soros Olympiad 2000 - 01, 9.5

Tags: parameterization , algebra , cubic , equation

For all valid values of $a$ and $b$, solve the equation $$\frac{x^3}{(x-a) (x-b)} +\frac{a^3}{(a-b) (a-x)} + \frac{b^3}{ (b-x) (b-a)}= x^2 + a + b$$

1972 IMO Longlists, 2

Tags: parameterization , system of equations , algebra

Find all real values of the parameter $a$ for which the system of equations \[x^4 = yz - x^2 + a,\] \[y^4 = zx - y^2 + a,\] \[z^4 = xy - z^2 + a,\] has at most one real solution.

1967 IMO Longlists, 28

Tags: parameterization , calculus , trigonometry , algebra , trigonometric identities

Find values of the parameter $u$ for which the expression \[y = \frac{ \tan(x-u) + \tan(x) + \tan(x+u)}{ \tan(x-u)\tan(x)\tan(x+u)}\] does not depend on $x.$

1982 Vietnam National Olympiad, 2

Tags: parameterization , algebra

For a given parameter $m$, solve the equation \[x(x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3) + 1 - m = 0.\]

1964 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 3

Tags: parameterization , quadratic , quadratic polynomial , algebra

Determine all values of parameter $\alpha\in [0,2\pi]$ such that the equation $$(2\cos\alpha-1)x^2+4x+4\cos\alpha+2=0$$ has 1) a positive root $x_1$, 2) if a second root $x_2$ exists and if $x_2\neq x_1$, the $x_2\leq 0$.

2007 Bulgarian Autumn Math Competition, Problem 12.1

Tags: algebra , parameter , parameterization , trigonometric equation

Determine the values of the real parameter $a$, such that the equation \[\sin 2x\sin 4x-\sin x\sin 3x=a\] has a unique solution in the interval $[0,\pi)$.

2014 ELMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: parameterization , inequalities

Let $a,b,c,d,e,f$ be positive real numbers. Given that $def+de+ef+fd=4$, show that \[ ((a+b)de+(b+c)ef+(c+a)fd)^2 \geq\ 12(abde+bcef+cafd). \][i]Proposed by Allen Liu[/i]

2010 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 533

Tags: calculus , integration , function , trigonometry , analytic geometry , parameterization , algebra

Let $ C$ be the circle with radius 1 centered on the origin. Fix the endpoint of the string with length $ 2\pi$ on the point $ A(1,\ 0)$ and put the other end point $ P$ on the point $ P_0(1,\ 2\pi)$. From this situation, when we twist the string around $ C$ by moving the point $ P$ in anti clockwise with the string streched tightly, find the length of the curve that the point $ P$ draws from sarting point $ P_0$ to reaching point $ A$.

1993 Moldova Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: function , parameterization

Let $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ be a function defined as the maximum of a finite number of functions $g:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ of the form $g(x)=C\cdot10^{-|x-d|}$ (with different values of parameters $d{}$ and $C>0$). For real numbers $a<b$ we have $f(a)=f(b)$. Prove that on the segment $[a;b]$ the sum of legnths of segments on which $f$ is increasing is equal to the sum of legnths of segments on which $f$ is decreasing.

2009 USAMO, 1

Tags: geometry , analytic geometry , circumcircle , symmetry , parameterization

Given circles $ \omega_1$ and $ \omega_2$ intersecting at points $ X$ and $ Y$, let $ \ell_1$ be a line through the center of $ \omega_1$ intersecting $ \omega_2$ at points $ P$ and $ Q$ and let $ \ell_2$ be a line through the center of $ \omega_2$ intersecting $ \omega_1$ at points $ R$ and $ S$. Prove that if $ P, Q, R$ and $ S$ lie on a circle then the center of this circle lies on line $ XY$.

2010 Romania Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: function , parameterization , induction , inequalities , rearrangement inequality , algebra

Let $n$ be a positive integer number and let $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n$ be $n$ positive real numbers. Prove that $f : [0, \infty) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$, defined by \[f(x) = \dfrac{a_1 + x}{a_2 + x} + \dfrac{a_2 + x}{a_3 + x} + \cdots + \dfrac{a_{n-1} + x}{a_n + x} + \dfrac{a_n + x}{a_1 + x}, \] is a decreasing function. [i]Dan Marinescu et al.[/i]