Found problems: 175
2023 Indonesia MO, 6
Determine the number of permutations $a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n$ of $1, 2, \dots, n$ such that for every positive integer $k$ with $1 \le k \le n$, there exists an integer $r$ with $0 \le r \le n - k$ which satisfies
\[ 1 + 2 + \dots + k = a_{r+1} + a_{r+2} + \dots + a_{r+k}. \]
2005 IMO Shortlist, 7
Suppose that $ a_1$, $ a_2$, $ \ldots$, $ a_n$ are integers such that $ n\mid a_1 \plus{} a_2 \plus{} \ldots \plus{} a_n$.
Prove that there exist two permutations $ \left(b_1,b_2,\ldots,b_n\right)$ and $ \left(c_1,c_2,\ldots,c_n\right)$ of $ \left(1,2,\ldots,n\right)$ such that for each integer $ i$ with $ 1\leq i\leq n$, we have
\[ n\mid a_i \minus{} b_i \minus{} c_i
\]
[i]Proposed by Ricky Liu & Zuming Feng, USA[/i]
2010 Dutch BxMO TST, 5
For any non-negative integer $n$, we say that a permutation $(a_0,a_1,...,a_n)$ of $\{0,1,..., n\} $ is quadratic if $k + a_k$ is a square for $k = 0, 1,...,n$. Show that for any non-negative integer $n$, there exists a quadratic permutation of $\{0,1,..., n\}$.
1959 Kurschak Competition, 3
What is the largest possible value of $|a_1 - 1| + |a_2-2|+...+ |a_n- n|$ where $a_1, a_2,..., a_n$ is a permutation of $1,2,..., n$?
1967 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 3
Consider a table of cyclic permutations ($n\ge2$)
\[
\begin{matrix}
1, & 2, & \ldots, & n-1, & n \\
2, & 3, & \ldots, & n, & 1, \\
\vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots & \vdots \\
n, & 1, & \ldots, & n-2, & n-1.
\end{matrix}
\]
Then multiply each number of the first row by that number of the $k$-th row that is in the same column. Sum all these products and denote $s_k$ the result (e.g. $s_2=1\cdot2+2\cdot3+\cdots+(n-1)\cdot n+n\cdot1$).
a) Find a recursive relation for $s_k$ in terms of $s_{k-1}$ and determine the explicit formula for $s_k$.
b) Determine both an index $k$ and the value of $s_k$ such that the sum $s_k$ is minimal.
2009 Romania National Olympiad, 3
Let be a natural number $ n, $ a permutation $ \sigma $ of order $ n, $ and $ n $ nonnegative real numbers $ a_1,a_2,\ldots , a_n. $ Prove the following inequality.
$$ \left( a_1^2+a_{\sigma (1)} \right)\left( a_2^2+a_{\sigma (2)} \right)\cdots \left( a_n^2+a_{\sigma (n)} \right)\ge \left( a_1^2+a_1 \right)\left( a_2^2+a_{2} \right)\cdots \left( a_n^2+a_n \right) $$
2018 Turkey Team Selection Test, 3
A Retired Linguist (R.L.) writes in the first move a word consisting of $n$ letters, which are all different. In each move, he determines the maximum $i$, such that the word obtained by reversing the first $i$ letters of the last word hasn't been written before, and writes this new word. Prove that R.L. can make $n!$ moves.
2025 Kyiv City MO Round 2, Problem 3
Does there exist a sequence of positive integers \( a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{100} \) such that every number from \( 1 \) to \( 100 \) appears exactly once, and for each \( 1 \leq i \leq 100 \), the condition
\[
a_{a_i + i} = i
\]
holds? Here it is assumed that \( a_{k+100} = a_k \) for each \( 1 \leq k \leq 100 \).
[i]Proposed by Mykhailo Shtandenko[/i]
2016 Singapore MO Open, 3
Let $n$ be a prime number. Show that there is a permutation $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ of $1,2,...,n$ so that $a_1,a_1a_2,...,a_1a_2...a_n$ leave distinct remainders when divided by $n$
1980 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 2
$a_1$, $a_2$, $a_3$, $a_4$, $a_5$, $a_6$, $a_7$ and $b_1$, $b_2$, $b_3$, $b_4$, $b_5$, $b_6$, $b_7$ are two permutations of $1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7$. Show that $|a_1 - b_1|$, $|a_2 - b_2|$, $|a_3 - b_3|$, $|a_4 - b_4|$, $|a_5 - b_5|$, $|a_6 - b_6|$, $|a_7 - b_7|$ are not all different.
2009 IMO Shortlist, 5
Let $P(x)$ be a non-constant polynomial with integer coefficients. Prove that there is no function $T$ from the set of integers into the set of integers such that the number of integers $x$ with $T^n(x)=x$ is equal to $P(n)$ for every $n\geq 1$, where $T^n$ denotes the $n$-fold application of $T$.
[i]Proposed by Jozsef Pelikan, Hungary[/i]
2018 Puerto Rico Team Selection Test, 2
Let $A = \{a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, a_5\}$ be a set of $5$ positive integers.
Show that for any rearrangement of $A$, $a_{i1}$, $a_{i2}$, $a_{i3}$, $a_{i4}$, $a_{i5}$, the product $$(a_{i1} -a_1) (a_{i2} -a_2) (a_{i3} -a_3) (a_{i4} -a_4) (a_{i5} -a_5)$$
is always even.
1987 IMO, 1
Let $p_n(k)$ be the number of permutations of the set $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$ which have exactly $k$ fixed points. Prove that $\sum_{k=0}^nk p_n(k)=n!$.
2006 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 1
$a_1, a_2,...,a_{2006}$ is a permutation of $1,2,...,2006$.
Prove that $\prod_{i = 1}^{2006} (a_{i}^2-i) $ is a multiple of $3$. ($0$ is counted as a multiple of $3$)
2009 Belarus Team Selection Test, 3
Let $n \in \mathbb N$ and $A_n$ set of all permutations $(a_1, \ldots, a_n)$ of the set $\{1, 2, \ldots , n\}$ for which
\[k|2(a_1 + \cdots+ a_k), \text{ for all } 1 \leq k \leq n.\]
Find the number of elements of the set $A_n$.
[i]Proposed by Vidan Govedarica, Serbia[/i]
1999 Kazakhstan National Olympiad, 8
Let $ {{a} _ {1}}, {{a} _ {2}}, \ldots, {{a} _ {n}} $ be permutation of numbers $ 1,2, \ldots, n $, where $ n \geq 2 $.
Find the maximum value of the sum $$ S (n) = | {{a} _ {1}} - {{a} _ {2}} | + | {{a} _ {2}} - {{a} _ {3}} | + \cdots + | {{a} _ {n-1}} - {{a} _ {n}} |. $$
2024 SG Originals, Q1
Find all permutations $(a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_{2024})$ of $(1, 2, \cdots, 2024)$ such that there exists a polynomial $P$ with integer coefficients satisfying $P(i) = a_i$ for each $i = 1, 2, \cdots, 2024$.
Russian TST 2019, P2
For each permutation $\sigma$ of the set $\{1, 2, \ldots , N\}$ we define its [i]correctness[/i] as the number of triples $1 \leqslant i < j < k \leqslant N$ such that the number $\sigma(j)$ lies between the numbers $\sigma(i)$ and $\sigma(k)$. Find the difference between the number of permutations with even correctness and the number of permutations with odd correctness if a) $N = 2018$ and b) $N = 2019$.
1987 IMO Shortlist, 16
Let $p_n(k)$ be the number of permutations of the set $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$ which have exactly $k$ fixed points. Prove that $\sum_{k=0}^nk p_n(k)=n!$.[i](IMO Problem 1)[/i]
[b][i]Original formulation [/i][/b]
Let $S$ be a set of $n$ elements. We denote the number of all permutations of $S$ that have exactly $k$ fixed points by $p_n(k).$ Prove:
(a) $\sum_{k=0}^{n} kp_n(k)=n! \ ;$
(b) $\sum_{k=0}^{n} (k-1)^2 p_n(k) =n! $
[i]Proposed by Germany, FR[/i]
2011 IFYM, Sozopol, 4
Let $n$ be some natural number. One boss writes $n$ letters a day numerated from 1 to $n$ consecutively. When he writes a letter he piles it up (on top) in a box. When his secretary is free, she gets the letter on the top of the pile and prints it. Sometimes the secretary isn’t able to print the letter before her boss puts another one or more on the pile in the box. Though she is always able to print all of the letters at the end of the day.
A permutation is called [i]“printable”[/i] if it is possible for the letters to be printed in this order. Find a formula for the number of [i]“printable”[/i] permutations.
1991 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 4
$x_1, x_2, ... , x_8$ is a permutation of $1, 2, ..., 8$. A move is to take $x_3$ or $x_8$ and place it at the start to from a new sequence. Show that by a sequence of moves we can always arrive at $1, 2, ..., 8$.
2005 Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 5
If for an arbitrary permutation $(a_1,a_2,...,a_n)$ of set ${1,2,...,n}$ holds $\frac{{a_k}^2}{a_{k+1}}\leq k+2$,
$k=1,2,...,n-1$, prove that $a_k=k$ for $k=1,2,...,n$
2017 239 Open Mathematical Olympiad, 1
Denote every permutation of $1,2,\dots, n$ as $\sigma =(a_1,a_2,\dots,n)$. Prove that the sum $$\sum \frac{1}{(a_1)(a_1+a_2)(a_1+a_2+a_3)\dots(a_1+a_2+\dots+a_n)}$$ taken over all possible permutations $\sigma$ equals $\frac{1}{n!}$.
2018 IMAR Test, 2
Let $P$ be a non-zero polynomial with non-negative real coefficients, let $N$ be a positive integer, and let $\sigma$ be a permutation of the set $\{1,2,...,n\}$. Determine the least value the sum
\[\sum_{i=1}^{n}\frac{P(x_i^2)}{P(x_ix_{\sigma(i)})}\] may achieve, as $x_1,x_2,...,x_n$ run through the set of positive real numbers.
[i]Fedor Petrov[/i]
2022 IFYM, Sozopol, 8
Let $p$ and $q$ be mutually prime natural numbers greater than $1$. Starting with the permutation $(1, 2, . . . , n)$, in one move we can switch the places of two numbers if their difference is $p$ or $q$. Prove that with such moves we can get any another permutation if and only if $n \ge p + q - 1$.