Found problems: 100
Gheorghe Țițeica 2025, P4
Let $n\geq 2$ and $\mathcal{M}$ be a subset of $S_n$ with at least two elements, and which is closed under composition. Consider a function $f:\mathcal{M}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ which satisfies $$|f(\sigma\tau)-f(\sigma)-f(\tau)|\leq 1,$$ for all $\sigma,\tau\in\mathcal{M}$. Prove that $$\max_{\sigma,\tau\in\mathcal{M}}|f(\sigma)-f(\tau)|\leq 2-\frac{2}{|\mathcal{M}|}.$$
2024 Romanian Master of Mathematics, 2
Consider an odd prime $p$ and a positive integer $N < 50p$. Let $a_1, a_2, \ldots , a_N$ be a list of positive integers less than $p$ such that any specific value occurs at most $\frac{51}{100}N$ times and $a_1 + a_2 + \cdots· + a_N$ is not divisible by $p$. Prove that there exists a permutation $b_1, b_2, \ldots , b_N$ of the $a_i$ such that, for all $k = 1, 2, \ldots , N$, the sum $b_1 + b_2 + \cdots + b_k$ is not divisible by $p$.
[i]Will Steinberg, United Kingdom[/i]
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) $N = 2019$.
2007 Korea Junior Math Olympiad, 3
Consider the string of length $6$ composed of three characters $a, b, c$. For each string, if two $a$s are next to each other, or two $b$s are next to each other, then replace $aa$ by $b$, and replace $bb$ by $a$. Also, if $a$ and $b$ are next to each other, or two $c$s are next to each other, remove all two of them (i.e. delete $ab, ba, cc$). Determine the number of strings that can be reduced to $c$, the string of length $1$, by the reducing processes mentioned above.
1983 Tournament Of Towns, (035) O4
The natural numbers $M$ and $K$ are represented by different permutations of the same digits. Prove that
(a) The sum of the digits of $2M$ equals the sum of the digits of $2K$.
(b) The sum of the digits of $M/2$ equals the sum of the digits of $K/2$ ($M, K$ both even).
(c) The sum of the digits of $5M$ equals the sum of the digits of $5 K$.
(AD Lisitskiy)
2015 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualification, 3
Let $N$ be a 3-digit number with three distinct non-zero digits. We say that $N$ is [i]mediocre[/i] if it has the property that when all six 3-digit permutations of $N$ are written down, the average is $N$. For example, $N = 481$ is mediocre, since it is the average of $\{418, 481, 148, 184, 814, 841\}$.
Determine the largest mediocre number.
2019 Romania National Olympiad, 4
Let $p$ be a prime number. For any $\sigma \in S_p$ (the permutation group of $\{1,2,...,p \}),$ define the matrix $A_{\sigma}=(a_{ij}) \in \mathcal{M}_p(\mathbb{Z})$ as $a_{ij} = \sigma^{i-1}(j),$ where $\sigma^0$ is the identity permutation and $\sigma^k = \underbrace{\sigma \circ \sigma \circ ... \circ \sigma}_k.$
Prove that $D = \{ |\det A_{\sigma}| : \sigma \in S_p \}$ has at most $1+ (p-2)!$ elements.
2010 ELMO Shortlist, 1
For a permutation $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$, let $\text{Inv}(\pi)$ be the number of pairs $(i,j)$ with $1 \leq i < j \leq n$ and $\pi(i) > \pi(j)$.
[list=1]
[*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \text{Inv}(\pi)$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$?
[*] Given $n$, what is $\sum \left(\text{Inv}(\pi)\right)^2$ where the sum ranges over all permutations $\pi$ of $\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$?[/list]
[i]Brian Hamrick.[/i]
2020 EGMO, 4
A permutation of the integers $1, 2, \ldots, m$ is called [i]fresh[/i] if there exists no positive integer $k < m$ such that the first $k$ numbers in the permutation are $1, 2, \ldots, k$ in some order. Let $f_m$ be the number of fresh permutations of the integers $1, 2, \ldots, m$.
Prove that $f_n \ge n \cdot f_{n - 1}$ for all $n \ge 3$.
[i]For example, if $m = 4$, then the permutation $(3, 1, 4, 2)$ is fresh, whereas the permutation $(2, 3, 1, 4)$ is not.[/i]
2023-24 IOQM India, 7
Unconventional dice are to be designed such that the six faces are marked with numbers from $1$ to $6$ with $1$ and $2$ appearing on opposite faces. Further, each face is colored either red or yellow with opposite faces always of the same color. Two dice are considered to have the same design if one of them can be rotated to obtain a dice that has the same numbers and colors on the corresponding faces as the other one. Find the number of distinct dice that can be designed.
2019 Caucasus Mathematical Olympiad, 3
Find all positive integers $n\geqslant 2$ such that there exists a permutation $a_1$, $a_2$, $a_3$, \ldots, $a_{2n}$ of the numbers $1, 2, 3, \ldots, 2n$ satisfying $$a_1\cdot a_2 + a_3\cdot a_4 + \ldots + a_{2n-3} \cdot a_{2n-2} = a_{2n-1} \cdot a_{2n}.$$
2017 Kyiv Mathematical Festival, 1
Several dwarves were lined up in a row, and then they lined up in a row in a different order. Is it possible that exactly one third of the dwarves have two new neighbours and exactly one third of the dwarves have only one new neighbour, if the number of the dwarves is a) 9; b) 12?
2024 Belarus Team Selection Test, 1.4
Two permutations of $1,\ldots, n$ are written on the board:
$a_1,\ldots,a_n$
$b_1,\ldots,b_n$
A move consists of one of the following two operations:
1) Change the first row to $b_{a_1},\ldots,b_{a_n}$
2) Change the second row to $a_{b_1},\ldots,a_{b_n}$
The starting position is:
$2134\ldots n$
$234\ldots n1$
Is it possible by finitely many moves to get:
$2314\ldots n$
$234 \ldots n1$?
[i]D. Zmiaikou[/i]
2000 China National Olympiad, 1
Given an ordered $n$-tuple $A=(a_1,a_2,\cdots ,a_n)$ of real numbers, where $n\ge 2$, we define $b_k=\max{a_1,\ldots a_k}$ for each k. We define $B=(b_1,b_2,\cdots ,b_n)$ to be the “[i]innovated tuple[/i]” of $A$. The number of distinct elements in $B$ is called the “[i]innovated degree[/i]” of $A$.
Consider all permutations of $1,2,\ldots ,n$ as an ordered $n$-tuple. Find the arithmetic mean of the first term of the permutations whose innovated degrees are all equal to $2$
2015 Middle European Mathematical Olympiad, 3
There are $n$ students standing in line positions $1$ to $n$. While the teacher looks away, some students change their positions. When the teacher looks back, they are standing in line again. If a student who was initially in position $i$ is now in position $j$, we say the student moved for $|i-j|$ steps. Determine the maximal sum of steps of all students that they can achieve.
1987 IMO Longlists, 21
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]
2021 Kyiv City MO Round 1, 7.4
A rectangle $3 \times 5$ is divided into $15$ $1 \times 1$ cells. The middle $3$ cells that have no common points with the border of the rectangle are deleted. Is it possible to put in the remaining $12$ cells numbers $1, 2, \ldots, 12$ in some order, so that the sums of the numbers in the cells along each of the four sides of the rectangle are equal?
[i]Proposed by Mariia Rozhkova[/i]
2013 India IMO Training Camp, 1
Let $n \ge 2$ be an integer. There are $n$ beads numbered $1, 2, \ldots, n$. Two necklaces made out of some of these beads are considered the same if we can get one by rotating the other (with no flipping allowed). For example, with $n \ge 5$, the necklace with four beads $1, 5, 3, 2$ in the clockwise order is same as the one with $5, 3, 2, 1$ in the clockwise order, but is different from the one with $1, 2, 3, 5$ in the clockwise order.
We denote by $D_0(n)$ (respectively $D_1(n)$) the number of ways in which we can use all the beads to make an even number (resp. an odd number) of necklaces each of length at least $3$. Prove that $n - 1$ divides $D_1(n) - D_0(n)$.
2023 Regional Competition For Advanced Students, 3
Determine all natural numbers $n \ge 2$ with the property that there are two permutations $(a_1, a_2,... , a_n) $ and $(b_1, b_2,... , b_n)$ of the numbers $1, 2,..., n$ such that $(a_1 + b_1, a_2 +b_2,..., a_n + b_n)$ are consecutive natural numbers.
[i](Walther Janous)[/i]
2018 Pan-African Shortlist, C4
Seven cyclists follow one another, in a line, on a narrow way. By the end of the training, each cyclist complains about the style of driving of the one in front of him. They agree to rearrange themselves the next day, so that no cyclist would follow the same cyclist he follows the first day. How many such rearrangements are possible?
1963 IMO Shortlist, 6
Five students $ A, B, C, D, E$ took part in a contest. One prediction was that the contestants would finish in the order $ ABCDE$. This prediction was very poor. In fact, no contestant finished in the position predicted, and no two contestants predicted to finish consecutively actually did so. A second prediction had the contestants finishing in the order $ DAECB$. This prediction was better. Exactly two of the contestants finished in the places predicted, and two disjoint pairs of students predicted to finish consecutively actually did so. Determine the order in which the contestants finished.
2024 Romanian Master of Mathematics, 1
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Initially, a bishop is placed in each square of the top row of a $2^n \times 2^n$
chessboard; those bishops are numbered from $1$ to $2^n$ from left to right. A [i]jump[/i] is a simultaneous move made by all bishops such that each bishop moves diagonally, in a straight line, some number of squares, and at the end of the jump, the bishops all stand in different squares of the same row.
Find the total number of permutations $\sigma$ of the numbers $1, 2, \ldots, 2^n$ with the following property: There exists a sequence of jumps such that all bishops end up on the bottom row arranged in the order $\sigma(1), \sigma(2), \ldots, \sigma(2^n)$, from left to right.
[i]Israel[/i]
2022 Kyiv City MO Round 2, Problem 3
Find the largest $k$ for which there exists a permutation $(a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{2022})$ of integers from $1$ to $2022$ such that for at least $k$ distinct $i$ with $1 \le i \le 2022$ the number $\frac{a_1 + a_2 + \ldots + a_i}{1 + 2 + \ldots + i}$ is an integer larger than $1$.
[i](Proposed by Oleksii Masalitin)[/i]
2018 Brazil Undergrad MO, 3
How many permutations $a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4$ of $1, 2, 3, 4$ satisfy the condition that for $k = 1, 2, 3,$
the list $a_1,. . . , a_k$ contains a number greater than $k$?
2024 Romania National Olympiad, 4
We consider an integer $n \ge 3,$ the set $S=\{1,2,3,\ldots,n\}$ and the set $\mathcal{F}$ of the functions from $S$ to $S.$ We say that $\mathcal{G} \subset \mathcal{F}$ is a generating set for $\mathcal{H} \subset \mathcal{F}$ if any function in $\mathcal{H}$ can be represented as a composition of functions from $\mathcal{G}.$
a) Let the functions $a:S \to S,$ $a(n-1)=n,$ $a(n)=n-1$ and $a(k)=k$ for $k \in S \setminus \{n-1,n\}$ and $b:S \to S,$ $b(n)=1$ and $b(k)=k+1$ for $k \in S \setminus \{n\}.$ Prove that $\{a,b\}$ is a generating set for the set $\mathcal{B}$ of bijective functions of $\mathcal{F}.$
b) Prove that the smallest number of elements that a generating set of $\mathcal{F}$ has is $3.$