Found problems: 396
2014 Contests, 2
Given the polynomial $P(x)=(x^2-7x+6)^{2n}+13$ where $n$ is a positive integer. Prove that $P(x)$ can't be written as a product of $n+1$ non-constant polynomials with integer coefficients.
2025 Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad, P5
In an $N \times N$ table consisting of small unit squares, some squares are coloured black and the other squares are coloured white. For each pair of columns and each pair of rows, the four squares on the intersections of these rows and columns must not all be of the same colour. What is the largest possible value of $N$?
2001 Irish Math Olympiad, 2
Three hoops are arranged concentrically as in the diagram. Each hoop is threaded with $ 20$ beads, $ 10$ of which are black and $ 10$ are white. On each hoop the positions of the beads are labelled $ 1$ through $ 20$ as shown. We say there is a match at position $ i$ if all three beads at position $ i$ have the same color. We are free to slide beads around a hoop, not breaking the hoop. Show that it is always possible to move them into a configuration involving no less than $ 5$ matches.
2012 China Team Selection Test, 3
Let $a_1<a_2$ be two given integers. For any integer $n\ge 3$, let $a_n$ be the smallest integer which is larger than $a_{n-1}$ and can be uniquely represented as $a_i+a_j$, where $1\le i<j\le n-1$. Given that there are only a finite number of even numbers in $\{a_n\}$, prove that the sequence $\{a_{n+1}-a_{n}\}$ is eventually periodic, i.e. that there exist positive integers $T,N$ such that for all integers $n>N$, we have
\[a_{T+n+1}-a_{T+n}=a_{n+1}-a_{n}.\]
2009 Singapore Senior Math Olympiad, 5
In an archery competition of 30 contestants, the target is divided into two zones, zone 1 and zone 2. Each arrow hitting the zone 1 gets 10 points, when hitting zone 2 will get 5 points and no score for miss. Each contestant throws 16 arrows. At the end of the competition, the statistics show that more than 50% of the arrows hit zone 2. The number of arrows that hit zone 1 is equal to the arrows which are missed. Prove than there are two contestants having equal score.
2012 Iran MO (3rd Round), 3
Prove that if $n$ is large enough, among any $n$ points of plane we can find $1000$ points such that these $1000$ points have pairwise distinct distances. Can you prove the assertion for $n^{\alpha}$ where $\alpha$ is a positive real number instead of $1000$?
2014 IMO, 2
Let $n \ge 2$ be an integer. Consider an $n \times n$ chessboard consisting of $n^2$ unit squares. A configuration of $n$ rooks on this board is [i]peaceful[/i] if every row and every column contains exactly one rook. Find the greatest positive integer $k$ such that, for each peaceful configuration of $n$ rooks, there is a $k \times k$ square which does not contain a rook on any of its $k^2$ unit squares.
2013 Online Math Open Problems, 43
In a tennis tournament, each competitor plays against every other competitor, and there are no draws. Call a group of four tennis players ``ordered'' if there is a clear winner and a clear loser (i.e., one person who beat the other three, and one person who lost to the other three.) Find the smallest integer $n$ for which any tennis tournament with $n$ people has a group of four tennis players that is ordered.
[i]Ray Li[/i]
2014 Contests, 4
Let $n$ and $b$ be positive integers. We say $n$ is $b$-discerning if there exists a set consisting of $n$ different positive integers less than $b$ that has no two different subsets $U$ and $V$ such that the sum of all elements in $U$ equals the sum of all elements in $V$.
(a) Prove that $8$ is $100$-discerning.
(b) Prove that $9$ is not $100$-discerning.
[i]Senior Problems Committee of the Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee[/i]
2013 China Team Selection Test, 2
For the positive integer $n$, define $f(n)=\min\limits_{m\in\Bbb Z}\left|\sqrt2-\frac mn\right|$. Let $\{n_i\}$ be a strictly increasing sequence of positive integers. $C$ is a constant such that $f(n_i)<\dfrac C{n_i^2}$ for all $i\in\{1,2,\ldots\}$. Show that there exists a real number $q>1$ such that $n_i\geqslant q^{i-1}$ for all $i\in\{1,2,\ldots \}$.
2013 EGMO, 6
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves are living in their house in the forest. On each of $16$ consecutive days, some of the dwarves worked in the diamond mine while the remaining dwarves collected berries in the forest. No dwarf performed both types of work on the same day. On any two different (not necessarily consecutive) days, at least three dwarves each performed both types of work. Further, on the first day, all seven dwarves worked in the diamond mine.
Prove that, on one of these $16$ days, all seven dwarves were collecting berries.
2010 N.N. Mihăileanu Individual, 4
A square grid is composed of $ n^2\equiv 1\pmod 4 $ unit cells that contained each a locust that jumped the same amount of cells in the direccion of columns or lines, without leaving the grid. Prove that, as a result of this, at least two locusts landed on the same cell.
[i]Marius Cavachi[/i]
2009 Iran Team Selection Test, 6
We have a closed path on a vertices of a $ n$×$ n$ square which pass from each vertice exactly once . prove that we have two adjacent vertices such that if we cut the path from these points then length of each pieces is not less than quarter of total path .
2006 Greece Junior Math Olympiad, 3
Prove that between every $27$ different positive integers , less than $100$, there exist some two which are[color=red] NOT [/color]relative prime.
[u]babis[/u]
2009 Polish MO Finals, 4
Let $ x_1,x_2,..,x_n$ be non-negative numbers whose sum is $ 1$ . Show that there exist numbers $ a_1,a_2,\ldots ,a_n$ chosen from amongst $ 0,1,2,3,4$ such that $ a_1,a_2,\ldots ,a_n$ are different from $ 2,2,\ldots ,2$ and $ 2\leq a_1x_1\plus{}a_2x_2\plus{}\ldots\plus{}a_nx_n\leq 2\plus{}\frac{2}{3^n\minus{}1}$.
2004 Iran MO (3rd Round), 6
assume that we have a n*n table we fill it with 1,...,n such that each number exists exactly n times prove that there exist a row or column such that at least $\sqrt{n}$ diffrent number are contained.
1993 Flanders Math Olympiad, 1
The 20 pupils in a class each send 10 cards to 10 (different) class members. [size=92][i][note: you cannot send a card to yourself.][/i][/size]
(a) Show at least 2 pupils sent each other a card.
(b) Now suppose we had $n$ pupils sending $m$ cards each. For which $(m,n)$ is the above true? (That is, find minimal $m(n)$ or maximal $n(m)$)
PEN O Problems, 9
Let $n$ be an integer, and let $X$ be a set of $n+2$ integers each of absolute value at most $n$. Show that there exist three distinct numbers $a, b, c \in X$ such that $c=a+b$.
1978 IMO Longlists, 23
Let $S$ be the set of all the odd positive integers that are not multiples of $5$ and that are less than $30m$, $m$ being an arbitrary positive integer. What is the smallest integer $k$ such that in any subset of $k$ integers from $S$ there must be two different integers, one of which divides the other?
1978 IMO Shortlist, 8
Let $S$ be the set of all the odd positive integers that are not multiples of $5$ and that are less than $30m$, $m$ being an arbitrary positive integer. What is the smallest integer $k$ such that in any subset of $k$ integers from $S$ there must be two different integers, one of which divides the other?
2021 Iran MO (3rd Round), 3
Let $n\ge 3$ be a fixed integer. There are $m\ge n+1$ beads on a circular necklace. You wish to paint the beads using $n$ colors, such that among any $n+1$ consecutive beads every color appears at least once. Find the largest value of $m$ for which this task is $\emph{not}$ possible.
[i]Carl Schildkraut, USA[/i]
1995 USAMO, 5
Suppose that in a certain society, each pair of persons can be classified as either [i]amicable [/i]or [i]hostile[/i]. We shall say that each member of an amicable pair is a [i]friend[/i] of the other, and each member of a hostile pair is a [i]foe[/i] of the other. Suppose that the society has $\, n \,$ persons and $\, q \,$ amicable pairs, and that for every set of three persons, at least one pair is hostile. Prove that there is at least one member of the society whose foes include $\, q(1 - 4q/n^2) \,$ or fewer amicable pairs.
2021 Science ON all problems, 3
Consider positive integers $a<b$ and the set $C\subset\{a,a+1,a+2,\dots ,b-2,b-1,b\}$. Suppose $C$ has more than $\frac{b-a+1}{2}$ elements. Prove that there are two elements $x,y\in C$ that satisfy $x+y=a+b$.
[i] (From "Radu Păun" contest, Radu Miculescu)[/i]
2012 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualification Repechage, 1
The front row of a movie theatre contains $45$ seats.
[list]
[*] (a) If $42$ people are sitting in the front row, prove that there are $10$ consecutive seats that are all occupied.
[*] (b) Show that this conclusion doesn’t necessarily hold if only $41$ people are sitting in the front row.[/list]
2013 AMC 12/AHSME, 20
Let $S$ be the set $\{1,2,3,...,19\}$. For $a,b \in S$, define $a \succ b$ to mean that either $0 < a - b \leq 9$ or $b - a > 9$. How many ordered triples $(x,y,z)$ of elements of $S$ have the property that $x \succ y$, $y \succ z$, and $z \succ x$?
$ \textbf{(A)} \ 810 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \ 855 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \ 900 \qquad \textbf{(D)} \ 950 \qquad \textbf{(E)} \ 988$