Olympiad problems

2021 Taiwan TST Round 1, A

Let $\mathcal{A}$ denote the set of all polynomials in three variables $x, y, z$ with integer coefficients. Let $\mathcal{B}$ denote the subset of $\mathcal{A}$ formed by all polynomials which can be expressed as \begin{align*} (x + y + z)P(x, y, z) + (xy + yz + zx)Q(x, y, z) + xyzR(x, y, z) \end{align*} with $P, Q, R \in \mathcal{A}$. Find the smallest non-negative integer $n$ such that $x^i y^j z^k \in \mathcal{B}$ for all non-negative integers $i, j, k$ satisfying $i + j + k \geq n$.

1995 Chile National Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , cubic

If $p (x) = c_0 + c_1x + c_2x^2 + c_3x^3$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients with $a, b,c$ integers and different from each other, prove that it cannot happen simultaneously that $p (a) = b$, $p (b) = c$ and $p (c) = a$.

2012 IFYM, Sozopol, 4

Tags: number theory , calculus , integration , polynomial , gauss , prime number , algebra

Given distinct prime numbers $p$ and $q$ and a natural number $n \geq 3$, find all $a \in \mathbb{Z}$ such that the polynomial $f(x) = x^n + ax^{n-1} + pq$ can be factored into 2 integral polynomials of degree at least 1.

2009 Baltic Way, 3

Tags: algebra , number theory , polynomial

Let $ n$ be a given positive integer. Show that we can choose numbers $ c_k\in\{\minus{}1,1\}$ ($ i\le k\le n$) such that \[ 0\le\sum_{k\equal{}1}^nc_k\cdot k^2\le4.\]

1983 IMO Shortlist, 19

Tags: algebra , polynomial , fibonacci , fibonacci sequence , sequence

Let $(F_n)_{n\geq 1} $ be the Fibonacci sequence $F_1 = F_2 = 1, F_{n+2} = F_{n+1} + F_n (n \geq 1),$ and $P(x)$ the polynomial of degree $990$ satisfying \[ P(k) = F_k, \qquad \text{ for } k = 992, . . . , 1982.\] Prove that $P(1983) = F_{1983} - 1.$

2010 Albania Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , number theory , function , polynomial , inequalities , prime number

With $\sigma (n)$ we denote the sum of natural divisors of the natural number $n$. Prove that, if $n$ is the product of different prime numbers of the form $2^k-1$ for $k \in \mathbb{N}$($Mersenne's$ prime numbers) , than $\sigma (n)=2^m$, for some $m \in \mathbb{N}$. Is the inverse statement true?

2010 Iran MO (2nd Round), 4

Tags: inequalities , algebra , polynomial

Let $P(x)=ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$ be a polynomial with real coefficients such that \[\min\{d,b+d\}> \max\{|{c}|,|{a+c}|\}\] Prove that $P(x)$ do not have a real root in $[-1,1]$.

1992 IMO Longlists, 35

Tags: algebra , polynomial , functional equation , iteration

Let $ f(x)$ be a polynomial with rational coefficients and $ \alpha$ be a real number such that \[ \alpha^3 \minus{} \alpha \equal{} [f(\alpha)]^3 \minus{} f(\alpha) \equal{} 33^{1992}.\] Prove that for each $ n \geq 1,$ \[ \left [ f^{n}(\alpha) \right]^3 \minus{} f^{n}(\alpha) \equal{} 33^{1992},\] where $ f^{n}(x) \equal{} f(f(\cdots f(x))),$ and $ n$ is a positive integer.

IV Soros Olympiad 1997 - 98 (Russia), 11.8

Tags: trigonometry , algebra , polynomial

Sum of all roots of the equation $$cos^{100} x + a_1 cos^{99} x + a_2cos^{98} x +... + a_99 cos x+ a_{100} = 0$$, in interval $\left[\pi, \frac{3\pi}{2} \right]$, is equal to $21\pi$, and the sum of all roots of the equation $$sin^{100} x + a_1 sin^{99} x + a_2sin ^{98} x +... + a_99sin x+ a_{100} = 0$$, in the same interval, is equal to $24\pi $. How many roots does the first equation have on the segment $\left[ \frac{\pi}{2}, \pi\right]$?

2024 India IMOTC, 10

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $r>0$ be a real number. We call a monic polynomial with complex coefficients $r$-[i]good[/i] if all of its roots have absolute value at most $r$. We call a monic polynomial with complex coefficients [i]primordial[/i] if all of its coefficients have absolute value at most $1$. a) Prove that any $1$-good polynomial has a primordial multiple. b) If $r>1$, prove that there exists an $r$-good polynomial that does not have a primordial multiple. [i]Proposed by Pranjal Srivastava[/i]

1992 IMO Longlists, 51

Tags: functional equation , algebra , polynomial , number theory

Let $ f, g$ and $ a$ be polynomials with real coefficients, $ f$ and $ g$ in one variable and $ a$ in two variables. Suppose \[ f(x) \minus{} f(y) \equal{} a(x, y)(g(x) \minus{} g(y)) \forall x,y \in \mathbb{R}\] Prove that there exists a polynomial $ h$ with $ f(x) \equal{} h(g(x)) \text{ } \forall x \in \mathbb{R}.$

2009 IMC, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $p(z)=a_0+a_1z+a_2z^2+\cdots+a_nz^n$ be a complex polynomial. Suppose that $1=c_0\ge c_1\ge \cdots \ge c_n\ge 0$ is a sequence of real numbers which form a convex sequence. (That is $2c_k\le c_{k-1}+c_{k+1}$ for every $k=1,2,\cdots ,n-1$ ) and consider the polynomial \[ q(z)=c_0a_0+c_1a_1z+c_2a_2z^2+\cdots +c_na_nz^n \] Prove that : \[ \max_{|z|\le 1}q(z)\le \max_{|z|\le 1}p(z) \]

2025 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , sequence , converges

Let $P(x) = x^4-x^3+x$. a) Prove that for all positive real numbers $a$, the polynomial $P(x) - a$ has a unique positive zero. b) A sequence $(a_n)$ is defined by $a_1 = \dfrac{1}{3}$ and for all $n \geq 1$, $a_{n+1}$ is the positive zero of the polynomial $P(x) - a_n$. Prove that the sequence $(a_n)$ converges, and find the limit of the sequence.

1997 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial

For every natural number $ n$, find all polynomials $ x^2\plus{}ax\plus{}b$, where $ a^2 \ge 4b$, that divide $ x^{2n}\plus{}ax^n\plus{}b$.

2012 NZMOC Camp Selection Problems, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , integer polynomial

Let $p(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients, and let $a, b$ and $c$ be three distinct integers. Show that it is not possible to have $p(a) = b$, $p(b) = c$, and $p(c) = a$.

2008 IMS, 1

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , induction , polynomial , algebra

Let $ A_1,A_2,\dots,A_n$ be idempotent matrices with real entries. Prove that: \[ \mbox{N}(A_1)\plus{}\mbox{N}(A_2)\plus{}\dots\plus{}\mbox{N}(A_n)\geq \mbox{rank}(I\minus{}A_1A_2\dots A_n)\] $ \mbox{N}(A)$ is $ \mbox{dim}(\mbox{ker(A)})$

2011 IMC, 2

Tags: matrix , linear algebra , function , polynomial , algebra

Does there exist a real $3\times 3$ matrix $A$ such that $\text{tr}(A)=0$ and $A^2+A^t=I?$ ($\text{tr}(A)$ denotes the trace of $A,\ A^t$ the transpose of $A,$ and $I$ is the identity matrix.) [i]Proposed by Moubinool Omarjee, Paris[/i]

1975 Poland - Second Round, 6

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $ f(x) $ and $ g(x) $ be polynomials with integer coefficients. Prove that if for every integer value $ n $ the number $ g(n) $ is divisible by the number $ f(n) $, then $ g(x) = f(x)\cdot h(x) $, where $ h(x) $ is a polynomial,. Show with an example that the coefficients of the polynomial $ h(x) $ do not have to be integer.

2010 AMC 10, 9

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta

A [i]palindrome[/i], such as $ 83438$, is a number that remains the same when its digits are reversed. The numbers $ x$ and $ x \plus{} 32$ are three-digit and four-digit palindromes, respectively. What is the sum of the digits of x? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 20\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 21\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 22\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 23\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 24$

2023 Azerbaijan IZhO TST, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

P(x) is polynomial such that, polynomial P(P(x)) is strictly monotone in all real number line. Prove that polynomial P(x) is also strictly monotone in all real number line.

1985 IMO, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , binomial coefficient , combinatorial inequality , inequality

For any polynomial $P(x)=a_0+a_1x+\ldots+a_kx^k$ with integer coefficients, the number of odd coefficients is denoted by $o(P)$. For $i-0,1,2,\ldots$ let $Q_i(x)=(1+x)^i$. Prove that if $i_1,i_2,\ldots,i_n$ are integers satisfying $0\le i_1<i_2<\ldots<i_n$, then: \[ o(Q_{i_1}+Q_{i_2}+\ldots+Q_{i_n})\ge o(Q_{i_1}). \]

2018 Morocco TST., 1

Tags: algebra , ineqstd , polynomial

Let $a_1,a_2,\ldots a_n,k$, and $M$ be positive integers such that $$\frac{1}{a_1}+\frac{1}{a_2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{a_n}=k\quad\text{and}\quad a_1a_2\cdots a_n=M.$$ If $M>1$, prove that the polynomial $$P(x)=M(x+1)^k-(x+a_1)(x+a_2)\cdots (x+a_n)$$ has no positive roots.

2025 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , number theory , prime number , finite field , polynomial

Let $p$ be an odd prime number, and $k$ be an odd number not divisible by $p$. Consider a field $K$ be a field with $kp+1$ elements, and $A = \{x_1,x_2, \dots, x_t\}$ be the set of elements of $K^*$, whose order is not $k$ in the multiplicative group $(K^*,\cdot)$. Prove that the polynomial $P(X)=(X+x_1)(X+x_2)\dots(X+x_t)$ has at least $p$ coefficients equal to $1$.

1992 India Regional Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra , inequalities

Determine the set of integers $n$ for which $n^2+19n+92$ is a square.

2014 Online Math Open Problems, 22

Tags: polynomial , function , algebra , modular arithmetic

Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients such that $f(15) f(21) f(35) - 10$ is divisible by $105$. Given $f(-34) = 2014$ and $f(0) \ge 0$, find the smallest possible value of $f(0)$. [i]Proposed by Michael Kural and Evan Chen[/i]