Olympiad problems

2020 Balkan MO Shortlist, A4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $P(x) = x^3 + ax^2 + bx + 1$ be a polynomial with real coefficients and three real roots $\rho_1$, $\rho_2$, $\rho_3$ such that $|\rho_1| < |\rho_2| < |\rho_3|$. Let $A$ be the point where the graph of $P(x)$ intersects $yy'$ and the point $B(\rho_1, 0)$, $C(\rho_2, 0)$, $D(\rho_3, 0)$. If the circumcircle of $\vartriangle ABD$ intersects $yy'$ for a second time at $E$, find the minimum value of the length of the segment $EC$ and the polynomials for which this is attained. [i]Brazitikos Silouanos, Greece[/i]

2008 Greece Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , divisibility

Find all possible values of $a\in \mathbb{R}$ and $n\in \mathbb{N^*}$ such that $f(x)=(x-1)^n+(x-2)^{2n+1}+(1-x^2)^{2n+1}+a$ is divisible by $\phi (x)=x^2-x+1$

1942 Putnam, A2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

If a polynomial $f(x)$ is divided by $(x-a)^{2} (x-b)$, where $a\ne b$, derive a formula for the remainder.

1994 India National Olympiad, 2

Tags: polynomial , inequalities , algebra

If $x^5 - x ^3 + x = a,$ prove that $x^6 \geq 2a - 1$.

PEN H Problems, 35

Tags: diophantine equation , algebra , polynomial

Find all cubic polynomials $x^3 +ax^2 +bx+c$ admitting the rational numbers $a$, $b$ and $c$ as roots.

2013 Mediterranean Mathematics Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Do there exist two real monic polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ of degree 3,such that the roots of $P(Q(X))$ are nine pairwise distinct nonnegative integers that add up to $72$? (In a monic polynomial of degree 3, the coefficient of $x^{3}$ is $1$.)

2024 IFYM, Sozopol, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Does there exist a polynomial $ P(x,y) $ in two variables with real coefficients, such that the following two conditions hold: 1) $ P(x,y) = P(x, x-y) = P(y-x, y) $ for any real numbers $ x $ and $ y $; 2) There does not exist a polynomial $ Q(z) $ in one variable with real coefficients such that $ P(x,y) = Q(x^2 - xy + y^2) $ for any real numbers $ x $ and $ y $?

2010 Contests, 2

Tags: polynomial , functional equation , algebra

Find all polynomials $p(x)$ with real coeffcients such that \[p(a + b - 2c) + p(b + c - 2a) + p(c + a - 2b) = 3p(a - b) + 3p(b - c) + 3p(c - a)\] for all $a, b, c\in\mathbb{R}$. [i](2nd Benelux Mathematical Olympiad 2010, Problem 2)[/i]

1998 USAMTS Problems, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $f$ be a polynomial of degree $98$, such that $f (k) =\frac{1}{k}$ for $k=1,2,3,\ldots,99$. Determine $f(100)$.

PEN E Problems, 39

Tags: algebra , polynomial , integration

Let $c$ be a nonzero real number. Suppose that $g(x)=c_0x^r+c_1x^{r-1}+\cdots+c_{r-1}x+c_r$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients. Suppose that the roots of $g(x)$ are $b_1,\cdots,b_r$. Let $k$ be a given positive integer. Show that there is a prime $p$ such that $p>\max(k,|c|,|c_r|)$, and moreover if $t$ is a real number between $0$ and $1$, and $j$ is one of $1,\cdots,r$, then \[|(\text{ }c^r\text{ }b_j\text{}g(tb_j)\text{ })^pe^{(1-t)b}|<\dfrac{(p-1)!}{2r}.\] Furthermore, if \[f(x)=\dfrac{e^{rp-1}x^{p-1}(g(x))^p}{(p-1)!}\] then \[\left|\sum_{j=1}^r\int_0^1 e^{(1-t)b_j}f(tb_j)dt\right|\leq \dfrac{1}{2}.\]

2004 Baltic Way, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities , search

Let $ P(x)$ be a polynomial with a non-negative coefficients. Prove that if the inequality $ P\left(\frac {1}{x}\right)P(x)\geq 1$ holds for $ x \equal{} 1$, then this inequality holds for each positive $ x$.

2003 Tuymaada Olympiad, 4

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

Given are polynomial $f(x)$ with non-negative integral coefficients and positive integer $a.$ The sequence $\{a_{n}\}$ is defined by $a_{1}=a,$ $a_{n+1}=f(a_{n}).$ It is known that the set of primes dividing at least one of the terms of this sequence is finite. Prove that $f(x)=cx^{k}$ for some non-negative integral $c$ and $k.$ [i]Proposed by F. Petrov[/i] [hide="For those of you who liked this problem."] Check [url=http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=62259]this thread[/url] out.[/hide]

2014 Tajikistan Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Given the polynomial $p(x) = x^2 + x - 70$, do there exist integers $0<m<n$, so that $p(m)$ is divisible by $n$ and $p(m+1)$ is divisible by $n+1$? [i]Proposed by Nairy Sedrakyan[/i]

2005 Pan African, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $S$ be a set of integers with the property that any integer root of any non-zero polynomial with coefficients in $S$ also belongs to $S$. If $0$ and $1000$ are elements of $S$, prove that $-2$ is also an element of $S$.

2010 IMC, 5

Tags: function , algebra , polynomial , vector , analytic geometry , real analysis , number theory

Suppose that for a function $f: \mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}$ and real numbers $a<b$ one has $f(x)=0$ for all $x\in (a,b).$ Prove that $f(x)=0$ for all $x\in \mathbb{R}$ if \[\sum^{p-1}_{k=0}f\left(y+\frac{k}{p}\right)=0\] for every prime number $p$ and every real number $y.$

1987 Greece Junior Math Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find real $a,b$ such that polynomial $P(x)=x^{n+1}+ax+b$ to be divisible by $(x-1)^2$. Then find the quotient $P(x):(x-1)^2 , n\in \mathbb{N}^*$

2017 Princeton University Math Competition, B2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $a_1(x), a_2(x)$, and $a_3(x)$ be three polynomials with integer coefficients such that every polynomial with integer coefficients can be written in the form $p_1(x)a_1(x) + p_2(x)a_2(x) + p_3(x)a_3(x)$ for some polynomials $p_1(x), p_2(x), p_3(x)$ with integer coefficients. Show that every polynomial is of the form $p_1(x)a_1(x)^2 + p_2(x)a_2(x)^2 + p_3(x)a_3(x)^2$ for some polynomials $p_1(x), p_2(x), p_3(x)$ with integer coefficients.

2022 International Zhautykov Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

A polynomial $f(x)$ with real coefficients of degree greater than $1$ is given. Prove that there are infinitely many positive integers which cannot be represented in the form \[f(n+1)+f(n+2)+\cdots+f(n+k)\] where $n$ and $k$ are positive integers.

1991 Baltic Way, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial , calculus , derivative

Let $a, b, c, d, e$ be distinct real numbers. Prove that the equation \[(x - a)(x - b)(x - c)(x - d) + (x - a)(x - b)(x - c)(x - e)\] \[+(x - a)(x - b)(x - d)(x - e) + (x - a)(x - c)(x - d)(x - e)\] \[+(x - b)(x - c)(x - d)(x - e) = 0\] has four distinct real solutions.

2007 USA Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , algorithm , modular arithmetic , counting , distinguishability , induction

For a polynomial $ P(x)$ with integer coefficients, $ r(2i \minus{} 1)$ (for $ i \equal{} 1,2,3,\ldots,512$) is the remainder obtained when $ P(2i \minus{} 1)$ is divided by $ 1024$. The sequence \[ (r(1),r(3),\ldots,r(1023)) \] is called the [i]remainder sequence[/i] of $ P(x)$. A remainder sequence is called [i]complete[/i] if it is a permutation of $ (1,3,5,\ldots,1023)$. Prove that there are no more than $ 2^{35}$ different complete remainder sequences.

2003 AIME Problems, 15

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function

Let \[P(x)=24x^{24}+\sum_{j=1}^{23}(24-j)(x^{24-j}+x^{24+j}). \] Let $z_{1},z_{2},\ldots,z_{r}$ be the distinct zeros of $P(x),$ and let $z_{k}^{2}=a_{k}+b_{k}i$ for $k=1,2,\ldots,r,$ where $i=\sqrt{-1},$ and $a_{k}$ and $b_{k}$ are real numbers. Let \[\sum_{k=1}^{r}|b_{k}|=m+n\sqrt{p}, \] where $m,$ $n,$ and $p$ are integers and $p$ is not divisible by the square of any prime. Find $m+n+p.$

2023 Grosman Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , composition

Find all pairs of polynomials $p$, $q$ with complex coefficients so that \[p(x)\cdot q(x)=p(q(x)).\]

2006 Thailand Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , divide

Let $P(x), Q(x)$ and $R(x)$ be polynomials satisfying the equation $2xP(x^3) + Q(-x -x^3) = (1 + x + x^2)R(x)$. Show that $x - 1$ divides $P(x) - Q(x)$.

2004 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $P(x) = x^4 + ax^3 + bx^2 + cx + d$ and $Q(x) = x^2 + px + q$be two real polynomials. Suppose that there exista an interval $(r,s)$ of length greater than $2$ SUCH THAT BOTH $P(x)$ AND $Q(x)$ ARE nEGATIVE FOR $X \in (r,s)$ and both are positive for $x > s$ and $x<r$. Show that there is a real $x_0$ such that $P(x_0) < Q(x_0)$

1988 Czech And Slovak Olympiad IIIA, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find all numbers $a \in (-2, 2)$ for which the polynomial $x^{154}-ax^{77}+1$ is a multiple of the polynomial $x^{14}-ax^{7}+1$.