Olympiad problems

1974 Polish MO Finals, 3

Let $r$ be a natural number. Prove that the quadratic trinomial $x^2 - rx- 1$ does not divide any nonzero polynomial whose coefficients are integers with absolute values less than $r$.

2010 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , search , number theory

Prove that, for all integer $a>1$, the prime divisors of $5a^4-5a^2+1$ have the form $20k\pm1,k\in\mathbb{Z}$. [i]Proposed by Géza Kós.[/i]

2006 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 4

Tags: calculus , integration , algebra , polynomial , function , real analysis

Prove that for any interval $[a,b]$ of real numbers and any positive integer $n$ there exists a positive integer $k$ and a partition of the given interval \[a = x (0) < x (1) < x (2) < \cdots < x (k-1) < x (k) = b\] such that \[\int_{x(0)}^{x(1)}f(x)dx+\int_{x(2)}^{x(3)}f(x)dx+\cdots=\int_{x(1)}^{x(2)}f(x)dx+\int_{x(3)}^{x(4)}f(x)dx+\cdots\] for all polynomials $f$ with real coefficients and degree less than $n$.

2023 IFYM, Sozopol, 8

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Do there exist a natural number $n$ and real numbers $a_0, a_1, \dots, a_n$, each equal to $1$ or $-1$, such that the polynomial $a_nx^n + a_{n-1}x^{n-1} + \dots + a_1x + a_0$ is divisible by the polynomial $x^{2023} - 2x^{2022} + c$, where: \\ (a) $c = 1$ \\ (b) $c = -1$? [i] (For polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ with real coefficients, we say that $P(x)$ is divisible by $Q(x)$ if there exists a polynomial $R(x)$ with real coefficients such that $P(x) = Q(x)R(x)$.)[/i]

1973 Polish MO Finals, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that every polynomial is a difference of two increasing polynomials.

2016 Azerbaijan Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with real coefficents, such that for all $x,y,z$ satisfying $x+y+z=0$, the equation below is true: \[P(x+y)^3+P(y+z)^3+P(z+x)^3=3P((x+y)(y+z)(z+x))\]

2011 AIME Problems, 9

Tags: trigonometry , algebra , polynomial , rational root theorem , logarithm

Suppose $x$ is in the interval $[0,\pi/2]$ and $\log_{24\sin{x}}(24\cos{x})=\frac{3}{2}$. Find $24\cot^2{x}$.

2010 Kyrgyzstan National Olympiad, 5

Tags: polynomial , function , algebra

Let $k$ be a constant number larger than $1$. Find all polynomials $P(x)$ such that $P({x^k}) = {\left( {P(x)} \right)^k}$ for all real $x$.

2007 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function , induction , quadratic , limit , integration

Prove that for any positive integer $ n$, there exists only $ n$ degree polynomial $ f(x),$ satisfying $ f(0) \equal{} 1$ and $ (x \plus{} 1)[f(x)]^2 \minus{} 1$ is an odd function.

2015 CCA Math Bonanza, TB2

Tags: polynomial , vieta , algebra

If $a,b,c$ are the roots of $x^3+20x^2+1x+5$, compute $(a^2+1)(b^2+1)(c^2+1)$. [i]2015 CCA Math Bonanza Tiebreaker Round #2[/i]

2004 IMC, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction

Let $f_1(x)=x^2-1$, and for each positive integer $n \geq 2$ define $f_n(x) = f_{n-1}(f_1(x))$. How many distinct real roots does the polynomial $f_{2004}$ have?

2024 ISI Entrance UGB, P2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities

Suppose $n\ge 2$. Consider the polynomial \[Q_n(x) = 1-x^n - (1-x)^n .\] Show that the equation $Q_n(x) = 0$ has only two real roots, namely $0$ and $1$.

2016 CCA Math Bonanza, L2.4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

What is the largest integer that must divide $n^5-5n^3+4n$ for all integers $n$? [i]2016 CCA Math Bonanza Lightning #2.4[/i]

2012 Turkmenistan National Math Olympiad, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

If the polynomial $P(x)=ax^2+bx+c$ takes value $0$ for three different values of $x$, then prove the polynomial $P(x)$ takes value $0$ for all $x$.

2014 USA TSTST, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vector , floor function , modular arithmetic , pigeonhole principle , linear algebra

Let $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ be arbitrary polynomials with real coefficients, and let $d$ be the degree of $P(x)$. Assume that $P(x)$ is not the zero polynomial. Prove that there exist polynomials $A(x)$ and $B(x)$ such that: (i) both $A$ and $B$ have degree at most $d/2$ (ii) at most one of $A$ and $B$ is the zero polynomial. (iii) $\frac{A(x)+Q(x)B(x)}{P(x)}$ is a polynomial with real coefficients. That is, there is some polynomial $C(x)$ with real coefficients such that $A(x)+Q(x)B(x)=P(x)C(x)$.

1999 Brazil Team Selection Test, Problem 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

If $a,b,c,d$ are Distinct Real no. such that $a = \sqrt{4+\sqrt{5+a}}$ $b = \sqrt{4-\sqrt{5+b}}$ $c = \sqrt{4+\sqrt{5-c}}$ $d = \sqrt{4-\sqrt{5-d}}$ Then $abcd = $

2009 AMC 12/AHSME, 19

Tags: algebra , polynomial , search , vieta , prime number , number theory

For each positive integer $ n$, let $ f(n)\equal{}n^4\minus{}360n^2\plus{}400$. What is the sum of all values of $ f(n)$ that are prime numbers? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 794\qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 796\qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 798\qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 800\qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 802$

1985 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 1

Tags: polynomial , number theory , algebra

Let $f(x)$ be a non-constant polynomial with integer coefficients and $n,k$ be natural numbers. Show that there exist $n$ consecutive natural numbers $a,a+1,\ldots,a+n-1$ such that the numbers $f(a),f(a+1),\ldots,f(a+n-1)$ all have at least $k$ prime factors. (We say that the number $p_1^{\alpha_1}\cdots p_s^{\alpha_s}$ has $\alpha_1+\ldots+\alpha_s$ prime factors.)

1996 AIME Problems, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Suppose that the roots of $x^3+3x^2+4x-11=0$ are $a, b,$ and $c,$ and that the roots of $x^3+rx^2+sx+t=0$ are $a+b, b+c,$ and $c+a.$ Find $t.$

2014 ELMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , induction , binomial theorem , number theory

Let $t$ and $n$ be fixed integers each at least $2$. Find the largest positive integer $m$ for which there exists a polynomial $P$, of degree $n$ and with rational coefficients, such that the following property holds: exactly one of \[ \frac{P(k)}{t^k} \text{ and } \frac{P(k)}{t^{k+1}} \] is an integer for each $k = 0,1, ..., m$. [i]Proposed by Michael Kural[/i]

1983 AMC 12/AHSME, 18

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function

Let $f$ be a polynomial function such that, for all real $x$, \[f(x^2 + 1) = x^4 + 5x^2 + 3.\] For all real $x$, $f(x^2-1)$ is $ \textbf{(A)}\ x^4+5x^2+1\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ x^4+x^2-3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ x^4-5x^2+1\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ x^4+x^2+3\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{None of these} $

1985 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 7

Tags: polynomial , root , integer polynomial , polynomial equation , algebra

Find the values of $p$ for which the equation $x^5 - px-1 = 0$ has two roots $r$ and $s$ which are the roots of equation $x^2-ax+b= 0$ for some integers $a,b$.

2007 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory

Let $ k \in \mathbb{N}$. A polynomial is called [i]$ k$-valid[/i] if all its coefficients are integers between 0 and $ k$ inclusively. (Here we don't consider 0 to be a natural number.) [b]a.)[/b] For $ n \in \mathbb{N}$ let $ a_n$ be the number of 5-valid polynomials $ p$ which satisfy $ p(3) = n.$ Prove that each natural number occurs in the sequence $ (a_n)_n$ at least once but only finitely often. [b]b.)[/b] For $ n \in \mathbb{N}$ let $ a_n$ be the number of 4-valid polynomials $ p$ which satisfy $ p(3) = n.$ Prove that each natural number occurs infinitely often in the sequence $ (a_n)_n$ .

2011 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 11.1

Tags: trigonometry , polynomial , algebra

Is there a real number $\alpha$ such that $\cos\alpha$ is irrational but $\cos 2\alpha$, $\cos 3\alpha$, $\cos 4\alpha$, $\cos 5\alpha$ are all rational? (Author: V. Senderov)

2020 Thailand Mathematical Olympiad, 10

Tags: polynomial , number theory

Determine all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients which satisfies $P(n)\mid n!+2$ for all postive integer $n$.