Olympiad problems

2002 China Western Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: geometry , polynomial , algebra , perimeter , complex number

In the complex plane, consider squares having the following property: the complex numbers its vertex correspond to are exactly the roots of integer coefficients equation $ x^4 \plus{} px^3 \plus{} qx^2 \plus{} rx \plus{} s \equal{} 0$. Find the minimum of square areas.

2016 Saudi Arabia GMO TST, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $c$ be a given real number. Find all polynomials $P$ with real coefficients such that: $(x + 1)P(x - 1) - (x - 1)P(x) = c$ for all $x \in R$

2025 Canada Junior National Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

A polynomial $c_dx^d+c_{d-1}x^{d-1}+\dots+c_1x+c_0$ with degree $d$ is [i]reflexive[/i] if there is an integer $n\ge d$ such that $c_i=c_{n-i}$ for every $0\le i\le n$, where $c_i=0$ for $i>d$. Let $\ell\ge 2$ be an integer and $p(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients. Prove that there exist reflexive polynomials $q(x)$, $r(x)$ with integer coefficients such that \[(1+x+x^2+\dots+x^{\ell-1})p(x)=q(x)+x^\ell r(x)\]

2016 IFYM, Sozopol, 6

Tags: polynomial , game theory , game strategy , algebra

Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial, such that $f(x)=x^{2015}+a_1 x^{2014}+...+a_{2014} x+a_{2015}$. Velly and Polly are taking turns, starting from Velly changing the coefficients $a_i$ with real numbers , where each coefficient is changed exactly once. After 2015 turns they calculate the number of real roots of the created polynomial and if the root is only one, then Velly wins, and if it’s not – Polly wins. Which one has a winning strategy?

1968 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: system of equations , discriminant , polynomial , algebra

Let $a,b,c$ be real numbers with $a$ non-zero. It is known that the real numbers $x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n$ satisfy the $n$ equations: \[ ax_1^2+bx_1+c = x_{2} \]\[ ax_2^2+bx_2 +c = x_3\]\[ \ldots \quad \ldots \quad \ldots \quad \ldots\]\[ ax_n^2+bx_n+c = x_1 \] Prove that the system has [b]zero[/b], [u]one[/u] or [i]more than one[/i] real solutions if $(b-1)^2-4ac$ is [b]negative[/b], equal to [u]zero[/u] or [i]positive[/i] respectively.

2021 Ecuador NMO (OMEC), 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $P(x)$ a grade 3 polynomial such that: $$P(1)=1, P(2)=4, P(3)=9$$ Find the value of $P(10)+P(-6)$

2002 Iran MO (3rd Round), 23

Tags: number theory , analytic geometry , polynomial , algebra

Find all polynomials $p$ with real coefficients that if for a real $a$,$p(a)$ is integer then $a$ is integer.

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 $n$.

2003 AIME Problems, 9

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Consider the polynomials $P(x)=x^{6}-x^{5}-x^{3}-x^{2}-x$ and $Q(x)=x^{4}-x^{3}-x^{2}-1.$ Given that $z_{1},z_{2},z_{3},$ and $z_{4}$ are the roots of $Q(x)=0,$ find $P(z_{1})+P(z_{2})+P(z_{3})+P(z_{4}).$

2024 Mexican University Math Olympiad, 6

Tags: polynomial , derivative , calculus , algebra , bounded

Let $ p $ be a monic polynomial with all distinct real roots. Show that there exists $ K $ such that \[ (p(x)^2)'' \leq K(p'(x))^2. \]

2014 BMT Spring, 10

Tags: polynomial

Suppose that $x^3-x+10^{-6}=0$. Suppose that $x_1<x_2<x_3$ are the solutions for $x$. Find the integers $(a,b,c)$ closest to $10^8x_1$, $10^8x_2$, and $10^8x_3$ respectively.

1969 IMO Longlists, 24

Tags: polynomial , divisibility , algebra , number theory

$(GBR 1)$ The polynomial $P(x) = a_0x^k + a_1x^{k-1} + \cdots + a_k$, where $a_0,\cdots, a_k$ are integers, is said to be divisible by an integer $m$ if $P(x)$ is a multiple of $m$ for every integral value of $x$. Show that if $P(x)$ is divisible by $m$, then $a_0 \cdot k!$ is a multiple of $m$. Also prove that if $a, k,m$ are positive integers such that $ak!$ is a multiple of $m$, then a polynomial $P(x)$ with leading term $ax^k$can be found that is divisible by $m.$

2020 Taiwan TST Round 2, 4

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Alice and Bob are stuck in quarantine, so they decide to play a game. Bob will write down a polynomial $f(x)$ with the following properties: (a) for any integer $n$, $f(n)$ is an integer; (b) the degree of $f(x)$ is less than $187$. Alice knows that $f(x)$ satisfies (a) and (b), but she does not know $f(x)$. In every turn, Alice picks a number $k$ from the set $\{1,2,\ldots,187\}$, and Bob will tell Alice the value of $f(k)$. Find the smallest positive integer $N$ so that Alice always knows for sure the parity of $f(0)$ within $N$ turns. [i]Proposed by YaWNeeT[/i]

2004 Iran MO (3rd Round), 12

Tags: algorithm , geometric transformation , polynomial , induction , number theory , algebra , geometry

$\mathbb{N}_{10}$ is generalization of $\mathbb{N}$ that every hypernumber in $\mathbb{N}_{10}$ is something like: $\overline{...a_2a_1a_0}$ with $a_i \in {0,1..9}$ (Notice that $\overline {...000} \in \mathbb{N}_{10}$) Also we easily have $+,*$ in $\mathbb{N}_{10}$. first $k$ number of $a*b$= first $k$ nubmer of (first $k$ number of a * first $k$ number of b) first $k$ number of $a+b$= first $k$ nubmer of (first $k$ number of a + first $k$ number of b) Fore example $\overline {...999}+ \overline {...0001}= \overline {...000}$ Prove that every monic polynomial in $\mathbb{N}_{10}[x]$ with degree $d$ has at most $d^2$ roots.

2005 Greece Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let the polynomial $P(x)=x^3+19x^2+94x+a$ where $a\in\mathbb{N}$. If $p$ a prime number, prove that no more than three numbers of the numbers $P(0), P(1),\ldots, P(p-1)$ are divisible by $p$.

2017 Vietnamese Southern Summer School contest, Problem 2

Tags: root , equation , polynomial , algebra

Let $P,Q$ be the polynomials: $$x^3-4x^2+39x-46, x^3+3x^2+4x-3,$$ respectively. 1. Prove that each of $P, Q$ has an unique real root. Let them be $\alpha,\beta$, respectively. 2. Prove that $\{ \alpha\}>\{ \beta\} ^2$, where $\{ x\}=x-\lfloor x\rfloor$ is the fractional part of $x$.

2008 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 5

Tags: function , polynomial , vieta , algebra

Let $ f(x) \equal{} x^3 \plus{} x \plus{} 1$. Suppose $ g$ is a cubic polynomial such that $ g(0) \equal{} \minus{} 1$, and the roots of $ g$ are the squares of the roots of $ f$. Find $ g(9)$.

1991 Arnold's Trivium, 9

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Does every positive polynomial in two real variables attain its lower bound in the plane?

1996 Estonia Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Prove that the polynomial $P_n(x)=1+x+\frac{x^2}{2!}+\cdots +\frac{x^n}{n!}$ has no real zeros if $n$ is even and has exatly one real zero if $n$ is odd

1986 Vietnam National Olympiad, 3

Tags: polynomial , logarithm , algebra

Suppose $ M(y)$ is a polynomial of degree $ n$ such that $ M(y) \equal{} 2^y$ for $ y \equal{} 1, 2, \ldots, n \plus{} 1$. Compute $ M(n \plus{} 2)$.

2021 IMO Shortlist, N8

Tags: polynomial , algebra , abstract algebra , ceiling function

Find all positive integers $n$ for which there exists a polynomial $P(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[x]$ such that for every positive integer $m\geq 1$, the numbers $P^m(1), \ldots, P^m(n)$ leave exactly $\lceil n/2^m\rceil$ distinct remainders when divided by $n$. (Here, $P^m$ means $P$ applied $m$ times.) [i]Proposed by Carl Schildkraut, USA[/i]

2004 Czech-Polish-Slovak Match, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic

Show that real numbers, $p, q, r$ satisfy the condition $p^4(q-r)^2 + 2p^2(q+r) + 1 = p^4$ if and only if the quadratic equations $x^2 + px + q = 0$ and $y^2 - py + r = 0$ have real roots (not necessarily distinct) which can be labeled by $x_1,x_2$ and $y_1,y_2$, respectively, in such a way that $x_1y_1 - x_2y_2 = 1$.

2004 AMC 12/AHSME, 16

Tags: function , trigonometry , polynomial , complex number , algebra

A function $ f$ is defined by $ f(z) \equal{} i\bar z$, where $ i \equal{}\sqrt{\minus{}\!1}$ and $ \bar z$ is the complex conjugate of $ z$. How many values of $ z$ satisfy both $ |z| \equal{} 5$ and $ f (z) \equal{} z$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 1 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 4 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 8$

2019 Saudi Arabia Pre-TST + Training Tests, 2.2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let be given a positive integer $n > 1$. Find all polynomials $P(x)$ non constant, with real coefficients such that $$P(x)P(x^2) ... P(x^n) = P\left( x^{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}}\right)$$ for all $x \in R$

2016 Postal Coaching, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Call a non-constant polynomial [i]real[/i] if all its coecients are real. Let $P$ and $Q$ be polynomials with complex coefficients such that the composition $P \circ Q$ is real. Show that if the leading coefficient of $Q$ and its constant term are both real, then $P$ and $Q$ are real.