Olympiad problems

1994 Baltic Way, 5

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $p(x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients such that both equations $p(x)=1$ and $p(x)=3$ have integer solutions. Can the equation $p(x)=2$ have two different integer solutions?

1992 Poland - First Round, 12

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that the polynomial $x^n+4$ can be expressed as a product of two polynomials (each with degree less than $n$) with integer coefficients, if and only if $n$ is divisible by $4$.

2013 Taiwan TST Round 1, 2

Tags: polynomial , number theory , rational roots , real analysis , algebra

Let $f$ and $g$ be two nonzero polynomials with integer coefficients and $\deg f>\deg g$. Suppose that for infinitely many primes $p$ the polynomial $pf+g$ has a rational root. Prove that $f$ has a rational root.

2007 Bosnia Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: polynomial , inequalities , vieta , algebra

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial such that $P(x)=x^3-2x^2+bx+c$. Roots of $P(x)$ belong to interval $(0,1)$. Prove that $8b+9c \leq 8$. When does equality hold?

1981 Canada National Olympiad, 4

Tags: polynomial , function , algebra

$P(x),Q(x)$ are two polynomials such that $P(x)=Q(x)$ has no real solution, and $P(Q(x))\equiv Q(P(x))\forall x\in\mathbb{R}$. Prove that $P(P(x))=Q(Q(x))$ has no real solution.

2005 USAMTS Problems, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find, with proof, all triples of real numbers $(a, b, c)$ such that all four roots of the polynomial $f(x) = x^4 +ax^3 +bx^2 +cx+b$ are positive integers. (The four roots need not be distinct.)

2001 Taiwan National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory

Let $A$ be a set with at least $3$ integers, and let $M$ be the maximum element in $A$ and $m$ the minimum element in $A$. it is known that there exist a polynomial $P$ such that: $m<P(a)<M$ for all $a$ in $A$. And also $p(m)<p(a)$ for all $a$ in $A-(m,M)$. Prove that $n<6$ and there exist integers $b$ and $c$ such that $p(x)+x^2+bx+c$ is cero in $A$.

2018-IMOC, N6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory

If $f$ is a polynomial sends $\mathbb Z$ to $\mathbb Z$ and for $n\in\mathbb N_{\ge2}$, there exists $x\in\mathbb Z$ so that $n\nmid f(x)$, show that for every $k\in\mathbb Z$, there is a non-negative integer $t$ and $a_1,\ldots,a_t\in\{-1,1\}$ such that $$a_1f(1)+\ldots+a_tf(t)=k.$$

2010 Romania Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: calculus , integration , algebra , polynomial , modular arithmetic , induction , arithmetic sequence

A nonconstant polynomial $f$ with integral coefficients has the property that, for each prime $p$, there exist a prime $q$ and a positive integer $m$ such that $f(p) = q^m$. Prove that $f = X^n$ for some positive integer $n$. [i]AMM Magazine[/i]

2012 USAMTS Problems, 3

Tags: polynomial , induction , number theory , greatest common divisor , algebra

Let $f(x) = x-\tfrac1{x}$, and define $f^1(x) = f(x)$ and $f^n(x) = f(f^{n-1}(x))$ for $n\ge2$. For each $n$, there is a minimal degree $d_n$ such that there exist polynomials $p$ and $q$ with $f^n(x) = \tfrac{p(x)}{q(x)}$ and the degree of $q$ is equal to $d_n$. Find $d_n$.

1976 Chisinau City MO, 126

Tags: algebra , polynomial , divisible

Let $P (x)$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients and $P (n) =m$ for some integers $n, m$ ($m \ne 10$). Prove that $P (n + km)$ is divisible by $m$ for any integer $k$.

2004 District Olympiad, 4

Tags: linear algebra , matrix , calculus , derivative , algebra , polynomial

Let $A=(a_{ij})\in \mathcal{M}_p(\mathbb{C})$ such that $a_{12}=a_{23}=\ldots=a_{p-1,p}=1$ and $a_{ij}=0$ for any other entry. a)Prove that $A^{p-1}\neq O_p$ and $A^p=O_p$. b)If $X\in \mathcal{M}_{p}(\mathbb{C})$ and $AX=XA$, prove that there exist $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_p\in \mathbb{C}$ such that: \[X=\left( \begin{array}{ccccc} a_1 & a_2 & a_3 & \ldots & a_p \\ 0 & a_1 & a_2 & \ldots & a_{p-1} \\ 0 & 0 & a_1 & \ldots & a_{p-2} \\ \ldots & \ldots & \ldots & \ldots & \ldots \\ 0 & 0 & 0 & \ldots & a_1 \end{array} \right)\] c)If there exist $B,C\in \mathcal{M}_p(\mathbb{C})$ such that $(I_p+A)^n=B^n+C^n,\ (\forall)n\in \mathbb{N}^*$, prove that $B=O_p$ or $C=O_p$.

2009 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Find all complex polynomial $ P(x)$ such that for any three integers $ a,b,c$ satisfying $ a \plus{} b \plus{} c\not \equal{} 0, \frac{P(a) \plus{} P(b) \plus{} P(c)}{a \plus{} b \plus{} c}$ is an integer.

2010 AMC 12/AHSME, 24

Tags: algebra , function , domain , trigonometry , floor function , polynomial , logarithm

Let $ f(x) \equal{} \log_{10} (\sin (\pi x)\cdot\sin (2\pi x)\cdot\sin (3\pi x) \cdots \sin (8\pi x))$. The intersection of the domain of $ f(x)$ with the interval $ [0,1]$ is a union of $ n$ disjoint open intervals. What is $ n$? $ \textbf{(A)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ 12 \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ 18 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 22 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 36$

2001 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find all polynomials $p(x)$ such that $p'(x)^2 = c p(x) p''(x)$ for some constant $c$.

2013 USA Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: polynomial , algebra , function , abstract algebra , number theory

Determine if there exists a (three-variable) polynomial $P(x,y,z)$ with integer coefficients satisfying the following property: a positive integer $n$ is [i]not[/i] a perfect square if and only if there is a triple $(x,y,z)$ of positive integers such that $P(x,y,z) = n$.

2009 Postal Coaching, 3

Tags: polynomial , trigonometry , algebra

Find all real polynomial functions $f : R \to R$ such that $f(\sin x) = f(\cos x)$.

1999 Israel Grosman Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: integer polynomial , polynomial , factoring , algebra

Consider a polynomial $f(x) = x^4 +ax^3 +bx^2 +cx+d$ with integer coefficients. Prove that if $f(x)$ has exactly one real root, then it can be factored into nonconstant polynomials with rational coefficients

2016 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 1

Tags: polynomial , complex , algebra

Given two non-constant polynomials $P(x),Q(x)$ with real coefficients. For a real number $a$, we define $$P_a= \{z \in C : P(z) = a\}, Q_a =\{z \in C : Q(z) = a\}$$ Denote by $K$ the set of real numbers $a$ such that $P_a = Q_a$. Suppose that the set $K$ contains at least two elements, prove that $P(x) = Q(x)$.

1990 IMO Shortlist, 7

Tags: algebra , polynomial , arithmetic sequence , number theory , functional equation , divisibility

Let $ f(0) \equal{} f(1) \equal{} 0$ and \[ f(n\plus{}2) \equal{} 4^{n\plus{}2} \cdot f(n\plus{}1) \minus{} 16^{n\plus{}1} \cdot f(n) \plus{} n \cdot 2^{n^2}, \quad n \equal{} 0, 1, 2, \ldots\] Show that the numbers $ f(1989), f(1990), f(1991)$ are divisible by $ 13.$

1948 Putnam, B1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , ratio

Let $f(x)$ be a cubic polynomial with roots $x_1 , x_2$ and $x_3.$ Assume that $f(2x)$ is divisible by $f'(x)$ and compute the ratio $x_1 : x_2: x_3 .$

2007 All-Russian Olympiad, 5

Tags: induction , algebra , polynomial , function , combinatorics

Two numbers are written on each vertex of a convex $100$-gon. Prove that it is possible to remove a number from each vertex so that the remaining numbers on any two adjacent vertices are different. [i]F. Petrov [/i]