Olympiad problems

2017 Saudi Arabia IMO TST, 1

For any positive integer $k$, denote the sum of digits of $k$ in its decimal representation by $S(k)$. Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients such that for any positive integer $n \ge 2017$, the integer $P(n)$ is positive and $S(P(n)) = P(S(n))$.

2023 Baltic Way, 16

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that there exist nonconstant polynomials $f, g$ with integer coefficients, such that for infinitely many primes $p$, $p \nmid f(x)-g(y)$ for any integers $x, y$.

2008 USA Team Selection Test, 9

Tags: algebra , polynomial , 3d geometry , modular arithmetic , algorithm , function , geometry

Let $ n$ be a positive integer. Given an integer coefficient polynomial $ f(x)$, define its [i]signature modulo $ n$[/i] to be the (ordered) sequence $ f(1), \ldots , f(n)$ modulo $ n$. Of the $ n^n$ such $ n$-term sequences of integers modulo $ n$, how many are the signature of some polynomial $ f(x)$ if a) $ n$ is a positive integer not divisible by the square of a prime. b) $ n$ is a positive integer not divisible by the cube of a prime.

2013 India Regional Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic , modular arithmetic , number theory

A polynomial is called Fermat polynomial if it can be written as the sum of squares of two polynomials with integer coefficients. Suppose that $f(x)$ is a Fermat polynomial such that $f(0)=1000$. Prove that $f(x)+2x$ is not a fermat polynomial

2024 Mathematical Talent Reward Programme, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Show that there exists an integer polynomial $P$ such that $P(1) = 2024$ and the set of prime divisors of {$P(2^k)$},$k=0,1,2,.....$ is an infinite set.

1952 Miklós Schweitzer, 4

Tags: superior algebra , algebra , polynomial

Let $ K$ be a finite field of $ p$ elements, where $ p$ is a prime. For every polynomial $ f(x)\equal{}\sum_{i\equal{}0}^na_ix^i$ ($ \in K[x]$) put $ \overline{f(x)}\equal{}\sum_{i\equal{}0}^n a_ix^{p^i}$. Prove that for any pair of polynomials $ f(x),g(x)\in K[x]$, $ \overline{f(x)}|\overline{g(x)}$ if and only if $ f(x)|g(x)$.

2023 Costa Rica - Final Round, 3.5

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $t$ be a positive real number such that $t^4 + t^{-4} = 2023$. Determine the value of $t^3 + t^{-3}$ in the form of $a\sqrt b$, where $a$ and $b$ are positive integers.

2019 Belarus Team Selection Test, 5.1

Tags: number theory , function , algebra , polynomial

A function $f:\mathbb N\to\mathbb N$, where $\mathbb N$ is the set of positive integers, satisfies the following condition: for any positive integers $m$ and $n$ ($m>n$) the number $f(m)-f(n)$ is divisible by $m-n$. Is the function $f$ necessarily a polynomial? (In other words, is it true that for any such function there exists a polynomial $p(x)$ with real coefficients such that $f(n)=p(n)$ for all positive integers $n$?) [i](Folklore)[/i]

2016 AIME Problems, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial

For polynomial $P(x)=1-\frac{1}{3}x+\frac{1}{6}x^2$, define \[ Q(x) = P(x)P(x^3)P(x^5)P(x^7)P(x^9) = \sum\limits_{i=0}^{50}a_ix^i. \] Then $\sum\limits_{i=0}^{50}|a_i|=\frac{m}{n}$, where $m$ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $m+n$.

2011 USA Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , relatively prime , number theory

A polynomial $P(x)$ is called [i]nice[/i] if $P(0) = 1$ and the nonzero coefficients of $P(x)$ alternate between $1$ and $-1$ when written in order. Suppose that $P(x)$ is nice, and let $m$ and $n$ be two relatively prime positive integers. Show that \[Q(x) = P(x^n) \cdot \frac{(x^{mn} - 1)(x-1)}{(x^m-1)(x^n-1)}\] is nice as well.

2009 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , combinatorics

Find all value of $ n$ for which there are nonzero real numbers $ a, b, c, d$ such that after expanding and collecting similar terms, the polynomial $ (ax \plus{} b)^{100} \minus{} (cx \plus{} d)^{100}$ has exactly $ n$ nonzero coefficients.

2019 Thailand TST, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Determine all polynomials $P (x, y), Q(x, y)$ and $R(x, y)$ with real coefficients satisfying $$P (ux + vy, uy + vx) = Q(x, y)R(u, v)$$ for all real numbers $u, v, x$ and $y$.

1971 Canada National Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic , linear algebra , matrix , quadratic formula

Determine all real numbers $a$ such that the two polynomials $x^2+ax+1$ and $x^2+x+a$ have at least one root in common.

1994 China National Olympiad, 4

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $f(z)=c_0z^n+c_1z^{n-1}+ c_2z^{n-2}+\cdots +c_{n-1}z+c_n$ be a polynomial with complex coefficients. Prove that there exists a complex number $z_0$ such that $|f(z_0)|\ge |c_0|+|c_n|$, where $|z_0|\le 1$.

1982 IMO Longlists, 14

Tags: algebra , diophantine equation , polynomial , parametric equation , geometric progression

Determine all real values of the parameter $a$ for which the equation \[16x^4 -ax^3 + (2a + 17)x^2 -ax + 16 = 0\] has exactly four distinct real roots that form a geometric progression.

2020-2021 Winter SDPC, #4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients such that for all positive integers $n$, we have that $P(n)$ is not zero and $\frac{P(\overline{nn})}{P(n)}$ is an integer, where $\overline{nn}$ is the integer obtained upon concatenating $n$ with itself.

2021 AMC 12/AHSME Fall, 23

Tags: algebra , polynomial

A quadratic polynomial $p(x)$ with real coefficients and leading coefficient $1$ is called disrespectful if the equation $p(p(x)) = 0$ is satisfied by exactly three real numbers. Among all the disrespectful quadratic polynomials, there is a unique such polynomial $\tilde{p}(x)$ for which the sum of the roots is maximized. What is $\tilde{p}(1)?$ $\textbf{(A) }\dfrac5{16} \qquad \textbf{(B) }\dfrac12 \qquad \textbf{(C) }\dfrac58 \qquad \textbf{(D) }1 \qquad \textbf{(E) }\dfrac98$

2019 Ramnicean Hope, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra , divisibility

Let be two polynoms $ P,Q\in\mathbb{C} [X] $ with degree at least $ 1, $ and such that $ P $ has only simple roots. Prove that the following affirmations are equivalent: $ \text{(i)} P\circ Q $ is divisible by $ P. $ $ \text{(ii)} $ The evaluation of $ Q $ at any root of $ P $ is a root of $ P. $ [i]Marcel Țena[/i]

2007 China Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , euler , number theory

After multiplying out and simplifying polynomial $ (x \minus{} 1)(x^2 \minus{} 1)(x^3 \minus{} 1)\cdots(x^{2007} \minus{} 1),$ getting rid of all terms whose powers are greater than $ 2007,$ we acquire a new polynomial $ f(x).$ Find its degree and the coefficient of the term having the highest power. Find the degree of $ f(x) \equal{} (1 \minus{} x)(1 \minus{} x^{2})...(1 \minus{} x^{2007})$ $ (mod$ $ x^{2008}).$

2016 Kurschak Competition, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

If $p,q\in\mathbb{R}[x]$ satisfy $p(p(x))=q(x)^2$, does it follow that $p(x)=r(x)^2$ for some $r\in\mathbb{R}[x]$?

2000 Denmark MO - Mohr Contest, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , equation

Determine all possible values of $x+\frac{1}{x}$ , where the real number $x$ satisfies the equation $$x^4+5x^3-4x^2+5x+1=0$$ and solve this equation.

2005 Today's Calculation Of Integral, 36

Tags: calculus , integration , algebra , polynomial , limit , calculus computations

A sequence of polynomial $f_n(x)\ (n=0,1,2,\cdots)$ satisfies $f_0(x)=2,f_1(x)=x$, \[f_n(x)=xf_{n-1}(x)-f_{n-2}(x),\ (n=2,3,4,\cdots)\] Let $x_n\ (n\geqq 2)$ be the maximum real root of the equation $f_n(x)=0\ (|x|\leqq 2)$ Evaluate \[\lim_{n\to\infty} n^2 \int_{x_n}^2 f_n(x)dx\]

1998 Brazil Team Selection Test, Problem 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

(a) Show that, for each positive integer $n$, the number of monic polynomials of degree $n$ with integer coefficients having all its roots on the unit circle is finite. (b) Let $P(x)$ be a monic polynomial with integer coefficients having all its roots on the unit circle. Show that there exists a positive integer $m$ such that $y^m=1$ for each root $y$ of $P(x)$.

1978 Swedish Mathematical Competition, 6

Tags: analysis , algebra , polynomial

$p(x)$ is a polynomial of degree $n$ with leading coefficient $c$, and $q(x)$ is a polynomial of degree $m$ with leading coefficient $c$, such that \[ p(x)^2 = \left(x^2 - 1\right)q(x)^2 + 1 \] Show that $p'(x) = nq(x)$.

2017 Korea USCM, 2

Tags: polynomial , linear algebra , algebra

Show that any real coefficient polynomial $f(x,y)$ is a linear combination of polynomials of the form $(x+ay)^k$. ($a$ is a real number and $k$ is a non-negative integer.)