Olympiad problems

2017 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Let $x_0$ - is positive root of $x^{2017}-x-1=0$ and $y_0$ - is positive root of $y^{4034}-y=3x_0$ a) Compare $x_0$ and $y_0$ b) Find tenth digit after decimal mark in decimal representation of $|x_0-y_0|$

2016 ISI Entrance Examination, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Consider the polynomial $ax^3+bx^2+cx+d$ where $a,b,c,d$ are integers such that $ad$ is odd and $bc$ is even.Prove that not all of its roots are rational..

1993 Poland - First Round, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that if the polynomial $x^3 + ax^2 + bx + c$ has three distinct real roots, so does the polynomial $x^3 + ax^2 + \frac{1}{4}(a^2 + b)x + \frac{1}{8}(ab-c)$.

2007 Princeton University Math Competition, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial

How many pairs of $2007$-digit numbers $\underline{a_1a_2}\cdots\underline{a_{2007}}$ and $\underline{b_1b_2}\cdots\underline{b_{2007}}$ are there such that $a_1b_1+a_2b_2+\cdots+a_{2007}b_{2007}$ is even? Express your answer as $a \** b^c + d \** e^f$ for integers $a$, $b$, $c$, $d$, $e$, and $f$ with $a \nmid b$ and $d \nmid e$.

2014 Online Math Open Problems, 21

Tags: symmetry , algebra , polynomial , trigonometry , geometry , asymptote

Consider a sequence $x_1,x_2,\cdots x_{12}$ of real numbers such that $x_1=1$ and for $n=1,2,\dots,10$ let \[ x_{n+2}=\frac{(x_{n+1}+1)(x_{n+1}-1)}{x_n}. \] Suppose $x_n>0$ for $n=1,2,\dots,11$ and $x_{12}=0$. Then the value of $x_2$ can be written as $\frac{\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}}{c}$ for positive integers $a,b,c$ with $a>b$ and no square dividing $a$ or $b$. Find $100a+10b+c$. [i]Proposed by Michael Kural[/i]

1978 Miklós Schweitzer, 6

Tags: function , algebra , polynomial , real analysis

Suppose that the function $ g : (0,1) \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ can be uniformly approximated by polynomials with nonnegative coefficients. Prove that $ g$ must be analytic. Is the statement also true for the interval $ (\minus{}1,0)$ instead of $ (0,1)$? [i]J. Kalina, L. Lempert[/i]

1999 Mongolian Mathematical Olympiad, Problem 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find the number of polynomials $P(x)$ of degree $6$ whose coefficients are in the set $\{1,2,\ldots,1999\}$ and which are divisible by $x^3+x^2+x+1$.

2024 Vietnam Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: functional equation , polynomial , function , algebra

Let $P(x) \in \mathbb{R}[x]$ be a monic, non-constant polynomial. Determine all continuous functions $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(f(P(x))+y+2023f(y))=P(x)+2024f(y),$$ for all reals $x,y$.

2005 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: inequalities , algebra , polynomial , computer solutions , 4-variable inequality , symmetric inequality

Let $a,b,c,d >0$ and $abcd=1$. Prove that: \[ \frac{1}{(1+a)^2}+\frac{1}{(1+b)^2}+\frac{1}{(1+c)^2}+\frac{1}{(1+d)^2} \geq 1 \]

1969 Putnam, A1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $f(x,y)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients in the real variables $x$ and $y$ defined over the entire $xy$-plane. What are the possibilities for the range of $f(x,y)?$

2018 PUMaC Live Round, Misc. 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Consider all cubic polynomials $f(x)$ such that $f(2018)=2018$, the graph of $f$ intersects the $y$-axis at height $2018$, the coefficients of $f$ sum to $2018$, and $f(2019)>(2018)$. We define the infinimum of a set $S$ as follows. Let $L$ be the set of lower bounds of $S$. That is, $\ell\in L$ if and only if for all $s\in S$, $\ell\leq s$. Then the infinimum of $S$ is $\max(L)$. Of all such $f(x)$, what is the infinimum of the leading coefficient (the coefficient of the $x^3$ term)?

2000 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 9

Tags: algebra , polynomial

$f$ is a polynomial of degree $n$ with integer coefficients and $f(x)=x^2+1$ for $x=1,2,\cdot ,n$. What are the possible values for $f(0)$?

2000 Turkey Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta , number theory

$(a)$ Prove that for every positive integer $n$, the number of ordered pairs $(x, y)$ of integers satisfying $x^2-xy+y^2 = n$ is divisible by $3.$ $(b)$ Find all ordered pairs of integers satisfying $x^2-xy+y^2=727.$

2004 Tournament Of Towns, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

P(x) and Q(x) are polynomials of positive degree such that for all x P(P(x))=Q(Q(x)) and P(P(P(x)))=Q(Q(Q(x))). Does this necessarily mean that P(x)=Q(x)?

2009 District Olympiad, 2

Tags: abstract algebra , algebra , polynomial , function , superior algebra

Prove that in an abelian ring $ A $ in which $ 1\neq 0, $ every element is idempotent if and only if the number of polynomial functions from $ A $ to $ A $ is equal to the square of the cardinal of $ A. $

2021 Iran Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities , number theory , relatively prime

Prove there exist two relatively prime polynomials $P(x),Q(x)$ having integer coefficients and a real number $u>0$ such that if for positive integers $a,b,c,d$ we have: $$|\frac{a}{c}-1|^{2021} \le \frac{u}{|d||c|^{1010}}$$ $$| (\frac{a}{c})^{2020}-\frac{b}{d}| \le \frac{u}{|d||c|^{1010}}$$ Then we have : $$bP(\frac{a}{c})=dQ(\frac{a}{c})$$ (Two polynomials are relatively prime if they don't have a common root) Proposed by [i]Navid Safaii[/i] and [i]Alireza Haghi[/i]

2009 Indonesia TST, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic , number theory

Find the smallest odd integer $ k$ such that: for every $ 3\minus{}$degree polynomials $ f$ with integer coefficients, if there exist $ k$ integer $ n$ such that $ |f(n)|$ is a prime number, then $ f$ is irreducible in $ \mathbb{Z}[n]$.

1952 Poland - Second Round, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find the necessary and sufficient conditions that the real numbers $ a $, $ b $, $ c $ should satisfy so that the equation $$x^3 + ax^2 + bx + c = 0$$ has three real roots creating an arithmetic progression.

2014 Putnam, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities

Let $P_n(x)=1+2x+3x^2+\cdots+nx^{n-1}.$ Prove that the polynomials $P_j(x)$ and $P_k(x)$ are relatively prime for all positive integers $j$ and $k$ with $j\ne k.$

2014 NIMO Problems, 7

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic

Let $P(n)$ be a polynomial of degree $m$ with integer coefficients, where $m \le 10$. Suppose that $P(0)=0$, $P(n)$ has $m$ distinct integer roots, and $P(n)+1$ can be factored as the product of two nonconstant polynomials with integer coefficients. Find the sum of all possible values of $P(2)$. [i]Proposed by Evan Chen[/i]

2011 Tokyo Instutute Of Technology Entrance Examination, 1

Tags: invariant , linear algebra , matrix , geometry , polynomial , integration , algebra

Let $f_n\ (n=1,\ 2,\ \cdots)$ be a linear transformation expressed by a matrix $\left( \begin{array}{cc} 1-n & 1 \\ -n(n+1) & n+2 \end{array} \right)$ on the $xy$ plane. Answer the following questions: (1) Prove that there exists 2 lines passing through the origin $O(0,\ 0)$ such that all points of the lines are mapped to the same lines, then find the equation of the lines. (2) Find the area $S_n$ of the figure enclosed by the lines obtained in (1) and the curve $y=x^2$. (3) Find $\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{1}{S_n-\frac 16}.$ [i]2011 Tokyo Institute of Technlogy entrance exam, Problem 1[/i]

2010 Contests, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

A polynomial $f$ with integer coefficients is written on the blackboard. The teacher is a mathematician who has $3$ kids: Andrew, Beth and Charles. Andrew, who is $7$, is the youngest, and Charles is the oldest. When evaluating the polynomial on his kids' ages he obtains: [list]$f(7) = 77$ $f(b) = 85$, where $b$ is Beth's age, $f(c) = 0$, where $c$ is Charles' age.[/list] How old is each child?

1981 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , functional equation

Let $P(z)$ and $Q(z)$ be complex-variable polynomials, with degree not less than $1$. Let \[P_k = \{z \in \mathbb C | P(z) = k \}, Q_k = \{ z \in \mathbb C | Q(z) = k \}.\] Let also $P_0 = Q_0$ and $P_1 = Q_1$. Prove that $P(z) \equiv Q(z).$

1998 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: number theory , divisibility , polynomial

Determine all pairs $(x,y)$ of positive integers such that $x^{2}y+x+y$ is divisible by $xy^{2}+y+7$.

2009 Indonesia TST, 2

Tags: polynomial , induction , algebra

Let $ f(x)\equal{}a_{2n}x^{2n}\plus{}a_{2n\minus{}1}x^{2n\minus{}1}\plus{}\cdots\plus{}a_1x\plus{}a_0$, with $ a_i\equal{}a_{2n\minus{}1}$ for all $ i\equal{}1,2,\ldots,n$ and $ a_{2n}\ne0$. Prove that there exists a polynomial $ g(x)$ of degree $ n$ such that $ g\left(x\plus{}\frac1x\right)x^n\equal{}f(x)$.