Olympiad problems

1994 Vietnam National Olympiad, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Do there exist polynomials $p(x), q(x), r(x)$ whose coefficients are positive integers such that $p(x) = (x^{2}-3x+3) q(x)$ and $q(x) = (\frac{x^{2}}{20}-\frac{x}{15}+\frac{1}{12}) r(x)$?

1980 AMC 12/AHSME, 24

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , rational root theorem , algebra

For some real number $r$, the polynomial $8x^3-4x^2-42x+45$ is divisible by $(x-r)^2$. Which of the following numbers is closest to $r$? $\text{(A)} \ 1.22 \qquad \text{(B)} \ 1.32 \qquad \text{(C)} \ 1.42 \qquad \text{(D)} \ 1.52 \qquad \text{(E)} \ 1.62$

2019 Latvia Baltic Way TST, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities , chebyshev polynomial

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with degree $n$ and real coefficients. For all $0 \le y \le 1$ holds $\mid p(y) \mid \le 1$. Prove that $p(-\frac{1}{n}) \le 2^{n+1} -1$

2010 Albania Team Selection Test, 4

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

With $\sigma (n)$ we denote the sum of natural divisors of the natural number $n$. Prove that, if $n$ is the product of different prime numbers of the form $2^k-1$ for $k \in \mathbb{N}$($Mersenne's$ prime numbers) , than $\sigma (n)=2^m$, for some $m \in \mathbb{N}$. Is the inverse statement true?

2019 ISI Entrance Examination, 7

Tags: polynomial , integer polynomial , algebra

Let $f$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients. Define $$a_1 = f(0)~,~a_2 = f(a_1) = f(f(0))~,$$ and $~a_n = f(a_{n-1})$ for $n \geqslant 3$. If there exists a natural number $k \geqslant 3$ such that $a_k = 0$, then prove that either $a_1=0$ or $a_2=0$.

2019 Korea Winter Program Practice Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients such that for all positive number $n$ and prime $p$ satisfying $p\nmid nP(n)$, we have $ord_p(n)\ge ord_p(P(n))$.

2007 Tuymaada Olympiad, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Two polynomials $ f(x)=a_{100}x^{100}+a_{99}x^{99}+\dots+a_{1}x+a_{0}$ and $ g(x)=b_{100}x^{100}+b_{99}x^{99}+\dots+b_{1}x+b_{0}$ of degree $ 100$ differ from each other by a permutation of coefficients. It is known that $ a_{i}\ne b_{i}$ for $ i=0, 1, 2, \dots, 100$. Is it possible that $ f(x)\geq g(x)$ for all real $ x$?

2003 Moldova National Olympiad, 12.2

Tags: calculus , derivative , polynomial , algebra

For every natural number $n\geq{2}$ consider the following affirmation $P_n$: "Consider a polynomial $P(X)$ (of degree $n$) with real coefficients. If its derivative $P'(X)$ has $n-1$ distinct real roots, then there is a real number $C$ such that the equation $P(x)=C$ has $n$ real,distinct roots." Are $P_4$ and $P_5$ both true? Justify your answer.

2006 Flanders Math Olympiad, 1

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

(a) Solve for $\theta\in\mathbb{R}$: $\cos(4\theta) = \cos(3\theta)$ (b) $\cos\left(\frac{2\pi}{7}\right)$, $\cos\left(\frac{4\pi}{7}\right)$ and $\cos\left(\frac{6\pi}{7}\right)$ are the roots of an equation of the form $ax^3+bx^2+cx+d = 0$ where $a, b, c, d$ are integers. Determine $a, b, c$ and $d$.

2002 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , ring theory , equation , functional equation , algebra

The polynomials $P$, $Q$, $R$ with real coefficients, one of which is degree $2$ and two of degree $3$, satisfy the equality $P^2+Q^2=R^2$. Prove that one of the polynomials of degree $3$ has three real roots.

2015 Baltic Way, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Let $n>1$ be an integer. Find all non-constant real polynomials $P(x)$ satisfying , for any real $x$ , the identy \[P(x)P(x^2)P(x^3)\cdots P(x^n)=P(x^{\frac{n(n+1)}{2}})\]

2018 CMIMC Individual Finals, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $a$ be a complex number, and set $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ to be the roots of the polynomial $x^3 - x^2 + ax - 1$. Suppose \[(\alpha^3+1)(\beta^3+1)(\gamma^3+1) = 2018.\] Compute the product of all possible values of $a$.

2002 China Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , inequalities , algebra

Let $P_n(x)=a_0 + a_1x + \cdots + a_nx^n$, with $n \geq 2$, be a real-coefficient polynomial. Prove that if there exists $a > 0$ such that \begin{align*} P_n(x) = (x + a)^2 \left( \sum_{i=0}^{n-2} b_i x^i \right), \end{align*} where $b_i$ are positive real numbers, then there exists some $i$, with $1 \leq i \leq n-1$, such that \[a_i^2 - 4a_{i-1}a_{i+1} \leq 0.\]

2005 MOP Homework, 2

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Determine if there exist four polynomials such that the sum of any three of them has a real root while the sum of any two of them does not.

1997 China Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , inequalities , vieta , induction , algebra

Find all real-coefficient polynomials $f(x)$ which satisfy the following conditions: [b]i.[/b] $f(x) = a_0 x^{2n} + a_2 x^{2n - 2} + \cdots + a_{2n - 2} x^2 + a_{2n}, a_0 > 0$; [b]ii.[/b] $\sum_{j=0}^n a_{2j} a_{2n - 2j} \leq \left( \begin{array}{c} 2n\\ n\end{array} \right) a_0 a_{2n}$; [b]iii.[/b] All the roots of $f(x)$ are imaginary numbers with no real part.

2009 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 10.1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Square trinomial $f(x)$ is such that the polynomial $(f(x)) ^3- f(x)$ has exactly three real roots. Find the ordinate of the vertex of the graph of this trinomial.

2003 Iran MO (3rd Round), 23

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Find all homogeneous linear recursive sequences such that there is a $ T$ such that $ a_n\equal{}a_{n\plus{}T}$ for each $ n$.

2016 Indonesia TST, 2

Tags: invariant , symmetry , quadratic , algebra , polynomial , vieta , number theory

Let $a,b$ be two positive integers, such that $ab\neq 1$. Find all the integer values that $f(a,b)$ can take, where \[ f(a,b) = \frac { a^2+ab+b^2} { ab- 1} . \]

2009 Croatia Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , absolute value , algebra

Determine the lowest positive integer n such that following statement is true: If polynomial with integer coefficients gets value 2 for n different integers, then it can't take value 4 for any integer.

2014 Putnam, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , calculus , inequalities

Show that for each positive integer $n,$ all the roots of the polynomial \[\sum_{k=0}^n 2^{k(n-k)}x^k\] are real numbers.

2014 BMT Spring, 4

Tags: polynomial , algebra

The function $f(x)=x^5-20x^4+ax^3+bx^2+cx+24$ has the interesting property that its roots can be arranged to form an arithmetic sequence. Determine $f(8)$.

2011 QEDMO 10th, 5

Tags: polynomial , algebra

A polynomial $f (x)$ with real coefficients is called [i]completely reducible[/i] if it is a product of at least two non-constant polynomials whose coefficientsare all nonnegative real numbers. Show: If $f (x^{2011})$ is completely reducible, then $f(x)$ is also.

2012 NIMO Problems, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , trigonometry

The polynomial $P(x) = x^3 + \sqrt{6} x^2 - \sqrt{2} x - \sqrt{3}$ has three distinct real roots. Compute the sum of all $0 \le \theta < 360$ such that $P(\tan \theta^\circ) = 0$. [i]Proposed by Lewis Chen[/i]

1985 IMO, 3

Tags: binomial coefficient , algebra , polynomial , combinatorial inequality , inequality

For any polynomial $P(x)=a_0+a_1x+\ldots+a_kx^k$ with integer coefficients, the number of odd coefficients is denoted by $o(P)$. For $i-0,1,2,\ldots$ let $Q_i(x)=(1+x)^i$. Prove that if $i_1,i_2,\ldots,i_n$ are integers satisfying $0\le i_1<i_2<\ldots<i_n$, then: \[ o(Q_{i_1}+Q_{i_2}+\ldots+Q_{i_n})\ge o(Q_{i_1}). \]

1967 Putnam, A3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function

Consider polynomial functions $ax^2 -bx +c$ with integer coefficients which have two distinct zeros in the open interval $(0,1).$ Exhibit with proof the least positive integer value of $a$ for which such a polynomial exists.