Olympiad problems

1953 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 241

Prove that the polynomial $x^{200} y^{200} +1$ cannot be represented in the form $f(x)g(y)$, where $f$ and $g$ are polynomials of only $x$ and $y$, respectively.

1960 AMC 12/AHSME, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta

If $2$ is a solution (root) of $x^3+hx+10=0$, then $h$ equals: $ \textbf{(A) }10\qquad\textbf{(B) }9 \qquad\textbf{(C) }2\qquad\textbf{(D) }-2\qquad\textbf{(E) }-9 $

2014 NIMO Problems, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , modular arithmetic , functional equation

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients such that $P(12)=20$ and \[ (x-1) \cdot P(16x)= (8x-1) \cdot P(8x) \] holds for all real numbers $x$. Compute the remainder when $P(2014)$ is divided by $1000$. [i]Proposed by Alex Gu[/i]

2016 Taiwan TST Round 3, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory , prime divisor

Let $f(x)$ be the polynomial with integer coefficients ($f(x)$ is not constant) such that \[(x^3+4x^2+4x+3)f(x)=(x^3-2x^2+2x-1)f(x+1)\] Prove that for each positive integer $n\geq8$, $f(n)$ has at least five distinct prime divisors.

1996 Brazil National Olympiad, 6

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , algebra

Let p(x) be the polynomial $x^3 + 14x^2 - 2x + 1$. Let $p^n(x)$ denote $p(p^(n-1)(x))$. Show that there is an integer N such that $p^N(x) - x$ is divisible by 101 for all integers x.

2012 Indonesia TST, 1

Tags: function , polynomial , induction , algebra

Let $P$ be a polynomial with real coefficients. Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that there exists a real number $t$ such that \[f(x+t) - f(x) = P(x)\] for all $x \in \mathbb{R}$.

2004 Romania National Olympiad, 3

Tags: function , integration , calculus , inequalities , polynomial , linear algebra , algebra

Let $f : \left[ 0,1 \right] \to \mathbb R$ be an integrable function such that \[ \int_0^1 f(x) \, dx = \int_0^1 x f(x) \, dx = 1 . \] Prove that \[ \int_0^1 f^2 (x) \, dx \geq 4 . \] [i]Ion Rasa[/i]

1994 Taiwan National Olympiad, 6

Tags: polynomial , algebra

For $-1\leq x\leq 1$ and $n\in\mathbb N$ define $T_{n}(x)=\frac{1}{2^{n}}[(x+\sqrt{1-x^{2}})^{n}+(x-\sqrt{1-x^{2}})^{n}]$. a)Prove that $T_{n}$ is a monic polynomial of degree $n$ in $x$ and that the maximum value of $|T_{n}(x)|$ is $\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$. b)Suppose that $p(x)=x^{n}+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+...+a_{1}x+a_{0}\in\mathbb{R}[x]$ is a monic polynomial of degree $n$ such that $p(x)>-\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$ forall $x$, $-1\leq x\leq 1$. Prove that there exists $x_{0}$, $-1\leq x_{0}\leq 1$ such that $p(x_{0})\geq\frac{1}{2^{n-1}}$.

2011 All-Russian Olympiad, 3

Tags: modular arithmetic , algebra , polynomial , calculus , integration , number theory

Let $P(a)$ be the largest prime positive divisor of $a^2 + 1$. Prove that exist infinitely many positive integers $a, b, c$ such that $P(a)=P(b)=P(c)$. [i]A. Golovanov[/i]

2010 Iran MO (3rd Round), 3

Tags: polynomial , search , inequalities , algebra

prove that for each natural number $n$ there exist a polynomial with degree $2n+1$ with coefficients in $\mathbb{Q}[x]$ such that it has exactly $2$ complex zeros and it's irreducible in $\mathbb{Q}[x]$.(20 points)

2025 India STEMS Category B, 6

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $P \in \mathbb{R}[x]$. Suppose that the multiset of real roots (where roots are counted with multiplicity) of $P(x)-x$ and $P^3(x)-x$ are distinct. Prove that for all $n\in \mathbb{N}$, $P^n(x)-x$ has at least $\sigma(n)-2$ distinct real roots. (Here $P^n(x):=P(P^{n-1}(x))$ with $P^1(x) = P(x)$, and $\sigma(n)$ is the sum of all positive divisors of $n$). [i]Proposed by Malay Mahajan[/i]

2015 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , function , calculus , integration

Find all non-constant polynoms $ f\in\mathbb{Q} [X] $ that don't have any real roots in the interval $ [0,1] $ and for which there exists a function $ \xi :[0,1]\longrightarrow\mathbb{Q} [X]\times\mathbb{Q} [X], \xi (x):=\left( g_x,h_x \right) $ such that $ h_x(x)\neq 0 $ and $ \int_0^x \frac{dt}{f(t)} =\frac{g_x(x)}{h_x(x)} , $ for all $ x\in [0,1] . $

1986 Bulgaria National Olympiad, Problem 2

Tags: quadratic , algebra , polynomial

Let $f(x)$ be a quadratic polynomial with two real roots in the interval $[-1,1]$. Prove that if the maximum value of $|f(x)|$ in the interval $[-1,1]$ is equal to $1$, then the maximum value of $|f'(x)|$ in the interval $[-1,1]$ is not less than $1$.

2012 Tuymaada Olympiad, 4

Tags: quadratic , modular arithmetic , calculus , algebra , polynomial

Let $p=4k+3$ be a prime. Prove that if \[\dfrac {1} {0^2+1}+\dfrac{1}{1^2+1}+\cdots+\dfrac{1}{(p-1)^2+1}=\dfrac{m} {n}\] (where the fraction $\dfrac {m} {n}$ is in reduced terms), then $p \mid 2m-n$. [i]Proposed by A. Golovanov[/i]

2020 Tuymaada Olympiad, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial

The degrees of polynomials $P$ and $Q$ with real coefficients do not exceed $n$. These polynomials satisfy the identity \[ P(x) x^{n + 1} + Q(x) (x+1)^{n + 1} = 1. \] Determine all possible values of $Q \left( - \frac{1}{2} \right)$.

1994 AIME Problems, 13

Tags: trigonometry , algebra , polynomial , vieta

The equation \[ x^{10}+(13x-1)^{10}=0 \] has 10 complex roots $r_1, \overline{r_1}, r_2, \overline{r_2}, r_3, \overline{r_3}, r_4, \overline{r_4}, r_5, \overline{r_5},$ where the bar denotes complex conjugation. Find the value of \[ \frac 1{r_1\overline{r_1}}+\frac 1{r_2\overline{r_2}}+\frac 1{r_3\overline{r_3}}+\frac 1{r_4\overline{r_4}}+\frac 1{r_5\overline{r_5}}. \]

2012 USA Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Consider (3-variable) polynomials \[P_n(x,y,z)=(x-y)^{2n}(y-z)^{2n}+(y-z)^{2n}(z-x)^{2n}+(z-x)^{2n}(x-y)^{2n}\] and \[Q_n(x,y,z)=[(x-y)^{2n}+(y-z)^{2n}+(z-x)^{2n}]^{2n}.\] Determine all positive integers $n$ such that the quotient $Q_n(x,y,z)/P_n(x,y,z)$ is a (3-variable) polynomial with rational coefficients.

KoMaL A Problems 2022/2023, A. 851

Tags: combinatorics , counting , combinatorial geometry , algebra , polynomial

Let $k$, $\ell $ and $m$ be positive integers. Let $ABCDEF$ be a hexagon that has a center of symmetry whose angles are all $120^\circ$ and let its sidelengths be $AB=k$, $BC=\ell$ and $CD=m$. Let $f(k,\ell,m)$ denote the number of ways we can partition hexagon $ABCDEF$ into rhombi with unit sides and an angle of $120^\circ$. Prove that by fixing $\ell$ and $m$, there exists polynomial $g_{\ell,m}$ such that $f(k,\ell,m)=g_{\ell,m}(k)$ for every positive integer $k$, and find the degree of $g_{\ell,m}$ in terms of $\ell$ and $m$. [i]Submitted by Zoltán Gyenes, Budapest[/i]

2010 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 4

Tags: polynomial , induction , strong induction , algebra

Let $p(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$ be a monic polynomial of degree $n>2$, with real coefficients and all its roots real and different from zero. Prove that for all $k=0,1,2,\cdots,n-2$, at least one of the coefficients $a_k,a_{k+1}$ is different from zero.

1987 AMC 12/AHSME, 24

Tags: function , polynomial , algebra

How many polynomial functions $f$ of degree $\ge 1$ satisfy \[ f(x^2)=[f(x)]^2=f(f(x)) \ ? \] $ \textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 1 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 2 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{finitely many but more than 2} \\ \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{infinitely many} $

2014 AIME Problems, 14

Tags: quadratic , algebra , polynomial , symmetry , sfft , linear algebra , contrived

Let $m$ be the largest real solution to the equation \[\frac{3}{x-3}+\frac{5}{x-5}+\frac{17}{x-17}+\frac{19}{x-19}= x^2-11x-4.\] There are positive integers $a,b,c$ such that $m = a + \sqrt{b+\sqrt{c}}$. Find $a+b+c$.

1998 IberoAmerican Olympiad For University Students, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

A sequence of polynomials $\{f_n\}_{n=0}^{\infty}$ is defined recursively by $f_0(x)=1$, $f_1(x)=1+x$, and \[(k+1)f_{k+1}(x)-(x+1)f_k(x)+(x-k)f_{k-1}(x)=0, \quad k=1,2,\ldots\] Prove that $f_k(k)=2^k$ for all $k\geq 0$.

2015 AIME Problems, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Steve says to Jon, "I am thinking of a polynomial whose roots are all positive integers. The polynomial has the form $P(x)=2x^3-2ax^2+(a^2-81)x-c$ for some positive integers $a$ and $c$. Can you tell me the values of $a$ and $c$?" After some calculations, Jon says, "There is more than one such polynomial." Steve says, "You’re right. Here is the value of $a$." He writes down a positive integer and asks, "Can you tell me the value of $c$?" Jon says, "There are still two possible values of $c$." Find the sum of the two possible values of $c$.

2018 Brazil Team Selection Test, 5

Tags: polynomial , algebra , number theory

Find all polynomials $P(x)$ with integer coefficients such that for all real numbers $s$ and $t$, if $P(s)$ and $P(t)$ are both integers, then $P(st)$ is also an integer.

2006 USAMO, 3

Tags: polynomial , modular arithmetic , algebra

For integral $m$, let $p(m)$ be the greatest prime divisor of $m.$ By convention, we set $p(\pm 1) = 1$ and $p(0) = \infty.$ Find all polynomials $f$ with integer coefficients such that the sequence \[ \{p \left( f \left( n^2 \right) \right) - 2n \}_{n \geq 0} \] is bounded above. (In particular, this requires $f \left (n^2 \right ) \neq 0$ for $n \geq 0.$)