Olympiad problems

2010 Indonesia MO, 7

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Given 2 positive reals $a$ and $b$. There exists 2 polynomials $F(x)=x^2+ax+b$ and $G(x)=x^2+bx+a$ such that all roots of polynomials $F(G(x))$ and $G(F(x))$ are real. Show that $a$ and $b$ are more than $6$. [i]Raja Oktovin, Pekanbaru[/i]

2024 Belarusian National Olympiad, 11.2

Tags: quadratic , algebra , polynomial

$29$ quadratic polynomials $f_1(x), \ldots, f_{29}(x)$ and $15$ real numbers $x_1<x_2<\ldots<x_{15}$ are given. Prove that for some two given polynomials $f_i(x)$ and $f_j(x)$ the following inequality holds: $$\sum_{k=1}^{14} (f_i(x_{k+1})-f_i(x_k))(f_j(x_{k+1})-f_j(x_k))>0$$ [i]A. Voidelevich[/i]

2007 All-Russian Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , algebra

Given reals numbers $a$, $b$, $c$. Prove that at least one of three equations $x^{2}+(a-b)x+(b-c)=0$, $x^{2}+(b-c)x+(c-a)=0$, $x^{2}+(c-a)x+(a-b)=0$ has a real root. [i]O. Podlipsky[/i]

2017 Indonesia MO, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

A polynomial $P$ has integral coefficients, and it has at least 9 different integral roots. Let $n$ be an integer such that $|P(n)| < 2017$. Prove that $P(n) = 0$.

2020 Iranian Our MO, 6

Tags: functional equation , algebra , polynomial

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ and plynomials $P(x),Q(x),R(x)$ with positive real coefficients such that $Q(-1)=-1$ and for all positive reals $x,y$:$$f(\frac{x}{y}+R(y))=\frac{f(x)}{Q(y)}+P(y).$$ [i]Proposed by Alireza Danaie, Ali Mirazaie Anari[/i] [b]Rated 2[/b]

2009 Moldova Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , geometric transformation , pigeonhole principle , number theory , greatest common divisor , geometry

$ f(x)$ and $ g(x)$ are two polynomials with nonzero degrees and integer coefficients, such that $ g(x)$ is a divisor of $ f(x)$ and the polynomial $ f(x)\plus{}2009$ has $ 50$ integer roots. Prove that the degree of $ g(x)$ is at least $ 5$.

2005 Morocco TST, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities

The real numbers $a_1,a_2,...,a_{100}$ satisfy the relationship : $a_1^2+ a_2^2 + \cdots +a_{100}^2 + ( a_1+a_2 + \cdots + a_{100})^2 = 101$ Prove that $|a_k| \leq 10$ for all $k \in \{1,2,...,100\}$

2009 Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament, 4

Tags: calculus , algebra , polynomial , derivative

Let $P$ be a fourth degree polynomial, with derivative $P^\prime$, such that $P(1)=P(3)=P(5)=P^\prime (7)=0$. Find the real number $x\neq 1,3,5$ such that $P(x)=0$.

2001 India IMO Training Camp, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , complex number , number theory

Complex numbers $\alpha$ , $\beta$ , $\gamma$ have the property that $\alpha^k +\beta^k +\gamma^k$ is an integer for every natural number $k$. Prove that the polynomial \[(x-\alpha)(x-\beta )(x-\gamma )\] has integer coefficients.

2021 APMO, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

For a polynomial $P$ and a positive integer $n$, define $P_n$ as the number of positive integer pairs $(a,b)$ such that $a<b \leq n$ and $|P(a)|-|P(b)|$ is divisible by $n$. Determine all polynomial $P$ with integer coefficients such that $P_n \leq 2021$ for all positive integers $n$.

2018 Ecuador NMO (OMEC), 4

Tags: integer root , algebra , polynomial

Let $k$ be a real number. Show that the polynomial $p (x) = x^3-24x + k$ has at most an integer root.

2011 German National Olympiad, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , number theory , sequence , prime

Let $p>2$ be a prime. Define a sequence $(Q_{n}(x))$ of polynomials such that $Q_{0}(x)=1, Q_{1}(x)=x$ and $Q_{n+1}(x) =xQ_{n}(x) + nQ_{n-1}(x)$ for $n\geq 1.$ Prove that $Q_{p}(x)-x^p $ is divisible by $p$ for all integers $x.$

1947 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 130

Tags: algebra , polynomial , coefficient

Which of the polynomials, $(1+x^2 -x^3)^{1000}$ or $(1-x^2 +x^3)^{1000}$, has the greater coefficient of $x^{20}$ after expansion and collecting the terms?

1990 ITAMO, 3

Tags: polynomial , remainder , algebra

Let $a,b,c$ be distinct real numbers and $P(x)$ a polynomial with real coefficients. Suppose that the remainders of $P(x)$ upon division by $(x-a), (x-b)$ and $(x-c)$ are $a,b$ and $c$, respectively. Find the polynomial that is obtained as the remainder of $P(x)$ upon division by $(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)$.

2006 Italy TST, 3

Tags: polynomial , complex number , algebra

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with complex coefficients such that $P(0)\neq 0$. Prove that there exists a multiple of $P(x)$ with real positive coefficients if and only if $P(x)$ has no real positive root.

1994 All-Russian Olympiad Regional Round, 10.6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , integer polynomial

Find the free coefficient of the polynomial $P(x)$ with integer coefficients, knowing that it is less than $1000$ in absolute value and that $P(19) = P(94) = 1994$.

1998 Romania Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $n$ be a positive integer and $\mathcal{P}_n$ be the set of integer polynomials of the form $a_0+a_1x+\ldots +a_nx^n$ where $|a_i|\le 2$ for $i=0,1,\ldots ,n$. Find, for each positive integer $k$, the number of elements of the set $A_n(k)=\{f(k)|f\in \mathcal{P}_n \}$. [i]Marian Andronache[/i]

2007 Romania Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: polynomial , function , ratio , induction , algebra

The problem is about real polynomial functions, denoted by $f$, of degree $\deg f$. a) Prove that a polynomial function $f$ can`t be wrriten as sum of at most $\deg f$ periodic functions. b) Show that if a polynomial function of degree $1$ is written as sum of two periodic functions, then they are unbounded on every interval (thus, they are "wild"). c) Show that every polynomial function of degree $1$ can be written as sum of two periodic functions. d) Show that every polynomial function $f$ can be written as sum of $\deg f+1$ periodic functions. e) Give an example of a function that can`t be written as a finite sum of periodic functions. [i]Dan Schwarz[/i]

2015 Brazil National Olympiad, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Is that true that there exist a polynomial $f(x)$ with rational coefficients, not all integers, with degree $n>0$, a polynomial $g(x)$, with integer coefficients, and a set $S$ with $n+1$ integers such that $f(t)=g(t)$ for all $t \in S$?

2020 India National Olympiad, 2

Tags: polynomial , trigonometry

Suppose $P(x)$ is a polynomial with real coefficients, satisfying the condition $P(\cos \theta+\sin \theta)=P(\cos \theta-\sin \theta)$, for every real $\theta$. Prove that $P(x)$ can be expressed in the form$$P(x)=a_0+a_1(1-x^2)^2+a_2(1-x^2)^4+\dots+a_n(1-x^2)^{2n}$$for some real numbers $a_0, a_1, \dots, a_n$ and non-negative integer $n$. [i]Proposed by C.R. Pranesacher[/i]

2023 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 8

Tags: algebra , polynomial , geometry , geometric transformation

Let $p(x)$ be an $n$-degree $(n \ge 2)$ polynomial with integer coefficients. If there are infinitely many positive integers $m$, such that $p(m)$ at most $n -1$ different prime factors $f$, prove that $p(x)$ has at most $n-1$ different rational roots . [color=#f00]a help in translation is welcome[/color]

2012 Indonesia TST, 1

Tags: number theory , least common multiple , polynomial , algebra

Given a positive integer $n$. (a) If $P$ is a polynomial of degree $n$ where $P(x) \in \mathbb{Z}$ for every $x \in \mathbb{Z}$, prove that for every $a,b \in \mathbb{Z}$ where $P(a) \neq P(b)$, \[\text{lcm}(1, 2, \ldots, n) \ge \left| \dfrac{a-b}{P(a) - P(b)} \right|\] (b) Find one $P$ (for each $n$) such that the equality case above is achieved for some $a,b \in \mathbb{Z}$.

2005 USA Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , probability , percent , induction , euler

We choose random a unitary polynomial of degree $n$ and coefficients in the set $1,2,...,n!$. Prove that the probability for this polynomial to be special is between $0.71$ and $0.75$, where a polynomial $g$ is called special if for every $k>1$ in the sequence $f(1), f(2), f(3),...$ there are infinitely many numbers relatively prime with $k$.

2001 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: polynomial , number theory , algebra

Let $Q(x)$ be a cubic polynomial with integer coefficients. Suppose that a prime $p$ divides $Q(x_j)$ for $j = 1$ ,$2$ ,$3$ ,$4$ , where $x_1 , x_2 , x_3 , x_4$ are distinct integers from the set $\{0,1,\cdots, p-1\}$. Prove that $p$ divides all the coefficients of $Q(x)$.

1990 Tournament Of Towns, (257) 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Prove that for all natural $n$ there exists a polynomial $P(x)$ divisible by $(x-1)^n$ such that its degree is not greater than $2^n$ and each of its coefficients is equal to $1$, $0$ or $-1$. (D. Fomin, Leningrad)