Olympiad problems

2002 USAMTS Problems, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find four distinct positive integers, $a$, $b$, $c$, and $d$, such that each of the four sums $a+b+c$, $a+b+d$,$a+c+d$, and $b+c+d$ is the square of an integer. Show that infinitely many quadruples $(a,b,c,d)$ with this property can be created.

1994 Canada National Olympiad, 1

Tags: factorial , polynomial , algebra

Evaluate $\sum_{n=1}^{1994}{\left((-1)^{n}\cdot\left(\frac{n^2 + n + 1}{n!}\right)\right)}$ .

2013 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 11

Tags: polynomial , minimum , maximum

The positive numbers $a, b,c, d, p, q$ are such that $(x+a)(x+b)(x+c)(x+d) = x^4+4px^3+6x^2+4qx+1$ holds for all real numbers $x$. Find the smallest value of $p$ or the largest value of $q$.

1953 Putnam, A7

Tags: trigonometry , polynomial , root

Assuming that the roots of $x^3 +px^2 +qx +r=0$ are all real and positive, find the relation between $p,q,r$ which is a necessary and sufficient condition that the roots are the cosines of the angles of a triangle.

2009 IMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: polynomial , number theory , size

A positive integer $N$ is called [i]balanced[/i], if $N=1$ or if $N$ can be written as a product of an even number of not necessarily distinct primes. Given positive integers $a$ and $b$, consider the polynomial $P$ defined by $P(x)=(x+a)(x+b)$. (a) Prove that there exist distinct positive integers $a$ and $b$ such that all the number $P(1)$, $P(2)$,$\ldots$, $P(50)$ are balanced. (b) Prove that if $P(n)$ is balanced for all positive integers $n$, then $a=b$. [i]Proposed by Jorge Tipe, Peru[/i]

1996 Canada National Olympiad, 1

Tags: polynomial , vieta , algebra

If $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$ are the roots of $x^3 - x - 1 = 0$, compute $\frac{1+\alpha}{1-\alpha} + \frac{1+\beta}{1-\beta} + \frac{1+\gamma}{1-\gamma}$.

2005 Junior Balkan Team Selection Tests - Romania, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , geometry

Let $ABC$ be an equilateral triangle and $M$ be a point inside the triangle. We denote by $A'$, $B'$, $C'$ the projections of the point $M$ on the sides $BC$, $CA$ and $AB$ respectively. Prove that the lines $AA'$, $BB'$ and $CC'$ are concurrent if and only if $M$ belongs to an altitude of the triangle.

2017 China Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Find out all the integer pairs $(m,n)$ such that there exist two monic polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ ,with $\deg{P}=m$ and $\deg{Q}=n$,satisfy that $$P(Q(t))\not=Q(P(t))$$ holds for any real number $t$.

1984 IMO Longlists, 13

Tags: diophantine equation , polynomial , equation , quadratic , number theory

Prove: (a) There are infinitely many triples of positive integers $m, n, p$ such that $4mn - m- n = p^2 - 1.$ (b) There are no positive integers $m, n, p$ such that $4mn - m- n = p^2.$

2001 APMO, 4

Tags: analytic geometry , polynomial , algebra

A point in the plane with a cartesian coordinate system is called a [i]mixed point[/i] if one of its coordinates is rational and the other one is irrational. Find all polynomials with real coefficients such that their graphs do not contain any mixed point.

2021 Taiwan TST Round 3, A

Tags: polynomial , algorithm , lagrange s interpolation , algebra

A magician intends to perform the following trick. She announces a positive integer $n$, along with $2n$ real numbers $x_1 < \dots < x_{2n}$, to the audience. A member of the audience then secretly chooses a polynomial $P(x)$ of degree $n$ with real coefficients, computes the $2n$ values $P(x_1), \dots , P(x_{2n})$, and writes down these $2n$ values on the blackboard in non-decreasing order. After that the magician announces the secret polynomial to the audience. Can the magician find a strategy to perform such a trick?

1964 German National Olympiad, 6

Tags: geometry , polynomial , cyclic , tangential

Which of the following four statements are true and which are false? a) If a polygon inscribed in a circle is equilateral, then it is also equiangular. b) If a polygon inscribed in a circle is equiangular, then it is also equilateral. c) If a polygon circumscribed to a circle is equilateral, then it is also equiangular. d) If a polygon circumscribed to a circle is equiangular, then it is also equilateral.

2017 Romanian Masters In Mathematics, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial

Determine all positive integers $n$ satisfying the following condition: for every monic polynomial $P$ of degree at most $n$ with integer coefficients, there exists a positive integer $k\le n$ and $k+1$ distinct integers $x_1,x_2,\cdots ,x_{k+1}$ such that \[P(x_1)+P(x_2)+\cdots +P(x_k)=P(x_{k+1})\]. [i]Note.[/i] A polynomial is [i]monic[/i] if the coefficient of the highest power is one.

2011 Gheorghe Vranceanu, 2

Tags: polynomial , triangle inequality , induction , inequalities , algebra

Let $ a\ge 3 $ and a polynom $ P. $ Show that: $$ \max_{1\le k\le \text{grad} P} \left| a^{k-1}-P(k-1) \right| \ge 1 $$

2020 HK IMO Preliminary Selection Contest, 11

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta

Let $a$, $b$, $c$ be the three roots of the equation $x^3-(k+1)x^2+kx+12=0$, where $k$ is a real number. If $(a-2)^3+(b-2)^3+(c-2)^3=-18$, find the value of $k$.

2012 India IMO Training Camp, 2

Tags: inequalities , algebra , polynomial , rotation

Let $P(z)=a_nz^n+a_{n-1}z^{n-1}+\ldots+a_mz^m$ be a polynomial with complex coefficients such that $a_m\neq 0, a_n\neq 0$ and $n>m$. Prove that \[\text{max}_{|z|=1}\{|P(z)|\}\ge\sqrt{2|a_ma_n|+\sum_{k=m}^{n} |a_k|^2}\]

2007 Putnam, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , quadratic , logarithm

A [i]repunit[/i] is a positive integer whose digits in base $ 10$ are all ones. Find all polynomials $ f$ with real coefficients such that if $ n$ is a repunit, then so is $ f(n).$

2005 Alexandru Myller, 4

Tags: superior algebra , polynomial , function , algebra

Let $K$ be a finite field and $f:K\to K^*$. Prove that there is a reducible polynomial $P\in K[X]$ s.t. $P(x)=f(x),\forall x\in K$. [i]Marian Andronache[/i]

1994 Turkey Team Selection Test, 3

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

Find all integer pairs $(a,b)$ such that $a\cdot b$ divides $a^2+b^2+3$.

1998 ITAMO, 5

Tags: polynomial , integer polynomial , algebra

Suppose $a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4$ are distinct integers and $P(x)$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients satisfying $P(a_1) = P(a_2) = P(a_3) = P(a_4) = 1$. (a) Prove that there is no integer $n$ such that $P(n) = 12$. (b) Do there exist such a polynomial and $a_n$ integer $n$ such that $P(n) = 1998$?

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.

2008 Tournament Of Towns, 6

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients so that equation $P(m) + P(n) = 0$ has infinitely many pairs of integer solutions $(m,n)$. Prove that graph of $y = P(x)$ has a center of symmetry.

2023 Ukraine National Mathematical Olympiad, 11.5

Tags: polynomial , algebra

Let's call a polynomial [i]mixed[/i] if it has both positive and negative coefficients ($0$ isn't considered positive or negative). Is the product of two mixed polynomials always mixed? [i]Proposed by Vadym Koval[/i]

1988 AMC 12/AHSME, 15

Tags: polynomial , quadratic , algebra

If $a$ and $b$ are integers such that $x^2 - x - 1$ is a factor of $ax^3 + bx^2 + 1$, then $b$ is $ \textbf{(A)}\ -2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ -1\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 0\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 1\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 2 $

2012 Iran Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: polynomial , function , algebra

Let $g(x)$ be a polynomial of degree at least $2$ with all of its coefficients positive. Find all functions $f:\mathbb R^+ \longrightarrow \mathbb R^+$ such that \[f(f(x)+g(x)+2y)=f(x)+g(x)+2f(y) \quad \forall x,y\in \mathbb R^+.\] [i]Proposed by Mohammad Jafari[/i]