This website contains problems from math contests. Problems and corresponding tags were obtained from the Art of Problem Solving website.

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Found problems: 70

1952 Miklós Schweitzer, 6

Let $ 2n$ distinct points on a circle be given. Arrange them into disjoint pairs in an arbitrary way and join the couples by chords. Determine the probability that no two of these $ n$ chords intersect. (All possible arrangement into pairs are supposed to have the same probability.)

2013 Hitotsubashi University Entrance Examination, 5

Throw a die $n$ times, let $a_k$ be a number shown on the die in the $k$-th place. Define $s_n$ by $s_n=\sum_{k=1}^n 10^{n-k}a_k$. (1) Find the probability such that $s_n$ is divisible by 4. (2) Find the probability such that $s_n$ is divisible by 6. (3) Find the probability such that $s_n$ is divisible by 7. Last Edited Thanks, jmerry & JBL

1965 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

A gambler plays the following coin-tossing game. He can bet an arbitrary positive amount of money. Then a fair coin is tossed, and the gambler wins or loses the amount he bet depending on the outcome. Our gambler, who starts playing with $ x$ forints, where $ 0<x<2C$, uses the following strategy: if at a given time his capital is $ y<C$, he risks all of it; and if he has $ y>C$, he only bets $ 2C\minus{}y$. If he has exactly $ 2C$ forints, he stops playing. Let $ f(x)$ be the probability that he reaches $ 2C$ (before going bankrupt). Determine the value of $ f(x)$.

1990 IMO Longlists, 13

Six cities $A, B, C, D, E$, and $F$ are located on the vertices of a regular hexagon in that order. $G$ is the center of the hexagon. The sides of the hexagon are the roads connecting these cities. Further more, there are roads connecting cities $B, C, E, F$ and $G$, respectively. Because of raining, one or more roads maybe destroyed. The probability of the road keeping undestroyed between two consecutive cities is $p$. Determine the probability of the road between cities $A$ and $D$ is undestroyed.

1968 Putnam, B1

The random variables $X, Y$ can each take a finite number of integer values. They are not necessarily independent. Express $P(\min(X,Y)=k)$ in terms of $p_1=P(X=k)$, $p_2=P(Y=k)$ and $p_3=P(\max(X,Y)=k)$.

2016 Miklós Schweitzer, 9

For $p_0,\dots,p_d\in\mathbb{R}^d$, let \[ S(p_0,\dots,p_d)=\left\{ \alpha_0p_0+\dots+\alpha_dp_d : \alpha_i\le 1, \sum_{i=0}^d \alpha_i =1 \right\}. \] Let $\pi$ be an arbitrary probability distribution on $\mathbb{R}^d$, and choose $p_0,\dots,p_d$ independently with distribution $\pi$. Prove that the expectation of $\pi(S(p_0,\dots,p_d))$ is at least $1/(d+2)$.

1964 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Let $ \varepsilon_1,\varepsilon_2,...,\varepsilon_{2n}$ be independent random variables such that $ P(\varepsilon_i\equal{}1)\equal{}P(\varepsilon_i\equal{}\minus{}1)\equal{}\frac 12$ for all $ i$, and define $ S_k\equal{}\sum_{i\equal{}1}^k \varepsilon_i, \;1\leq k \leq 2n$. Let $ N_{2n}$ denote the number of integers $ k\in [2,2n]$ such that either $ S_k>0$, or $ S_k\equal{}0$ and $ S_{k\minus{}1}>0$. Compute the variance of $ N_{2n}$.

2006 Miklós Schweitzer, 11

Let $\alpha$ be an irrational number, and denote $F = \{ (x,y) \in R^2 : y \geq \alpha x \}$ as a closed half-plane bounded by a line. Let $P(\alpha,n) = P(X_1,...,X_n \in F)$, where $X_n$ is a simple, symmetric random walk that starts at the origin and moves with probability 1/4 in each direction. Prove that $P(\alpha,n)$ does not depend on $\alpha$.

2012 Kyoto University Entry Examination, 6

Cast a dice $n$ times. Denote by $X_1,\ X_2,\ \cdots ,\ X_n$ the numbers shown on each dice. Define $Y_1,\ Y_2,\ \cdots,\ Y_n$ by \[Y_1=X_1,\ Y_k=X_k+\frac{1}{Y_{k-1}}\ (k=2,\ \cdots,\ n)\] Find the probability $p_n$ such that $\frac{1+\sqrt{3}}{2}\leq Y_n\leq 1+\sqrt{3}.$ 35 points

1978 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Let $ Y_n$ be a binomial random variable with parameters $ n$ and $ p$. Assume that a certain set $ H$ of positive integers has a density and that this density is equal to $ d$. Prove the following statements: (a) $ \lim _{n \rightarrow \infty}P(Y_n\in H)\equal{}d$ if $ H$ is an arithmetic progression. (b) The previous limit relation is not valid for arbitrary $ H$. (c) If $ H$ is such that $ P(Y_n \in H)$ is convergent, then the limit must be equal to $ d$. [i]L. Posa[/i]

2011 Pre-Preparation Course Examination, 3

a government has decided to help it's people by giving them $n$ coupons for $n$ fundamental things, but because of being unmanaged, the giving of the coupons to the people is random. in each time that a person goes to the office to get a coupon, the office manager gives him one of the $n$ coupons randomly and with the same probability. It's obvious that in this system a person may get a coupon that he had it before. suppose that $X_n$ is the random varieble of the first time that a person gets all of the $n$ coupons. show that $\frac{X_n}{n ln(n)}$ in probability converges to $1$.

1966 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

For a real number $ x$ in the interval $ (0,1)$ with decimal representation \[ 0.a_1(x)a_2(x)...a_n(x)...,\] denote by $ n(x)$ the smallest nonnegative integer such that \[ \overline{a_{n(x)\plus{}1}a_{n(x)\plus{}2}a_{n(x)\plus{}3}a_{n(x)\plus{}4}}\equal{}1966 .\] Determine $ \int_0^1n(x)dx$. ($ \overline{abcd}$ denotes the decimal number with digits $ a,b,c,d .$) [i]A. Renyi[/i]

1973 Miklós Schweitzer, 9

Determine the value of \[ \sup_{ 1 \leq \xi \leq 2} [\log E \xi\minus{}E \log \xi],\] where $ \xi$ is a random variable and $ E$ denotes expectation. [i]Z. Daroczy[/i]

2008 Pre-Preparation Course Examination, 3

Prove that we can put $ \Omega(\frac1{\epsilon})$ points on surface of a sphere with radius 1 such that distance of each of these points and the plane passing through center and two of other points is at least $ \epsilon$.

2008 Pre-Preparation Course Examination, 5

A permutation $ \pi$ is selected randomly through all $ n$-permutations. a) if \[ C_a(\pi)\equal{}\mbox{the number of cycles of length }a\mbox{ in }\pi\] then prove that $ E(C_a(\pi))\equal{}\frac1a$ b) Prove that if $ \{a_1,a_2,\dots,a_k\}\subset\{1,2,\dots,n\}$ the probability that $ \pi$ does not have any cycle with lengths $ a_1,\dots,a_k$ is at most $ \frac1{\sum_{i\equal{}1}^ka_i}$

1998 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Let $\xi_1 , \xi_2 , ...$ be a series of independent, zero-expected-value random variables for which $\lim_{n\to\infty} E(\xi_n ^ 2) = 0$, and $S_n = \sum_{j = 1}^n \xi_j$ . Denote by I(A) the indicator function of event A. Prove that $$\frac{1}{\log n} \sum_{k = 1}^n \frac1k I\bigg(\max_{1\leq j\leq k} |S_j|>\sqrt k\bigg) \to 0$$ with probability 1 if $n\to\infty$ .

1995 Miklós Schweitzer, 12

Let F(x) be a known distribution function, the random variables $\eta_1 , \eta_2 ...$ be independent of the common distribution function $F( x - \vartheta)$, where $\vartheta$ is the shift parameter. Let us call the shift parameter "well estimated" if there exists a positive constant c, so that any of $\varepsilon> 0$ there exist a Lebesgue measure $\varepsilon$ Borel set E ("confidence set") and a Borel-measurable function $t_n( x_1 ,. .., x_n )$ ( n = 1,2, ...) such that for any $\vartheta$ we have $$P ( \vartheta- t_n ( \eta_1 , ..., \eta_n ) \in E )> 1-e^{-cn} \qquad( n > n_0 ( \varepsilon, F ) )$$ Prove that a) if F is not absolutely continuous, then the shift parameter is "well estimated", b) if F is absolutely continuous and F' is continuous, then it is not "well estimated".

1950 Miklós Schweitzer, 8

A coastal battery sights an enemy cruiser lying one kilometer off the coast and opens fire on it at the rate of one round per minute. After the first shot, the cruiser begins to move away at a speed of $ 60$ kilometers an hour. Let the probability of a hit be $ 0.75x^{ \minus{} 2}$, where $ x$ denotes the distance (in kilometers) between the cruiser and the coast ($ x\geq 1$), and suppose that the battery goes on firing till the cruiser either sinks or disappears. Further, let the probability of the cruiser sinking after $ n$ hits be $ 1 \minus{} \frac {1}{4^n}$ ($ n \equal{} 0,1,...$). Show that the probability of the cruiser escaping is $ \frac {2\sqrt {2}}{3\pi}$

2011 Pre-Preparation Course Examination, 2

prove that for almost every real number $\alpha \in [0,1]$ there exists natural number $n_{\alpha} \in \mathbb N$ such that the inequality $|\alpha-\frac{p}{q}|\le \frac{1}{q^n}$ for natural $n\ge n_{\alpha}$ and rational $\frac{p}{q}$ has no answers.

1993 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Let $U_1 , U_2 , U_3$ be iid random variables on [0,1], which in order of magnitude, $U_1^{\ast} \le U_2^{\ast} \leq U_3 ^ {\ast}$. Let $\alpha, p_1 , p_2 , p_3 \in [0,1]$ such that $P(U_j ^ {\ast} \ge p_j)= \alpha$ ( j = 1,2,3). Prove that $$P \left( p_1 + (p_2-p_1) U_3^{\ast} + (p_3- p_2) U_2^{\ast} + (1-p_3) U_1^{\ast} \geq \frac{1}{2} \right) \geq 1-\alpha$$

1970 Miklós Schweitzer, 11

Let $ \xi_1,\xi_2,...$ be independent random variables such that $ E\xi_n=m>0$ and $ \textrm{Var}(\xi_n)=\sigma^2 < \infty \;(n=1,2,...)\ .$ Let $ \{a_n \}$ be a sequence of positive numbers such that $ a_n\rightarrow 0$ and $ \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_n= \infty$. Prove that \[ P \left( \lim_{n\rightarrow \infty} %Error. "diaplaymath" is a bad command. \sum_{k=1}^n a_k \xi_k =\infty \right)=1.\] [i]P. Revesz[/i]

2001 Miklós Schweitzer, 11

Let $\xi_{(k_1, k_2)}, k_1, k_2 \in\mathbb N$ be random variables uniformly bounded. Let $c_l, l\in\mathbb N$ be a positive real strictly increasing infinite sequence such that $c_{l+1}/ c_l$ is bounded. Let $d_l=\log \left(c_{l+1}/c_l\right), l\in\mathbb N$ and suppose that $D_n=\sum_{l=1}^n d_l\uparrow \infty$ when $n\to\infty$ Suppose there exist $C>0$ and $\varepsilon>0$ such that $$\left| \mathbb E \left\{ \xi_{(k_1,k_2)}\xi_{(l_1,l_2)}\right\}\right| \leq C\prod_{i=1}^2 \left\{ \log_+\log_+\left( \frac{c_{\max\{ k_i, l_i\}}}{c_{\min\{ k_i, l_i\}}}\right)\right\}^{-(1+\varepsilon)}$$ for each $(k_1, k_2), (l_1,l_2)\in\mathbb N^2$ ($\log_+$ is the positive part of the natural logarithm). Show that $$\lim_{\substack{n_1\to\infty \\ n_2\to\infty}} \frac{1}{D_{n_1}D_{n_2}}\sum_{k_1=1}^{n_1} \sum_{k_2=1}^{n_2} d_{k_1}d_{k_2}\xi_{(k_1,k_2)}=0$$ almost surely. (translated by j___d)

1977 Miklós Schweitzer, 10

Let the sequence of random variables $ \{ X_m, \; m \geq 0\ \}, \; X_0=0$, be an infinite random walk on the set of nonnegative integers with transition probabilities \[ p_i=P(X_{m+1}=i+1 \mid X_m=i) >0, \; i \geq 0 \,\] \[ q_i=P(X_{m+1}=i-1 \mid X_m=i ) >0, \; i>0.\] Prove that for arbitrary $ k >0$ there is an $ \alpha_k > 1$ such that \[ P_n(k)=P \left ( \max_{0 \leq j \leq n} X_j =k \right)\] satisfies the limit relation \[ \lim_{L \rightarrow \infty} \frac 1L \sum_{n=1}^L P_n(k) \alpha_k ^n < \infty.\] [i]J. Tomko[/i]

2009 IMS, 6

Suppose that there are 100 seats in a saloon for 100 students. All students except one know their seat. First student (which is the one who doesn't know his seat) comes to the saloon and sits randomly somewhere. Then others enter the saloon one by one. Every student that enters the saloon and finds his seat vacant, sits there and if he finds his seat occupied he sits somewhere else randomly. Find the probability that last two students sit on their seats.

2005 Miklós Schweitzer, 12

Let $x_1,x_2,\cdots,x_n$ be iid rv. $S_n=\sum x_k$ (a) let $P(|x_1|\leq 1)=1$ , $E[x_1]=0$ , $E[x_1^2]=\sigma^2>0$ Prove that $\exists C>0$ , $\forall u\geq 2n\sigma^2$ $P(S_n\geq u)\leq e^{-C u \log(u/n\sigma^2)}$ (b) let $P(x_1=1)=P(x_1=-1)=\sigma^2/2$ , $P(x_1=0)=1-\sigma^2$ Prove that $\exists B_1<1,B_2>1,B_3>0$ , $\forall u\geq1, B_1 n\geq u\geq B_2 n\sigma^2$ $P(S_n\geq u)>e^{-B_3 u \log(u/n\sigma^2)}$