Olympiad problems

2017 Balkan MO Shortlist, N5

Given a positive odd integer $n$, show that the arithmetic mean of fractional parts $\{\frac{k^{2n}}{p}\}, k=1,..., \frac{p-1}{2}$ is the same for infinitely many primes $p$ .

2021 Winter Stars of Mathematics, 3

Tags: number theory , quadratic residue

Determine the primes $p$ for which the numbers $2\lfloor p/k\rfloor - 1, \ k = 1,2,\ldots, p,$ are all quadratic residues modulo $p.$ [i]Vlad Matei[/i]

PEN C Problems, 6

Tags: quadratic residue , algebra , polynomial , absolute value

Let $a, b, c$ be integers and let $p$ be an odd prime with \[p \not\vert a \;\; \text{and}\;\; p \not\vert b^{2}-4ac.\] Show that \[\sum_{k=1}^{p}\left( \frac{ak^{2}+bk+c}{p}\right) =-\left( \frac{a}{p}\right).\]

2025 India National Olympiad, P6

Tags: quadratic residue , base system , construction

Let $b \geqslant 2$ be a positive integer. Anu has an infinite collection of notes with exactly $b-1$ copies of a note worth $b^k-1$ rupees, for every integer $k\geqslant 1$. A positive integer $n$ is called payable if Anu can pay exactly $n^2+1$ rupees by using some collection of her notes. Prove that if there is a payable number, there are infinitely many payable numbers. [i]Proposed by Shantanu Nene[/i]

2014 APMO, 3

Tags: quadratic residue , divisibility , hensel , surjective

Find all positive integers $n$ such that for any integer $k$ there exists an integer $a$ for which $a^3+a-k$ is divisible by $n$. [i]Warut Suksompong, Thailand[/i]

2007 Bulgaria Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: quadratic residue , number theory

Let $p=4k+3$ be a prime number. Find the number of different residues mod p of $(x^{2}+y^{2})^{2}$ where $(x,p)=(y,p)=1.$

2023 Silk Road, 3

Tags: prime number , quadratic , quadratic residue , directed graph , number theory

Let $p$ be a prime number. We construct a directed graph of $p$ vertices, labeled with integers from $0$ to $p-1$. There is an edge from vertex $x$ to vertex $y$ if and only if $x^2+1\equiv y \pmod{p}$. Let $f(p)$ denotes the length of the longest directed cycle in this graph. Prove that $f(p)$ can attain arbitrarily large values.

2024 Durer Math Competition Finals, 5

Tags: quadratic residue , number theory

Let $p{}$ be a fixed prime number. Determine the number of ordered $k$-tuples $(a_1,\ldots,a_k)$ of non-negative integers smaller than $p{}$ for which $p\mid a_1^2+\cdots+a_k^2$ where a) $k=3$ and b) $k$ is an arbitrary odd positive integer.