Olympiad problems

1987 IMO Longlists, 56

Tags: combinatorics , partition , coloring , ramsey theory , set systems

For any integer $r \geq 1$, determine the smallest integer $h(r) \geq 1$ such that for any partition of the set $\{1, 2, \cdots, h(r)\}$ into $r$ classes, there are integers $a \geq 0 \ ; 1 \leq x \leq y$, such that $a + x, a + y, a + x + y$ belong to the same class. [i]Proposed by Romania[/i]

1986 IMO Longlists, 36

Tags: graph theory , combinatorics , coloring , ramsey theory , extremal combinatorics

Given a finite set of points in the plane, each with integer coordinates, is it always possible to color the points red or white so that for any straight line $L$ parallel to one of the coordinate axes the difference (in absolute value) between the numbers of white and red points on $L$ is not greater than $1$?

2006 Hong kong National Olympiad, 1

Tags: combinatorics , ramsey theory , schur

A subset $M$ of $\{1, 2, . . . , 2006\}$ has the property that for any three elements $x, y, z$ of $M$ with $x < y < z$, $x+ y$ does not divide $z$. Determine the largest possible size of $M$.

1999 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: function , linear algebra , combinatorics , ramsey theory

Suppose that every integer has been given one of the colours red, blue, green or yellow. Let $x$ and $y$ be odd integers so that $|x| \neq |y|$. Show that there are two integers of the same colour whose difference has one of the following values: $x,y,x+y$ or $x-y$.

2017 Azerbaijan Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: combinatorics , coloring , ramsey theory

Let $n$ be a positive integer relatively prime to $6$. We paint the vertices of a regular $n$-gon with three colours so that there is an odd number of vertices of each colour. Show that there exists an isosceles triangle whose three vertices are of different colours.

1990 IMO Longlists, 9

Tags: number theory , partition , ramsey theory , coloring , extremal combinatorics

Assume that the set of all positive integers is decomposed into $ r$ (disjoint) subsets $ A_1 \cup A_2 \cup \ldots \cup A_r \equal{} \mathbb{N}.$ Prove that one of them, say $ A_i,$ has the following property: There exists a positive $ m$ such that for any $ k$ one can find numbers $ a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_k$ in $ A_i$ with $ 0 < a_{j \plus{} 1} \minus{} a_j \leq m,$ $ (1 \leq j \leq k \minus{} 1)$.