Olympiad problems

2015 Poland - Second Round, 1

Real numbers $x_1, x_2, x_3, x_4$ are roots of the fourth degree polynomial $W (x)$ with integer coefficients. Prove that if $x_3 + x_4$ is a rational number and $x_3x_4$ is a irrational number, then $x_1 + x_2 = x_3 + x_4$.

2015 Estonia Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: rational , number theory

Let $q$ be a fixed positive rational number. Call number $x$ [i]charismatic [/i] if there exist a positive integer $n$ and integers $a_1, a_2, . . . , a_n$ such that $x = (q + 1)^{a_1} \cdot (q + 2)^{a_2} ...(q + n)^{a_n}$. a) Prove that $q$ can be chosen in such a way that every positive rational number turns out to be charismatic. b) Is it true for every $q$ that, for every charismatic number $x$, the number $x + 1$ is charismatic, too?

2020 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualification, 8

Tags: equation , radical , rational , algebra

Find all pairs $(a, b)$ of positive rational numbers such that $\sqrt[b]{a}= ab$

2004 Estonia Team Selection Test, 4

Tags: algebra , sum , rational , trigonometry

Denote $f(m) =\sum_{k=1}^m (-1)^k cos \frac{k\pi}{2 m + 1}$ For which positive integers $m$ is $f(m)$ rational?

2010 Ukraine Team Selection Test, 12

Tags: algebra , number theory , rational , sum , reciprocal sum

Is there a positive integer $n$ for which the following holds: for an arbitrary rational $r$ there exists an integer $b$ and non-zero integers $a _1, a_2, ..., a_n$ such that $r=b+\frac{1}{a_1}+\frac{1}{a_2}+...+\frac{1}{a_n}$ ?

2017 Federal Competition For Advanced Students, P2, 3

Tags: rational , number theory with sequences , recurrence relation , number theory

Let $(a_n)_{n\ge 0}$ be the sequence of rational numbers with $a_0 = 2016$ and $a_{n+1} = a_n + \frac{2}{a_n}$ for all $n \ge 0$. Show that the sequence does not contain a square of a rational number. Proposed by Theresia Eisenkölbl

1980 Bundeswettbewerb Mathematik, 1

Tags: number theory , perfect cube , rational

Let $a$ and $b$ be integers. Prove that if $\sqrt[3]{a}+\sqrt[3]{b}$ is a rational number, then both $a$ and $b$ are perfect cubes.

2013 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 15

Tags: rational , algebra

Denote by $Q$ and $N^*$ the set of all rational and positive integer numbers, respectively. Suppose that $\frac{ax + b}{cx + d} \in Q$ for every $x \in N^*$: Prove that there exist integers $A,B,C,D$ such that $\frac{ax + b}{cx + d}= \frac{Ax + B}{Cx+D}$ for all $x \in N^* $

1989 Chile National Olympiad, 5

Tags: geometry , rational , altitude

The lengths of the three sides of a $ \triangle ABC $ are rational. The altitude $ CD $ determines on the side $AB$ two segments $ AD $ and $ DB $. Prove that $ AD, DB $ are rational.

2018 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: rational , number theory

Find the natural number $n$ for which $$\sqrt{\frac{20^n- 18^n}{19}}$$ is a rational number.

1978 Chisinau City MO, 166

Tags: rational , analytic geometry , circles , irrational

It is known that at least one coordinate of the center $(x_0, y_0)$ of the circle $(x -x_0)^2+ (y -y_0)^2 = R^2$ is irrational. Prove that on the circle itself there are at most two points with rational coordinates.

2014 Saudi Arabia GMO TST, 4

Tags: rational , set , algebra

Let $X$ be a set of rational numbers satisfying the following two conditions: (a) The set $X$ contains at least two elements, (b) For any $x, y$ in $X$, if $x \ne y$ then there exists $z$ in $X$ such that either $\left| \frac{x- z}{y - z} \right|= 2$ or $\left| \frac{y -z}{x - z} \right|= 2$ . Prove that $X$ contains infinitely many elements.

2008 Postal Coaching, 2

Tags: altitude , sidelenghts , rational , geometry

Does there exist a triangle $ABC$ whose sides are rational numbers and $BC$ equals to the altitude from $A$?

2006 IMO Shortlist, 2

Tags: rational , decimal representation , number theory

For $ x \in (0, 1)$ let $ y \in (0, 1)$ be the number whose $ n$-th digit after the decimal point is the $ 2^{n}$-th digit after the decimal point of $ x$. Show that if $ x$ is rational then so is $ y$. [i]Proposed by J.P. Grossman, Canada[/i]

2002 Junior Balkan Team Selection Tests - Romania, 1

Tags: algebra , rational , radical , irrational

Let $a$ be an integer. Prove that for any real number $x, x^3 < 3$, both the numbers $\sqrt{3 -x^2}$ and $\sqrt{a - x^3}$ cannot be rational.

2010 NZMOC Camp Selection Problems, 5

Tags: algebra , rational , number theory

Determine the values of the positive integer $n$ for which $$A =\sqrt{\frac{9n - 1}{n + 7}}$$ is rational.

1995 Tournament Of Towns, (456) 1

Tags: analytic geometry , combinatorial geometry , rational , combinatorics , geometry

Does there exist a sphere passing through only one rational point? (A rational point is a point whose Cartesian coordinates are all rational numbers.) (A Rubin)

1955 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 316

Tags: polynomial , algebra , divisor , integer polynomial , rational

Prove that if $\frac{p}{q}$ is an irreducible rational number that serves as a root of the polynomial $f(x) = a_0x^n + a_1x^{n-1} + ... + a_n$ with integer coefficients, then $p - kq$ is a divisor of $f(k)$ for any integer $k$.

VMEO II 2005, 10

Tags: algebra , rational

a) Prove that for any positive integer $m > 2$, the equation $$y^3 = x^3_1 + x^3_2 + ... + x^3_m$$ always has a positive integer solution. b) Given a positive integer $n > 1$ and suppose $n \ne 3$. Prove that every rational number $x > 0$ can be expressed as $$x =\frac{a^3_1 + a^3_2 + ... + a^3_n}{b^3_1 + b^3_2 + ... + b^3_n}$$ where $a_i, b_i$ $(i = 1, . . . , n)$ are positive integers.

2020 India National Olympiad, 5

Tags: tiling , descent , niven theorem , rational , galois theory , trigonometry , number theory

Infinitely many equidistant parallel lines are drawn in the plane. A positive integer $n \geqslant 3$ is called frameable if it is possible to draw a regular polygon with $n$ sides all whose vertices lie on these lines, and no line contains more than one vertex of the polygon. (a) Show that $3, 4, 6$ are frameable. (b) Show that any integer $n \geqslant 7$ is not frameable. (c) Determine whether $5$ is frameable. [i]Proposed by Muralidharan[/i]

1974 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 1

Tags: function , floor function , rational , number theory , algebra

Assume that $a$ is a given irrational number. (a) Prove that for each positive real number $\epsilon$ there exists at least one integer $q\ge0$ such that $aq-\lfloor aq\rfloor<\epsilon$. (b) Prove that for given $\epsilon>0$ there exist infinitely many rational numbers $\frac pq$ such that $q>0$ and $\left|a-\frac pq\right|<\frac\epsilon q$.