Olympiad problems

2024 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Given a set $S$ of integers, an allowed operation consists of the following three steps: $\bullet$ Choose a positive integer $n$. $\bullet$ Choose $n+1$ elements $a_0, a_1, \dots, a_n \in S$, not necessarily distinct. $\bullet$ Add to the set $S$ all the integer roots of the polynomial $a_n x^n + a_{n-1} x^{n-1} + \dots + a_2 x^2 + a_1 x + a_0$. Beto must choose an initial set $S$ and perform several allowed operations, so that at the end of the process $S$ contains among its elements the integers $1, 2, 3, \dots, 2023, 2024$. Determine the smallest $k$ for which there exists an initial set $S$ with $k$ elements that allows Beto to achieve his objective.

1954 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 285

Tags: algebra , quadratic , trinomial , absolute value , root

The absolute values of all roots of the quadratic equation $x^2+Ax+B = 0$ and $x^2+Cx+D = 0$ are less then $1$. Prove that so are absolute values of the roots of the quadratic equation $x^2 + \frac{A + C}{2} x + \frac{B + D}{2} = 0$.

2014 India PRMO, 9

Tags: algebra , trinomial , root

Natural numbers $k, l,p$ and $q$ are such that if $a$ and $b$ are roots of $x^2 - kx + l = 0$ then $a +\frac1b$ and $b + \frac1a$ are the roots of $x^2 -px + q = 0$. What is the sum of all possible values of $q$?

1968 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: real root , algebra , polynomial , equation , root

If $a_i \ (i = 1, 2, \ldots, n)$ are distinct non-zero real numbers, prove that the equation \[\frac{a_1}{a_1-x} + \frac{a_2}{a_2-x}+\cdots+\frac{a_n}{a_n-x} = n\] has at least $n - 1$ real roots.

2025 Greece National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , integer

Let $P(x)=x^4+5x^3+mx^2+5nx+4$ have $2$ distinct real roots, which sum up to $-5$. If $m,n \in \mathbb {Z_+}$, find the values of $m,n$ and their corresponding roots.

1966 IMO Longlists, 35

Tags: algebra , polynomial , irrational number , root

Let $ax^{3}+bx^{2}+cx+d$ be a polynomial with integer coefficients $a,$ $b,$ $c,$ $d$ such that $ad$ is an odd number and $bc$ is an even number. Prove that (at least) one root of the polynomial is irrational.

2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , root , equation

Find real roots $x_1$, $x_2$ of equation $x^5-55x+21=0$, if we know $x_1\cdot x_2=1$

2006 IMO Shortlist, 4

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial of degree $n > 1$ with integer coefficients and let $k$ be a positive integer. Consider the polynomial $Q(x) = P(P(\ldots P(P(x)) \ldots ))$, where $P$ occurs $k$ times. Prove that there are at most $n$ integers $t$ such that $Q(t) = t$.

2001 Saint Petersburg Mathematical Olympiad, 9.2

Tags: quadratic , algebra , quadratic trinomial , root

Define a quadratic trinomial to be "good", if it has two distinct real roots and all of its coefficients are distinct. Do there exist 10 positive integers such that there exist 500 good quadratic trinomials coefficients of which are among these numbers? [I]Proposed by F. Petrov[/i]

1982 IMO Longlists, 16

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , cubic

Let $p(x)$ be a cubic polynomial with integer coefficients with leading coefficient $1$ and with one of its roots equal to the product of the other two. Show that $2p(-1)$ is a multiple of $p(1)+p(-1)-2(1+p(0)).$

2013 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: inequalities , algebra , cubic function , root

Let $a,b$ be real numbers such that the equation $x^3-ax^2+bx-a=0$ has three positive real roots . Find the minimum of $\frac{2a^3-3ab+3a}{b+1}$.

2013 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 5

Tags: polynomial , root , algebra

Let $k$ be a real number such that the product of real roots of the equation $$X^4 + 2X^3 + (2 + 2k)X^2 + (1 + 2k)X + 2k = 0$$ is $-2013$. Find the sum of the squares of these real roots.

1968 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: root , analysis , algebra , inequalities , function

Let $a$ and $b$ satisfy $a \ge b >0, a + b = 1$. i) Prove that if $m$ and $n$ are positive integers with $m < n$, then $a^m - a^n \ge b^m- b^n > 0$. ii) For each positive integer $n$, consider a quadratic function $f_n(x) = x^2 - b^nx- a^n$. Show that $f(x)$ has two roots that are in between $-1$ and $1$.

2008 Tournament Of Towns, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities , sum , root

A polynomial $x^n + a_1x^{n-1} + a_2x^{n-2} +... + a_{n-2}x^2 + a_{n-1}x + a_n$ has $n$ distinct real roots $x_1, x_2,...,x_n$, where $n > 1$. The polynomial $nx^{n-1}+ (n - 1)a_1x^{n-2} + (n - 2)a_2x^{n-3} + ...+ 2a_{n-2}x + a_{n-1}$ has roots $y_1, y_2,..., y_{n_1}$. Prove that $\frac{x^2_1+ x^2_2+ ...+ x^2_n}{n}>\frac{y^2_1 + y^2_2 + ...+ y^2_{n-1}}{n - 1}$

1949-56 Chisinau City MO, 10

Tags: root , algebra , rational

Get rid of irrationality in the denominator of a fraction $$\frac{1}{\sqrt[3]{4}+\sqrt[3]{2}+2}$$.

2017 Vietnamese Southern Summer School contest, Problem 2

Tags: polynomial , root , equation , algebra

Let $P,Q$ be the polynomials: $$x^3-4x^2+39x-46, x^3+3x^2+4x-3,$$ respectively. 1. Prove that each of $P, Q$ has an unique real root. Let them be $\alpha,\beta$, respectively. 2. Prove that $\{ \alpha\}>\{ \beta\} ^2$, where $\{ x\}=x-\lfloor x\rfloor$ is the fractional part of $x$.

1985 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , algorithm

Find a method by which one can compute the coefficients of $P(x) = x^6 + a_1x^5 + \cdots+ a_6$ from the roots of $P(x) = 0$ by performing not more than $15$ additions and $15$ multiplications.

2017 Bosnia And Herzegovina - Regional Olympiad, 1

Tags: equation , algebra , root

If $a$ is real number such that $x_1$ and $x_2$, $x_1\neq x_2$ , are real numbers and roots of equation $x_2-x+a=0$. Prove that $\mid {x_1}^2-{x_2}^2 \mid =1$ iff $\mid {x_1}^3-{x_2}^3 \mid =1$

2019 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: complex number , polynomial , root , superior algebra

Let $n \geq 3$ and $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ be complex numbers different from $0$ with $|a_i| < 1$ for all $i \in \{1,2,...,n-1 \}.$ If the coefficients of $f = \prod_{i=1}^n (X-a_i)$ are integers, prove that $\textbf{a)}$ The numbers $a_1,a_2,...,a_n$ are distinct. $\textbf{b)}$ If $a_j^2 = a_ia_k,$ then $i=j=k.$