Olympiad problems

1968 IMO Shortlist, 11

Find all solutions $(x_1, x_2, . . . , x_n)$ of the equation \[1 +\frac{1}{x_1} + \frac{x_1+1}{x{}_1x{}_2}+\frac{(x_1+1)(x_2+1)}{x{}_1{}_2x{}_3} +\cdots + \frac{(x_1+1)(x_2+1) \cdots (x_{n-1}+1)}{x{}_1x{}_2\cdots x_n} =0\]

1976 Euclid, 8

Tags: root , equation algebra

Source: 1976 Euclid Part A Problem 8 ----- Given that $a$, $b$, and $c$ are the roots of the equation $x^3-3x^2+mx+24=0$, and that $-a$ and $-b$ are the roots of the equation $x^2+nx-6=0$, then the value of $n$ is $\textbf{(A) } 1 \qquad \textbf{(B) } -1 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 7 \qquad \textbf{(D) } -7 \qquad \textbf{(E) } \text{none of these}$

1967 IMO Longlists, 43

Tags: polynomial , diophantine equation , parametric equation , root , algebra

The equation \[x^5 + 5 \lambda x^4 - x^3 + (\lambda \alpha - 4)x^2 - (8 \lambda + 3)x + \lambda \alpha - 2 = 0\] is given. Determine $\alpha$ so that the given equation has exactly (i) one root or (ii) two roots, respectively, independent from $\lambda.$

1968 IMO Shortlist, 6

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

2017 Vietnamese Southern Summer School contest, Problem 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , equation

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 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 7

Tags: polynomial , root , integer polynomial , polynomial equation , algebra

Find the values of $p$ for which the equation $x^5 - px-1 = 0$ has two roots $r$ and $s$ which are the roots of equation $x^2-ax+b= 0$ for some integers $a,b$.

2020 German National Olympiad, 3

Tags: polynomial , root , algebra , inequalities

Show that the equation \[x(x+1)(x+2)\dots (x+2020)-1=0\] has exactly one positive solution $x_0$, and prove that this solution $x_0$ satisfies \[\frac{1}{2020!+10}<x_0<\frac{1}{2020!+6}.\]

2014 Israel National Olympiad, 7

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

Find one real value of $x$ satisfying $\frac{x^7}{7}=1+\sqrt[7]{10}x\left(x^2-\sqrt[7]{10}\right)^2$.

1990 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 516

Tags: quadratic , root , rational , algebra , trinomial

Find three non-zero reals such that all quadratics with those numbers as coefficients have two distinct rational roots.

1989 IMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , equation , diophantine equation

Find the roots $ r_i \in \mathbb{R}$ of the polynomial \[ p(x) \equal{} x^n \plus{} n \cdot x^{n\minus{}1} \plus{} a_2 \cdot x^{n\minus{}2} \plus{} \ldots \plus{} a_n\] satisfying \[ \sum^{16}_{k\equal{}1} r^{16}_k \equal{} n.\]

2006 MOP Homework, 6

Tags: polynomial , root , algebra

Let $n$ be an integer greater than $3$. Prove that all the roots of the polynomial $P(x) = x^n - 5x^{n-1} + 12x^{n-2}- 15x^{n-3} + a_{n-4}x^{n-4} +...+ a_0$ cannot be both real and positive.

2006 Polish MO Finals, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root , quadratic , coefficient

Find all pairs of integers $a,b$ for which there exists a polynomial $P(x) \in \mathbb{Z}[X]$ such that product $(x^2+ax+b)\cdot P(x)$ is a polynomial of a form \[ x^n+c_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+c_1x+c_0 \] where each of $c_0,c_1,\ldots,c_{n-1}$ is equal to $1$ or $-1$.

1981 Putnam, A5

Tags: polynomial , root

Let $P(x)$ be a polynomial with real coefficients and form the polynomial $$Q(x) = ( x^2 +1) P(x)P'(x) + x(P(x)^2 + P'(x)^2 ).$$ Given that the equation $P(x) = 0$ has $n$ distinct real roots exceeding $1$, prove or disprove that the equation $Q(x)=0$ has at least $2n - 1$ distinct real roots.

1952 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 221

Tags: algebra , root , trinomial

Prove that if for any positive $p$ all roots of the equation $ax^2 + bx + c + p = 0$ are real and positive then $a = 0$.

1961 Putnam, B6

Tags: differential equation , root , function

Consider the function $y(x)$ satisfying the differential equation $y'' = -(1+\sqrt{x})y$ with $y(0)=1$ and $y'(0)=0.$ Prove that $y(x)$ vanishes exactly once on the interval $0< x< \pi \slash 2,$ and find a positive lower bound for the zero.

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 $q$?

2011 Israel National Olympiad, 2

Tags: algebra , root , polynomial , sum of roots

Evaluate the sum $\sqrt{1-\frac{1}{2}\cdot\sqrt{1\cdot3}}+\sqrt{2-\frac{1}{2}\cdot\sqrt{3\cdot5}}+\sqrt{3-\frac{1}{2}\cdot\sqrt{5\cdot7}}+\dots+\sqrt{40-\frac{1}{2}\cdot\sqrt{79\cdot81}}$.

2018 India PRMO, 9

Tags: trinomial , maximum , integer , root

Suppose $a, b$ are integers and $a+b$ is a root of $x^2 +ax+b = 0$. What is the maximum possible value of $b^2$?

1940 Putnam, B5

Tags: polynomial , rational , algebra , root

Suppose that the rational numbers $a, b$ and $c$ are the roots of the equation $x^3+ax^2 + bx + c = 0$. Find all such rational numbers $a, b$ and $c$. Justify your answer

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 $\mid {x_1}^3-{x_2}^3 \mid =1$

2020 Brazil Undergrad MO, Problem 6

Tags: function , quadratic , root , fixed point

Let $f(x) = 2x^2 + x - 1, f^{0}(x) = x$, and $f^{n+1}(x) = f(f^{n}(x))$ for all real $x>0$ and $n \ge 0$ integer (that is, $f^{n}$ is $f$ iterated $n$ times). a) Find the number of distinct real roots of the equation $f^{3}(x) = x$ b) Find, for each $n \ge 0$ integer, the number of distinct real solutions of the equation $f^{n}(x) = 0$

2005 Greece Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

The side lengths of a triangle are the roots of a cubic polynomial with rational coefficients. Prove that the altitudes of this triangle are roots of a polynomial of sixth degree with rational coefficients.

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.

1970 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

Let $P,Q,R$ be polynomials and let $S(x) = P(x^3) + xQ(x^3) + x^2R(x^3)$ be a polynomial of degree $n$ whose roots $x_1,\ldots, x_n$ are distinct. Construct with the aid of the polynomials $P,Q,R$ a polynomial $T$ of degree $n$ that has the roots $x_1^3 , x_2^3 , \ldots, x_n^3.$

1956 Putnam, B7

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

The polynomials $P(z)$ and $Q(z)$ with complex coefficients have the same set of numbers for their zeros but possibly different multiplicities. The same is true for the polynomials $$P(z)+1 \;\; \text{and} \;\; Q(z)+1.$$ Prove that $P(z)=Q(z).$