Olympiad problems

1990 All Soviet Union Mathematical Olympiad, 516

Tags: rational , algebra , quadratic , root , trinomial

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

2005 IMO Shortlist, 1

Tags: coefficient , root , quadratic , algebra , polynomial

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 $-1$.

2010 Belarus Team Selection Test, 8.1

Tags: root , sum of digits , number theory

The function $f : N \to N$ is defined by $f(n) = n + S(n)$, where $S(n)$ is the sum of digits in the decimal representation of positive integer $n$. a) Prove that there are infinitely many numbers $a \in N$ for which the equation $f(x) = a$ has no natural roots. b) Prove that there are infinitely many numbers $a \in N$ for which the equation $f(x) = a$ has at least two distinct natural roots. (I. Voronovich)

1955 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 314

Tags: root , algebra , polynomial

Prove that the equation $x^n - a_1x^{n-1} - a_2x^{n-2} - ... -a_{n-1}x - a_n = 0$, where $a_1 \ge 0, a_2 \ge 0, . . . , a_n \ge 0$, cannot have two positive roots.

2017 Bosnia And Herzegovina - Regional Olympiad, 1

Tags: equation , root , algebra

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

1973 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , root , minimum value , coefficient , polynomial

Determine the minimum value of $a^{2} + b^{2}$ when $(a,b)$ traverses all the pairs of real numbers for which the equation \[ x^{4} + ax^{3} + bx^{2} + ax + 1 = 0 \] has at least one real root.

1966 IMO Shortlist, 35

Tags: irrational number , polynomial , algebra , 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.

2011 Israel National Olympiad, 2

Tags: algebra , root , sum of roots , polynomial

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

2013 India PRMO, 16

Tags: root , sum , algebra

Let $f(x) = x^3 - 3x + b$ and $g(x) = x^2 + bx -3$, where $b$ is a real number. What is the sum of all possible values of $b$ for which the equations $f(x)$ = 0 and $g(x) = 0$ have a common root?

2025 Greece National Olympiad, 1

Tags: root , integer , polynomial , algebra

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.

2006 Polish MO Finals, 3

Tags: polynomial , root , quadratic , coefficient , algebra

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 $-1$.

2013 South East Mathematical Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , cubic function , root , inequalities

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 $\frac{2a^3-3ab+3a}{b+1}$.

2000 Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: root , equation , algebra

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

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 $\lambda.$

1956 Putnam, B7

Tags: algebra , root , polynomial

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 $P(z)=Q(z).$

2006 MOP Homework, 6

Tags: algebra , root , polynomial

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.

1968 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: equation , algebra , root

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

1973 Putnam, A4

Tags: function , real analysis , root

How many zeroes does the function $f(x)=2^x -1 -x^2 $ have on the real line?

1953 Putnam, A7

Tags: root , trigonometry , polynomial

Assuming that the roots of $x^3 +px^2 +qx +r=0$ are all real and positive, find the relation between $p,q,r$ which is a necessary and sufficient condition that the roots are the cosines of the angles of a triangle.

2005 Greece Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , root , polynomial

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.

1999 Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 6

Tags: polynomial , root , imaginary , algebra

It is given polynomial $$P(x)=x^4+3x^3+3x+p, (p \in \mathbb{R})$$ $a)$ Find $p$ such that there exists polynomial with imaginary root $x_1$ such that $\mid x_1 \mid =1$ and $2Re(x_1)=\frac{1}{2}\left(\sqrt{17}-3\right)$ $b)$ Find all other roots of polynomial $P$ $c)$ Prove that does not exist positive integer $n$ such that $x_1^n=1$

1961 Putnam, B6

Tags: function , differential equation , root

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.

2013 German National Olympiad, 6

Tags: sequence , root , real number , number theory

Define a sequence $(a_n)$ by $a_1 =1, a_2 =2,$ and $a_{k+2}=2a_{k+1}+a_k$ for all positive integers $k$. Determine all real numbers $\beta >0$ which satisfy the following conditions: (A) There are infinitely pairs of positive integers $(p,q)$ such that $\left| \frac{p}{q}- \sqrt{2} \, \right| < \frac{\beta}{q^2 }.$ (B) There are only finitely many pairs of positive integers $(p,q)$ with $\left| \frac{p}{q}- \sqrt{2} \,\right| < \frac{\beta}{q^2 }$ for which there is no index $k$ with $q=a_k.$

2019 Romania National Olympiad, 4

Tags: polynomial , complex number , 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 $i=j=k.$

2017 India PRMO, 4

Tags: trinomial , root , integer , algebra

Let $a, b$ be integers such that all the roots of the equation $(x^2+ax+20)(x^2+17x+b) = 0$ are negative integers. What is the smallest possible value of $a + b$ ?