Olympiad problems

2016 CentroAmerican, 3

The polynomial $Q(x)=x^3-21x+35$ has three different real roots. Find real numbers $a$ and $b$ such that the polynomial $x^2+ax+b$ cyclically permutes the roots of $Q$, that is, if $r$, $s$ and $t$ are the roots of $Q$ (in some order) then $P(r)=s$, $P(s)=t$ and $P(t)=r$.

2017 Vietnamese Southern Summer School contest, Problem 2

Tags: root , equation , polynomial , 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 $x$.

2024 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , rioplatense , root

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.

2015 Israel National Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , root , cube roots

Prove that the number $\left(\frac{76}{\frac{1}{\sqrt[3]{77}-\sqrt[3]{75}}-\sqrt[3]{5775}}+\frac{1}{\frac{76}{\sqrt[3]{77}+\sqrt[3]{75}}+\sqrt[3]{5775}}\right)^3$ is an integer.

1953 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 253

Tags: inequalities , algebra , root , trinomial

Given the equations (1) $ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ (2)$ -ax^2 + bx + c = 0$ prove that if $x_1$ and $x_2$ are some roots of equations (1) and (2), respectively, then there is a root $x_3$ of the equation $$\frac{a}{2}x^2 + bx + c = 0$$ such that either $x_1 \le x_3 \le x_2$ or $x_1 \ge x_3 \ge x_2$.

2013 Saudi Arabia BMO TST, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

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.

2014 India PRMO, 6

Tags: minimum , trinomial , integer , root

What is the smallest possible natural number $n$ for which the equation $x^2 -nx + 2014 = 0$ has integer roots?

2018 India PRMO, 9

Tags: root , integer , trinomial , maximum

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

1988 IMO, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , vieta , inequality , root

Show that the solution set of the inequality \[ \sum^{70}_{k \equal{} 1} \frac {k}{x \minus{} k} \geq \frac {5}{4} \] is a union of disjoint intervals, the sum of whose length is 1988.

1969 IMO Longlists, 14

Tags: polynomial , algebra , quadratic , inequality , root

$(CZS 3)$ Let $a$ and $b$ be two positive real numbers. If $x$ is a real solution of the equation $x^2 + px + q = 0$ with real coefficients $p$ and $q$ such that $|p| \le a, |q| \le b,$ prove that $|x| \le \frac{1}{2}(a +\sqrt{a^2 + 4b})$ Conversely, if $x$ satisfies the above inequality, prove that there exist real numbers $p$ and $q$ with $|p|\le a, |q|\le b$ such that $x$ is one of the roots of the equation $x^2+px+ q = 0.$

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.

1968 IMO Shortlist, 6

Tags: algebra , polynomial , real root , 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.

1968 Vietnam National Olympiad, 1

Tags: inequalities , root , analysis , function , algebra

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 $1$.

2013 India Regional Mathematical Olympiad, 6

Tags: factorial , polynomial , root , greatest common divisor , number theory

Let $P(x)=x^3+ax^2+b$ and $Q(x)=x^3+bx+a$, where $a$ and $b$ are nonzero real numbers. Suppose that the roots of the equation $P(x)=0$ are the reciprocals of the roots of the equation $Q(x)=0$. Prove that $a$ and $b$ are integers. Find the greatest common divisor of $P(2013!+1)$ and $Q(2013!+1)$.

2017 India PRMO, 19

Tags: algebra , polynomial , root

Suppose $1, 2, 3$ are the roots of the equation $x^4 + ax^2 + bx = c$. Find the value of $c$.

1970 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , root , polynomial

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 $x_1^3 , x_2^3 , \ldots, x_n^3.$

2016 Junior Regional Olympiad - FBH, 2

Tags: root , algebra

If $$w=\sqrt{1+\sqrt{-3+2\sqrt{3}}}-\sqrt{1-\sqrt{-3+2\sqrt{3}}}$$ prove that $w=\sqrt{3}-1$