Olympiad problems

2019 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad Qualification, 3

Let $f(x) = x^3 + 3x^2 - 1$ have roots $a,b,c$. (a) Find the value of $a^3 + b^3 + c^3$ (b) Find all possible values of $a^2b + b^2c + c^2a$

1941 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 080

Tags: trigonometry , analysis , algebra , roots

How many roots does equation $\sin x = \frac{x}{100}$ have?

1971 IMO Longlists, 31

Tags: algebra , equation , roots , polynomial , IMO Shortlist

Determine whether there exist distinct real numbers $a, b, c, t$ for which: [i](i)[/i] the equation $ax^2 + btx + c = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_1, x_2,$ [i](ii)[/i] the equation $bx^2 + ctx + a = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_2, x_3,$ [i](iii)[/i] the equation $cx^2 + atx + b = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_3, x_1.$

2024 Rioplatense Mathematical Olympiad, 3

Tags: algebra , rioplatense , roots

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.

1973 IMO, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots , minimum value , IMO , IMO 1973 , coefficients

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.

2021 Hong Kong TST, 2

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots

Let $f(x)$ be a polynomial with rational coefficients, and let $\alpha$ be a real number. If \[\alpha^3-2019\alpha=(f(\alpha))^3-2019f(\alpha)=2021,\] prove that $(f^n(\alpha))^3-2019f^n(\alpha)=2021$ for any positive integer $n$. (Here, we define $f^n(x)=\underbrace{f(f(f\cdots f}_{n\text{ times}}(x)\cdots ))$.)

1999 Bosnia and Herzegovina Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: algebra , equations , roots , Real Roots

Let $a$, $b$ and $c$ be lengths of sides of triangle $ABC$. Prove that at least one of the equations $$x^2-2bx+2ac=0$$ $$x^2-2cx+2ab=0$$ $$x^2-2ax+2bc=0$$ does not have real solutions

1976 Euclid, 8

Tags: roots , 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 $\textbf{(A) } 1 \qquad \textbf{(B) } -1 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 7 \qquad \textbf{(D) } -7 \qquad \textbf{(E) } \text{none of these}$

2001 Saint Petersburg Mathematical Olympiad, 9.2

Tags: quadratics , algebra , quadratic trinomial , roots , St. Petersburg MO

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]

2013 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 12

Tags: algebra , quadratics , inequalities , roots

If $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$ satisfies the condition $|f(x)| < 1; \forall x \in [-1, 1]$, prove that the equation $f(x) = 2x^2 - 1$ has two real roots.

2006 MOP Homework, 6

Tags: polynomial , roots , 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.

2012 Dutch BxMO/EGMO TST, 1

Tags: trinomial , quadratics , polynomial , roots , algebra

Do there exist quadratic polynomials $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ with real coeffcients such that the polynomial $P(Q(x))$ has precisely the zeros $x = 2, x = 3, x =5$ and $x = 7$?

1988 IMO Longlists, 42

Tags: algebra , polynomial , Vieta , Inequality , roots , IMO , IMO 1988

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.

1963 Czech and Slovak Olympiad III A, 4

Tags: quadratic polynomial , Real Roots , roots , quadratics , algebra

Consider two quadratic equations \begin{align*}x^2+ax+b&=0, \\ x^2+cx+d&=0,\end{align*} with real coefficients. Find necessary and sufficient conditions such that the first equation has (real) roots $x,x_1,$ the second $x,x_2$ and $x>0,x_1>x_2$.

2014 India PRMO, 9

Tags: algebra , trinomial , roots

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 $q$?

2014 India PRMO, 6

Tags: trinomial , Integer , roots , minimum

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

2000 Estonia National Olympiad, 3

Tags: polynomial , roots , Integer , algebra

Find all values of $a$ for which the equation $x^3 - x + a = 0$ has three different integer solutions.

2014 India PRMO, 17

Tags: algebra , Integer , roots , minimum

For a natural number $b$, let $N(b)$ denote the number of natural numbers $a$ for which the equation $x^2 + ax + b = 0$ has integer roots. What is the smallest value of $b$ for which $N(b) = 20$?

1995 Singapore MO Open, 1

Tags: polynomial , rational , algebra , roots

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

1989 IMO Shortlist, 5

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots , equation , IMO Shortlist , 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 \[ \sum^{16}_{k\equal{}1} r^{16}_k \equal{} n.\]

1982 IMO Longlists, 16

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots , Cubic , IMO Shortlist , IMO Longlist

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 $p(1)+p(-1)-2(1+p(0)).$

2025 Greece National Olympiad, 1

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots , Integers

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.

2017 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 10

Tags: trinomial , Integer , roots , algebra

Find all non-negative integers $a, b, c$ such that the roots of equations: $\begin{cases}x^2 - 2ax + b = 0 \\ x^2- 2bx + c = 0 \\ x^2 - 2cx + a = 0 \end{cases}$ are non-negative integers.

1971 IMO Shortlist, 8

Tags: algebra , equation , roots , polynomial , IMO Shortlist

Determine whether there exist distinct real numbers $a, b, c, t$ for which: [i](i)[/i] the equation $ax^2 + btx + c = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_1, x_2,$ [i](ii)[/i] the equation $bx^2 + ctx + a = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_2, x_3,$ [i](iii)[/i] the equation $cx^2 + atx + b = 0$ has two distinct real roots $x_3, x_1.$

1952 Moscow Mathematical Olympiad, 221

Tags: algebra , roots , trinomial

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