Olympiad problems

1985 IMO Longlists, 92

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

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.

1988 IMO, 1

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.

1956 Putnam, B7

Tags: Putnam , algebra , polynomial , roots

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

2010 Hanoi Open Mathematics Competitions, 7

Tags: number theory , primes , quadratics , roots

Determine all positive integer $a$ such that the equation $2x^2 - 30x + a = 0$ has two prime roots, i.e. both roots are prime numbers.

1969 IMO Shortlist, 14

Tags: quadratics , algebra , Inequality , roots , polynomial , IMO Longlist , IMO Shortlist

$(CZS 3)$ 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 $x^2+px+ q = 0.$

1970 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots , IMO Shortlist

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

1966 IMO Longlists, 35

Tags: algebra , polynomial , irrational number , roots , IMO Shortlist , IMO Longlist

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.

1941 Putnam, A4

Tags: Putnam , polynomial , roots

Let the roots $a,b,c$ of $$f(x)=x^3 +p x^2 + qx+r$$ be real, and let $a\leq b\leq c$. Prove that $f'(x)$ has a root in the interval $\left[\frac{b+c}{2}, \frac{b+2c}{3}\right]$. What will be the form of $f(x)$ if the root in question falls at either end of the interval?

2008 Tournament Of Towns, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , inequalities , Sum , roots

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 $\frac{x^2_1+ x^2_2+ ...+ x^2_n}{n}>\frac{y^2_1 + y^2_2 + ...+ y^2_{n-1}}{n - 1}$

2014 Israel National Olympiad, 7

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots

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

2016 CentroAmerican, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , roots

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 $P(t)=r$.