Let $n$ be a positive integer. $n$ people take part in a certain party. For any pair of the participants, either the two are acquainted with each other or they are not. What is the maximum possible number of the pairs for which the two are not acquainted but have a common acquaintance among the participants?

Let's say we have a [i]nice[/i] representation of the positive integer $ n$ if we write it as a sum of powers of 2 in such a way that there are at most two equal powers in the sum (representations differing only in the order of their summands are considered to be the same). a) Write down the 5 nice representations of 10. b) Find all positive integers with an even number of nice representations.

The game of circulate is played with a deck of $kn$ cards each with a number in $1,2,\ldots,n$ such that there are $k$ cards with each number. First, $n$ piles numbered $1,2,\ldots,n$ of $k$ cards each are dealt out face down. The player then flips over a card from pile $1$, places that card face up at the bottom of the pile, then next flips over a card from the pile whose number matches the number on the card just flipped. The player repeats this until he reaches a pile in which every card has already been flipped and wins if at that point every card has been flipped. Hamster has grown tired of losing every time, so he decides to cheat. He looks at the piles beforehand and rearranges the $k$ cards in each pile as he pleases. When can Hamster perform this procedure such that he will win the game? [i]Brian Hamrick.[/i]

Find all functions $f: \mathbb{Q}\to \mathbb{Q}$ such that for all $x,y,z \in \mathbb{Q}$: \[f(x+y+z)+f(x-y)+f(y-z)+f(z-x)=3f(x)+3f(y)+3f(z).\]

Let $p(x)=x^n+a_{n-1}x^{n-1}+\cdots+a_1x+a_0$ be a monic polynomial of degree $n>2$, with real coefficients and all its roots real and different from zero. Prove that for all $k=0,1,2,\cdots,n-2$, at least one of the coefficients $a_k,a_{k+1}$ is different from zero.

Given a positive integer number $n$, determine the minimum of \[\max \left\{\dfrac{x_1}{1 + x_1},\, \dfrac{x_2}{1 + x_1 + x_2},\, \cdots,\, \dfrac{x_n}{1 + x_1 + x_2 + \cdots + x_n}\right\},\] as $x_1, x_2, \ldots, x_n$ run through all non-negative real numbers which add up to $1$. [i]Kvant Magazine[/i]

There is a $2012\times 2012$ grid with rows numbered $1,2,\dots 2012$ and columns numbered $1,2,\dots, 2012$, and we place some rectangular napkins on it such that the sides of the napkins all lie on grid lines. Each napkin has a positive integer thickness. (in micrometers!) (a) Show that there exist $2012^2$ unique integers $a_{i,j}$ where $i,j \in [1,2012]$ such that for all $x,y\in [1,2012]$, the sum \[ \sum _{i=1}^{x} \sum_{j=1}^{y} a_{i,j} \] is equal to the sum of the thicknesses of all the napkins that cover the grid square in row $x$ and column $y$. (b) Show that if we use at most $500,000$ napkins, at least half of the $a_{i,j}$ will be $0$. [i]Proposed by Ray Li[/i]

Let $n$ be positive integer. Define a sequence $\{a_k\}$ by \[a_1=\frac{1}{n(n+1)},\ a_{k+1}=-\frac{1}{k+n+1}+\frac{n}{k}\sum_{i=1}^k a_i\ \ (k=1,\ 2,\ 3,\ \cdots).\] (1) Find $a_2$ and $a_3$. (2) Find the general term $a_k$. (3) Let $b_n=\sum_{k=1}^n \sqrt{a_k}$. Prove that $\lim_{n\to\infty} b_n=\ln 2$. 50 points

Show that every positive rational number can be written as a quotient of products of factorials of (not necessarily distinct) primes. For example, $ \frac{10}9\equal{}\frac{2!\cdot 5!}{3!\cdot 3!\cdot 3!}.$

Let $n$ be a fixed positive integer. Initially, $n$ 1's are written on a blackboard. Every minute, David picks two numbers $x$ and $y$ written on the blackboard, erases them, and writes the number $(x+y)^4$ on the blackboard. Show that after $n-1$ minutes, the number written on the blackboard is at least $2^{\frac{4n^2-4}{3}}$. [i]Proposed by Calvin Deng[/i]

There are 100 apples on the table with total weight of 10 kg. Each apple weighs no less than 25 grams. The apples need to be cut for 100 children so that each of the children gets 100 grams. Prove that you can do it in such a way that each piece weighs no less than 25 grams.

Two real sequence $ \{x_{n}\}$ and $ \{y_{n}\}$ satisfies following recurrence formula; $ x_{0}\equal{} 1$, $ y_{0}\equal{} 2007$ $ x_{n\plus{}1}\equal{} x_{n}\minus{}(x_{n}y_{n}\plus{}x_{n\plus{}1}y_{n\plus{}1}\minus{}2)(y_{n}\plus{}y_{n\plus{}1})$, $ y_{n\plus{}1}\equal{} y_{n}\minus{}(x_{n}y_{n}\plus{}x_{n\plus{}1}y_{n\plus{}1}\minus{}2)(x_{n}\plus{}x_{n\plus{}1})$ Then show that for all nonnegative integer $ n$, $ {x_{n}}^{2}\leq 2007$.

$k$ is a positive integer. The sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3, ...$ is defined by $a_1 = k+1$, $a_{n+1} = a_n ^2 - ka_n + k$. Show that $a_m$ and $a_n$ are coprime (for $m \not = n$).

The game of circulate is played with a deck of $kn$ cards each with a number in $1,2,\ldots,n$ such that there are $k$ cards with each number. First, $n$ piles numbered $1,2,\ldots,n$ of $k$ cards each are dealt out face down. The player then flips over a card from pile $1$, places that card face up at the bottom of the pile, then next flips over a card from the pile whose number matches the number on the card just flipped. The player repeats this until he reaches a pile in which every card has already been flipped and wins if at that point every card has been flipped. Hamster has grown tired of losing every time, so he decides to cheat. He looks at the piles beforehand and rearranges the $k$ cards in each pile as he pleases. When can Hamster perform this procedure such that he will win the game? [i]Brian Hamrick.[/i]

Assume real numbers $a_i,b_i\,(i=0,1,\cdots,2n)$ satisfy the following conditions: (1) for $i=0,1,\cdots,2n-1$, we have $a_i+a_{i+1}\geq 0$; (2) for $j=0,1,\cdots,n-1$, we have $a_{2j+1}\leq 0$; (2) for any integer $p,q$, $0\leq p\leq q\leq n$, we have $\sum_{k=2p}^{2q}b_k>0$. Prove that $\sum_{i=0}^{2n}(-1)^i a_i b_i\geq 0$, and determine when the equality holds.