Olympiad problems

1991 IMO Shortlist, 11

Tags: binomial coefficient , combinatorics , series summation , summation , combinatorial identity

Prove that $ \sum_{k \equal{} 0}^{995} \frac {( \minus{} 1)^k}{1991 \minus{} k} {1991 \minus{} k \choose k} \equal{} \frac {1}{1991}$

1969 Putnam, A4

Tags: integration , summation

Show that $$ \int_{0}^{1} x^{x} \, dx = \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{(-1)^{n+1}}{n^n }.$$

2019 LIMIT Category C, Problem 3

Tags: series , summation , algebra

Which of the following series are convergent? $\textbf{(A)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty\sqrt{\frac{2n^2+3}{5n^3+1}}$ $\textbf{(B)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty\frac{(n+1)^n}{n^{n+3/2}}$ $\textbf{(C)}~\sum_{n=1}^\infty n^2x\left(1-x^2\right)^n$ $\textbf{(D)}~\text{None of the above}$

2007 Germany Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: integration , inequalities , algebra , sequence , summation , calculus

The sequence of real numbers $a_0,a_1,a_2,\ldots$ is defined recursively by \[a_0=-1,\qquad\sum_{k=0}^n\dfrac{a_{n-k}}{k+1}=0\quad\text{for}\quad n\geq 1.\]Show that $ a_{n} > 0$ for all $ n\geq 1$. [i]Proposed by Mariusz Skalba, Poland[/i]

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 33

Tags: inequalities , summation , sequence

Let $0 < \frac{1}{q} \leq \frac{1}{p} < 1$ and $\frac{1}{p}+\frac{1}{q}=1$. Let $u_k$, $v_k$, $a_k$ and $b_k$ be non-negative real sequences such as $u^2_k > a^p_k$ and $v_k > b^q_k$, where $k = 1, 2,\cdots , n$. If $0 < m_1\leq u_k \leq M_1$ and $0 < m_2 \leq v_k \leq M_2$ , then $$\left(\sum \limits_{k=1}^n\left(l^p\left(u_k+v_k\right)^2-\left(a_k+b_k\right)^p\right)\right)^{\frac{1}{p}}\geq \left(\sum \limits_{k=1}^n\left(u_k^2-a_k^p\right)\right)^{\frac{1}{p}}\left(\sum \limits_{k=1}^n\left(v_k^2-b_k^p\right)\right)^{\frac{1}{p}}$$where $$l=\frac{M_1M_2+m_1m_2}{2\sqrt{m_1M_1m_2M_2}}$$

2011 VTRMC, Problem 3

Tags: factorial , summation , real analysis

Find $\sum_{k=1}^\infty\frac{k^2-2}{(k+2)!}$.

2024 AMC 12/AHSME, 21

Tags: summation , recursion

Suppose that $a_1 = 2$ and the sequence $(a_n)$ satisfies the recurrence relation \[\frac{a_n -1}{n-1}=\frac{a_{n-1}+1}{(n-1)+1}\] for all $n \ge 2.$ What is the greatest integer less than or equal to \[\sum^{100}_{n=1} a_n^2?\] $\textbf{(A) } 338{,}550 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 338{,}551 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 338{,}552 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 338{,}553 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 338{,}554$

1984 Putnam, A2

Tags: summation , real analysis , algebra

Express $\sum_{k=1}^\infty\frac{6^k}{(3^{k+1}-2^{k+1})(3^k-2^k)}$ as a rational number.

1957 Putnam, B4

Tags: combinatorics , representation , summation

Let $a(n)$ be the number of representations of the positive integer $n$ as an ordered sum of $1$'s and $2$'s. Let $b(n)$ be the number of representations of the positive integer $n$ as an ordered sum of integers greater than $1.$ Show that $a(n)=b(n+2)$ for each $n$.

1967 IMO Shortlist, 3

Tags: algebra , polynomial , summation , equation , diophantine equation

Suppose that $p$ and $q$ are two different positive integers and $x$ is a real number. Form the product $(x+p)(x+q).$ Find the sum $S(x,n) = \sum (x+p)(x+q),$ where $p$ and $q$ take values from 1 to $n.$ Does there exist integer values of $x$ for which $S(x,n) = 0.$

2020 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W28

Tags: summation , binomial coefficient , algebra

For positive integers $j\le n$, prove that $$\sum_{k=j}^n\binom{2n}{2k}\binom kj=\frac{n\cdot4^{n-j}}j\binom{2n-j-1}{j-1}.$$ [i]Proposed by Ángel Plaza[/i]

1986 Miklós Schweitzer, 7

Tags: function , summation

Prove that the series $\sum_p c_p f(px)$, where the summation is over all primes, unconditionally converges in $L^2[0,1]$ for every $1$-periodic function $f$ whose restriction to $[0,1]$ is in $L^2[0,1]$ if and only if $\sum_p |c_p|<\infty$. ([i]Unconditional convergence[/i] means convergence for all rearrangements.) [G. Halasz]

1968 Yugoslav Team Selection Test, Problem 5

Tags: summation , algebra , polynomial

Let $n$ be an integer greater than $1$. Let $x\in\mathbb R$. (a) Evaluate $S(x,n)=\sum(x+p)(x+q)$, where the summation is over all pairs $(p,q)$ of different numbers from $\{1,2,\ldots,n\}$. (b) Do there exist integers $x,n$ for which $S(x,n)=0$?

2022 Brazil Team Selection Test, 2

Tags: algebra , floor function , summation , number theory

Which positive integers $n$ make the equation \[\sum_{i=1}^n \sum_{j=1}^n \left\lfloor \frac{ij}{n+1} \right\rfloor=\frac{n^2(n-1)}{4}\] true?

2001 Federal Math Competition of S&M, Problem 2

Tags: inequalities , summation

Let $x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_{2001}$ be positive numbers such that $$x_i^2\ge x_1^2+\frac{x_2^2}{2^3}+\frac{x_3^2}{3^3}+\ldots+\frac{x_{i-1}^2}{(i-1)^3}\enspace\text{for }2\le i\le2001.$$Prove that $\sum_{i=2}^{2001}\frac{x_i}{x_1+x_2+\ldots+x_{i-1}}>1.999$.

1980 IMO, 4

Tags: induction , summation , counting , combinatorics

Prove that $\sum \frac{1}{i_1i_2 \ldots i_k} = n$ is taken over all non-empty subsets $\left\{i_1,i_2, \ldots, i_k\right\}$ of $\left\{1,2,\ldots,n\right\}$. (The $k$ is not fixed, so we are summing over all the $2^n-1$ possible nonempty subsets.)

1989 French Mathematical Olympiad, Problem 5

Tags: algebra , summation

Let $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$ be positive real numbers. Denote $$s=\sum_{k=1}^na_k\text{ and }s'=\sum_{k=1}^na_k^{1-\frac1k}.$$ (a) Let $\lambda>1$ be a real number. Show that $s'<\lambda s+\frac\lambda{\lambda-1}$. (b) Deduce that $\sqrt{s'}<\sqrt s+1$.

1999 Croatia National Olympiad, Problem 3

Tags: sum , summation , fibonacci , fibonacci sequence , algebra

Let $(a_n)$ be defined by $a_1=a_2=1$ and $a_n=a_{n-1}+a_{n-2}$ for $n>2$. Compute the sum $\frac{a_1}2+\frac{a_2}{2^2}+\frac{a_3}{2^3}+\ldots$.

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 7

Tags: limit , integration , summation , harmonic numbers , sequence

If $$\Omega_n=\sum \limits_{k=1}^n \left(\int \limits_{-\frac{1}{k}}^{\frac{1}{k}}(2x^{10} + 3x^8 + 1)\cos^{-1}(kx)dx\right)$$Then find $$\Omega=\lim \limits_{n\to \infty}\left(\Omega_n-\pi H_n\right)$$

1981 Putnam, B5

Tags: summation , binary

Let $B(n)$ be the number of ones in the base two expression for the positive integer $n.$ Determine whether $$\exp \left( \sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{ B(n)}{n(n+1)} \right)$$ is a rational number.

1983 IMO Longlists, 60

Tags: algebra , summation , series summation , approximation , inequality

Find the greatest integer less than or equal to $\sum_{k=1}^{2^{1983}} k^{\frac{1}{1983} -1}.$

2019 Jozsef Wildt International Math Competition, W. 25

Tags: gamma function , summation , inequalities , function

Let $x_i$, $y_i$, $z_i$, $w_i \in \mathbb{R}^+, i = 1, 2,\cdots n$, such that$$\sum \limits_{i=1}^nx_i=nx,\ \sum \limits_{i=1}^ny_i=ny,\ \sum \limits_{i=1}^nw_i=nw $$ $$\Gamma \left(z_i\right)\geq \Gamma \left(w_i\right),\ \sum \limits_{i=1}^n\Gamma \left(z_i\right)=n\Gamma^* (z)$$Then$$\sum \limits_{i=1}^n \frac{\left(\Gamma \left(x_i\right)+\Gamma \left(y_i\right)\right)^2}{\Gamma \left(z_i\right)-\Gamma \left(w_i\right)}\geq n\frac{\left(\Gamma \left(x\right)+\Gamma \left(y\right)\right)^2}{\Gamma^* \left(z\right)-\Gamma \left(w\right)}$$

2006 VTRMC, Problem 5

Tags: limit , convergence , summation , sequence

Let $\{a_n\}$ be a monotonically decreasing sequence of positive real numbers with limit $0$. Let $\{b_n\}$ be a rearrangement of the sequence such that for every non-negative integer $m$, the terms $b_{3m+1}$, $b_{3m+2}$, $b_{3m+3}$ are a rearrangement of the terms $a_{3m+1}$, $a_{3m+2}$, $a_{3m+3}$. Prove or give a counterexample to the following statement: the series $\sum_{n=1}^\infty(-1)^nb_n$ is convergent.

2018 Brazil Undergrad MO, 24

Tags: summation , superior algebra

What is the value of the series $\sum_{1 \leq l <m<n} \frac{1}{5^l3^m2^n}$

2014 VJIMC, Problem 3

Tags: binomial coefficient , summation , algebra

Let $k$ be a positive even integer. Show that $$\sum_{n=0}^{k/2}(-1)^n\binom{k+2}n\binom{2(k-n)+1}{k+1}=\frac{(k+1)(k+2)}2.$$