Olympiad problems

1979 IMO Longlists, 30

Tags: invariant , geometry , symmetry , reflection , rotation , geometric transformation

Let $M$ be a set of points in a plane with at least two elements. Prove that if $M$ has two axes of symmetry $g_1$ and $g_2$ intersecting at an angle $\alpha = q\pi$, where $q$ is irrational, then $M$ must be infinite.

2011 All-Russian Olympiad, 2

Tags: reflection , symmetry , geometry , circumcircle , geometric transformation , parallelogram

On side $BC$ of parallelogram $ABCD$ ($A$ is acute) lies point $T$ so that triangle $ATD$ is an acute triangle. Let $O_1$, $O_2$, and $O_3$ be the circumcenters of triangles $ABT$, $DAT$, and $CDT$ respectively. Prove that the orthocenter of triangle $O_1O_2O_3$ lies on line $AD$.

2014 Contests, 2

Tags: symmetry , algebra , function , functional equation

Find all $f$ functions from real numbers to itself such that for all real numbers $x,y$ the equation \[f(f(y)+x^2+1)+2x=y+(f(x+1))^2\] holds.

2019 Thailand TST, 1

Tags: angle chasing , miquel point , symmetry , geometry

Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $AB=AC$, and let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Let $P$ be a point such that $PB<PC$ and $PA$ is parallel to $BC$. Let $X$ and $Y$ be points on the lines $PB$ and $PC$, respectively, so that $B$ lies on the segment $PX$, $C$ lies on the segment $PY$, and $\angle PXM=\angle PYM$. Prove that the quadrilateral $APXY$ is cyclic.

1998 Turkey Team Selection Test, 1

Tags: symmetry , reflection , rectangle , pythagorean theorem , geometry , rotation , geometric transformation

Squares $BAXX^{'}$ and $CAYY^{'}$ are drawn in the exterior of a triangle $ABC$ with $AB = AC$. Let $D$ be the midpoint of $BC$, and $E$ and $F$ be the feet of the perpendiculars from an arbitrary point $K$ on the segment $BC$ to $BY$ and $CX$, respectively. $(a)$ Prove that $DE = DF$ . $(b)$ Find the locus of the midpoint of $EF$ .

2005 Taiwan TST Round 1, 2

Tags: symmetry , geometry , incenter , trigonometry , cyclic quadrilateral

$P$ is a point in the interior of $\triangle ABC$, and $\angle ABP = \angle PCB = 10^\circ$. (a) If $\angle PBC = 10^\circ$ and $\angle ACP = 20^\circ$, what is the value of $\angle BAP$? (b) If $\angle PBC = 20^\circ$ and $\angle ACP = 10^\circ$, what is the value of $\angle BAP$?

1995 All-Russian Olympiad, 2

Tags: symmetry , function , algebra

Prove that every real function, defined on all of $\mathbb R$, can be represented as a sum of two functions whose graphs both have an axis of symmetry. [i]D. Tereshin[/i]

2012 Pre - Vietnam Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: symmetry , induction , combinatorics

Two people A and B play a game in the $m \times n$ grid ($m,n \in \mathbb{N^*}$). Each person respectively (A plays first) draw a segment between two point of the grid such that this segment doesn't contain any point (except the 2 ends) and also the segment (except the 2 ends) doesn't intersect with any other segments. The last person who can't draw is the loser. Which one (of A and B) have the winning tactics?

2014 Baltic Way, 18

Tags: abstract algebra , symmetry , modular arithmetic , number theory

Let $p$ be a prime number, and let $n$ be a positive integer. Find the number of quadruples $(a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4)$ with $a_i\in \{0, 1, \ldots, p^n - 1\}$ for $i = 1, 2, 3, 4$, such that \[p^n \mid (a_1a_2 + a_3a_4 + 1).\]

2001 Junior Balkan MO, 2

Tags: power of a point , perpendicular bisector , symmetry , angle bisector , circumcircle , geometry , trigonometry

Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $\angle C = 90^\circ$ and $CA \neq CB$. Let $CH$ be an altitude and $CL$ be an interior angle bisector. Show that for $X \neq C$ on the line $CL$, we have $\angle XAC \neq \angle XBC$. Also show that for $Y \neq C$ on the line $CH$ we have $\angle YAC \neq \angle YBC$. [i]Bulgaria[/i]

2013 ELMO Shortlist, 10

Tags: symmetry , projective geometry , geometry , circumcircle , ratio , trigonometry

Let $AB=AC$ in $\triangle ABC$, and let $D$ be a point on segment $AB$. The tangent at $D$ to the circumcircle $\omega$ of $BCD$ hits $AC$ at $E$. The other tangent from $E$ to $\omega$ touches it at $F$, and $G=BF \cap CD$, $H=AG \cap BC$. Prove that $BH=2HC$. [i]Proposed by David Stoner[/i]

2013 Sharygin Geometry Olympiad, 23

Tags: symmetry , geometry

Two convex polytopes $A$ and $B$ do not intersect. The polytope $A$ has exactly $2012$ planes of symmetry. What is the maximal number of symmetry planes of the union of $A$ and $B$, if $B$ has a) $2012$, b) $2013$ symmetry planes? c) What is the answer to the question of p.b), if the symmetry planes are replaced by the symmetry axes?

2008 Tournament Of Towns, 3

Tags: symmetry , combinatorics

There are $N$ piles each consisting of a single nut. Two players in turns play the following game. At each move, a player combines two piles that contain coprime numbers of nuts into a new pile. A player who can not make a move, loses. For every $N > 2$ determine which of the players, the first or the second, has a winning strategy.

2014 AMC 10, 4

Tags: symmetry

Walking down Jane Street, Ralph passed four houses in a row, each painted a different color. He passed the orange house before the red house, and he passed the blue house before the yellow house. The blue house was not next to the yellow house. How many orderings of the colored houses are possible? ${ \textbf{(A)}\ 2\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 3\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 4\qquad\textbf{(D)}}\ 5\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 6$

2014 India Regional Mathematical Olympiad, 4

Tags: least common multiple , vieta , symmetry , number theory , system of equations , inequalities , algebra

Find all positive reals $x,y,z $ such that \[2x-2y+\dfrac1z = \dfrac1{2014},\hspace{0.5em} 2y-2z +\dfrac1x = \dfrac1{2014},\hspace{0.5em}\text{and}\hspace{0.5em} 2z-2x+ \dfrac1y = \dfrac1{2014}.\]

1994 China Team Selection Test, 3

Tags: symmetry , reflection , trapezoid , geometry , combinatorics , geometric transformation

Find the smallest $n \in \mathbb{N}$ such that if any 5 vertices of a regular $n$-gon are colored red, there exists a line of symmetry $l$ of the $n$-gon such that every red point is reflected across $l$ to a non-red point.

2005 Cono Sur Olympiad, 3

Tags: symmetry , combinatorics , analytic geometry

On the cartesian plane we draw circunferences of radii 1/20 centred in each lattice point. Show that any circunference of radii 100 in the cartesian plane intersect at least one of the small circunferences.

2009 Czech-Polish-Slovak Match, 1

Tags: algebra , symmetry , function

Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f : \mathbb{R}^+\to\mathbb{R}^+$ that satisfy \[ \Big(1+yf(x)\Big)\Big(1-yf(x+y)\Big)=1\] for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}^+$.

2009 Spain Mathematical Olympiad, 6

Tags: symmetry , conic , geometry , ellipse , reflection , trapezoid , geometric transformation

Inside a circle of center $ O$ and radius $ r$, take two points $ A$ and $ B$ symmetrical about $ O$. We consider a variable point $ P$ on the circle and draw the chord $ \overline{PP'}\perp \overline{AP}$. Let $ C$ is the symmetric of $ B$ about $ \overline{PP'}$ ($ \overline{PP}'$ is the axis of symmetry) . Find the locus of point $ Q \equal{} \overline{PP'}\cap\overline{AC}$ when we change $ P$ in the circle.

2012 India IMO Training Camp, 1

Tags: symmetry , reflection , geometry , incenter

Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $AB=AC$ and let $D$ be the midpoint of $AC$. The angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ intersects the circle through $D,B$ and $C$ at the point $E$ inside the triangle $ABC$. The line $BD$ intersects the circle through $A,E$ and $B$ in two points $B$ and $F$. The lines $AF$ and $BE$ meet at a point $I$, and the lines $CI$ and $BD$ meet at a point $K$. Show that $I$ is the incentre of triangle $KAB$. [i]Proposed by Jan Vonk, Belgium and Hojoo Lee, South Korea[/i]

2014 Contests, 1

Tags: algorithm , euler , symmetry , combinatorics , induction

Let $\leftarrow$ denote the left arrow key on a standard keyboard. If one opens a text editor and types the keys "ab$\leftarrow$ cd $\leftarrow \leftarrow$ e $\leftarrow \leftarrow$ f", the result is "faecdb". We say that a string $B$ is [i]reachable[/i] from a string $A$ if it is possible to insert some amount of $\leftarrow$'s in $A$, such that typing the resulting characters produces $B$. So, our example shows that "faecdb" is reachable from "abcdef". Prove that for any two strings $A$ and $B$, $A$ is reachable from $B$ if and only if $B$ is reachable from $A$.

2006 AIME Problems, 7

Tags: symmetry , easy aime , casework

Find the number of ordered pairs of positive integers $(a,b)$ such that $a+b=1000$ and neither $a$ nor $b$ has a zero digit.

1998 German National Olympiad, 6a

Tags: power , real , algebra , symmetry , system of equations

Find all real pairs $(x,y)$ that solve the system of equations \begin{align} x^5 &= 21x^3+y^3 \\ y^5 &= x^3+21y^3. \end{align}

2014 Online Math Open Problems, 21

Tags: symmetry , trigonometry , polynomial , asymptote , algebra , geometry

Consider a sequence $x_1,x_2,\cdots x_{12}$ of real numbers such that $x_1=1$ and for $n=1,2,\dots,10$ let \[ x_{n+2}=\frac{(x_{n+1}+1)(x_{n+1}-1)}{x_n}. \] Suppose $x_n>0$ for $n=1,2,\dots,11$ and $x_{12}=0$. Then the value of $x_2$ can be written as $\frac{\sqrt{a}+\sqrt{b}}{c}$ for positive integers $a,b,c$ with $a>b$ and no square dividing $a$ or $b$. Find $100a+10b+c$. [i]Proposed by Michael Kural[/i]

2010 Sharygin Geometry Olympiad, 7

Tags: right triangle , tangent circle , symmetry , geometry

Given triangle $ABC$. Lines $AL_a$ and $AM_a$ are the internal and the external bisectrix of angle $A$. Let $\omega_a$ be the reflection of the circumcircle of $\triangle AL_aM_a$ in the midpoint of $BC$. Circle $\omega_b$ is defined similarly. Prove that $\omega_a$ and $\omega_b$ touch if and only if $\triangle ABC$ is right-angled.