(a) Let $z$ be a solution of the quadratic equation $$az^2 +bz+c=0$$ and let $n$ be a positive integer. Show that $z$ can be expressed as a rational function of $z^n , a,b,c.$ (b) Using (a) or by any other means, express $x$ as a rational function of $x^{3}$ and $x+\frac{1}{x}.$

In ZS Chess, an Ivanight attacks like a knight, except that if the attacked square is out of range, it goes through the edge and comes out from the other side of the board, and attacks that square instead. The ZS chessboard is an $8 \times 8$ board, where cells are coloured with $n$ distinct colours, where $n$ is a natural number, such that a Ivanight placed on any square attacks $ 8 $ squares that consist of all $n$ colours, and the colours appear equally many times in those $ 8 $ squares. For which values of $n$ does such a ZS chess board exist?

Let $ABC$, $AC \not= BC$, be an acute triangle with orthocenter $H$ and incenter $I$. The lines $CH$ and $CI$ meet the circumcircle of $\bigtriangleup ABC$ at points $D$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $\angle CIH = 90^{\circ}$ if and only if $\angle IDL = 90^{\circ}$

Circles $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ with radii $961$ and $625$, respectively, intersect at distinct points $A$ and $B$. A third circle $\omega$ is externally tangent to both $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$. Suppose line $AB$ intersects $\omega$ at two points $P$ and $Q$ such that the measure of minor arc $\widehat{PQ}$ is $120^{\circ}$. Find the distance between the centers of $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$.

Let $AB$ be the diameter of circle $\Gamma$ centred at $O$. Point $C$ lies on ray $\overrightarrow{AB}$. The line through $C$ cuts circle $\Gamma$ at $D$ and $E$, with point $D$ being closer to $C$ than $E$ is. $OF$ is the diameter of the circumcircle of triangle $BOD$. Next, construct $CF$, cutting the circumcircle of triangle $BOD$ at $G$. Prove that $O,A,E,G$ are concyclic. (Possibly proposed by Pak Wono)

Let $ A \equal{} (a_{ij})$, where $ i,j \equal{} 1,2,\ldots,n$, be a square matrix with all $ a_{ij}$ non-negative integers. For each $ i,j$ such that $ a_{ij} \equal{} 0$, the sum of the elements in the $ i$th row and the $ j$th column is at least $ n$. Prove that the sum of all the elements in the matrix is at least $ \frac {n^2}{2}$.

If you roll six fair dice, let $\mathsf{ p}$ be the probability that exactly five different numbers appear on the upper faces of the six dice. If $\mathsf{p} = \frac{m}{n}$ where $ m $ and $n$ are relatively prime positive integers, find $m+n.$

For a positive integer $n,$ let $P_n$ be the set of sequences of $2n$ elements, each $0$ or $1,$ where there are exactly $n$ $1$’s and $n$ $0$’s. I choose a sequence uniformly at random from $P_n.$ Then, I partition this sequence into maximal blocks of consecutive $0$’s and $1$’s. Define $f(n)$ to be the expected value of the sum of squares of the block lengths of this uniformly random sequence. What is the largest integer value that $f(n)$ can take on?

The polynomial $ P(x) \equal{} x^3 \plus{} ax^2 \plus{} bx \plus{} c$ has the property that the mean of its zeros, the product of its zeros, and the sum of its coefficients are all equal. If the $ y$-intercept of the graph of $ y \equal{} P(x)$ is 2, what is $ b$? $ \textbf{(A)} \ \minus{} 11 \qquad \textbf{(B)} \ \minus{} 10 \qquad \textbf{(C)} \ \minus{} 9 \qquad \textbf{(D)} \ 1 \qquad \textbf{(E)} \ 5$

You are standing at the edge of a river which is $1$ km wide. You have to go to your camp on the opposite bank . The distance to the camp from the point on the opposite bank directly across you is $1$ km . You can swim at $2$ km/hr and walk at $3$ km-hr . What is the shortest time you will take to reach your camp?(Ignore the speed of the river and assume that the river banks are straight and parallel).

In a mathematics competition, the sum of the scores of Bill and Dick equalled the sum of the scores of Ann and Carol. If the scores of Bill and Carol had been interchanged, then the sum of the scores of Ann and Carol would have exceeded the sum of the scores of the other two. Also, Dick's score exceeded the sum of the scores of Bill and Carol. Determine the order in which the four contestants finished, from highest to lowest. Assume all scores were nonnegative. $ \textbf{(A)}\ \text{Dick, Ann, Carol, Bill} \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ \text{Dick, Ann, Bill, Carol} \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ \text{Dick, Carol, Bill, Ann} \\ \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ \text{Ann, Dick, Carol, Bill} \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ \text{Ann, Dick, Bill, Carol} $

If $(7+4\sqrt{3})x^2+(2+\sqrt{3})x-2=0$, the larger root minus the smaller root is: $ \textbf{(A)}\ -2+3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 2-\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 6+3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 6-3\sqrt{3}\qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 3\sqrt{3}+2 $

There is a set of triangles, in each of which the smallest angle does not exceed $36^o$ . A new one is formed from these triangles according to the following rule: the smallest side of the new one is equal to the sum of the smallest sides of these triangles, its middle side is equal to the sum of the middle sides, and the largest is the sum of the largest ones. Prove that the sine of the smallest angle of the resulting triangle is less than $2 \sin 18^o$ .

Each positive integer should be colored red or green in such a way that the following two conditions are met: - Let $n$ be any red number. The sum of any $n$ (not necessarily different) red numbers is red. - Let $m$ be any green number. The sum of any $m$ (not necessarily different) green numbers is green. Determine all such colorings.

A permutation $(a_1, a_2, a_3, \dots, a_{100})$ of $(1, 2, 3, \dots, 100)$ is chosen at random. Denote by $p$ the probability that $a_{2i} > a_{2i - 1}$ for all $i \in \{1, 2, 3, \dots, 50\}$. Compute the number of ordered pairs of positive integers $(a, b)$ satisfying $\textstyle\frac{1}{a^b} = p$. [i]Proposed by Aaron Lin[/i]

If $a>1$ and $b>2$ are positive integers, show that $a^{b}+1 \geq b(a+1)$, and determine when equality holds.

Consider polynomials $P(x)$ of degree at most $3$, each of whose coefficients is an element of $\{0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9\}$. How many such polynomials satisfy $P(-1) = -9$? $\textbf{(A) } 110 \qquad \textbf{(B) } 143 \qquad \textbf{(C) } 165 \qquad \textbf{(D) } 220 \qquad \textbf{(E) } 286 $

Let $I$ be the incenter of the acute triangle $\triangle ABC$, and $BI$, $CI$ intersect the altitude of $\triangle ABC$ through $A$ at $U$, $V$, respectively. The circle with $AI$ as a diameter intersects $\odot(ABC)$ again at $T$, and $\odot(TUV)$ intersects the segment $BC$ and $\odot(ABC)$ at $P$, $Q$, respectively. Let $R$ be another intersection of $PQ$ and $\odot(ABC)$. Show that $AR\parallel BC$.

Let $x\neq y$. Two sequences $x,a_1,a_2,a_3,y$ and $b_1,x,b_2,b_3,y,b_4$ are arithmetic sequence. Then $\frac{b_4-b_3}{a_2-a_1}=$________.

The Quadrumland map is a 6 × 6 square where each square cell is either a kingdom or a disputed territory. There are 27 kingdoms and 9 disputed territories. Each disputed territory is claimed by those and only those kingdoms that are neighbouring with it (adjacent by an edge or a vertex). Is it possible that for each disputed territory the numbers of claims are different? You can discuss your solutions here

As shown in the figure, $\odot O$ is the circumcircle of $\vartriangle ABC$, $\odot J$ is inscribed in $\odot O$ and is tangent to $AB$, $AC$ at points $D$ and E respectively, line segment $FG$ and $\odot O$ are tangent to point $A$, and $AF =AG=AD$, the circumscribed circle of $\vartriangle AFB$ intersects $\odot J$ at point $S$. Prove that the circumscribed circle of $\vartriangle ASG$ is tangent to $\odot J$. [img]https://cdn.artofproblemsolving.com/attachments/a/a/62d44e071ea9903ebdd68b43943ba1d93b4138.png[/img]

Determine if there is a positive integer $n$ such that for any $n$ consecutive positive integers, there is [b]one[/b] of them(denote $c$) such that $c$ can be written as sum of consecutive integers(not necessarily all positive) of at most $2020$ distinct ways.

a) Is it possible that the sum of all the positive divisors of two different natural numbers are equal? b) Show that if the product of all the positive divisors of two natural numbers are equal, then the two numbers must be equal.

Determine the least possible value of $f(1998),$ where $f:\Bbb{N}\to \Bbb{N}$ is a function such that for all $m,n\in {\Bbb N}$, \[f\left( n^{2}f(m)\right) =m\left( f(n)\right) ^{2}. \]

The function $f$, defined on the set of ordered pairs of positive integers, satisfies the following properties: \begin{eqnarray*} f(x,x) &=& x, \\ f(x,y) &=& f(y,x), \quad \text{and} \\ (x + y) f(x,y) &=& yf(x,x + y). \end{eqnarray*} Calculate $f(14,52)$.