Let $a,b, p_1 ,p_2, \ldots, p_n$ be real numbers with $a \ne b$. Define $f(x)= (p_1 -x) (p_2 -x) \cdots (p_n -x)$. Show that $$ \text{det} \begin{pmatrix} p_1 & a& a & \cdots & a \\ b & p_2 & a & \cdots & a\\ b & b & p_3 & \cdots & a\\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \ddots & \vdots\\ b & b& b &\cdots &p_n \end{pmatrix}= \frac{bf(a) -af(b)}{b-a}.$$

In a triangle $ABC$, points $X$ and $Y$ are on $BC$ and $CA$ respectively such that $CX=CY$,$AX$ is not perpendicular to $BC$ and $BY$ is not perpendicular to $CA$.Let $\Gamma$ be the circle with $C$ as centre and $CX$ as its radius.Find the angles of triangle $ABC$ given that the orthocentres of triangles $AXB$ and $AYB$ lie on $\Gamma$.

Let $f_n$ be a polynomial with real coefficients for all $n \in \mathbb{Z}$. Suppose that \[f_n(k) = f_{n+k}(k) \quad n, k \in \mathbb{Z}.\] (a) Does $f_n = f_m$ necessarily hold for all $m,n \in \mathbb{Z}$? (b) If furthermore $f_n$ is a polynomial with integer coefficients for all $n \in\mathbb{Z}$, does $f_n = f_m$ necessarily hold for all $m, n \in\mathbb{Z}$? [i]Proposed by usjl[/i]

In the quadrilateral $ABCD$, we have $\angle C$ is triple of $\angle A$, let $P$ be a point in the side $AB$ such that $\angle DPA = 90º$ and let $Q$ be a point in the segment $DA$ where $\angle BQA = 90º$ the segments $DP$ and $CQ$ intersects in $O$ such that $BO = CO = DO$, find $\angle A$ and $\angle C$.

Let $ l_0,c,\alpha,g$ be positive constants, and let $ x(t)$ be the solution of the differential equation \[ ([l_0\plus{}ct^{\alpha}] ^2x')'\plus{}g[l_0\plus{}ct^{\alpha}] \sin x\equal{}0, \;t \geq 0,\ \;\minus{}\frac{\pi}{2} <x< \frac{\pi}{2},\] satisfying the initial conditions $ x(t_0)\equal{}x_0, \;x'(t_0)\equal{}0$. (This is the equation of the mathematical pendulum whose length changes according to the law $ l\equal{}l_0\plus{}ct^{\alpha}$.) Prove that $ x(t)$ is defined on the interval $ [t_0,\infty)$; furthermore, if $ \alpha >2$ then for every $ x_0 \not\equal{} 0$ there exists a $ t_0$ such that \[ \liminf_{t \rightarrow \infty} |x(t)| >0.\] [i]L. Hatvani[/i]

An arbitrary point $M$ inside an equilateral triangle $ABC$ was connected to vertices. Prove that on each side the triangle can be selected one point at a time so that the distances between them would be equal to $AM, BM, CM$.

Find all the natural numbers $a,b,c$ such that: 1) $a^2+1$ and $b^2+1$ are primes 2) $(a^2+1)(b^2+1)=(c^2+1)$

Let $f: \mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ be a differentiable function such that $$f(x)=f \left( \frac{x}{2} \right) + \frac{x}{2} f'(x), ~\forall x \in \mathbb{R}.$$ Prove that $f$ is a polynomial function of degree at most one. [hide=Note]The problem was posted quite a few times before: [url]https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c7h100225p566080[/url] [url]https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/q11h564540p3300032[/url] [url]https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c7h2605212p22490699[/url] [url]https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c7h198927p1093788[/url] I'm reposting it just to have a more suitable statement for the [url=https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c13_contests]Contest Collections[/url]. [/hide]

Find the minimum possible least common multiple of twenty natural numbers whose sum is $801$.

Let $A=\overline{abcd}$ be a four-digit positive integer with digits $a, b, c, d$, such that $a\ge7$ and $a>b>c>d>0$. Consider the positive integer $B=\overline{dcba}$ , that comes from number $A$ by reverting the order of it's digits. Given that the number $A+B$ has all it's digits odd, find all possible values of number $A$.

Let $f(x,y)$ be a continuous function on the square $$S=\{(x,y):0\leq x\leq 1, 0\leq y\leq 1\}.$$ For each point $(a,b)$ in the interior of $S$, let $S_{(a,b)}$ be the largest square that is contained in $S$, is centered at $(a,b)$, and has sides parallel to those of $S$. If the double integral $\int \int f(x,y) dx dy$ is zero when taken over each square $S_{(a,b)}$, must $f(x,y)$ be identically zero on $S$?

Two cars travel along a circular track $n$ miles long, starting at the same point. One car travels $25$ miles along the track in some direction. The other car travels $3$ miles along the track in some direction. Then the two cars are once again at the same point along the track. If $n$ is a positive integer, find the sum of all possible values of $n.$

Let $ABC$ and $PQR$ be two triangles such that [list] [b](a)[/b] $P$ is the mid-point of $BC$ and $A$ is the midpoint of $QR$. [b](b)[/b] $QR$ bisects $\angle BAC$ and $BC$ bisects $\angle QPR$ [/list] Prove that $AB+AC=PQ+PR$.

In trapezoid $ABCD$, $AD \parallel BC$ and $\angle ABC + \angle CDA = 270^{\circ}$. Compute $AB^2$ given that $AB \cdot \tan(\angle BCD) = 20$ and $CD = 13$. [i]Proposed by Lewis Chen[/i]

Let $ABCDEF$ be a convex hexagon. In the hexagon there is a point $K$, such that $ABCK,DEFK$ are both parallelograms. Prove that the three lines connecting $A,B,C$ to the midpoints of segments $CE,DF,EA$ meet at one point.

Let $F$ be a polygon the boundary of which is a broken line with vertices in the knots (units) of a given in advance regular square network. If $k$ is the count of knots of the network situated over the boundary of $F$, and $\ell$ is the count of the knots of the network lying inside $F$, prove that if the surface of every square from the network is $1$, then the surface $S$ of $F$ is calculated with the formulae: $$S=\frac k2+\ell-1$$ [i]V. Chukanov[/i]

Jacob rolls two fair six-sided dice. If the outcomes of these dice rolls are the same, he rolls a third fair six-sided die. Compute the probability that the sum of the outcomes of all the dice he rolls is even.

Find all $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ satisfying (for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$): $f(x+y)^2 - f(2x^2) = f(y-x)f(y+x) + 2x\cdot f(y)$.

If $a,b,c\in\mathbb N\setminus\{0,1,2,3\}$ then prove: $$b^2\cdot\sqrt[a]a+c^2\cdot\sqrt[b]b+a^2\cdot\sqrt[c]c\ge48\sqrt2$$ [i]Proposed by Daniel Sitaru[/i]

A number is said to be [i]triangular [/i] if it can be expressed in the form $1 + 2 +...+n$ for some positive integer $n$. We call a positive integer $a$ [i]retriangular [/i] if there exists a fixed positive integer $ b$ such that $aT +b$ is a triangular number whenever $T$ is a triangular number. Determine all retriangular numbers.

Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R^+} \to \mathbb{R^+}$ such that for all $x,y,z\in \mathbb{R^+}$: $$\biggl\{\frac{f(x)}{f(y)}\biggl\}+\biggl\{\frac{f(y)}{f(z)}\biggl\}+ \biggl\{\frac{f(z)}{f(x)}\biggl\}= \biggl\{\frac{x}{y}\biggl\} +\biggl\{\frac{y}{z}\biggl\}+ \biggl\{\frac{z}{x}\biggl\}$$ Note: For any real number $x$, let $\{x\}$ denote the fractional part of $x$, defined as For example, $\{2,7\}=0,7$ .

Find the smallest positive integer $k$ such that $ \underbrace{11\cdots 11}_{k\text{ 1's}}$ is divisible by $9999$. Let $T = TNYWR$. Circles $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ intersect at $P$ and $Q$. The common external tangent $\ell$ to the two circles closer to $Q$ touches $\omega_1$ and $\omega_2$ at $A$ and $B$ respectively. Line $AQ$ intersects $\omega_2$ at $X$ while $BQ$ intersects $\omega_1$ again at $Y$. Let $M$ and $N$ denote the midpoints of $\overline{AY}$ and $\overline{BX}$, also respectively. If $AQ=\sqrt{T}$, $BQ=7$, and $AB=8$, then find the length of $MN$.

Find all pairs of nonnegative integers $(a, b)$ such that $a+2b-b^2=\sqrt{2a+a^2+|2a+1-2b|}$.

Let $l$ some line, that is not parallel to the coordinate axes. Find minimal $d$ that always exists point $A$ with integer coordinates, and distance from $A$ to $l$ is $\leq d$

Point D is from AC of triangle ABC so that 2AD=DC. Let DE be perpendicular to BC and AE intersects BD at F. It is known that triangle BEF is equilateral. Find <ADB?