Hanoi Open Mathematical Competition 2014

Senior Section
Answers and solutions

Q1. Let a and b satisfy the conditions

(
a3 6a2 + 15a = 9
b3 3b2 + 6b = 1

The value of (a b)2014 is

(A): 1; (B): 2; (C): 3; (D): 4; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (A)
Write the system in the form
(
(a 2)3 = 1 3a (1)
(b 1)3 = 2 3b (2)

Subtracting (2) from (1) we find

(a 2)3 (b 1)3 = 3 3(a b)

and then
(a b 1)[(a 2)2 + (a 2)(b 1) + (b 1)2 + 3] = 0.
It follows a b = 1 and A = 1.

Q2. How many integers are there in {0, 1, 2, . . . , 2014} such that
x 999
C2014 C2014 .

(A): 15; (B): 16; (C): 17; (D): 18; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (C)
Note that
x 2014x
C2014 = C2014
x x+1
and C2014 < C2014 for x = 0, 1, . . . , 1006.
x 999
These imply C2014 C2014 that is equivalent to 999 x 1015.

1
Q3. How many 0s are there in the sequence x1 , x2 , . . . , x2014 , where
h n+1 i h n i
xn = , n = 1, 2, . . . , 2014.
2015 2015

(A): 1128; (B): 1129; (C): 1130; (D): 1131; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (E)
It is easy to check that 0 xn 1. Hence xn {0, 1} and the number of all 1 in the
h 2015 i h 1 i h i
given sequence is x1 + x2 + + x2014 = = 2015 . It easy
2015 2015
to check that 144 < 2015 < 145. Hence, the number of all 1 in the given sequence
is 144.
Thus, the number of all 0 in the given sequence 2014 144 > 1130.

Q4. Find the smallest positive integer n such that the number 2n + 28 + 211 is a
perfect square.
(A): 8; (B): 9; (C): 11; (D): 12; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (D)
2 2
For n > 8 we find 28 + 211 + 2n = (24 ) (1 + 8 + 2n8 ) = (24 ) (9 + 2n8 ) Hence,
we find n such that 2n8 + 9 is a perfect square. Putting 2n8 + 9 = k 2 , we get
(k 3)(k + 3) = ( 2n8 . It follows k 3 and k + 3 are the powers of 2 and their
k+3=8
difference is 6. So then k = 5 and n = 12.
k3=2
Indded, 28 + 211 + 212 = 802 is a perfect square.
For n 8,
n {1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8} .
The corresponding values 28 + 211 + 2n are not perfect squares.

Q5. The first two terms of a sequence are 2 and 3. Each next term thereafter is the
sum of the nearest previous two terms if their sum is not greater than 10 and is 0
otherwise. The 2014th term is
(A): 0; (B): 8; (C): 6; (D): 4; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (B)
The corresponding sequence is

2, 3, 5, 8, 0, 8, 8, 0, 8, 8, . . .

2
 (
0 if n 4 = 1(mod 3)
So an =
8 otherwise
Hence 2014th term is 8 for 2014 4 = 2010 = 0(mod 3).

Q6. Let S be area of the given parallelogram ABCD and the points E, F belong
to BC and AD, respectively, such that BC = 3BE, 3AD = 4AF. Let O be the
intersection of AE and BF. Each straightline of AE and BF meets that of CD at
points M and N, respectively. Determine area of triangle M ON.
Solution.

Let a = AB. Note that 4EAB 4EM C. It follows

CM CE
= = 2.
AB BE
This implies CM = 2a. By the same argument as above we obtain

DN = a/3.

Hence,
M N = a/3 + a + 2a = 10a/3. (1)
Let h denote the height of the paralelogram, and let h1 and h2 the heights of
triangles OM N and OAB, respectively. We have
h1 MN 10
= = .
h2 AB 3
We deduce
h1 h1 10
= = .
h2 h1 + h2 3

3
We then have
10
h1 = h (2)
3
Combining (1) and (2) we receive
1 1 10a 10h 50 50
SM ON = M N.h1 = . . = ah = S.
2 2 3 13 39 39
The answer is
50
S.
39

Q7. Let two circles C1 , C2 with different radius be externally tangent at a point T .
Let A be on C1 and B be on C2 , with A, B 6= T such that AT B = 900 .
(a) Prove that all such lines AB are concurrent.
(b) Find the locus of the midpoints of all such segments AB.
Solution.

Let O1 , O2 denote the centres of C1 , C2 whose radii are r1 , r2 , respectively. With-

out loss of generality we can assume that r1 < r2 . We have
AT B = 900 .
It implies
O1 T A + O2 T B = 900 .
We deduce
O1 AB + O2 BA = O1 AT + T AB + ABT + O2 BT = 1800 .
Hence, O1 A k O2 B. Let X denote the intersection of AB and O1 O2 . We then have
XO1 r1
=
XO2 r2

4
which proves the conclusion.
b) Let M, N denote the midpoints of AB, O1 O2 , respectively. We have
1  r +r
1 2
M N k= O1 A + O2 B = .
2 2
r1 + r2
We deduce that M is on the circle whose centre is N and the radius equals to ,
2
except for O1 , O2 .

Q8. Determine the integral part of A, where

1 1 1
A= + + + .
672 673 2014
Solution. Consider the sum
3n+1
X 1
S= .
k=n+1
k
1
Note that there are 2n + 1 terms in the sum and the middle term is . So we
2n + 1
can write the sum in the form
n
1 X 1 1 
S= + +
2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1 + k 2n + 1 k

n
1 2 X 1
= + .
2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 k 2

1
2n + 1
On the other hand, using the inequalities
1 1
1+a< < 1 + 2a for 0 < a < ,
1a 2
we get
1  k 2
k 2 > 1 +
2n + 1

1
2n + 1
and
1  k 2
k 2 < 1 + 2 .
2n + 1

1
2n + 1

5
Hence
n n
1 2 Xh  k 2 i 1 2 Xh  k 2 i
+ 1+ <S< + 1+2
2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1 2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1

n n
2 X
2 4 X
1+ k <S <1+ k2
(2n + 1)3 k=1 (2n + 1)3 k=1
n(n + 1) 2 n(n + 1)
1+ 2
<S <1+ .
3(2n + 1) 3 (2n + 1)2
It is easy to check that

2 n(n + 1) 1
2
< , n 1.
9 (2n + 1) 4
29 7
This leads to< S < and then [S] = 1 and [A] = 1.
27 6
Remark. Note that
1 1343
A< (2014 672 + 1) = < 2.
672 672
On the other hand,
 1 1   1 1 
A = 1 + + + 1 + + +
2 2014 2 671
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1  1 1 1 1 
= 1+ + + + + + + > 1.
2 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 2012 2013 2013 2014
Hence 1 < A < 2.

Q9. Solve the system (

16x3 + 4x = 16y + 5
16y 3 + 4y = 16x + 5
Solution. Subtracting the second equation for the first, we have

16(x y)(x2 + xy + y 2 ) + (x y) = 16(y x).

Therefore
4(x 4)(4x2 + 4xy + 4y 2 + 5) = 0.

6
Hence, y = x. We then have
5 1 1
4x3 3x = 4x3 3x = 2+ .
4 2 2
1 
3 1 
The last equation has a unique solution x = 2+ 3
.
2 2

Q10. Find all pairs of integers (x, y) satisfying the condition

12x2 + 6xy + 3y 2 = 28(x + y).
Solution.
12x2 + 6xy + 3y 2 = 28 (x + y)
3 4x2 + 2xy + y 2 = 28 (x + y) .


(1)

.
Since 3 and 28 are prime relative integers then x + y ..3 and then x + y = 3k
with k Z. Form (1), we get 3x2 + (x + y)2 = 28k and then 3x2 + 9k 2 = 28k. It
.
follows k ..3 and k = 3n, n 
Z. Hence, 2 2 2 2
 x + 3k = 28n and x + 27n = 28n. Thus
28 28
x2 = n (28 27n) 0 n n 0 and 0 n . It follows n = 0 and
27 27
n = 1. (
x=0
For n = 0 we have
x+y =0
It follows x = y = 0. (
x2 = 1

x = 1; y = 8
For n = 1 then k = 3 and we have
x+y =9 x = 1; y = 10
Hence the equation has 3 integral roots x = y = 0; x = 1, y = 8 and x = 1, y =
10.

Q11. Determine all real numbers a, b, c, d such that the polynomial f (x) = ax3 +
bx2 + cx + d satisfies simultaneously the folloving conditions
(
|f (x)| 1 for |x| 1
f (2) = 26

Solution. Consider the polynomial g(x) = 4x3 3x f (x) of degree 3 and

 1 1
g(1) 0, g 0, g 0, g(1) 0, then g(x) = 0 has at least 3 real roots
2 2
7
in [1, 1]. On the other hand, g(2) = 26 = 26 + f (2). It follows g(x) has at least 4
roots and then g(x) 0 and f (x) = 4x3 3x.
Hence (a, b, c, d) = (4, 0, 3, 0).

Q12. Given a rectangle paper of size 15 cm 20 cm, fold it along a diagonal.

Determine the area of the common part of two halfs of the paper?

Solution.

We have AC = 25cm. EC 2 = CH.CA then 225 = CH.25 and CH = 9cm.

It is easy to see that DE k AC, AK = CH = 9cm. Hence DE = AC2 CH =
2518 = 7 cm.
Note that
SACF FC
= = df rac257
SAF D FD
SACF
then = df rac2532. It follows
SACD
25 25 1 25 1 1875 2
SACF = SACD = SABCD = 15 20 = cm .
32 32 2 32 2 16

Q13. Let a, b, c satisfies the conditions

5 a b c 0

a+b8

a + b + c = 10

Prove that a2 + b2 + c2 38.

8
Solution. Using the inequality x2 y 2 + 2y(x y) for all x, y R we find

2 2
5 a + 2a(5 2)

32 b2 + 2b(3 b)

2
2 c2 + 2c(2 c)

Hence

38 = 52 + 32 + 22 a2 + b2 + c2 + 2[a(5 a) + b(3 b) + c(2 c)]

= a2 + b2 + c2 + 2[(a b)(5 a) + (b c)(3 b) + (a + b + c)(2 c)] a2 + b2 + c2 ,

which was to be proved.
Remark. We can use the equality a2 +b2 +c2 = a(ab)+(bc)(a+b)+c(a+b+c) to
establish the inequality a2 +b2 +c2 5(ab)+8(bc)+10c = 2(a+b+c)+(a+b)+2a
2 10 + 8 + 2 5 = 38.

Q14. Let be a circle with centre O, and let ` be a line that does not intersect .
Let P be an arbitrary point on `. Let A, B denote the tangent points of the tangent
lines from P . Prove that AB passes through a point being independent of choosing
P.
Solution. We have Draw the perpendicular from O to the line `. Let M be

intersection of AB and OQ. Note that A, P, Q, B and O are concyclic. Hence

OQB = BAO = ABO.
Consider triangles OBM and OBQ, we have BOQ is common, OBM =
OQB, then triangle OBM OQB then OM OQ = OB 2 constant then the
point M is independent of the choice of P , q.e.d

9
Q15. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , a9 1 and a31 + a32 + + a39 = 0. Determine the greatest
value of M = a1 + a2 + + a9 .
 1 2
Solution. For a 1, we find (a + 1) a 0. It follows
2

3 1
a3 a + 0 3a 4a3 + 1, a 1.
4 4
Hence
3(a1 + a2 + + a9 ) 4(a31 + a32 + + a39 ) + 9 = 9.
n 1o
So M 3. The equality holds for a1 , a2 , . . . , a9 1, . For example, we can
2
1
choose a1 = 1, a2 = a3 = = a9 = , then a31 + a32 + + a39 = 0 and
2
a1 + a2 + + a9 = 3.
Thus, max M = 3.

10
 Hanoi Open Mathematical Competitions 2014
Junior Section
Answers and solutions
Sunday, 23 March 2014 08h30-11h30

Q1. Let the numbers x and y satisfy the conditions

(
x2 + y 2 xy = 2
x4 + y 4 + x2 y 2 = 8

The value of P = x8 + y 8 + x2014 y 2014 is

(A): 46; (B): 48; (C): 50; (D): 52; (E) None of the above.

Answer. (B)
We have
x2 + y 2 = 2 + xy.
It follows
x4 + y 4 + 2x2 y 2 = x2 y 2 + 4xy + 4.
Equivalently,
x4 + y 4 + x2 y 2 = 4(xy + 1),
8 = 4(xy + 1)) xy + 1 = 2 xy = 1
and then x4 + y 4 = 7, xy = 1.
Hence x8 + y 8 = (x4 + y 4 )2 2x2 y 2 = 49 2 = 47 and we find P = 47 + 1 = 48.

Q2. How many diagonals does 11-sided convex polygon have?

(A): 43; (B): 44; (C): 45; (D): 46; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (B)
The number of diagonals of 11-sided convex polynom is difined by

11(11 1)
11 = 44.
2

Q3. How many zeros are there in the last digits of the following number
P = 11 12 88 89
(A): 16; (B): 17; (C): 18; (D): 19; (E) None of the above.

1
Answer. (C)
We have
P = 518 A,
where A is the integer containing sufficiently many even factors. Thus, the answer is 18.

Q4. If p is a prime number such that there exist positive integers a and b such that
1 1 1
= 2 + 2,
p a b
then p is
(A): 3; (B): 5; (C): 11; (D): 7; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (E) Write m := (a, b). It implies
(
a = mr
b = ms.

We then have
1 1 1
= 2 2 + 2 2.
p mr ms
It follows
p(r2 + s2 ) = mr2 s2 .
. .
Since r2 + s2 is not divisable by neither r2 nor s2 , we have p..r2 and p..s2 . As p is a prime
number, r2 = s2 = 1. We find m = 2 and p = 2. So, the answer is (E).

Q5. The first two terms of a sequence are 2 and 3. Each next term thereafter is the sum
of the nearestly previous two terms if their sum is not greather than 10, 0 otherwise. The
2014th term is
(A): 0; (B): 8; (C): 6; (D): 4; (E) None of the above.
Answer. (B)
We have the sequence as follows

2, 3, 5, 8, 0, 8, 8, 0, 8, 8, . . .

Starting from the fifth term, the sequence is periodic with the period 3. We then have
(
0, if n 4 = 1 (mod 3)
an =
8, otherwise.

Note that 2014 4 = 2010 = 0 (mod 3). Thus, the answer is 8.

2
Q6. Let a, b, c be the length sides of a given triangle and x, y, z be the sides length of
bisectrices, respectively. Prove the following inequality
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + > + + .
x y z a b c
Solution.

Let AD be bisector of angle BAC and D belongs to BC. Draw DE k AB, E belongs
ED EC
to AC. Then triangle EAD is iscoceles and DE = EA = d. We have = and
AB CA
AE ED EC AE d d 1 1 1
then + = + = 1. It follows + = 1 + = . Hence
AC AB CA CA b c b c d
11 1 1 1
+ = < (1) since 2d > AD.
2 b c 2d x
Similarly,
11 1 1
+ < , (2)
2 c a y
1 1 1 1
+ < . (3)
2 c a y
From (1), (2) and (3) we find
1 1 1 1 1 1
+ + > + + ,
x y z a b c
which was to be proved.

Q7. Determine the integral part of A, where

1 1 1
A= + + + .
672 673 2014
Solution. Consider the sum
3n+1
X 1
S= .
k=n+1
k
1
Note that there are 2n + 1 terms in the sum and the middle term is . So we can
2n + 1
write the sum in the form
n
1 X 1 1 
S= + +
2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1 + k 2n + 1 k

3
 n
1 2 X 1
= + .
2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 k 2

1
2n + 1
On the other hand, using the inequalities
1 1
1+a< < 1 + 2a for 0 < a < ,
1a 2
we get
1  k 2
k 2 > 1 +
2n + 1

1
2n + 1
and
1  k 2
k 2 < 1 + 2 .
2n + 1

1
2n + 1
Hence
n n
1 2 Xh  k 2 i 1 2 Xh  k 2 i
+ 1+ <S< + 1+2
2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1 2n + 1 2n + 1 k=1 2n + 1
n n
2 X
2 4 X
1+ 3
k <S <1+ 3
k2
(2n + 1) k=1 (2n + 1) k=1
n(n + 1) 2 n(n + 1)
1+ 2
<S <1+ .
3(2n + 1) 3 (2n + 1)2
It is easy to check that
2 n(n + 1) 1
2
< , n 1.
9 (2n + 1) 4
29 7
This leads to < S < and then [S] = 1 and [A] = 1.
27 6

Q8. Let ABC be a triangle. Let D, E be the points out side of the triangle so that
AD = AB, AC = AE and DAB = EAC = 90 . Let F be at the same side of the line
BC as A so that F B = F C and BF C = 90 . Prove that triangle DEF is a right-isoceles
triangle.
Solution.
Note that CD BE and F EB = F DC. Hence, F E = F D. (1).
On the other hand, DF C = EF B then DF E = 900 . (1)
(1) and (2) together imply |deltaDEF | is right-iscoceles, q.e.d.

Q9. Determine all real numbers a, b, c such that the polynomial f (x) = ax2 + bx + c
satisfies simultaneously the folloving conditions
(
|f (x)| 1 for |x| 1
f (x) 7 for x 2

4
 Figure 1:

Solution. Let g(x) = 2x2 1 f (x), then deg g 2. Note that

g(1) = 1 f (1) 0, g(0) = 1 f (0) 0, g(1) = 1 f (1) 0

and g(2) = 7 f (2) 7 7 = 0. Hence the equation g(x) = 0 has at least 3 roots. It
follows g(x) 0 and then f (x) = 2x2 1.
Thus (a, b, c) = (2, 0, 1).

Q10. Let S be area of the given parallelogram ABCD and the points E, F belong to BC
and AD, respectively, such that BC = 3CE, 3AD = 2AF. Let O be the intersection of
AE and BF. The straightlines AE and BF meet CD at points M and N, respectively.
Determine area of triangle M ON.

Solution.

Let a = AB and h be the height of the parallelogram. Since EAB EM C,

CM EC 1 a
it follows = = and CM = . Similarly, we have N D = a, then M N =
AB EB 2 2
a 5a
a+a+ = .
2 2
Let h, h1 , h2 be heights of the given parallelogram, OM N and OAB, respectively,
then
h1 MN 5
= = .
h2 AB 2

5
It follows
h1 h1 5
= = .
h h1 + h2 7
5h
Hence h1 = . These follow that
7
1 1 5a 5h 25ah 25
SM ON = M N h1 = = = S.
2 2 2 7 28 28

Q11. Find all pairs of integers (x, y) satisfying the following equality

8x2 y 2 + x2 + y 2 = 10xy.

Solution. We have 8x2 y 2 + x2 + y 2 = 10xy 8xy (xy 1) + (x y)2 = 0. (1)

Consequently, if x; y is an integral root of the equation then xy (xy 1) 0 0
xy 1.
Because x; y are integral, there are two possibilities:
- If xy = 0 then from (1) we have a root x = y = 0.
- If xy = 1 then from (1) we have other roots x = y = 1; x = y = 1.
Thus the equation has three solutions (x, y) = (0, 0), (x, y) = (1, 1), (x, y) = (1, 1).

Q12. Find a polynomial Q(x) such that (2x2 6x + 5)Q(x) is a polynomial with all
positive coefficients.
Solution. Note that

(2x2 6x + 5)(2x2 + 6x + 5)(4x4 + 6x2 + 25) = 16x8 + 164x4 + 625.

Hence

(2x2 6x+5)(2x2 +6x+5)(4x4 +6x2 +25)(x3 +x2 +x+1) = (16x8 +164x4 +625)(x3 +x2 +x+1)

= 16x11 +16x10 +16x9 +16x8 +164x7 +164x6 +164x5 +164x4 +625x3 +625x2 +625x+625.
So we can choose Q(x) = (2x2 + 6x + 5)(4x4 + 6x2 + 25)(x3 + x2 + x + 1).

Q13. Let a, b, c > 0 and abc = 1. Prove that

a1 c1 b1
+ + 0.
c b a
Solution. We prove the following inequality
a c b
+ + ab + bc + ca. (1)
c b a

6
Indeed, from inequality (c 1)2 (2c + 1) 0 for c > 0, it follows
1 a 2c
2c3 + 1 3c2 + 2c2 3c ab + 2c2 3abc2 + 3ac.
c c b
Similarly,
c 2b b 2a
+ 3bc, + 3ab.
b a a c
These three inequalities imply
a c b 1 1 1
+ + ab + bc + ca = + + .
c b a c a b
Hence
a c b 1 1 1
+ + + + ,
c b a c a b
which is
a1 c1 b1
+ + 0.
c b a
The equality holds iff a = b = c = 1.

c(x a)(x b) a(x b)(x c) b(x c)(x a)

Q14. Let be given a < b < c and f (x) = + + .
(c a)(c b) (a b)(a c) (b c)(b a)
Determine f (2014)?
Solution. Let g(x) = f (x) x. Then deg g 2 and g(a) = g(b) = g(c) = 0. Hence
g(x) 0 and f (x) = x for all x R. It follows f (2014) = 2014.

Q15. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , a9 1 and a31 + a32 + + a39 = 0. Determine the maximal value of
M = a1 + a2 + + a9 .

Solution.
 1 2
For a 1, we find (a + 1) a 0. It follows
2
3 1
a3 a + 0 3a 4a3 + 1, a 1.
4 4
Hence
3(a1 + a2 + + a9 ) 4(a31 + a32 + + a39 ) + 9 = 9.
n 1o
So M 3. The equality holds for a1 , a2 , . . . , a9 1, . For example, we can choose
2
1
a1 = 1, a2 = a3 = = a9 = , then a31 + a32 + + a39 = 0 and a1 + a2 + + a9 = 3.
2
Thus, max M = 3.