322

THE OLYMPIAD CORNER

No. 192

R.E. Woodrow

All communications about this column should be sent to Professor R.E.

Woodrow, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Calgary,
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. T2N 1N4.
As a rst Olympiad for this issue we give the problems of the 4th Math-
ematical Olympiad of the Republic of China (Taiwan) written April 13, 15,
1995. My thanks go to Bill Sands of the University of Calgary, who collected
these problems when he was assisting with the 1995 International Mathe-
matical Olympiad held in Canada.
4th MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD OF THE REPUBLIC
OF CHINA (TAIWAN)
First Day | Taipei
April 13, 1995
1. Let P (x) = a + a x +


+ an, xn, + anxn be a polynomial
0 1 1
1

with complex coecients. Suppose the roots of P (x) are 1; 2 ; : : : ; n with

j1j > 1, j2j > 1; : : : ; jj j > 1, and jj+1j  1; : : : ; jnj  1. Prove:
j
Y p
jij  ja0j2 + ja1j2 +


+ jan j2 :
i=1

2. Given a sequence of integers: x1; x2 ; x3; x4 ; x5; x6; x7; x8, one con-
structs a second sequence: jx2 , x1 j; jx3 , x2 j; jx4 , x3 j; jx5 , x4 j;
jx6 , x5j; jx7 , x6j; jx8 , x7j; jx1 , x8j. Such a process is called a single
operation. Find all the 8-term integral sequences having the following prop-
erty: after nitely many applications of the single operation the sequence
becomes an integral sequence with all terms equal.
3. Suppose n persons meet in a meeting, and every one among them
is familiar with exactly 8 other participants of that meeting. Furthermore
suppose that each pair of two participants who are familiar with each other
have 4 acquaintances in common at that meeting, and each pair of two par-
ticipants who are not familiar with each other have only 2 acquaintances in
common. What are the possible values of n?
 323

Second Day | Taipei

April 15, 1995

4. Given n distinct integers m1; m2; : : : ; mn, prove that there exists
a polynomial f (x) of degree n and with integral coecients which satises
the following conditions:
(1) f (mi) = ,1, for all i, 1  i  n.
(2) f (x) cannot be factorized into a product of two nonconstant poly-
nomials with integral coecients.
5. Let P be a point on the circumscribed circle of 4A1A2A3. Let
H be the orthocentre of 4A1A2A3. Let B1 (B2; B3 respectively) be the
point of intersection of the perpendicular from P to A2 A3 (A3 A1 , A1 A2
respectively). It is known that the three points B1 , B2 , B3 are collinear.
Prove that the line B1B2 B3 passes through the midpoint of the line segment
PH .
6. Let a, b, c, d be integers such that ad , bc = k > 0, (a; b) = 1,
and (c; d) = 1. Prove that there are exactly k ordered pairs of real numbers
(x1; x2 ) satisfying 0  x1 , x2 < 1 and for which both ax1 +bx2 and cx1 +dx2
are integers.

As a second problem set this issue for your puzzling pleasure, we give
the XI Italian Mathematical Olympiad written May 5, 1995 at Cesenatico.
Thanks go to Bill Sands of the University of Calgary who collected them while
at the 1995 IMO in Canada.
XI ITALIAN MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD
Cesenatico, May 5, 1995
Time: 4.5 hours
1. Determine for which values of the integer n it is possible to cover
up, without overlapping, a square of side n with tiles of the type shown in
the picture

where each small square of the tile has side 1.

324

2. In a class of 20 students no two of them have the same ordered

pair (written and oral examinations) of scores in mathematics. We say that
student A is better than B if his two scores are greater than or equal to the
corresponding scores of B . The scores are integers between 1 and 10.
(a) Show that there exist three students A, B and C such that A is
better than B and B is better than C .
(b) Would the same be true for a class of 19 students?
3. In a town there are 4 pubs, A, B, C and D, connected as shown in
the picture.
C

A D

B
A drunkard wanders about the pubs starting with A and, after having a drink,
goes to any of the pubs directly connected, with equal probability.
(a) What is the probability that the drunkard is at pub C at his fth
drink?
(b) Where is the drunkard more likely to be after n drinks? (n > 5)
4. An acute-angled triangle ABC is inscribed in a circle with centre
O. Let D be the intersection of the bisector of A with BC , and suppose that
the perpendicular to AO through D meets the line AC in a point P interior
to the segments AC . Show that AB = AP .
5. Two non-coplanar circles in Euclidean space are tangent at a point
and have the same tangents at this point. Show that both circles lie in some
spherical surface.
6. Find all pairs of positive integers x, y such that
x2 + 615 = 2y :

As a third set of problems for your attention we give the Third and
Fourth Grade and IMO Team selection rounds of the Yugoslav Federal Com-
petition for 1995. Thanks again go to Bill Sands, the University of Calgary,
for collecting them for me.
 325

YUGOSLAV FEDERAL COMPETITION 1995

Third and Fourth Grade
1. Let p be a prime number. Prove that the number
11


122


2


99


9 , 123456789
is divisible by p, where dots indicate that the corresponding digit appears p
times consecutively.
2. A polynomial P (x) with integer coecients is said to be divisible
by a positive integer m if and only if the number P (k) is divisible by m for
all k 2 Z. If the polynomial
P (x) = a0xn + a1xn,1 +


+ an,1x + an
is divisible by m, prove that an n! is divisible by m.
3. A chord AB and a diameter CD ? AB of a circle k intersect at
a point M . Let P lie on the arc ACB and let P 62 fA; B; C g. Line PM
intersects the circle k at P and Q = 6 P , and line PD intersects chord AB
at R. Prove that RD > MQ.
4. A tetrahedron ABCD is given. Let P and Q be midpoints of edges
AB and CD, and let O and S be the incentre and the circumcentre of the
tetrahedron, respectively. If points P , Q and S belong to the same line,
prove that the point O also belongs to that line.
Selection of the IMO Team
1. Find all the triples (x; y;z) of positive rational numbers such that
x  y  z and
x + y + z; x1 + y1 + z1 ; xyz 2 Z:
2. Let n be a positive integer having exactly 1995 1's in its binary
representation. Prove that 2n,1995 divides n!.
3. Let SABCD be a pyramid such that all of its edges are of the
same length. Let points M 2 BC and N 2 AS be such that the line MN is
perpendicular to line AD as well as to the line BC . Find the ratios BM=MC
and SN=NA. [Editor's note: ABCD is the base of the pyramid.]

We now turn to readers' solutions to problems of the Swedish Mathe-

matics Contest, 1993 [1997: 196].
326

SWEDISH MATHEMATICS CONTEST 1993

Final
November 20
1. The integer x is such that the sum of the digits of 3x is the same as
the sum of the digits of x. Prove that 9 is a factor of x.
Solutionsby Jamie Batuwantudawe, student, Sir WinstonChurchill High
School, Calgary; by Michael Selby, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario;
and by Enrico Valeriano Cuba, National University of Engineering, Lima,
Peru. We give the solution of Valeriano.
Let S (n) be the sum of the digits of n. Working modulo 9
3x  S (3x) mod 9 :
Also
x  S(x) mod 9 :
Since S (3x) = S (x),
2x  0 mod 9 ;
and since (2; 9) = 1, we have x  0 mod 9.
2. A railway line is divided into 10 sections by the stations A, B, C ,
D, E, F , G, H , I , J and K . The distance between A and K is 56 km. A
trip along two successive sections never exceeds 12 km. A trip along three
successive sections is at least 17 km. What is the distance between B and G?
z }| {

A B C DE F G H I J K
Solutionsby Jamie Batuwantudawe, student, Sir WinstonChurchill High
School, Calgary; by Michael Selby, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario;
and by Enrico Valeriano Cuba, National University of Engineering, Lima,
Peru. We give Batuwantudawe's solution.

A B C D E F G H I J K
Now AK = 56 and AK = AD + DG + GJ + JK . We know that
AD; DG; GJ  17. Thus JK  5 to satisfy AK = 56. We know HK  17,
and since JK  5, HJ  12. But, we also know HJ  12. Thus HJ = 12.
Since HK  17 and HJ = 12, JK  5. The only possibility is that
JK = 5.
Symmetrically we nd that AB = 5 and BD = 12.
Now,
DH = AK , AB , BD , HJ , JK
= 56 , 5 , 12 , 5 , 12 = 22 :
 327

Now GJ  17 but HJ = 12. Hence GH  5. Since DG  17 and

DH = DG + GH = 22, we obtain DG = 17 and GH = 5.
Now
BG = BD + DG
= 12 + 17 = 29 :
3. Assume that a and b are integers. Prove that the equation a + b +
2 2

x = y has an integer solution x, y if and only if the product ab is even.

2 2

Solutions by Bob Prielipp, University of Wisconsin{Oshkosh, Wiscon-

sin, USA; Michael Selby, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario; by Sree
Sanyal, student, Western Canada High School, Calgary, Alberta; by Enrique
Valeriano Cuba, National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru; and by
Michael Lebedinsky, student, Henry Wise Wood High School, Calgary, Al-
berta. We give Selby's solution.
First, we prove that this condition is necessary. Suppose ab is odd.
Then a, b are odd and a2  b2  1 mod 4. Now x2  0 or 1 mod 4, and
y2  0 or 1 mod 4. Therefore a22+ b2 + x2 = y2 is not possible, since if
we consider this modulo 4, 2 + x  y 2 mod 4, which is impossible since
2 + x2  2 or 3 mod 4. Therefore ab must be even.
If ab is even, then, without loss of generality, a = 2k.
Consider 4k2 + b2 + x2 = y 2.
If 4k2 + b2 = 2t +1, t an integer, then set y , x = 1 and y + x = 2t +1,
2y = (t + 1)2, y = t + 1 and x = t.
Then 2t + 1 + t2 = (t + 1)2. We are done.
If 4k2 + b2 is even, then b = 2s and 4k2 + b2 = 4(k2 + s2 ) = 4m.
Again, y 2 , x2 = 4m.
Set y , x = 2 and y + x = 2m. Then y = m +1 and x = y , 2 = m , 1.
Now 4m + (m , 1)2 = (m + 1)2, and again we are done. Hence
a + b2 + x2 = y2 always has a solution when ab is even.
2

4. To each pair of real numbers a and b, where a 6= 0 and b 6= 0, there

is a real number a  b such that
a  (b  c) = (a  b)
c ,
a  a = 1:
Solve the equation x  36 = 216.
Solutions by Sree Sanyal and Aliya Walji, students, Western Canada
High School, Calgary, Alberta; and by Enrique Valeriano Cuba, National Uni-
versity of Engineering, Lima, Peru.
328

Now a  (a  a) = (a  a)
a, so
a1 = 1
a = a:
Also a  (b  b) = (a  b)
b and a = a  1 = (a  b)
b so
a  b = ab :
Finally
x = 216 =) x = 7776 :
36
5. A triangle with perimeter 2p has sides a, b and c. If possible, a new
triangle with the sides p , a, p , b and p , c is formed. The process is then
repeated with the new triangle. For which original triangles can the process
be repeated indenitely?
Solutions by Michael Selby, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario;
by Enrique Valeriano, National University of Engineering, Lima, Peru; and
by Sonny Chan, student, Western Canada High School, Calgary, Alberta. We
give Valeriano's solution.
Let a  b  c and
be the dierence between the longest and the
shortest side.
Original Triangle New Triangle
Perimeter = 2p Perimeter = 3p , (a + b + c) = p
(1)

=c,a
(1) = (p , a) , (p , c) = c , a
We can see that the perimeter of the new triangle is half the previous
perimeter, but
is the same. Then, if
> 0, repeating this process we can
obtain
2p
Perimeter (k) = k <
(k) = c , a :
2
If c(k) is the longest side we obtain the absurd relation
c(k) < Perimeter(k) <
(k) < c(k). Finally, only with an equilateral tri-
angle as the original triangle (
= 0) can we repeat the process indenitely.
6. Let a and b be real numbers and let f (x) = (ax + b),1. For which a
and b are there three distinct real numbers x1 , x2 , x3 such that f (x1) = x2 ,
f (x2) = x3 and f (x3) = x1?
Solutionsby Filip Crnogorac and Sonny Chan, students, Western Canada
High School, Calgary, Alberta; and by Michael Selby, University of Windsor,
Windsor, Ontario. We give Selby's write-up.
Consider the functions of the form
g(x) = x + :
x + 
 329

Lemma. g (x) has at least 3 distinct xed points if and only if

=  = 0,  =  6= 0.
Proof. If =  = 0,  =  6= 0, g (x) = x and it clearly has at least
3 distinct points x1; x2; x3 such that g (xi) = xi, i = 1; 2; 3. Conversely
consider the equation for a xed point x, g (x) = x. This implies x2 + x =
x +  or x2 + ( , )x ,  = 0. Suppose this has three distinct roots.
Then the quadratic must be identically 0, or =  = 0 and  =  .
Now, if f (x) = ax1+b , then

f f (x) = abxax+ +b2b+ a and f f f (x) = a(a + b2abx + a + b2

)x + ab + b(b2 + a) :
The problem implies f f f has three distinct real xed points x1 ; x2 ; x3 .
By the above lemma, this is true if and only if
a + b2 = a(a + b2) = 0 and ab + b(a + b2) = ab 6= 0:
This is true if and only if a = ,b2 and ab 6= 0.

To complete this number of the Olympiad Corner we turn to readers'

solutions to problems of the Dutch Mathematical Olympiad, second round,
September 1993 [1997: 197].
DUTCH MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD
Second Round
September, 1993
1. Suppose that V = f1; 2; 3; : : : ; 24; 25g. Prove that any subset of V
with 17 or more elements contains at least two distinct numbers the product
of which is the square of an integer.
Solution by Sonny Chan and Filip Crnogorac, students, Western Canada
High School, Calgary.
The set of numbers A = f1; 2; : : : ; 24; 25g contains a total of ve per-
fect squares f1; 4; 9; 16; 25g. The product of any two of these will also be a
perfect square. There is one triplet, the product of any two of its elements
will result in a perfect square: f2; 8; 18g. The only other pairs of numbers
from A whose product is a perfect square are f3; 12g, f5; 20g, f6; 24g. The
other eleven elements of the set A are f7; 10; 11; 13; 14; 15; 17; 19; 21; 22; 23g
and they cannot form a perfect square when multiplied with any other ele-
ment of set A. Group the elements of set A as follows:
f1; 4; 9; 16; 25g; f2; 8; 18g; f3; 12g; f5; 20g; f6; 24g; f7g;
f10g; f11g; f13g; f14g; f15g; f17g; f19g; f21g; f22g; f23g:
330

If more than one number is chosen from a given group, a perfect square will
result. There is a total of 16 groups, so 16 numbers can be chosen without
creating a perfect square product. However, if any 17 numbers are chosen,
then two must be contained within the same group, and therefore will form
a perfect square product.
2. Given is a triangle ABC , \A = 90. D is the midpoint of BC , F
is the midpoint of AB , E the midpoint of AF and G the midpoint of FB .
AD intersects CE, CF and CG respectively in P , Q and R. Determine the
ratio PQRQ .
C q

D
q

R
q

P Q
q

A E F G
q
B q q q q

Solution by Filip Crnogorac, student, Western Canada High School,

Calgary.
C r

J r
K
r r
D
R
r

Q
r

P r

A E F G B
r r r r r

We know that two medians in a triangle divide each other in 2 : 1 ratio, or

in other words the point of intersection is 23 the way from the vertex.
Since CF and AD are both medians in 4ABC , then QD AQ = 2 , where
1
Q is the point of intersection.
Also, since D is the midpoint of the hypotenuse in the right triangle
ABC , then it is the centre of the circumscribed circle with radius
DA = DC = DB.
Drop a perpendicular from D onto sides AB and CA. The feet of the
perpendiculars will be F and J , respectively, where J is the midpoint of AC ,
since DF and DJ are altitudes in isosceles triangles 4ADB and 4ADC ,
respectively. Now consider 4CFB . The segments CG and FD are medians
and therefore intersect at H say in the ratio 2 : 1 so, HD
FD = 3 . From here
1

it can be seen that 4ARC and 4DRH are similar, since their angles are
 331

the same. Also, since we know that FD = JA, and 2JA = AC then
HD = 16 CA and 4ARC is 6 times bigger than 4DRH . Now we can see
AR = 6 and since AR + RD = AD, then RD = 1 .
that RD 1 AD 7
Similarly 4APE  4KPD, where medians DJ and CE meet at K .
We know that AE = 14 AB , so then JK = 41 JD , since JD is parallel to
AE = 2 , and from the similarity of the triangles
AB. It now follows that KD 3
AP = 2 . Also, since AP + PD = AD, then AP = 2 . Combining these
PD 3 AD 5
results we have AP = 25 AD , AQ = 23 AD , QD = 31 AD and RD = 17 AD .
Thus
PQ = AQ , AP = 23 AD , 25 AD = 15
4 AD
and
QR = QD , RD = 13 AD , 17 AD = 21
4 AD:

From these PQRQ = 75 .

3. A series of numbers is dened as follows: u1 = a, u2 = b,
un+1 = 21 (un + un,1 ) for n  2. Prove that limn!1 un exists. Express the
value of the limit in terms of a and b.
Solution by the Editors.
For the recurrence un+1 = 12 (un + un,1 ) we obtain the associated
equation 22 ,  , 1 = 0, ,which has roots  = , 12 ; 1. Thus we seek a
1 n
solution of the form un = X , 2 + Y . From u1 = a and u2 = b we get

, 12 X + Y = a
4X + Y = b
1

so that X + 43 (b , a,) and Y = a+2 b . It is now easy to check by induction

1 n
3
1+2b
that un = 3 (b , a) , 2 + 3 and as n ! 1, un ! 13 a + 23 b.
4

4. In a plane V a circle C is given with centre M . P is a point not on

the circle C .
q
P

B q

M q

A
q

V
332

(a) Prove that for a xed point P , AP 2 + BP 2 is a constant for every

diameter AB of the circle C .
(b) Let AB be any diameter of C and P a point on a xed sphere S
not intersecting V . Determine the point(s) P on S such that AP 2 + BP 2 is
minimal.
Solutionby Jamie Batuwantudawe, student, Sir Winston Churchill High
School, Calgary.
(a) With 4PAB , we can join P and M to create two new triangles,
4PMA and 4PMB. Let \PMA = . Then \PMB = 180 , . Be-
cause M is the centre of circle C and A and B both lie on circle C , we have
MA = MB = r, the radius of the circle.
By the Law of Cosines,
BP 2 = MP 2 + r2 , 2MPr cos(180 , )
= MP 2 + r2 + 2MPr cos 
and
AP 2 = MP 2 + r2 , 2MPr cos 
so AP 2 + BP 2 = 2MP 2 + 2r2 .
The right hand side is a constant depending only on the radius of the
circle and the distance of P from the centre.
(b) From (a), we know that AP 2 + BP 2 = 2MP 2 +2r2 . For any point
P on sphere S, the radius of the circle will remain constant. Therefore the
only variable aecting the sum AP 2 + BP 2 is MP , the distance from the
point P to the centre of the circle. AP 2 + BP 2 will be a minimum when MP
is minimum. Therefore we are looking for the point on the sphere closest
to M .
Let T be the centre of the sphere S , D be the point on the segment
MT that lies on the sphere, and D0 be any other point on S.
We know that MD + DT < MD0 + D0 T because the shortest distance
between M and T is a straight line. We know that DT = D0 T . Thus
MD < MD0 . Thus D is the point on the sphere which minimizes the sum.
That completes the Corner for this issue. Send me your nice solutions
and generalizations as well as Olympiad contests.