Pre IMOTC 2018 Discussion Problems

Hexagrammum16
June 2019

1 Geometry
1. Let P AB and P CD be triangles such that P A = P B, P C = P D, and triads of points P, A, C and B, P, D
are both collinear in this order. A circle C1 passing through A and C intersects a circle C2 passing through
B, D at distinct points X, Y . Prove that the circumcenter of the triangle P XY is the midpoint of the
segment formed by the centres of C1 , C2 .
2. Find the center of homothety of two given circles (in the same plane) with ruler and compass.
3. ABC is a triangle with the midpoint of BC being M . Prove that the incenters of ABM, ACM , the
midpoint of arc BAC of the circumcircle of ABC, and A are concyclic.
4. Let ABC be a triangle, and its incenter be I. The reflections of AC over BI and AB over CI meet at X.
Prove that XI is perpendicular to BC.
5. Let Γ1 , Γ2 , Γ3 be three intersecting circles, with radical axes `1 , `2 , `3 (`1 is the radical axis of Γ2 , Γ3 ). A1
is a point on `1 and outside all circles. The mentioned tangents will not separate regions formed by the
circles from one another. Let a tangent from A1 to Γ2 meet `3 at A2 . Let a tangent from A2 to Γ1 meet
`2 at A3 . Let a tangent from A3 to Γ3 meet `1 at A4 . Let a tangent from A4 to Γ2 meet `3 at A5 . Let a
tangent from A5 to Γ1 meet `2 at A6 . Let a tangent from A6 to Γ3 meet `1 at A7 . Prove that A7 = A1 .
6. Let D be the point where the incircle touches BC. Let the circumcircle of the triangle formed by the
incenters of ABM (IB ), ACM (IC ), A be Γ. Prove that the lines IB M, IB D, IC M, IC D intercept a cyclic
trapezoid on Γ.
7. Does there exist an injective function f : R2 → R2 under which the image of any circle (that is the set of
points on its boundary, not the disk) is a square (that is, the set of points on the boundary of a square)?
(Even easier, how about the other way round?)
8. D is foot of perpendicular from A to BC in triangle ∆ABC. P is a point on AD. BP and CP cut AC
and AB at M and N respectively. M N cuts AD at Q. F is a point on AC. F Q and P N meet at E.
prove that AD is the angle bisector of 6 EDF .
9. Let A and B be two points in the plane with AB = 1. Find the maximum length of a path from A to B,
comprising at most n line segments (n is a natural number), such that while traversing this path from A
to B, the distance to B is always reducing.
10. Let ABC be an acute angled triangle with circumcentre O. Let AD, BE and CF be the altitues and H
its orthocentre. Let G be the orthocentre of the triangle DEF . Denote the feet of altitude from A on EF
as P , B on DF as Q, and C on DE as R. Let the lines through H parallel to DP , EQ and F R meet
EF , DF and DE at X, Y and Z respectively. Suppose K is the midpooint of segment GO, prove that
K is the incentre of triangle XY Z.
11. Let ABCD be a cyclic quadrilateral, where AD and BC intersect at E, while AB and CD intersect at
F . Given that M, N are the midpoints of AC, BD respectively, prove that EF is a common tangent to
(M N E) and (M N F ).
12. If O is the circumcentre and I is the incentre of a triangle then prove that OI is the Euler line of the
contact triangle.
13. Two equal-radius circles ω1 and ω2 are centered at points O1 and O2 . A point X is reflected through O1
and O2 to get points A1 and A2 . The tangents from A1 to ω1 touch ω1 at points P1 and Q1 , and the
tangents from A2 to ω2 touch ω2 at points P2 and Q2 . If P1 Q1 and P2 Q2 intersect at Y , prove that Y is
equidistant from A1 and A2 .

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14. ABCD is a convex quadrilateral with 6 A = 6 B = 6 C. AC ∩ BD = X. Prove that the symmedian point
of ABC, circumcenter of ABC and X are collinear.
15. In triangle ABC, P and Q are midpoints of LM and LN respectively where L, M, N are points outside
ABC such that BCL, CAM and ABN are equilateral triangles. Prove that AP Q is equilateral.
16. Given triangle ABC with its circumcircle ω and orthocenter H. Let P be an arbitrary point in the
plane. The cevian lines AP, BP, CP meet ω again at A1 , B1 , C1 . Denote by A2 , B2 , C2 the reflections of
A1 , B1 , C1 across the midpoints of BC, CA, AB, respectively. Then prove that H, A2 , B2 , C2 are concyclic.
17. Let ABC be a triangle with circumcenter O ; a circle (S) passing through B, C cuts AB, AC at F, E .If
X = BE ∩ CF, SX ∩ EF = Y, Z = AX ∩ BC and T is the intersection of the tangents of (O) at B, C
then prove that T, Z, Y are collinear.
18. Prove that the Euler line, Orthic axis, Soddy line and the Gergonne line form a cyclic quadrilateral.
19. Let A, B, C be lattice points (points with integer coordinates in xy plane) such that the angles of 4ABC
are rational multiples of π. Prove that 4ABC is right and isosceles.
20. Let ABC be a triangle, A0 B 0 C 0 the circumcevian triangle of a point P and A∗ , B ∗ , C ∗ three points
∗ ∗ ∗
on AA0 , BB 0 , CC 0 , respectively such that AA∗ AA0 = BB∗ BB0 = CC∗ CC0 = t. Denote Ab , Ac as the orthogonal
projections of A∗ on BB 0 , CC 0 , respectively, and similarly define Bc , Ba ; Ca , Cb . Prove that the Euler lines
of P Ab Ac , P Bc Ba , P Ca Cb are concurrent at a finite point for all t iff P is the Orthocenter, Fermat points,
Excenters, Incenter or Circumcircle.
21. In a ∆ABC let H be the orthocenter and P be an arbitrary point on (ABC) ,let the A− symmedian of
∆AP H meet BC at X and Y, Z are defined similarly then prove that X, Y, Z are collinear.
22. Let M be the midpoint of the side AC of ∆ABC. M D and M E be the perpendiculars from M to AB
and BC respectively. Prove that the distance between the circumcentres of ∆ABE and ∆BCD is equal
to AC
4 .

23. I is the incenter of a triangle ABC. Suppose D is any point on side BC, E is the foot of B−angle bisector
and F is the reflection of D about I. EF intersects BC at X. M and N are the midpoints of AC and
DX respectively. Prove that M N ⊥ BE ⇐⇒ ID ⊥ BC.
24. An acute-angled triangle ABC is given.The circle with diameter BC intersects AB, AC at E, F respec-
tively. Let M be the midpoint of BC and P the intersection point of AM and EF . X is a point on the arc
EF and Y the second intersection point of XP with circle mentioned above. Show that 6 XAY = 6 XY M .

2 Number Theory
1. Prove that there exists an infinite sequence of positive integer pairs {(x0 , y0 ), (x1 , y1 ), · · ·} such that
i) x2i − 5yi2 = 4 ∀i ≥ 0
ii) xi−1 yi−1 |yi ∀i ≥ 1
2. Solve over primes p and natural numbers n: n3 = p2 − p − 1.
3. Let a and b be integers. Show that a and b have the same parity if and only if there exist integers c and
d such that a2 + b2 + c2 + 1 = d2 .
4. For all natural numbers n, define f (n) = τ (n!) − τ ((n − 1)!), where τ (a) denotes the number of positive
divisors of a. Prove that there exist infinitely many composite n, such that for all naturals m < n, we
have f (m) < f (n).
5. Prove that equation p4 + q 4 = r4 does not have any solution in set of prime numbers.
np +1
6. Determine all the pairs (p, n) of a prime number p and a positive integer n for which pn +1 is an integer.

7. Find all functions f : N → N such that: (i) gcd(f (n) + m, f (m) + n) > 1 for all positive integers m, n.
(ii) The sequence f (1) − 1, f (2) − 2, . . . , f (n) − n, . . . is bounded.
8. If p is a prime greater than 3, prove that
2p
[ 3 ]
X
pk ≡ 0 (mod p2 )
k=1

2
 9. Find all f over N such that gcd(f (x2 + 1) − x4 , 4x4 − 1) = 2f (x) + 1.
xn +y n +z n
10. For what positive integers n is 2 a perfect square for all integers such that x + y + z = 0?

11. Find with proof all solutions in nonnegative integers a, b, c, d of the equation 11a 5b - 3c 2d =1.
12. Find all triples (x, y, k) of integers such that y 3 − x2 = 4k .
13. Find all positive integers n for which there is an m such that 2n − 1 divides m2 + 9.

14. Suppose m, n, j are positive integers, and m, j are fixed. Then if an integer polynomial P (which is a
polynomial in 2n , 3n , · · · , mn , n ) equals j multiplied by a prime for all sufficiently large n, then P is a
constant polynomial.
3n
15. Let a > b > 1 be positive integers and b is an odd integer and n ∈ Z + . If bn |an –1, prove that ab > n .

16. Given a prime p, show that:

p−1
!2 p−1
X X
−1
1+p k ≡1−p 2
k −2 (mod p4 ).
k=1 k=1

17. A positive integer n is called colourful if there exists a partition of {1, 2, . . . , 2n} into n different pairs such
that the sum of numbers in each pair is a perfect square. Find all numbers which are not colourful.

18. Let π(n) be the number of prime numbers not exceeding n. Prove that there exist infinitely many n such
that π(n)|n.
19. Let a, b, c, d ∈ Z satisfy  
1 1 1 1
abcd + + + = (a + b + c + d)2
a b c d
Prove that a2 + b2 + c2 + d2 is not prime.
20. Find all primes p and naturals n, k such that 22 + 32 ... + n2 = pk .
21. How many n ∈ N are such that n! + 1 is a perfect square? Assume that the ABC conjecture is true.

22. Let p > 5 be a prime and S be a set so that S = (p–n2 |n ∈ N, n2 < p) Show that S contain two elements
a, b such that a|b, 1 < a < b.

3 Algebra (Including Inequalities, Polynomials and Functional Equa-

tions)
x+1 y+1 z+1
1. xyz = 1 (x, y, z ∈ R+ ) Find the minimum and maximum value of: xy+x+1 + yz+y+1 + zx+z+1 .

2. Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that abc = 8. Prove that

a2 b2 c2 4
p +p +p ≥
(1 + a3 )(1 + b3 ) (1 + b3 )(1 + c3 ) (1 + c3 )(1 + a3 ) 3

3. If a, b, c are non-negative reals, then show that

√ √ √
(a2 − bc) b + c + (b2 − ca) c + a + (c2 − ab) a + b ≥ 0

4. Let a, b, c ≥ 0 and n ∈ R,

(a2 − bc)(b + c)n + (b2 − ca)(c + a)n + (c2 − ab)(a + b)n ≥ 0

5. Find all functions f : R → R, such that for each x, y ∈ R the equation

f (xy) = xf (y) + yf (x)

is satisfied.

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 6. Let a, b, c be real numbers. Prove that
1
ab + bc + ca + max{|a − b|, |b − c|, |c − a|} ≤ 1 + (a + b + c)2 .
3

7. We consider two sequences of real numbers x1 ≥ x2 ≥ . . . ≥ xn and y1 ≥ y2 ≥ . . . ≥ yn . Let z1 , z2 , . . . . , zn

n n
(xi − yi )2 ≤ (xi − zi )2 .
P P
be a permutation of the numbers y1 , y2 , . . . , yn . Prove that
i=1 i=1

8. Let a, b, c, d ≥ 0 satisfy a + b + c + d = 4. Find the maximum value of

abcd|(a − b)(b − c)(c − d)(d − a)|

9. Let a, b, c be positive reals. Prove that

(a − b)(a − c) (b − c)(b − a) (c − a)(c − b)

2 2
+ 2 2
+ 2 ≥ 0.
2a + (b + c) 2b + (c + a) 2c + (a + b)2

10. For x, y, z positive real numbers, prove that:

 
1 1 1 81(x + y)(y + z)(z + x)
(xy + yz + zx) + 2+ 2 ≥
x2 y z 8(x + y + z)(xy + yz + zx)

11. If x4 + ax3 + 2x2 + bx + 1 = 0 has at least one real root then prove that a2 + b2 ≥ 8.
12. x, y, z > 0. Prove that:
xyz 1
≤ 4
(1 + 3x)(x + 8y)(y + 9z)(z + 6) 7

13. Find the greatest

√ constant k such that for any positive integer n 6= p2 (p is an integer) the following holds
good: |(1 + n) sin( √πn )| > k.

4 Combinatorics and Miscellaneous

1. A partition of a positive integer N is an unordered collection of positive integers (or parts) whose sum
is N . Let f (N, r) be the number of partitions in which each part is repeated fewer than r times (r =
2, 3, ...., N + 1) and let g(N, r) be the number of partitions having no part divisible by r. Prove that
f (N, r) = g(N, r).

2. Suppose that on a line we are given n ≥ 3 segments with the property that if we chose any 3 of the
segments then atleast 2 of them a point in common.Show that one can choose 2 points on the line such
that each of the given segments contains atleast one of the 2 chosen points.
3. Let r, s and t be integers such that 0 ≤ r, s and r + s ≤ t. Prove that:
s
X si t+1
=
i=0
tr + i (t + 1 − s)t − sr

4. Consider a square grid of size 2018 ∗ 2018 Some inner walls are deleted at random to form a maze such
that it is possible to travel from any unit square to another by a path. You now control a character in
such a random maze (you do not know how it looks like).
Starting at an unknown random position.your goal is to get the person to a designated Target, selected
at random unknown to you. (Game ends when you reach it).You can also not get any feedback from your
commands, and have no idea what is happening in the game (The commands are L R U D, if the character
can’t move the action isnt executed). Does there exist a predetermined set of moves you can memorize so
as to beat all your friends?
5. Prove the following identity, preferably combinatorially:
n X      n  3
X n n−m−k n−m n X n
=
m=0 k
m k k m+k k
k=0

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 6. 8 ants are placed on the edges of the unit cube. Prove that there exists a pair of ants at a distance not
exceeding 1.
7. Given a table in a form of the regular 1000-gon with sidelength 1. A Beetle initially is in one of its vertices.
All 1000 vertices are numbered in some order by numbers 1, 2, . . ., 1000 so that initially the Beetle is
in the vertex 1. The Beetle can move only along the edges of 1000-gon and only clockwise. He starts to
move from vertex 1 and he is moving without stops until he reaches vertex 2 where he has a stop. Then
he continues his journey clockwise from vertex 2 until he reaches the vertex 3 where he has a stop, and so
on. The Beetle finishes his journey at vertex 1000. Find the number of ways to enumerate all vertices so
that the total length of the Beetle’s journey is equal to 2017.

8. Let X be the set of 2n points (±1, ±1, · · · , ±1) in the Euclidean n-space. Show that any subset of X with
n+1
at least 2 n points contains an equilateral triangle.
9. Given a set of 9 points in the plane, no three collinear, show that for each point P in the set, the number
of those triangles formed from the other 8 points which contain P is even.
10. Define Xn and Yn by,

X1 =, Y1 = {0}, Xn = {x + 1 | x ∈ Yn−1 }, Yn = (Xn−1 ∪ Yn−1 )\(Xn−1 ∩ Yn−1 ).

Find all n such that Yn = {0}.

11. A partition of n is called ”distinct” if all the summands are distinct. Let An be the set of all distinct
partitions of n with even number of summands and Bn be the set of all distinct partitions of n with odd
number of summands. Find an explicit formula for |An | − |Bn |.

12. In a mathematical competition some competitors are friends. Friendship is always mutual. Call a group
of competitors a clique if each two of them are friends. The number of members in a clique is called it’s
size. Given that in the competition the largest size of a clique is even, prove that the competitors can be
arranged in two rooms such that largest size of clique contained in one room is same as largest size of a
clique contained in other room.

13. Suppose there are n criminals ,a policeman is going to punish them by beating each criminal with exactly
k different sticks ,if every r(r ≤ n) criminals got beaten by a common stick but not all n criminals have
a stick in common ,then find the minimum value of k in terms of n, r.
14. An n × n matrix whose entries come from the set S = (1, 2, 3, ....., 2n − 1) is called a silver matrix if, for
each i = 1, 2, ......n, the ith row and the ith column together contain all elements of S. Show that
(a) there is no silver matrix for n = 1997;
(b) silver matrices exist for infinitely many values of n.
15. A permutation of (1, 2, 3........., 1000) is called good if it has the property that for any two numbers a and
b, their arithmetic mean does not appear between them in the permutation. Show that there are at least
32750 good permutations.
16. If n ∈ Z + .on a line there are 2n points A1 , A2 , A3 , ....., A2n .we have colored them blue or red according
the following rule. n disjoint circles are drawn with diameters of extremities Ai and Aj , for some i, j and
Ak with 1 ≤ k ≤ n belongs to exactly one circle. The point are coloured in such a way that two points of
a circle have same color. Find number of colouring of 2n points by changing the circles and distribution
of colors.