NORDIC MATHEMATICAL CONTEST

PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS, 1987–2011

PROBLEMS
The problems are identified as xy.n., whery x and y are the last digits of the competition
year and n is the n:th problem of that year.

NMC 1, March 30, 1987

87.1. Nine journalists from different countries attend a press conference. None of these
speaks more than three languages, and each pair of the journalists share a common lan-
guage. Show that there are at least five journalists sharing a common language.
87.2. Let ABCD be a parallelogram in the plane. We draw two circles of radius R, one
through the points A and B, the other through B and C. Let E be the other point of
intersection of the circles. We assume that E is not a vertex of the parallelogram. Show
that the circle passing through A, D, and E also has radius R.
87.3. Let f be a strictly increasing function defined in the set of natural numbers satisfying
the conditions f (2) = a > 2 and f (mn) = f (m)f (n) for all natural numbers m and n.
Determine the smallest possible value of a.
87.4. Let a, b, and c be positive real numbers. Prove:

a b c a2 b2 c2
+ + ≤ 2 + 2 + 2.
b c a b c a

NMC 2, April 4, 1988

88.1. The positive integer
√ n has the following property: if the three last digits of n are
removed, the number n remains. Find n.
3

88.2. Let a, b, and c be non-zero real numbers and let a ≥ b ≥ c. Prove the inequality
! "
a3 − c3 a−b b−c
≥ abc + .
3 c a

When does equality hold?

88.3. Two concentric spheres have radii r and R, r < R. We try to select points A, B
and C on the surface of the larger sphere such that all sides of the triangle ABC would be
tangent to the surface of the smaller sphere. Show that the points can be selected if and
only if R ≤ 2r.
 2

88.4. Let mn be the smallest value of the function

2n
#
fn (x) = xk .
k=0

Show that mn → 12 , as n → ∞.

NMC 3, April 10, 1989

89.1. Find a polynomial P of lowest possible degree such that
(a) P has integer coefficients,
(b) all roots of P are integers,
(c) P (0) = −1,
(d) P (3) = 128.
89.2. Three sides of a tetrahedron are right-angled triangles having the right angle at
their common vertex. The areas of these sides are A, B, and C. Find the total surface
area of the tetrahedron.
89.3. Let S be the set of all points t in the closed interval [−1, 1] such that for the
sequence x0 , x1 , x2 , . . . defined by the equations x0 = t, xn+1 = 2x2n − 1, there exists a
positive integer N such that xn = 1 for all n ≥ N . Show that the set S has infinitely many
elements.
89.4. For which positive integers n is $ the following statement true: if a1 , a2 , . . . , an are
n
positive integers, ak ≤ n for all k and k=1 ak = 2n, then it is always possible to choose
ai , ai , . . . , aij in such a way that the indices i1 , i2 , . . . , ij are different numbers, and
$1j 2
k=1 aik = n?

NMC 4, April 5, 1990

90.1. Let m, n, and p be odd positive integers. Prove that the number

(n−1)p
#
km
k=1

is divisible by n.
90.2. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be real numbers. Prove
% %
3
a31 + a32 +...+ a3n ≤ a21 + a22 + . . . + a2n . (1)

When does equality hold in (1)?

90.3. Let ABC be a triangle and let P be an interior point of ABC. We assume that
a line l, which passes through P , but not through A, intersects AB and AC (or their
extensions over B or C) at Q and R, respectively. Find l such that the perimeter of the
triangle AQR is as small as possible.
 3

90.4. It is possible to perform three operations f , g, and h for positive integers: f (n) =
10n, g(n) = 10n + 4, and h(2n) = n; in other words, one may write 0 or 4 in the end of
the number and one may divide an even number by 2. Prove: every positive integer can
be constructed starting from 4 and performing a finite number of the operations f , g, and
h in some order.

NMC 5, April 10, 1991

91.1. Determine the last two digits of the number
2 3 1991
25 + 25 + 25 + · · · + 25 ,
written in decimal notation.
91.2. In the trapezium ABCD the sides AB and CD are parallel, and E is a fixed point
on the side AB. Determine the point F on the side CD so that the area of the intersection
of the triangles ABF and CDE is as large as possible.
91.3. Show that
1 1 1 2
+ 2 +...+ 2 <
2 2 3 n 3
for all n ≥ 2.
91.4. Let f (x) be a polynomial with integer coefficients. We assume that there exists a
positive integer k and k consecutive integers n, n + 1, . . . , n + k − 1 so that none of the
numbers f (n), f (n + 1), . . . , f (n + k − 1) is divisible by k. Show that the zeroes of f (x)
are not integers.

NMC 6, April 8, 1992

92.1. Determine all real numbers x > 1, y > 1, and z > 1, satisfying the equation
3 3 3
x+y+z+ + +
x−1 y−1 z−1
&√ ' √ (
=2 x+2+ y+2+ z+2 .

92.2. Let n > 1 be an integer and let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be n different integers. Show that
the polynomial
f (x) = (x − a1 )(x − a2 ) · . . . · (x − an ) − 1
is not divisible by any polynomial with integer coefficients and of degree greater than zero
but less than n and such that the highest power of x has coefficient 1.
92.3. Prove that among all triangles with inradius 1, the equilateral one has the smallest
perimeter .
92.4. Peter has many squares of equal side. Some of the squares are black, some are white.
Peter wants to assemble a big square, with side equal to n sides of the small squares, so
that the big square has no rectangle formed by the small squares such that all the squares
in the vertices of the rectangle are of equal colour. How big a square is Peter able to
assemble?
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NMC 7, March 17, 1993

93.1. Let F be an increasing real function defined for all x, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, satisfying the
conditions
& x ( F (x)
(i) F = ,
3 2
(ii) F (1 − x) = 1 − F (x).
! " ! "
173 1
Determine F and F .
1993 13
93.2. A hexagon is inscribed in a circle of radius r. Two of the sides of the hexagon have
length 1, two have length 2 and two have length 3. Show that r satisfies the equation
2r 3 − 7r − 3 = 0.
93.3. Find all solutions of the system of equations


 s(x) + s(y) = x
x + y + s(z) = z


s(x) + s(y) + s(z) = y − 4,
where x, y, and z are positive integers, and s(x), s(y), and s(z) are the numbers of digits
in the decimal representations of x, y, and z, respectively.
93.4. Denote by T (n) the sum of the digits of the decimal representation of a positive
integer n.
a) Find an integer N , for which T (k · N ) is even for all k, 1 ≤ k ≤ 1992, but T (1993 · N )
is odd.
b) Show that no positive integer N exists such that T (k · N ) is even for all positive integers
k.

NMC 8, March 17, 1994

94.1. Let O be an interior point in the equilateral triangle ABC, of side length a. The
lines AO, BO, and CO intersect the sides of the triangle in the points A1 , B1 , and C1 .
Show that
|OA1 | + |OB1 | + |OC1 | < a.
94.2. We call a finite plane set S consisting of points with integer coefficients a two-
neighbour set, if for each point (p, q) of S exactly two of the points (p + 1, q), (p, q + 1),
(p − 1, q), (p, q − 1) belong to S. For which integers n there exists a two-neighbour set
which contains exactly n points?
94.3. A piece of paper is the square ABCD. We fold it by placing the vertex D on the
point D" of the side BC. We assume that AD moves on the segment A" D" and that A" D"
intersects AB at E. Prove that the perimeter of the triangle EBD" is one half of the
perimeter of the square.
94.4. Determine all positive integers n < 200, such that n2 + (n + 1)2 is the square of an
integer.
 5

NMC 9, March 15, 1995

95.1. Let AB be a diameter of a circle with centre O.

We choose a point C on the circumference of the circle
such that OC and AB are perpendicular to each other.
Let P be an arbitrary point on the (smaller) arc BC
and let the lines CP and AB meet at Q. We choose R
on AP so that RQ and AB are perpendicular to each
other. Show that |BQ| = |QR|.
95.2. Messages are coded using sequences consisting of zeroes and ones only. Only se-
quences with at most two consecutive ones or zeroes are allowed. (For instance the sequence
011001 is allowed, but 011101 is not.) Determine the number of sequences consisting of
exactly 12 numbers.
95.3. Let n ≥ 2 and let x1 , x2 , . . . xn be real numbers satisfying x1 + x2 + . . . + xn ≥ 0
and x21 + x22 + . . . + x2n = 1. Let M = max{x1 , x2 , . . . , xn }. Show that
1
M≥' . (1)
n(n − 1)
When does equality hold in (1)?
95.4. Show that there exist infinitely many mutually non-congruent triangles T , satisfying
(i) The side lengths of T are consecutive integers.
(ii) The area of T is an integer.

NMC 10, April 11, 1996

96.1. Show that there exists an integer divisible by 1996 such that the sum of the its
decimal digits is 1996.
96.2. Determine all real numbers x, such that
xn + x−n
is an integer for all integers n.
96.3. The circle whose diameter is the altitude dropped from the vertex A of the triangle
ABC intersects the sides AB and AC at D and E, respectively (A '= D, A '= E). Show
that the circumcentre of ABC lies on the altitude dropped from the vertex A of the triangle
ADE, or on its extension.
96.4. The real-valued function f is defined for positive integers, and the positive integer
a satisfies
f (a) = f (1995), f (a + 1) = f (1996), f (a + 2) = f (1997)
f (n) − 1
f (n + a) = for all positive integers n.
f (n) + 1
(i) Show that f (n + 4a) = f (n) for all positive integers n.
(ii) Determine the smallest possible a.
 6

NMC 11, April 9, 1997

97.1. Let A be a set of seven positive numbers. Determine the maximal number of triples
(x, y, z) of elements of A satisfying x < y and x + y = z.
97.2. Let ABCD be a convex quadrilateral. We assume that there exists a point P
inside the quadrilateral such that the areas of the triangles ABP , BCP , CDP , and DAP
are equal. Show that at least one of the diagonals of the quadrilateral bisects the other
diagonal.
97.3. Let A, B, C, and D be four different points in the plane. Three of the line segments
AB, AC, AD, BC, BD, and CD have length a. The other three have length b, where
b
b > a. Determine all possible values of the quotient .
a
97.4. Let f be a function defined in the set {0, 1, 2, . . . } of non-negative integers, satis-
fying f (2x) = 2f (x), f (4x + 1) = 4f (x) + 3, and f (4x − 1) = 2f (2x − 1) − 1. Show that f
is an injection, i.e. if f (x) = f (y), then x = y.

NMC 12, April 2, 1998

98.1. Determine all functions f defined in the set of rational numbers and taking their
values in the same set such that the equation f (x + y) + f (x − y) = 2f (x) + 2f (y) holds
for all rational numbers x and y.
98.2. Let C1 and C2 be two circles intersecting at A and B. Let S and T be the centres
of C1 and C2 , respectively. Let P be a point on the segment AB such that |AP | '= |BP |
and P '= A, P '= B. We draw a line perpendicular to SP through P and denote by C and
D the points at which this line intersects C1 . We likewise draw a line perpendicular to T P
through P and denote by E and F the points at which this line intersects C2 . Show that
C, D, E, and F are the vertices of a rectangle.
98.3. (a) For which positive numbers n does there exist a sequence x1 , x2 , . . . , xn , which
contains each of the numbers 1, 2, . . . , n exactly once and for which x1 + x2 + · · · + xk is
divisible by k for each k = 1, 2, . . . , n?
(b) Does there exist an infinite sequence x1 , x2 , x3 , . . ., which contains every positive
integer exactly once and such that x1 + x2 + · · · + xk is divisible by k for every positive
integer k?
98.4.!Let " n be a positive integer. Count the number of numbers k ∈ {0, 1, 2, . . . , n} such
n
that is odd. Show that this number is a power of two, i.e. of the form 2p for some
k
nonnegative integer p.

NMC 13, April 15, 1999

99.1. The function f is defined for non-negative integers and satisfies the condition
-
f (f (n + 11)), if n ≤ 1999
f (n) =
n − 5, if n > 1999.

Find all solutions of the equation f (n) = 1999.

 7

99.2. Consider 7-gons inscribed in a circle such that all sides of the 7-gon are of different
length. Determine the maximal number of 120◦ angles in this kind of a 7-gon.
99.3. The infinite integer plane Z × Z = Z2 consists of all number pairs (x, y), where x
and y are integers. Let a and b be non-negative integers. We call any move from a point
(x, y) to any of the points (x ± a, y ± b) or (x ± b, y ± a) a (a, b)-knight move. Determine
all numbers a and b, for which it is possible to reach all points of the integer plane from
an arbitrary starting point using only (a, b)-knight moves.
99.4. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be positive real numbers and n ≥ 1. Show that
! "
1 1
n +···+
a1 an
! "! "
1 1 1 1
≥ +···+ n+ +···+ .
1 + a1 1 + an a1 an

When does equality hold?

NMC 14, March 30, 2000

00.1. In how many ways can the number 2000 be written as a sum of three positive, not
necessarily different integers? (Sums like 1 + 2 + 3 and 3 + 1 + 2 etc. are the same.)
00.2. The persons P1 , P1 , . . . , Pn−1 , Pn sit around a table, in this order, and each one of
them has a number of coins. In the start, P1 has one coin more than P2 , P2 has one coin
more than P3 , etc., up to Pn−1 who has one coin more than Pn . Now P1 gives one coin
to P2 , who in turn gives two coins to P3 etc., up to Pn who gives n coins to P1 . Now the
process continues in the same way: P1 gives n + 1 coins to P2 , P2 gives n + 2 coins to P3 ;
in this way the transactions go on until someone has not enough coins, i.e. a person no
more can give away one coin more than he just received. At the moment when the process
comes to an end in this manner, it turns out that there are two neighbours at the table
such that one of them has exactly five times as many coins as the other. Determine the
number of persons and the number of coins circulating around the table.
00.3. In the triangle ABC, the bisector of angle B meets AC at D and the bisector of
angle C meets AB at E. The bisectors meet each other at O. Furthermore, OD = OE.
Prove that either ABC is isosceles or ∠BAC = 60◦ .
00.4. The real-valued function f is defined for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, f (0) = 0, f (1) = 1, and

1 f (z) − f (y)
≤ ≤2
2 f (y) − f (x)

for all 0 ≤ x < y < z ≤ 1 with z − y = y − x. Prove that

! "
1 1 4
≤f ≤ .
7 3 7
 8

NMC 15, March 29, 2001

01.1. Let A be a finite collection of squares in the coordinate plane such that the vertices
of all squares that belong to A are (m, n), (m + 1, n), (m, n + 1), and (m + 1, n + 1) for
some integers m and n. Show that there exists a subcollection B of A such that B contains
at least 25 % of the squares in A, but no two of the squares in B have a common vertex.
01.2. Let f be a bounded real function defined for all real numbers and satisfying for all
real numbers x the condition
! " ! " ! "
1 1 5
f x+ +f x+ = f (x) + f x + .
3 2 6
Show that f is periodic. (A function f is bounded, if there exists a number L such that
|f (x)| < L for all real numbers x. A function f is periodic, if there exists a positive number
k such that f (x + k) = f (x) for all real numbers x.)
01.3. Determine the number of real roots of the equation
5
x8 − x7 + 2x6 − 2x5 + 3x4 − 3x3 + 4x2 − 4x + = 0.
2
01.4. Let ABCDEF be a convex hexagon, in which each of the diagonals AD, BE, and
CF divides the hexagon into two quadrilaterals of equal area. Show that AD, BE, and
CF are concurrent.

NMC 16, April 4, 2002

02.1. The trapezium ABCD, where AB and CD are parallel and AD < CD, is inscribed
in the circle c. Let DP be a chord of the circle, parallel to AC. Assume that the tangent
to c at D meets the line AB at E and that P B and DC meet at Q. Show that EQ = AC.
02.2. In two bowls there are in total N balls, numbered from 1 to N . One ball is moved
from one of the bowls into the other. The average of the numbers in the bowls is increased
in both of the bowls by the same amount, x. Determine the largest possible value of x.
02.3. Let a1 , a2 , . . . , an , and b1 , b2 , . . . , bn be real numbers, and let a1 , a2 , . . . , an be all
different. Show that if all the products
(ai + b1 )(ai + b2 ) · · · (ai + bn ),
i = 1, 2, . . . , n, are equal, then the products
(a1 + bj )(a2 + bj ) · · · (an + bj ),
j = 1, 2, . . . , n, are equal, too.
02.4. Eva, Per and Anna play with their pocket calculators. They choose different integers
and check, whether or not they are divisible by 11. They only look at nine-digit numbers
consisting of all the digits 1, 2, . . . , 9. Anna claims that the probability of such a number to
be a multiple of 11 is exactly 1/11. Eva has a different opinion: she thinks the probability
is less than 1/11. Per thinks the probability is more than 1/11. Who is correct?
 9

NMC 17, April 3, 2003

03.1. Stones are placed on the squares of a chessboard having 10 rows and 14 columns.
There is an odd number of stones on each row and each column. The squares are coloured
black and white in the usual fashion. Show that the number of stones on black squares is
even. Note that there can be more than one stone on a square.
03.2. Find all triples of integers (x, y, z) satisfying

x3 + y 3 + z 3 − 3xyz = 2003.

03.3. The point D inside the equilateral triangle *ABC satisfies ∠ADC = 150◦ . Prove
that a triangle with side lengths |AD|, |BD|, |CD| is necessarily a right-angled triangle.
03.4. Let R∗ = R\{0} be the set of non-zero real numbers. Find all functions f : R∗ → R∗
satisfying
f (x) + f (y) = f (xy f (x + y)),

for x, y ∈ R∗ and x + y '= 0.

NMC 18, April 1, 2004

04.1. 27 balls, labelled by numbers from 1 to 27, are in a red, blue or yellow bowl. Find
the possible numbers of balls in the red bowl, if the averages of the labels in the red, blue,
and yellow bowl are 15, 3 ja 18, respectively.
04.2. Let f1 = 0, f2 = 1, and fn+2 = fn+1 + fn , for n = 1, 2, . . ., be the Fibonacci
sequence. Show that there exists a strictly increasing infinite arithmetic sequence none
of whose numbers belongs to the Fibonacci sequence. [A sequence is arithmetic, if the
difference of any of its consecutive terms is a constant.]
04.3. Let x11 , x21 , . . . , xn1 , n > 2, be a sequence of integers. We assume that all of
the numbers xi1 are not equal. Assuming that the numbers x1k , x2k , . . . , xnk have been
defined, we set
1
xi,k+1 = (xik + xi+1,k ), i = 1, 2, . . . , n − 1,
2
1
xn,k+1 = (xnk + x1k ).
2
Show that for n odd, xjk is not an integer for some j, k. Does the same conclusion hold
for n even?
04.4. Let a, b, and c be the side lengths of a triangle and let R be its circumradius. Show
that
1 1 1 1
+ + ≥ 2.
ab bc ca R
 10

NMC 19. April 5, 2005

05.1. Find all positive integers k such that the product of the digits of k, in the decimal
system, equals
25
k − 211.
8
05.2. Let a, b, and c be positive real numbers. Prove that

2a2 2b2 2c2

+ + ≥ a + b + c.
b+c c+a a+b

05.3. There are 2005 young people sitting around a (large!) round table. Of these at most
668 are boys. We say that a girl G is in a strong position, if, counting from G to either
direction at any length, the number of girls is always strictly larger than the number of
boys. (G herself is included in the count.) Prove that in any arrangement, there always is
a girl in a strong position.
05.4. The circle C1 is inside the circle C2 , and the circles touch each other at A. A line
through A intersects C1 also at B and C2 also at C. The tangent to C1 at B intersects C2
at D and E. The tangents of C1 passing through C touch C1 at F and G. Prove that D,
E, F , and G are concyclic.

NMC 20. March 30, 2006

06.1. Let B and C be points on two fixed rays emanating from a point A such that
AB + AC is constant. Prove that there exists a point D '= A such that the circumcircles
of the triangels ABC pass through D for every choice of B and C.
06.2. The real numbers x, y and z are not all equal and they satisfy

1 1 1
x+ = y + = z + = k.
y z x

Determine all possible values of k.

06.3. A sequence of positive integers {an } is given by

a0 = m and an+1 = a5n + 487

for all n ≥ 0. Determine all values of m for which the sequence contains as many square
numbers as possible.
06.4. The squares of a 100 × 100 chessboard are painted with 100 different colours. Each
square has only one colour and every colour is used exactly 100 times. Show that there
exists a row or a column on the chessboard in which at least 10 colours are used.
 11

NMC 21. March 29, 2007

07.1. Find one solution in positive integers to the equation

x2 − 2x − 2007y 2 = 0.

07.2. A triangle, a line and three rectangles, with one side parallel to the given line, are
given in such a way that the rectangles completely cover the sides of the triangle. Prove
that the rectangles must completely cover the interior of the triangle.
07.3. The number 102007 is written on a blackboard, Anne and Berit play a game where
the player in turn makes one of two operations:
(i) replace a number x on the blackboard by two integer numbers a and b greater than 1
such that x = ab;
(ii) erase one or both of two equal numbers on the blackboard.
The player who is not able to make her turn loses the game. Who has a winning strategy?
07.4. A line through a point A intersects a circle in two points, B and C, in such a way
that B lies between A and C. From the point A draw the two tangents to the circle,
meeting the circle at points S and T . Let P be the intersection of the lines ST and AC.
Show that AP/P C = 2 · AB/BC.

NMC 22. March 31, 2008

08.1. Determine all real numbers A, B and C such that there exists a real function f that
satisfies
f (x + f (y)) = Ax + By + C.
for all real x and y.
08.2. Assume that n ≥ 3 people with different names sit around a round table. We call
any unordered pair of them, say M and N , dominating, if
(i) M and N do not sit on adjacent seats, and
(ii) on one (or both) of the arcs connecting M and N along the table edge, all people have
names that come alphabetically after the names of M and N .
Determine the minimal number of dominating pairs.
08.3. Let ABC be a triangle and let D and E be points on BC and CA, respectively, such
that AD and BE are angle bisectors of ABC. Let F and G be points on the circumcircle
of ABC such that AF and DE are parallel and F G and BC are parallel. Show that

AG AC + BC
= .
BG AB + CB

08.4. The difference between the cubes of two consecutive positive integers is a square n2 ,
where n is a positive integer. Show that n is the sum of two squares.
 12

NMC 23. April l2, 2009

09.1.A point P is chosen in an arbitrary triangle. Three lines are drawn through P which
are parallel to the sides of the triangle. The lines divide the triangle into three smaller
triangles and three parallelograms. Let f be the ratio between the total area of the three
smaller triangles and the area of the given triangle. Show that f ≥ 13 and determine those
points P for which f = 13 .
09.2. On a faded piece of paper it is possible, with some effort, to discern the following:

(x2 + x + a)(x15 − . . .) = x17 + x13 + x5 − 90x4 + x − 90.

Some parts have got lost, partly the constant term of the first factor of the left side, partly
the main part of the other factor. It would be possible to restore the polynomial forming
the other factor, but we restrict ourselves to asking the question: What is the value of
the constant term a? We assume that all polynomials in the statement above have only
integer coefficients.
09.3. The integers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are written on a blackboard. It is allowed to wipe
out two integers a and b and replace them with a + b and ab. Is it possible, by repeating
this procedure, to reach a situation where three of the five integers on the blackboard are
2009?
09.4. There are 32 competitors in a tournament. No two of them are equal in playing
strength, and in a one against one match the better one always wins. Show that the gold,
silver, and bronze medal winners can be found in 39 matches.

NMC 24. April 13, 2010

10.1. A function f : Z → Z+ , where Z+ is the set of positive integers, is non-decreasing
and satisfies f (mn) = f (m)f (n) for all relatively prime positive integers m and n. Prove
2
that f (8)f (13) ≥ (f (10)) .
10.2. Three circles ΓA , ΓB and ΓC share a common point of intersection O. The other
common of ΓA and ΓB is C, that of ΓA and ΓC is B and that of ΓC and ΓB is A. The
line AO intersects the circle ΓC in the poin X '= O. Similarly, the line BO intersects the
circle ΓB in the point Y '= O, and the line CO intersects the circle ΓC in the point Z '= O.
Show that
|AY ||BZ||CX|
= 1.
|AZ||BX||CY |
10.3. Laura has 2010 lamps connected with 2010 buttons in front of her. For each button,
she wants to know the corresponding lamp. In order to do this, she observes which lamps
are lit when Richard presses a selection of buttons. (Not pressing anything is also a
possible selection.) Richard always presses the buttons simultaneously, so the lamps are
lit simultaneously, too.
a) If Richard chooses the buttons to be pressed, what is the maximum number of different
combinations of buttons he can press until Laura can assign the buttons to the lamps
correctly?
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b) Supposing that Laura will choose the combinations of buttons to be pressed, what
is the minimum number of attempts she has to do until she is able to associate the
buttons with the lamps in a correct way?
10.4. A positive integer is called simple if its ordinary decimal representation consists
entirely of zeroes and ones. Find the least positive integer k such that each positive
integer n can be written as n = a1 ± a2 ± a3 ± · · · ± ak , where a1 , . . . , ak are simple.

NMC 25. April 4, 2011

11.1. When a0 , a1 , . . . , a1000 denote digits, can the sum of the 1001-digit numbers
a0 a1 . . . a1000 and a1000 a999 . . . a0 have odd digits only?
11.2. In a triangle ABC assume AB = AC, and let D and E be points on the extension
of segment BA beyond A and on the segment BC, respectively, such that the lines CD
4h
and AE are parallel. Prove that CD ≥ CE, where h is the height from A in triangle
BC
ABC. When does equality hold?
11.3. Find all functions f such that

f (f (x) + y) = f (x2 − y) + 4yf (x)

for all real numbers x and y.

1
11.4. Show that for any integer n ≥ 2 the sum of the fractions , where a and b are
ab
1
relatively prime positive integers such that a < b ≤ n and a + b > n, equals .
2