Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 6 views

    G13 1940 PUTNAM Web

    Uploaded by

    mokonoani
    This document contains 7 math problems from the 1940 Putnam exam. The problems cover a range of topics including polynomials, calculus, geometry, and linear algebra. The winner of the 1940 Putnam exam was Andrew M. Gleason but the exact score is unknown. The problems have been reworded from the original to avoid copyright issues.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    G13 1940 PUTNAM Web

    Uploaded by

    mokonoani
    6 views2 pages
    This document contains 7 math problems from the 1940 Putnam exam. The problems cover a range of topics including polynomials, calculus, geometry, and linear algebra. The winner of the 1940 Putnam exam was Andrew M. Gleason but the exact score is unknown. The problems have been reworded from the original to avoid copyright issues.

    Original Title

    G13-1940-PUTNAM-Web

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    This document contains 7 math problems from the 1940 Putnam exam. The problems cover a range of topics including polynomials, calculus, geometry, and linear algebra. The winner of the 1940 Putnam exam was Andrew M. Gleason but the exact score is unknown. The problems have been reworded from the original to avoid copyright issues.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    6 views2 pages

    G13 1940 PUTNAM Web

    Uploaded by

    mokonoani
    This document contains 7 math problems from the 1940 Putnam exam. The problems cover a range of topics including polynomials, calculus, geometry, and linear algebra. The winner of the 1940 Putnam exam was Andrew M. Gleason but the exact score is unknown. The problems have been reworded from the original to avoid copyright issues.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    3rd Putnam 1940

    A1. p(x) is a polynomial with integer coefficients. For some positive integer c, none of p(1),
    p(2), ... , p(c) are divisible by c. Prove that p(b) is not zero for any integer b.

    A2. y = f(x) is continuous with continuous derivative. The arc PQ is concave to the chord
    PQ. X is chosen on the arc PQ to maximize PX + XQ. Prove that XP and XQ are equally
    inclined to the tangent at X.

    A3. α is a fixed real number. Find all functions f: R → R (where R is the reals) which are
    continuous, have a continuous derivative, and satisfy ∫by fα(x) dx = ( ∫by f(x) dx )α for all y
    and some b.

    A4. p is a positive constant. Let R is the curve y2 = 4px. Let S be the mirror image of R in
    the y-axis (y2 = - 4px). R remains fixed and S rolls around it without slipping. O is the point
    of S initially at the origin. Find the equation for the locus of O as S rolls?

    A5. Prove that the set of points satisfying x4 - x2 = y4 - y2 = z4 - z2 is the union of 4 straight
    lines and 6 ellipses.

    A6. p(x) is a polynomial with real coefficients and derivative r(x) = p'(x). For some positive
    integers a, b, ra(x) divides pb(x). Prove that for some real numbers A and α and for some
    integer n, we have p(x) = A(x - α)n.

    A7. ai and bi are real, and ∑1∞ ai2 and ∑1∞ bi2 converge. Prove that ∑1∞ (ai - bi)p converges
    for p ≥ 2.

    A8. Show that the area of the triangle bounded by the lines aix + biy + ci = 0 (i = 1, 2, 3) is
    Δ2/|2(a2b3 - a3b2)(a3b1 - a1b3)(a1b2 - a2b1)|, where Δ is the 3 x 3 determinant with columns ai,
    bi , c i .

    B1. A stone is thrown from the ground with speed v at an angle θ to the horizontal. There is
    no friction and the ground is flat. Find the total distance it travels before hitting the ground.
    Show that the distance is greatest when sin θ ln (sec θ + tan θ) = 1.

    B2. C1, C2 are cylindrical surfaces with radii r1, r2 respectively. The axes of the two surfaces
    intersect at right angles and r1 > r2. Let S be the area of C1 which is enclosed within C2.
    Prove that S = 8r22A = 8r12C - 8(r12 - r22)B, where A = ∫01 (1 - x2)1/2(1 - k2x2)-1/2 dx, B = ∫01
    (1 - x2)-1/2(1 - k2x2)-1/2 dx, and C = ∫01 (1 - x2)-1/2(1 - k2x2)1/2 dx, and k = r2/r1.

    B3. Let p be a positive real, let S be the parabola y2 = 4px, and let P be a point with
    coordinates (a, b). Show that there are 1, 2 or 3 normals from P to S according as 4(2p - a)2 +
    27 pb2 >, = or < 0.

    B4. Let S be the surface ax2 + by2 + cz2 = 1 (a, b, c all non-zero), and let K be the sphere x2
    + y2 + z2 = 1/a + 1/b + 1/c (known as the director sphere). Prove that if a point P lies on 3
    mutually perpendicular planes, each of which is tangent to S, then P lies on K.

    Comment. The original question also asked, apparently in error, for a proof that every point
    of K had this property, which is (a) false unless we allow planes which are asymptotes (or
    tangents at infinity), and (b) unreasonably hard - at least, I cannot see a neat proof.

    B5. Find all rational triples (a, b, c) for which a, b, c are the roots of x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0.

    B6. The n x n matrix (mij) is defined as mij = aiaj for i ≠ j, and ai2 + k for i = j. Show that
    det(mij) is divisible by kn-1 and find its other factor.

    B7. Given n > 8, let a = √n and b = √(n+1). Which is greater ab or ba?

    The Putnam fellow (winner) was Andrew M Gleason, his (winning) mark is unknown. To avoid possible
    copyright problems, I have changed the wording, but not the substance, of all the problems. The original text
    and solutions are available in: A M Gleason, R E Greenwood & L M Kelly, The William Lowell Putnam
    Mathematical Competition, Problems and Solutions, 1938-1964, MAA 1980. Out of print, but available in
    some university libraries.

    Putnam home

    © John Scholes
    [email protected]
    14 Sep 1999

    You might also like