The leader of an IMO team chooses positive integers $n$ and $k$ with $n > k$, and announces them to the deputy leader and a contestant. The leader then secretly tells the deputy leader an $n$-digit binary string, and the deputy leader writes down all $n$-digit binary strings which differ from the leader’s in exactly $k$ positions. (For example, if $n = 3$ and $k = 1$, and if the leader chooses $101$, the deputy leader would write down $001, 111$ and $100$.) The contestant is allowed to look at the strings written by the deputy leader and guess the leader’s string. What is the minimum number of guesses (in terms of $n$ and $k$) needed to guarantee the correct answer?
2017 Germany Team Selection Test
VAIMO 1
In a convex quadrilateral $ABCD$, $BD$ is the angle bisector of $\angle{ABC}$. The circumcircle of $ABC$ intersects $CD,AD$ in $P,Q$ respectively and the line through $D$ parallel to $AC$ cuts $AB,AC$ in $R,S$ respectively. Prove that point $P,Q,R,S$ lie on a circle.
Denote by $\mathbb{N}$ the set of all positive integers. Find all functions $f:\mathbb{N}\rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ such that for all positive integers $m$ and $n$, the integer $f(m)+f(n)-mn$ is nonzero and divides $mf(m)+nf(n)$. Proposed by Dorlir Ahmeti, Albania
VAIMO 2
Find the smallest constant $C > 0$ for which the following statement holds: among any five positive real numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3,a_4,a_5$ (not necessarily distinct), one can always choose distinct subscripts $i,j,k,l$ such that \[ \left| \frac{a_i}{a_j} - \frac {a_k}{a_l} \right| \le C. \]
Let $n$ be a positive integer relatively prime to $6$. We paint the vertices of a regular $n$-gon with three colours so that there is an odd number of vertices of each colour. Show that there exists an isosceles triangle whose three vertices are of different colours.
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $AB = AC \neq BC$ and let $I$ be its incentre. The line $BI$ meets $AC$ at $D$, and the line through $D$ perpendicular to $AC$ meets $AI$ at $E$. Prove that the reflection of $I$ in $AC$ lies on the circumcircle of triangle $BDE$.