2011 Stars Of Mathematics

Seniors

1

Let ABC be an acute-angled triangle with ABBC, M the midpoint of AC, N the point where the median BM meets again the circumcircle of ABC, H the orthocentre of ABC, D the point on the circumcircle for which BDH=90, and K the point that makes ANCK a parallelogram. Prove the lines AC, KH, BD are concurrent. (I. Nagel)

2

Prove there do exist infinitely many positive integers n such that if a prime p divides n(n+1) then p2 also divides it (all primes dividing n(n+1) bear exponent at least two). Exhibit (at least) two values, one even and one odd, for such numbers n>8. (Pál Erdös & Kurt Mahler)

3

For a given integer n3, determine the range of values for the expression En(x1,x2,,xn):=x1x2+x2x3++xn1xn+xnx1 over real numbers x1,x2,,xn1 satisfying |xkxk+1|1 for all 1kn1. Do also determine when the extremal values are achieved. (Dan Schwarz)

4

Given n sets Ai, with |Ai|=n, prove they may be indexed Ai={ai,jj=1,2,,n}, in such way that the sets Bj={ai,ji=1,2,,n}, 1jn, also have |Bj|=n. (Anonymous)

Juniors

1

For positive real numbers a,b,c,d, with abcd=1, determine all values taken by the expression 1+a+ab1+a+ab+abc+1+b+bc1+b+bc+bcd+1+c+cd1+c+cd+cda+1+d+da1+d+da+dab. (Dan Schwarz)

2

Let ABC be an acute-angled, not equilateral triangle, where vertex A lies on the perpendicular bisector of the segment HO, joining the orthocentre H to the circumcentre O. Determine all possible values for the measure of angle A. (U.S.A. - 1989 IMO Shortlist)

3

The checkered plane is painted black and white, after a chessboard fashion. A polygon Π of area S and perimeter P consists of some of these unit squares (i.e., its sides go along the borders of the squares). Prove the polygon Π contains not more than S2+P8, and not less than S2P8 squares of a same color. (Alexander Magazinov)

4

Let n2 be an integer. Let us call interval a subset A{1,2,,n} for which integers 1a<bn do exist, such that A={a,a+1,,b1,b}. Let a family A of subsets Ai{1,2,,n}, with 1iN, be such that for any 1i<jN we have AiAj being an interval. Prove that Nn2/4, and that this bound is sharp. (Dan Schwarz - after an idea by Ron Graham)