Real numbers $ a_{1}$, $ a_{2}$, $ \ldots$, $ a_{n}$ are given. For each $ i$, $ (1 \leq i \leq n )$, define \[ d_{i} = \max \{ a_{j}\mid 1 \leq j \leq i \} - \min \{ a_{j}\mid i \leq j \leq n \} \] and let $ d = \max \{d_{i}\mid 1 \leq i \leq n \}$. (a) Prove that, for any real numbers $ x_{1}\leq x_{2}\leq \cdots \leq x_{n}$, \[ \max \{ |x_{i} - a_{i}| \mid 1 \leq i \leq n \}\geq \frac {d}{2}. \quad \quad (*) \] (b) Show that there are real numbers $ x_{1}\leq x_{2}\leq \cdots \leq x_{n}$ such that the equality holds in (*). Author: Michael Albert, New Zealand

Consider five points $ A$, $ B$, $ C$, $ D$ and $ E$ such that $ ABCD$ is a parallelogram and $ BCED$ is a cyclic quadrilateral. Let $ \ell$ be a line passing through $ A$. Suppose that $ \ell$ intersects the interior of the segment $ DC$ at $ F$ and intersects line $ BC$ at $ G$. Suppose also that $ EF = EG = EC$. Prove that $ \ell$ is the bisector of angle $ DAB$. Author: Charles Leytem, Luxembourg

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. (In particular, any group of fewer than two competitiors is a clique.) The number of members of a clique is called its size. Given that, in this competition, the largest size of a clique is even, prove that the competitors can be arranged into two rooms such that the largest size of a clique contained in one room is the same as the largest size of a clique contained in the other room. Author: Vasily Astakhov, Russia

In triangle $ ABC$ the bisector of angle $ BCA$ intersects the circumcircle again at $ R$, the perpendicular bisector of $ BC$ at $ P$, and the perpendicular bisector of $ AC$ at $ Q$. The midpoint of $ BC$ is $ K$ and the midpoint of $ AC$ is $ L$. Prove that the triangles $ RPK$ and $ RQL$ have the same area. Author: Marek Pechal, Czech Republic

Let $a$ and $b$ be positive integers. Show that if $4ab - 1$ divides $(4a^{2} - 1)^{2}$, then $a = b$. Author: Kevin Buzzard and Edward Crane, United Kingdom

Let $ n$ be a positive integer. Consider \[ S = \left\{ (x,y,z) \mid x,y,z \in \{ 0, 1, \ldots, n\}, x + y + z > 0 \right \} \] as a set of $ (n + 1)^{3} - 1$ points in the three-dimensional space. Determine the smallest possible number of planes, the union of which contains $ S$ but does not include $ (0,0,0)$. Author: Gerhard Wöginger, Netherlands