Let $p_1, p_2, p_3, \ldots$ be the prime numbers listed in increasing order, and let $x_0$ be a real number between 0 and 1. For positive integer $k$, define \[ x_k = \begin{cases} 0 & \mbox{if} \; x_{k-1} = 0, \\[.1in] {\displaystyle \left\{ \frac{p_k}{x_{k-1}} \right\}} & \mbox{if} \; x_{k-1} \neq 0, \end{cases} \] where $\{x\}$ denotes the fractional part of $x$. (The fractional part of $x$ is given by $x - \lfloor x \rfloor$ where $\lfloor x \rfloor$ is the greatest integer less than or equal to $x$.) Find, with proof, all $x_0$ satisfying $0 < x_0 < 1$ for which the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2, \ldots$ eventually becomes 0.

Let $ABC$ be a triangle. Take points $D$, $E$, $F$ on the perpendicular bisectors of $BC$, $CA$, $AB$ respectively. Show that the lines through $A$, $B$, $C$ perpendicular to $EF$, $FD$, $DE$ respectively are concurrent.

Prove that for any integer $n$, there exists a unique polynomial $Q$ with coefficients in $\{0,1,\ldots,9\}$ such that $Q(-2) = Q(-5) = n$.

Click for solution By the Remainder Theorem we can write $Q(x)-n=(x+5)(x+2)P(x)$, where $P(x)$ is also a polynomial with integer coefficients. If we write $Q(x)=q_0+q_1 x+q_2x^2+\cdots$, $P(x)=p_0+p_1 x+p_2x^2+\cdots$, then \begin{eqnarray*} q_0-n&=&10p_0\\ q_1&=&10p_1+7p_0\\ q_i&=&10p_i+7p_{i-1}+p_{i-2} \text{ for }i\geq 2\\ \end{eqnarray*} We can work down this list to determine all $p_m$ and $q_m$ uniquely: each $q_i$ is uniquely determined by $p_0,p_1,...p_{i-1}$ and the fact that $q_i$ is an integer between 0 and 9, and then each $p_i$ is uniquely determined by $p_0,p_1,...p_{i-1}$ and $q_i$.

To clip a convex $n$-gon means to choose a pair of consecutive sides $AB, BC$ and to replace them by the three segments $AM, MN$, and $NC$, where $M$ is the midpoint of $AB$ and $N$ is the midpoint of $BC$. In other words, one cuts off the triangle $MBN$ to obtain a convex $(n+1)$-gon. A regular hexagon ${\cal P}_6$ of area 1 is clipped to obtain a heptagon ${\cal P}_7$. Then ${\cal P}_7$ is clipped (in one of the seven possible ways) to obtain an octagon ${\cal P}_8$, and so on. Prove that no matter how the clippings are done, the area of ${\cal P}_n$ is greater than $\frac 13$, for all $n \geq 6$.

Prove that, for all positive real numbers $ a$, $ b$, $ c$, the inequality \[ \frac {1}{a^3 + b^3 + abc} + \frac {1}{b^3 + c^3 + abc} + \frac {1}{c^3 + a^3 + abc} \leq \frac {1}{abc} \] holds.

Suppose the sequence of nonnegative integers $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{1997}$ satisfies \[ a_i + a_j \leq a_{i+j} \leq a_i + a_j + 1 \] for all $i,j \geq 1$ with $i + j \leq 1997$. Show that there exists a real number $x$ such that $a_n = \lfloor nx \rfloor$ (the greatest integer $\leq nx$) for all $1 \leq n \leq 1997$.

These problems are copyright $\copyright$ Mathematical Association of America.