IMO 1985

6 problems with complete solutions · Official problem paper (PDF)

  1. Problem 1

    A circle has center on the side \(AB\) of the cyclic quadrilateral \(ABCD\). The other three sides are tangent to the circle. Prove that \(AD+BC=AB\).

    Solution →

  2. Problem 2

    Let \(n\) and \(k\) be given relatively prime natural numbers, \(k<n\). Each number in the set \(M=\{1,2,\ldots,n-1\}\) is colored either blue or white. It is given that

    (i) for each \(i\in M\), both \(i\) and \(n-i\) have the same color;

    (ii) for each \(i\in M\), \(i\ne k\), both \(i\) and \(|i-k|\) have the same color. Prove that all numbers in \(M\) must have the same color.

    Solution →

  3. Problem 3

    For any polynomial \(P(x)=a_0+a_1x+\cdots+a_kx^k\) with integer coefficients, the number of coefficients which are odd is denoted by \(w(P)\). For \(i=0,1,\ldots\), let \(Q_i(x)=(1+x)^i\). Prove that if \(i_1,i_2,\ldots,i_n\) are integers such that \(0\le i_1<i_2<\cdots<i_n\), then \[ w(Q_{i_1}+Q_{i_2}+\cdots+Q_{i_n})\ge w(Q_{i_1}). \]

    Solution →

  4. Problem 4

    Given a set \(M\) of 1985 distinct positive integers, none of which has a prime divisor greater than 26. Prove that \(M\) contains at least one subset of four distinct elements whose product is the fourth power of an integer.

    Solution →

  5. Problem 5

    A circle with center \(O\) passes through the vertices \(A\) and \(C\) of triangle \(ABC\) and intersects the segments \(AB\) and \(BC\) again at distinct points \(K\) and \(N\), respectively. The circumscribed circles of the triangles \(ABC\) and \(EBN\) intersect at exactly two distinct points \(B\) and \(M\). Prove that angle \(OMB\) is a right angle.

    Solution →

  6. Problem 6

    For every real number \(x_1\), construct the sequence \(x_1,x_2,\ldots\) by setting \[ x_{n+1}=x_n\left(x_n+\frac1n\right) \quad\text{for each }n\ge1. \] Prove that there exists exactly one value of \(x_1\) for which \[ 0<x_n<x_{n+1}<1 \] for every \(n\).

    Solution →

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