IMO 1990

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

  1. Problem 1

    Chords \(AB\) and \(CD\) of a circle intersect at a point \(E\) inside the circle. Let \(M\) be an interior point of the segment \(EB\). The tangent line at \(E\) to the circle through \(D\), \(E\), and \(M\) intersects the lines \(BC\) and \(AC\) at \(F\) and \(G\), respectively. If \[ \frac{AM}{AB}=t, \] find \[ \frac{EG}{EF} \] in terms of \(t\).

    Solution →

  2. Problem 2

    Let \(n \geq 3\) and consider a set \(E\) of \(2n - 1\) distinct points on a circle. Suppose that exactly \(k\) of these points are to be colored black. Such a coloring is “good” if there is at least one pair of black points such that the interior of one of the arcs between them contains exactly \(n\) points from \(E\). Find the smallest value of \(k\) so that every such coloring of \(k\) points of \(E\) is good.

    Solution →

  3. Problem 3

    Determine all integers \(n>1\) such that \[ \frac{2^n+1}{n^2} \] is an integer.

    Solution →

  4. Problem 4

    Let \(\mathbb{Q}^{+}\) be the set of positive rational numbers. Construct a function \(f:\mathbb{Q}^{+}\to\mathbb{Q}^{+}\) such that \[ f(xf(y))=\frac{f(x)}{y} \] for all \(x,y\) in \(\mathbb{Q}^{+}\).

    Solution →

  5. Problem 5

    Given an initial integer \(n_0>1\), two players, \(\mathcal A\) and \(\mathcal B\), choose integers \(n_1,n_2,n_3,\ldots\) alternately according to the following rules:

    Knowing \(n_{2k}\), \(\mathcal A\) chooses any integer \(n_{2k+1}\) such that \[ n_{2k}\le n_{2k+1}\le n_{2k}^{2}. \]

    Knowing \(n_{2k+1}\), \(\mathcal B\) chooses any integer \(n_{2k+2}\) such that \[ \frac{n_{2k+1}}{n_{2k+2}} \] is a prime raised to a positive integer power.

    Player \(\mathcal A\) wins the game by choosing the number 1990; player \(\mathcal B\) wins by choosing the number 1. For which \(n_0\) does:

    (a) \(\mathcal A\) have a winning strategy?

    (b) \(\mathcal B\) have a winning strategy?

    (c) Neither player have a winning strategy?

    Solution →

  6. Problem 6

    Prove that there exists a convex 1990-gon with the following two properties:

    (a) All angles are equal.

    (b) The lengths of the 1990 sides are the numbers \(1^2, 2^2, 3^2, \ldots, 1990^2\) in some order.

    Solution →

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