IMO 1991

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

  1. Problem 1

    Given a triangle \(ABC\), let \(I\) be the center of its inscribed circle. The internal bisectors of the angles \(A,B,C\) meet the opposite sides in \(A',B',C'\) respectively. Prove that \[ \frac14<\frac{AI\cdot BI\cdot CI}{AA'\cdot BB'\cdot CC'}\leq\frac8{27}. \]

    Solution →

  2. Problem 2

    Let \(n>6\) be an integer and \(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_k\) be all the natural numbers less than \(n\) and relatively prime to \(n\). If \[ a_2-a_1=a_3-a_2=\cdots=a_k-a_{k-1}>0, \] prove that \(n\) must be either a prime number or a power of \(2\).

    Solution →

  3. Problem 3

    Let \(S = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 280\}\). Find the smallest integer \(n\) such that each \(n\)-element subset of \(S\) contains five numbers which are pairwise relatively prime.

    Solution →

  4. Problem 4

    Suppose \(G\) is a connected graph with \(k\) edges. Prove that it is possible to label the edges \(1,2,\ldots,k\) in such a way that at each vertex which belongs to two or more edges, the greatest common divisor of the integers labeling those edges is equal to \(1\).

    [A graph consists of a set of points, called vertices, together with a set of edges joining certain pairs of distinct vertices. Each pair of vertices \(u,v\) belongs to at most one edge. The graph \(G\) is connected if for each pair of distinct vertices \(x,y\) there is some sequence of vertices \(x=v_0,v_1,v_2,\ldots,v_m=y\) such that each pair \(v_i,v_{i+1}\) \((0\leq i<m)\) is joined by an edge of \(G\).]

    Solution →

  5. Problem 5

    Let \(ABC\) be a triangle and \(P\) an interior point of \(ABC\). Show that at least one of the angles \(\angle PAB,\angle PBC,\angle PCA\) is less than or equal to \(30^\circ\).

    Solution →

  6. Problem 6

    An infinite sequence \(x_0,x_1,x_2,\ldots\) of real numbers is said to be bounded if there is a constant \(C\) such that \(|x_i|\le C\) for every \(i\ge0\).

    Given any real number \(a>1\), construct a bounded infinite sequence \(x_0,x_1,x_2,\ldots\) such that \[ |x_i-x_j||i-j|^a\ge1 \] for every pair of distinct nonnegative integers \(i,j\).

    Solution →

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