IMO 1993

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

  1. Problem 1

    Let \(f(x) = x^n + 5x^{n-1} + 3\), where \(n > 1\) is an integer. Prove that \(f(x)\) cannot be expressed as the product of two nonconstant polynomials with integer coefficients.

    Solution →

  2. Problem 2

    Let \(D\) be a point inside acute triangle \(ABC\) such that \(\angle ADB = \angle ACB + \pi/2\) and \(AC \cdot BD = AD \cdot BC\).

    (a) Calculate the ratio \((AB \cdot CD)/(AC \cdot BD)\).

    (b) Prove that the tangents at \(C\) to the circumcircles of \(\triangle ACD\) and \(\triangle BCD\) are perpendicular.

    Solution →

  3. Problem 3

    On an infinite chessboard, a game is played as follows. At the start, \(n^2\) pieces are arranged on the chessboard in an \(n\) by \(n\) block of adjoining squares, one piece in each square. A move in the game is a jump in a horizontal or vertical direction over an adjacent occupied square to an unoccupied square immediately beyond. The piece which has been jumped over is removed.

    Find those values of \(n\) for which the game can end with only one piece remaining on the board.

    Solution →

  4. Problem 4

    For three points \(P,Q,R\) in the plane, we define \(m(PQR)\) as the minimum length of the three altitudes of \(\triangle PQR\). (If the points are collinear, we set \(m(PQR)=0\).)

    Prove that for points \(A,B,C,X\) in the plane, \[ m(ABC)\leq m(ABX)+m(AXC)+m(XBC). \]

    Solution →

  5. Problem 5

    Does there exist a function \(f : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}\) such that \(f(1) = 2\), \(f(f(n)) = f(n) + n\) for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\), and \(f(n) < f(n + 1)\) for all \(n \in \mathbb{N}\)?

    Solution →

  6. Problem 6

    There are \(n\) lamps \(L_0,\ldots,L_{n-1}\) in a circle \((n>1)\), where we denote \(L_{n+k}=L_k\). (A lamp at all times is either on or off.) Perform steps \(s_0,s_1,\ldots\) as follows: at step \(s_i\), if \(L_{i-1}\) is lit, switch \(L_i\) from on to off or vice versa, otherwise do nothing. Initially all lamps are on. Show that:

    (a) There is a positive integer \(M(n)\) such that after \(M(n)\) steps all the lamps are on again;

    (b) If \(n=2^k\), we can take \(M(n)=n^2-1\);

    (c) If \(n=2^k+1\), we can take \(M(n)=n^2-n+1\).

    Solution →

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