olymmath

ISL 2020 A5

    A magician intends to perform the following trick. She announces a positive integer nn, along with 2n2 n real numbers x1<…<x2nx_{1}<\ldots<x_{2 n}, to the audience. A member of the audience then secretly chooses a polynomial P(x)P(x) of degree nn with real coefficients, computes the 2n2 n values P(x1),…,P(x2n)P\left(x_{1}\right), \ldots, P\left(x_{2 n}\right), and writes down these 2n2 n values on the blackboard in non-decreasing order. After that the magician announces the secret polynomial to the audience. Can the magician find a strategy to perform such a trick? (Luxembourg)

    Official text Transcription from NuminaMath olympiads, checked word for word against the official paper. Quoted with source.

    Official text: IMO 2020 Shortlist booklet, page 6.

    Solutions

    Official solution Solution 1 by the IMO Problem Selection Committee

    The terms of the source let olymmath link to this solution but not copy it. Read the solution (IMO official site).

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