NMC 2001

Let $A$ be a finite collection of squares in the coordinate plane such that the vertices of all squares that belong to $A$ are $(m, n),(m+1, n),(m, n+1)$, and $(m+1, n+1)$ for some integers $m$ and $n$. Show that there exists a subcollection $B$ of $A$ such that $B$ contains at least $25 \%$ of the squares in $A$, but no two of the squares in $B$ have a common vertex.

Let $f$ be a bounded real function defined for all real numbers and satisfying for all real numbers $x$ the condition

$$f\left(x+\frac{1}{3}\right)+f\left(x+\frac{1}{2}\right)=f(x)+f\left(x+\frac{5}{6}\right)$$

Show that $f$ is periodic. (A function $f$ is bounded, if there exists a number $L$ such that $|f(x)|<L$ for all real numbers $x$. A function $f$ is periodic, if there exists a positive number $k$ such that $f(x+k)=f(x)$ for all real numbers $x$.)

Determine the number of real roots of the equation

$$x^{8}-x^{7}+2 x^{6}-2 x^{5}+3 x^{4}-3 x^{3}+4 x^{2}-4 x+\frac{5}{2}=0$$

Let $A B C D E F$ be a convex hexagon, in which each of the diagonals $A D, B E$, and $C F$ divides the hexagon in two quadrilaterals of equal area. Show that $A D, B E$, and $C F$ are concurrent.

Figure 12.