olymmath

USAMO 1974

United States of America Mathematical Olympiad 1974.

Day 1

Problem 1

  • Day 1

p(x)p(x) is a polynomial with integral coefficients. Show that there are no solutions to the equations p(a)=bp(a)=b, p(b)=c,p(c)=a\mathrm{p}(\mathrm{b})=\mathrm{c}, \mathrm{p}(\mathrm{c})=\mathrm{a}, with a,b,c\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{b}, \mathrm{c} distinct integers.

Answer, solutions and source

Problem 2

  • Day 1

Show that for any positive reals x,y,z\mathrm{x}, \mathrm{y}, \mathrm{z} we have xxyyzz≥(xyz)a\mathrm{x}^{\mathrm{x}} \mathrm{y}^{\mathrm{y}} \mathrm{z}^{\mathrm{z}} \geq(\mathrm{xyz})^{\mathrm{a}}, where a\mathrm{a} is the arithmetic mean of x,y,z\mathrm{x}, \mathrm{y}, \mathrm{z}.

Answer, solutions and source

Problem 3

  • Day 1

Two points in a thin spherical shell are joined by a curve shorter than the diameter of the shell. Show that the curve lies entirely in one hemisphere.

Answer, solutions and source

Day 2

Problem 4

  • Day 2

A, B, C play a series of games. Each game is between two players, The next game is between the winner and the person who was not playing. The series continues until one player has won two games. He wins the series. A is the weakest player, C the strongest. Each player has a fixed probability of winning against a given opponent. A chooses who plays the first game. Show that he should choose to play himself against B.

Answer, solutions and source

Problem 5

  • Day 2

A point inside an equilateral triangle with side 1 is a distance a,b,c\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{b}, \mathrm{c} from the vertices. The triangle ABC\mathrm{ABC} has BC=a,CA=b,AB=c\mathrm{BC}=\mathrm{a}, \mathrm{CA}=\mathrm{b}, \mathrm{AB}=\mathrm{c}. The sides subtend equal angles at a point inside it. Show that sum of the distances of the point from the vertices is 1 .

Answer, solutions and source