olymmath

USAMO 1998

United States of America Mathematical Olympiad 1998.

Day 1

Problem 1

Suppose that the set {1,2,⋯ ,1998}\{1,2,\cdots, 1998\} has been partitioned into disjoint pairs {ai,bi}\{a_i,b_i\} ( 1≤i≤9991\leq i\leq 999 ) so that for all ii , ∣ai−bi∣|a_i-b_i| equals 11 or 66 . Prove that the sum ∣a1−b1∣+∣a2−b2∣+⋯+∣a999−b999∣|a_1-b_1|+|a_2-b_2|+\cdots +|a_{999}-b_{999}| ends in the digit 99 .

Answer, solutions and source

Problem 3

Let a0,a1,⋯ ,ana_0,a_1,\cdots ,a_n be numbers from the interval (0,π/2)(0,\pi/2) such that tan⁡(a0−π4)+tan⁡(a1−π4)+⋯+tan⁡(an−π4)≥n−1.\tan (a_0-\frac{\pi}{4})+ \tan (a_1-\frac{\pi}{4})+\cdots +\tan (a_n-\frac{\pi}{4})\geq n-1. Prove that tan⁡a0tan⁡a1⋯tan⁡an≥nn+1.\tan a_0\tan a_1 \cdots \tan a_n\geq n^{n+1}.

Answer, solutions and source

Day 2

Problem 4

A computer screen shows a 98×9898 \times 98 chessboard, colored in the usual way. One can select with a mouse any rectangle with sides on the lines of the chessboard and click the mouse button: as a result, the colors in the selected rectangle switch (black becomes white, white becomes black). Find, with proof, the minimum number of mouse clicks needed to make the chessboard all one color.

Answer, solutions and source

Problem 6

Let n≥5n \geq 5 be an integer. Find the largest integer kk (as a function of nn ) such that there exists a convex nn -gon A1A2…AnA_{1}A_{2}\dots A_{n} for which exactly kk of the quadrilaterals AiAi+1Ai+2Ai+3A_{i}A_{i+1}A_{i+2}A_{i+3} have an inscribed circle. (Here An+j=AjA_{n+j} = A_{j} .)

Answer, solutions and source