18th IMC Competition
2012
A1. For every positive integer n, let p(n) denote the number of ways to
express n as a sum of positive integers. For instance, p(4) = 5 because
4 = 3 + 1 = 2 + 2 = 2 + 1 + 1 = 1 + 1 + 1 + 1. Also define p(0) = 1.
Prove that p(n) − p(n − 1) is the number of ways to express n as a sum
of integers each of which is strictly greater than 1.
A2. Let n be a fixed positive integer. Determine the smallest possible rank
of an n × n matrix that has zeros along the main diagonal and strictly
positive real numbers off the main diagonal.
A3. Given an integer n > 1, let Sn be the group of permutations of the
numbers 1, 2, . . . , n. Two players, A and B, play the following game.
Taking turns, they select elements (one element at a time) from the
group Sn . It is forbidden to select an element that has already been
selected. The game ends when the selected elements generate the whole
group Sn . The player who made the last move loses the game. The
first move is made by A. Which player has a winning strategy?
A4. Let f : R → R be a continuously differentiable function that satises
f (t) > f (f (t)) for all t ∈ R. Prove that f (f (f (t))) ≤ 0 for all t ≥ 0.
A5. Let a be a rational number and let n be a positive integer. Prove that
n n
the polynomial X 2 (X + a)2 + 1 is irreducible in the ring Q[X] of
polynomials with rational coefficients.
B1. Consider a polynomial
f (x) = x2012 + a2011 x2011 + · · · + a1 x + a0 .
Albert Einstein and Homer Simpson are playing the following game.
In turn, they choose one of the coeffcients a0 , . . . , a2011 and assign a
real value to it. Albert has the first move. Once a value is assigned to
a coeffcient, it cannot be changed any more. The game ends after all
the coefficients have been assigned values. Homers goal is to make f (x)
divisible by a fixed polynomial m(x) and Alberts goal is to prevent this.
(a) Which of the players has a winning strategy if m(x) = x − 2012?
(b) Which of the players has a winning strategy if m(x) = x2 + 1?
1
B2. Define the sequence a0 , a1 , . . . inductively by a0 = 1, a1 = 2
and
na2n
an+1 = for n ≥ 1.
1 + (n + 1)an
P∞ ak+1
Show that the series k=0 ak
converges and determine its value.
B3. Is the set of positive integers n such that n! + 1 divides (2012n)! finite
or infinite?
B4. Let n ≥ 2 be an integer. Find all real numbers a such that there exist
real numbers x1 , . . . , xn satisfying
x1 (1 − x2 ) = x2 (1 − x3 ) = · · · = xn−1 (1 − xn ) = xn (1 − x1 ) = a.
B5. Let c ≥ 1 be a real number. Let G be an abelian group and let A ⊂ G
be a nite set satisfying |A + A| ≤ c|A|, where X + Y := {x + y | x ∈
X, y ∈ Y } and |Z| denotes the cardinality of Z. Prove that
|A + A + · · · + A| ≤ ck |A|
for every positive integer k.
