Category Archives: problem

2018-09 Sum of digits

For a positive integer \( n \), let \( S(n) \) be the sum of all decimal digits in \( n \), i.e., if \( n = n_1 n_2 \dots n_m \) is the decimal expansion of \( n \), then \( S(n) = n_1 + n_2 + \dots + n_m \). Find all positive integers \( n \) and \( r \) such that \( (S(n))^r = S(n^r) \).

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-08 Large LCM

Let \(a_1\), \(a_2\), \(\ldots\), \(a_m\) be distinct positive integers. Prove that if \(m>2\sqrt{N}\), then there exist \(i\), \(j\) such that the least common multiple of \(a_i\) and \(a_j\) is greater than \(N\).

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-06 Product of diagonals

Let \(A_1,A_2,A_3,\ldots,A_n\) be the vertices of a regular \(n\)-gon on the unit circle. Evaluate \(\prod_{i=2}^n A_1A_i\). (Here, \(A_1A_i\) denotes the length of the line segment.)

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-05 Roulette

A gambler is playing roulette and betting $1 on black each time. The probability of winning $1 is 18/38, and the probability of losing $1 is 20/38. Find the probability that starting with $20 the player reaches $40 before losing the money.

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-04 An inequality

Let \(x_1,x_2,\ldots,x_n\) be reals such that \(x_1+x_2+\cdots+x_n=n\) and \(x_1^2+x_2^2+\cdots +x_n^2=n+1\). What is the maximum of \(x_1x_2+x_2x_3+x_3x_4+\cdots + x_{n-1}x_n+x_nx_1\)?

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-02 Impossible to squeeze

For \(n\ge 1\), let \(f(x)=x^n+\sum_{k=0}^{n-1} a_k x^k \) be a polynomial with real coefficients. Prove that if \(f(x)>0\) for all \(x\in [-2,2]\), then \(f(x)\ge 4\) for some \(x\in [-2,2]\).

GD Star Rating
loading...

2018-01 Recurrence relation

Define a sequence \( \{ a_n \} \) by \( a_1 = a \) and
\[
a_n = \frac{2n-1}{n-1} a_{n-1} -1
\]
for \( n \geq 2 \). Find all real values of \( a \) such that \( \lim_{n \to \infty} a_n \) exists.

GD Star Rating
loading...

2017-22 Debugging

Let \(p\), \(q\), \(r\) be positive integers such that \(p,q\ge r\). Ada and Betty independently read all source codes of their programming project. Ada found \(p\) bugs and Betty found \(q\) bugs, including \(r\) bugs that Ada found. What is the expected number of remaining bugs that neither Ada nor Betty found?

GD Star Rating
loading...