Let $A,B$ be adjacent vertices of a regular $n$-gon ($n\ge5$) with center $O$. A triangle $XYZ$, which is congruent to and initially coincides with $OAB$, moves in the plane in such a way that $Y$ and $Z$ each trace out the whole boundary of the polygon, with $X$ remaining inside the polygon. Find the locus of $X$.
1986 IMO Shortlist
Let $f(x) = x^n$ where $n$ is a fixed positive integer and $x =1, 2, \cdots .$ Is the decimal expansion $a = 0.f (1)f(2)f(3) . . .$ rational for any value of $n$ ? The decimal expansion of a is defined as follows: If $f(x) = d_1(x)d_2(x) \cdots d_{r(x)}(x)$ is the decimal expansion of $f(x)$, then $a = 0.1d_1(2)d_2(2) \cdots d_{r(2)}(2)d_1(3) . . . d_{r(3)}(3)d_1(4) \cdots .$
Let $A, B$, and $C$ be three points on the edge of a circular chord such that $B$ is due west of $C$ and $ABC$ is an equilateral triangle whose side is $86$ meters long. A boy swam from $A$ directly toward $B$. After covering a distance of $x$ meters, he turned and swam westward, reaching the shore after covering a distance of $y$ meters. If $x$ and $y$ are both positive integers, determine $y.$
Provided the equation $xyz = p^n(x + y + z)$ where $p \geq 3$ is a prime and $n \in \mathbb{N}$. Prove that the equation has at least $3n + 3$ different solutions $(x,y,z)$ with natural numbers $x,y,z$ and $x < y < z$. Prove the same for $p > 3$ being an odd integer.
Let $d$ be any positive integer not equal to $2, 5$ or $13$. Show that one can find distinct $a,b$ in the set $\{2,5,13,d\}$ such that $ab-1$ is not a perfect square.
Find four positive integers each not exceeding $70000$ and each having more than $100$ divisors.
Let real numbers $x_1, x_2, \cdots , x_n$ satisfy $0 < x_1 < x_2 < \cdots< x_n < 1$ and set $x_0 = 0, x_{n+1} = 1$. Suppose that these numbers satisfy the following system of equations: \[\sum_{j=0, j \neq i}^{n+1} \frac{1}{x_i-x_j}=0 \quad \text{where } i = 1, 2, . . ., n.\] Prove that $x_{n+1-i} = 1- x_i$ for $i = 1, 2, . . . , n.$
From a collection of $n$ persons $q$ distinct two-member teams are selected and ranked $1, \cdots, q$ (no ties). Let $m$ be the least integer larger than or equal to $2q/n$. Show that there are $m$ distinct teams that may be listed so that : (i) each pair of consecutive teams on the list have one member in common and (ii) the chain of teams on the list are in rank order. Alternative formulation. Given a graph with $n$ vertices and $q$ edges numbered $1, \cdots , q$, show that there exists a chain of $m$ edges, $m \geq \frac{2q}{n}$ , each two consecutive edges having a common vertex, arranged monotonically with respect to the numbering.
Given a finite set of points in the plane, each with integer coordinates, is it always possible to color the points red or white so that for any straight line $L$ parallel to one of the coordinate axes the difference (in absolute value) between the numbers of white and red points on $L$ is not greater than $1$?
Three persons $A,B,C$, are playing the following game: A $k$-element subset of the set $\{1, . . . , 1986\}$ is randomly chosen, with an equal probability of each choice, where $k$ is a fixed positive integer less than or equal to $1986$. The winner is $A,B$ or $C$, respectively, if the sum of the chosen numbers leaves a remainder of $0, 1$, or $2$ when divided by $3$. For what values of $k$ is this game a fair one? (A game is fair if the three outcomes are equally probable.)
Let $f(n)$ be the least number of distinct points in the plane such that for each $k = 1, 2, \cdots, n$ there exists a straight line containing exactly $k$ of these points. Find an explicit expression for $f(n).$ Simplified version. Show that $f(n)=\left[\frac{n+1}{2}\right]\left[\frac{n+2}{2}\right].$ Where $[x]$ denoting the greatest integer not exceeding $x.$
To each vertex of a regular pentagon an integer is assigned, so that the sum of all five numbers is positive. If three consecutive vertices are assigned the numbers $x,y,z$ respectively, and $y<0$, then the following operation is allowed: $x,y,z$ are replaced by $x+y,-y,z+y$ respectively. Such an operation is performed repeatedly as long as at least one of the five numbers is negative. Determine whether this procedure necessarily comes to an end after a finite number of steps.
A particle moves from $(0, 0)$ to $(n, n)$ directed by a fair coin. For each head it moves one step east and for each tail it moves one step north. At $(n, y), y < n$, it stays there if a head comes up and at $(x, n), x < n$, it stays there if a tail comes up. Let$ k$ be a fixed positive integer. Find the probability that the particle needs exactly $2n+k$ tosses to reach $(n, n).$
The circle inscribed in a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC,CA,AB$ in $D,E, F$, respectively, and $X, Y,Z$ are the midpoints of $EF, FD,DE$, respectively. Prove that the centers of the inscribed circle and of the circles around $XYZ$ and $ABC$ are collinear.
Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral whose vertices do not lie on a circle. Let $A'B'C'D'$ be a quadrangle such that $A',B', C',D'$ are the centers of the circumcircles of triangles $BCD,ACD,ABD$, and $ABC$. We write $T (ABCD) = A'B'C'D'$. Let us define $A''B''C''D'' = T (A'B'C'D') = T (T (ABCD)).$ (a) Prove that $ABCD$ and $A''B''C''D''$ are similar. (b) The ratio of similitude depends on the size of the angles of $ABCD$. Determine this ratio.
Let $A,B$ be adjacent vertices of a regular $n$-gon ($n\ge5$) with center $O$. A triangle $XYZ$, which is congruent to and initially coincides with $OAB$, moves in the plane in such a way that $Y$ and $Z$ each trace out the whole boundary of the polygon, with $X$ remaining inside the polygon. Find the locus of $X$.
Given a point $P_0$ in the plane of the triangle $A_1A_2A_3$. Define $A_s=A_{s-3}$ for all $s\ge4$. Construct a set of points $P_1,P_2,P_3,\ldots$ such that $P_{k+1}$ is the image of $P_k$ under a rotation center $A_{k+1}$ through an angle $120^o$ clockwise for $k=0,1,2,\ldots$. Prove that if $P_{1986}=P_0$, then the triangle $A_1A_2A_3$ is equilateral.
Let $AX,BY,CZ$ be three cevians concurrent at an interior point $D$ of a triangle $ABC$. Prove that if two of the quadrangles $DY AZ,DZBX,DXCY$ are circumscribable, so is the third.
A tetrahedron $ABCD$ is given such that $AD = BC = a; AC = BD = b; AB\cdot CD = c^2$. Let $f(P) = AP + BP + CP + DP$, where $P$ is an arbitrary point in space. Compute the least value of $f(P).$
Prove that the sum of the face angles at each vertex of a tetrahedron is a straight angle if and only if the faces are congruent triangles.
Let $ABCD$ be a tetrahedron having each sum of opposite sides equal to $1$. Prove that \[r_A + r_B + r_C + r_D \leq \frac{\sqrt 3}{3}\] where $r_A, r_B, r_C, r_D$ are the inradii of the faces, equality holding only if $ABCD$ is regular.