INMO past Algebra questions

December 27, 2022

Komal S Ghadigaonkar

1 Equation
1. (INMO 87) Prove that if coefficients of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx +
c = 0 are odd integers, then the roots of the equation cannot be rational
numbers.
2. (INMO1988)Prove that if coefficients of the quadratic equation ax2 + bx +
c = 0 are odd integers, then the roots of the equation cannot be rational
numbers.
3. (INMO 89) Prove that the polynomial f (x) = x4 +26x3 +56x2 +78x+1989
cannot be expressed as a product f (x) = p(x)q(x) where p(x), q(x)are both
polynomials with integral coefficients and with degree less than 4.

1
 4. (INMO 89) Let a, b, c and d be any four real numbers, not all equal to zero.
Prove that the roots of the polynomial f (x) = x6 + ax3 + bx2 + cx + d can
not be all real.
5. (INMO 90) Given the equation x4 + px3 + qx2 + rx + s = 0 has four real,
positive roots, prove that
(a) pr − 16s ≥ 0 (b) q 2 − 36s ≥ 0 with equality in each case holding if and
only if the four roots are equal.
6. (INMO 91)Solve the following system for real x, y, z
x+y−z =4
x2 − y 2 + z 2 = −4
xyz = 6
7. (INMO 95) Show that there are infinitely many pairs (a, b) of relatively
prime integers (not necessarily positive) such that both quadratic func-
tions x2 + ax + b = 0 and x2 + 2ax + b = 0 have integer roots.
8. (INMO 96) Solve the following system of equations for real numbers
a, b, c, d, e. 3a = (b + c + d)3 , 3b = (c + d + e)3 , 3c = (d + e + a)3 , 3d =
(e + a + b)3 , 3e = (a + b + c)3 .
1 1
9. (INMO 97) If a, b, c are three distinct real numbers and a + b = b+ c =
c + a1 = t for some real number t, prove that abc + t = 0.
10. (INMO 97) Suppose a and b are two positive real numbers such that the
roots of the cubic equation x3 − ax + b = 0 are all real. If α is a root of
this cubic with minimum absolute value, prove that ab < α ≤ 2a 3b
.
11. (INMO 98) Suppose a, b, c are three real numbers such that the quadratic
equation x2 − (a + b + c)x + (ab + bc + ca) = 0 has roots √ of the form
α ± iβ where α > 0 and β 6= 0 are real numbers √ [here√i =√ −1that (i) the
numbers a, b, c are all positive; (ii) the numbers a, b, c form the sides
of a triangle.
12. (INMO 2000) If a, b, c, x are real numbers such that abc 6= 0 and
xb + (1 − x)c xc + (1 − x)a xa + (1 − x)b
= =
a b c
then prove that a = b = c.
13. (INMO 2000) Let a, b, c be three real numbers such that. Prove that if λ
is a root of the cubic equation x3 + ax2 + bx + c = 0 (real or complex),
then |λ| ≤ 1.
14. (INMO 2000)Solve for integers x, y, z:
x+y = 1−z
{
x3 + y 3 = 1 − z2.

2
 15. (INMO2002,P2) Find the smallest positive value taken by a3 +b3 +c3 −3abc
for positive integers a, b, c . Find all a, b, c which give the smallest value.
16. (INMO 2003) Show that for every real number a the equation 8x4 −16x3 +
16x2 − 8x + a = 0 has at least one non real root and find the sum of all
the non real roots of the equation.
17. (INMO 2005) Let p, q, r be positive real numbers, not all equal, such that
some two of the equations

px2 + 2qx + r = 0
2
qx + 2rx + p = 0
rx2 + 2px + q = 0.

have a common root, say α. Prove that

a) α is real and negative;
b) the remaining third quadratic equation has non-real roots.
18. (INMO 2007)Let m and n be positive integers such that x2 − mx + n = 0
has real roots α and β.Prove that α and β are integers if and only if
[mα]+[mβ] is the square of an integer.(Here [x] denotes the largest integer
not exceeding x)
19. (INMO 2010)Find all non-zero real numbers x, y, z which satisfy the sys-
tem of equations:

(x2 + xy + y 2 )(y 2 + yz + z 2 )(z 2 + zx + x2 ) = xyz,

(x4 + x2 y 2 + y 4 )(y 4 + y 2 z 2 + z 4 )(z 4 + z 2 x2 + x4 ) = x3 y 3 z 3 .

Hints
1. 17) Method of contradiction, The discriminant
2. 18) [x + y] ≥ [x] + [y] ≥ [x + y] − 1, and rational roots theorem
3. 19) Does (x2 + xy + y 2 ) divides (x4 + x2 y 2 + y 4 ) ? What can we say about
(x2 − xy + y 2 ) and xy?

2 Polynomials
1. (INMO 92)Let f (x) be a polynomial in x with integer coefficients and
suppose that for five distinct integers a1 , . . . , a5 one has f (a1 ) = f (a2 ) =
. . . = f (a5 ) = 2. Show that there does not exist an integer b such that
f (b) = 9.

3
 2. (INMO 93)Let p(x) = x2 + ax + b be a quadratic polynomial with a, b ∈
Z. Given any integer n , show that there is an integer M such that
p(n)p(n + 1) = p(M ).
3. (INMO 99) Show that there do not exist polynomials p(x) and q(x) each
having integer coefficients and of degree greater than or equal to 1 such
that p(x)q(x) = x5 + 2x + 1.
4. (INMO 99)Given any four distinct real numbers, show that one can choose
three numbers, say, A, B, C from among them such that all the three
quadratic equations Bx2 + x + C = 0, Cx2 + x + A = 0, Ax2 + x + B = 0
have only real roots or all the three equations have only imaginary roots.
5. (INMO 2008)Let P (x) be a polynomial with integer coefficients. Prove
that there exist two polynomials Q(x) and R(x), again with integer coef-
ficients, such that
(i) P (x)Q(x) is a polynomial in x2 ;and
(ii) P (x)R(x) is a polynomial in x3
6. (INMO 2013)Let a, b, c, d be positive integers such that a ≥ b ≥ c ≥ d.
Prove that the equation x4 −ax3 −bx2 −cx−d = 0 has no integer solution.
7. (INMO 2014)Written on a blackboard is the polynomial x2 + x + 2014.
Calvin and Hobbes take turns alternatively (starting with Calvin) in the
following game. During his turn, Calvin should either increase or decrease
the coefficient of x by 1. And during his turn, Hobbes should either
increase or decrease the constant coefficient by 1. Calvin wins if at any
point of time the polynomial on the blackboard at that instant has integer
roots. Prove that Calvin has a winning strategy.
8. (INMO 2017)Find all polynomials with real coefficients p(x) such that
p(x2 + x + 1) divides p(x3 − 1)

9. (INMO 2020) Suppose P (x) is a polynomial with real coefficients, satisfy-

ing the condition P (cos θ + sin θ) = P (cos θ − sin θ), for every real θ. Prove
that P (x) can be expressed in the form
P (x) = a0 + a1 (1 − x2 )2 + a2 (1 − x2 )4 + · · · + an (1 − x2 )2n
for some real numbers a0 , a1 , . . . , an and non-negative integer n.
10. (INMO 2021)Find all pairs of integers (a, b) so that each of the two cubic
polynomials
x3 + ax + b and x3 + bx + a
has all the roots to be integers.

Hints:
1. If f is a polynomial over integers then a − b | f (a) − f (b) for a, b ∈ Z

4
3 Inequalities
1. (INMO1988)If a and b are positive and a + b = 1, prove that
 2  2
1 1 25
a+ + b+ ≥
a b 2

2. (INMO 90) Let a, b, c denote the sides of a triangle. Show that the quantity
a b c
b+c + c+a + a+b must lie between the limits 3/2 and 2. Can equality hold
at either limits?

3. (INMO 91)Let a, b, c be real numbers with 0 < a < 1, 0 < b < 1, 0 < c < 1,
a b c
and a + b + c = 2. Prove that · · ≥ 8.
1−a 1−b 1−c
4. (INMO 92) If x, y, z ∈ R such that x + y + z = 4 and x2 + y2 + z 2 = 6, then
2
show that each of x, y, z lies in the closed interval , 2 . Can x attain
3
2
the extreme value or 2?
3
5. (INMO 93)If a, b, c, d ∈ R+ and a + b + c + d = 1, show that
1
ab + bc + cd ≤ .
4

6. (INMO 94) If x5 − x3 + x = a,prove that x6 ≥ 2a − 1.

7. (INMO 95)Let n ≥ 2. Let a1 , a2 , a3 , . . . an be n real numbers all greater
than 1 and such that |ak − ak+1 | < 1 for 1 ≤ k ≤ n − 1. Show that
a1 a2 a3 an−1 an
+ + + ... + + < 2n − 1.
a2 a3 a4 an a1

8. (INMO 2001)If a, b, c are positive real numbers such that abc = 1, Prove
that
ab+c bc+a ca+b ≤ 1.

9. (INMO 2002) If x, y are positive reals such that x + y = 2 show that

x3 y 3 (x3 + y 3 ) ≤ 2.
10. (INMO 2003)Let a, b, c be the side lengths and S the area of a triangle
ABC. Denote x = a + 2b , y = b + 2c and z = c + a2 . Prove that there exists
a triangle with side lengths x, y, z, and the area of this triangle is ≥ 94 S.
11. (INMO 2007) If x, yz,be positive reals , prove that

(x + y + z)2 (yz + zx + xy)2 ≤ 3(x2 + xy + y 2 )(y 2 + yz + z 2 )(z 2 + zx + x2 )

5
 12. (INMO 2009) Let a, b, c be positive real numbers such that a3 + b3 = c3 .
Prove that
a2 + b2 − c2 > 6(c − a)(c − b)
13. (INMO 2013)Let a, b, c, x, y, z be six positive real numbers satisfying x +
y + z = a + b + c and xyz = abc. Further, suppose that a ≤ x < y < z ≤ c
and a < b < c. Prove that a = x, b = y and c = z.
14. (INMO 2016) For positive real numbers a, b, c, which of the following state-
ments necessarily implies a = b = c:
(I) a(b3 + c3 ) = b(c3 + a3 ) = c(a3 + b3 ),
(II) a(a3 + b3 ) = b(b3 + c3 ) = c(c3 + a3 ) ? Justify your answer.

15. (INMO 2020)Let n > 2 be an integer and let 1 < a1 ≤ a2 ≤ · · · ≤ an be

n real numbers such that a1 + a2 + · · · + an = 2n. Prove that
a1 a2 . . . an−1 + a1 a2 . . . an−2 + · · · + a1 a2 + a1 + 2 6 a1 a2 . . . an .

Inequalities hints :
1. First use Cauchy Engel form and then AM-HM.
a
2. The first is Nesbitt’s inequality.add 1 to each term . for second b+c <
2a
a+b+c ⇐⇒ a < b + c

3. Use a nice substitution

4. Use 2(x2 + y 2 ) ≥ (x + y)2 and get an equation in z
5. ab + bc + cd + da = 41 ((a + b + c + d)2 − (a − b + c − d)2 )
6. Algebraic manipulation
7. Use an −a1 = (an −an−1 )+(an−1 −an−2 )+....+(a2 −a1 ) or use Induction
8. Just take some order and trial and error
9. Can we write x3 + y 3 in terms of xy using x + y = 2?
10. Ravi substitution
11. x2 +xy +y 2 = 43 (x+y)2 + 14 (x−y)2 ≥ 43 (x+y)2 and (x+y)(y +z)(z +x) =
(x + y + z)(yz + zx + xy) − xyz
12. Can we prove a > 2c . One way of showing inequality is express LHS-RHS
as quadratic in b and try to prove its positive definite.
13. Create polynomials f (t) = (t−a)(t−b)(t−c) and g(t) = (t−x)(t−y)(t−z)
.
14. C-S and identities
15. Chebyshev’s

6
4 Functional equation
1. (INMO 92)Determine all functions f : R − [0, 1] → R such that
 
1 2(1 − 2x)
f (x) + f = .
1−x x(1 − x)

2. (INMO 93)Let f be a bijective function from A = {1, 2, . . . , n} to itself.

Show that there is a positive integer M such that f M (i) = f (i) for each i
in A, where f M denotes the composition f ◦ f ◦ · · · ◦ f M times.
3. (INMO 94) If f : R → R is a function satisfying the properties
(a) f (−x) = −f (x),
(b) f (x + 1) = f (x) + 1,
(c) f x1 = fx(x)


2 , for x 6= 0, prove that f (x) = x for all real values of x.

Here R denotes the set of all real numbers.

4. (INMO 2001) Let R denote the set of all real numbers. Find all functions
f : R → R satisfying the condition f (x + y) = f (x)f (y)f (xy) for all x, y
in R.
5. (INMO 2006)Let X = Z3 denote the set of all triples (a, b, c) of integers.
Define f : X → X by

f (a, b, c) = (a + b + c, ab + bc + ca, abc).

Find all triples (a, b, c) such that

f (f (a, b, c)) = (a, b, c).

6. (2012 INMO) Define a sequence < f0 (x), f1 (x), f2 (x), · · · > of functions
by
f0 (x) = 1
f1 (x) = x
2
(fn (x)) − 1 = fn+1 (x)fn−1 (x)
for n ≥ 1. Prove that each fn (x) is a polynomial with integer coefficients.
7. (2012 INMO)Let f : Z → Z be a function satisfying f (0) 6= 0, f (1) = 0
and
(i)f (xy) + f (x)f (y) = f (x) + f (y)
(ii) (f (x − y) − f (0)) f (x)f (y) = 0 for all x, y ∈ Z, simultaneously.
(a)Find the set of all possible values of the function f .(range of f )
(b)If f (10) 6= 0 and f (2) = 0, find the set of all integers n such that
f (n) 6= 0.
8. (INMO 2015)Find all real functions f : R → R such that f (x2 + yf (x)) =
xf (x + y).

7
 9. (INMO 2017)Let N denote the set of all natural numbers and let f : N →
N be a function such that
a) f (mn) = f (m)f (n)∀m, n ∈ N
b) m + n dividesf (m) + f (n)∀m, n ∈ N
Prove that there exists an odd natural number k such that f (n) = nk for
all n ∈ N .

10. (INMO 2021) Let R[x] be the set of all polynomials with real coefficients.
Find all functions f : R[x] → R[x] satisfying the following conditions: f
maps the zero polynomial to itself, for any non-zero polynomial P ∈ R[x],
deg f (P ) ≤ 1 + deg P , and for any two polynomials P, Q ∈ R[x], the
polynomials P − f (Q) and Q − f (P ) have the same set of real roots.
Proposed by Anant Mudgal, Sutanay Bhattacharya, Pulkit Sinha

Hints :
1. Cyclic substitution and simultaneous equation
2. PHP and LCM !
3. You can take a dummy function as g(x) = f (x) − x

4. Can you find the value of f (0)? Substitution P (1, x − 1) is very useful.
Also to encash psudosymmetry replace xby −x.
5. Can we prove (a + 1)(b + 1)(c + 1) = a + 1 ? or
Method 2
Let us put a + b + c = d, ab + bc + ca = e and abc = f , then c = def so
f c = abcdef so abcd = 1 or cf = 0
6. Can we convert the RR into a linear RR. Can we use fn2 − fn+1 fn−1 =
2
1 = fn−1 − fn fn−2 ?
7. Can we find value of f (0) ? P (x, 0), P (x, 2) and P (x, 5) are all very useful.