MO Bundesrunde Klasse 9 Mock Paper 3 · IMOolympiad.com · Original practice

6 written-solution problems · Two sessions: 3 problems and 270 minutes per session

For school year 9, by invitation through the Mathematik-Olympiade pathway. Grade 10 and higher-year papers differ and are not covered by these Grade 9 sets.

Original independent practice in English. Not an official paper or predicted selection test. Keep hints and solutions closed during your attempt.

How to review your proof

Check that you have used every condition, justified the main idea, covered all cases and stated the conclusion. A different complete proof can also be correct. This is a self-review checklist; written proofs are not automatically marked.

Session 1 · 270 minutes

Question 1

For a positive integer n, let φ(n)\varphi(n) count the integers from 1 to n coprime to n. Determine every n with φ(n)=12\varphi(n)=12.

Hint 1

For the prime factorisation n=∏pan=\prod p^a, use φ(n)=∏pa−1(p−1)\varphi(n)=\prod p^{a-1}(p-1). Thus every prime divisor p has p−1 dividing 12.

Hint 2

The possible primes are 2,3,5,7,13. Track their factors of 2 and 3 separately.

Worked solution 1

If n=∏pan=\prod p^a, counting the integers not divisible by any prime factor gives φ(n)=n∏(1−1/p)=∏pa−1(p−1)\varphi(n)=n\prod(1-1/p)=\prod p^{a-1}(p-1). This formula follows by inclusion–exclusion, since for each product of distinct prime divisors exactly n divided by that product of the numbers 1,…,n are multiples. To justify the subtraction in inclusion–exclusion, an integer divisible by r of the relevant distinct primes contributes total weight ∑j=0r(−1)j(rj)=(1−1)r\sum_{j=0}^r(-1)^j\binom rj=(1-1)^r: it is counted once when r=0 and zero times otherwise. Thus precisely the coprime integers remain. Each factor p−1 must divide 12, so p is one of 2,3,5,7,13. A factor 13 contributes 12; it can occur only to exponent 1, and the only optional additional prime factor is a single 2, whose totient contribution is 1. This gives 13,26. A factor 7 contributes 6 and also has exponent 1. The remaining contribution 2 comes either from 222^{2} or from 3; in the latter case an optional single 2 is allowed. This gives 28,21,42. A factor 5 contributes 4, leaving contribution 3. No product of the remaining allowed prime-power contributions is 3: 3 contributes an even number, and powers of 2 contribute powers of 2. So 5 cannot occur. Finally use only 2 and 3. A factor 3 in the target requires exponent 2 on 3, contributing 6; the remaining factor 2 forces exponent 2 on 2. This gives 36. Substitution in the product formula verifies all six numbers.

Conclusion: Exactly 13,21,26,28,36,42.

Question 2

Find all functions f:Z→Zf:\mathbb Z\to\mathbb Z such that f(0)=0, f(n)≥0 for every integer n, and f(m+n)+f(m−n)=2f(m)+2n2f(m+n)+f(m-n)=2f(m)+2n^2 for all integers m,n.

Hint 1

Set n=1 to obtain a recurrence for consecutive first differences.

Hint 2

After finding f(n) in terms of f(1), use n=1 and n=−1 in the nonnegativity condition.

Worked solution 2

Put c=f(1)−1, an integer. Taking n=1 in the given equation yields f(m+1)−f(m)=f(m)−f(m−1)+2.f(m+1)-f(m)=f(m)-f(m-1)+2. Thus the first differences increase by 2. Starting from f(0)=0 and f(1)=1+c, induction gives f(m)=m2+cmf(m)=m^2+cm for every nonnegative integer m: the next difference is 2m+1+c. Taking m=0 in the original equation gives f(n)+f(−n)=2n2f(n)+f(-n)=2n^2, which extends the same formula to negative n. Nonnegativity at 1 and −1 gives 1+c≥0 and 1−c≥0. Because c is an integer, c is −1,0 or 1. Conversely the three functions n2−n,n2,n2+nn^2-n,n^2,n^2+n are nonnegative at every integer, since the first and third are products of consecutive integers. Expanding their values verifies the given equation. Hence all three and only those three functions work.

Conclusion: f(n)=n2−nf(n)=n^2-n, f(n)=n2f(n)=n^2, or f(n)=n2+nf(n)=n^2+n.

Question 3

For four distinct points A,B,C,D in the plane, prove AC⋅BD≤AB⋅CD+AD⋅BC.AC\cdot BD\le AB\cdot CD+AD\cdot BC. Show that equality is possible by giving a configuration and verifying it.

Original four points on the left and the transformed triangle B prime C prime D prime on the right at a separate scaleABCDB′C′D′Original pointsTransformed triangle

Hint 1

Place A at the coordinate origin. For any other point X define X′=X/∣X∣2X^{\prime}=X/|X|^2, dividing each coordinate by the squared distance AX.

Hint 2

Prove X′Y′=XY/(AX⋅AY)X^{\prime}Y^{\prime}=XY/(AX\cdot AY), then apply the triangle inequality to B′,C′,D′.

Worked solution 3

Use coordinates with A as origin. For a vector X, write |X| for its length, and for X=(x1,x2)X=(x_1,x_2), Y=(y1,y2)Y=(y_1,y_2) define the dot product X⋅Y=x1y1+x2y2X\cdot Y=x_1y_1+x_2y_2. Every point X among B,C,D is nonzero, so define X′=X/∣X∣2X^{\prime}=X/|X|^2. Expansion gives ∣X′−Y′∣2=1∣X∣2+1∣Y∣2−2X⋅Y∣X∣2∣Y∣2=∣X−Y∣2∣X∣2∣Y∣2.\begin{aligned}|X^{\prime}-Y^{\prime}|^2&=\frac1{|X|^2}+\frac1{|Y|^2}-\frac{2X\cdot Y}{|X|^2|Y|^2}\\&=\frac{|X-Y|^2}{|X|^2|Y|^2}.\end{aligned} Taking nonnegative square roots yields the identity suggested in the hint. The usual triangle inequality for B′,C′,D′ now gives BDAB⋅AD≤BCAB⋅AC+CDAC⋅AD.\frac{BD}{AB\cdot AD}\le\frac{BC}{AB\cdot AC}+\frac{CD}{AC\cdot AD}. Multiply by the positive product AB·AC·AD to obtain the requested inequality. For a square ABCD of side s>0 in boundary order, both diagonals have length s√2. The left side is 2s2s^{2} and the right side is s2s^{2}+s2s^{2}, so equality is attained. This proof applies regardless of whether the original four points form a convex quadrilateral.

Conclusion: The inequality always holds; a square gives equality.

Session 2 · 270 minutes

Question 4

A simple graph on n≥1 vertices contains no triangle. Prove that it has at most ⌊n2/4⌋\lfloor n^2/4\rfloor edges. Give an attaining example for every n. A simple graph has no loops or repeated edges.

Hint 1

If uv is an edge, its endpoints have no common neighbour, so their degrees sum to at most n.

Hint 2

Sum that inequality over edges and compare the sum of squared degrees with the square of their sum.

Worked solution 4

Let e be the number of edges, and let d1,…,dnd_1,\ldots,d_n be the vertex degrees. If u,v are adjacent, their neighbour sets are disjoint: a common neighbour would form a triangle. Those two sets lie among the n vertices, so d(u)+d(v)≤n. Summing over all edges yields ∑idi2≤ne\sum_i d_i^2\le ne, because vertex i contributes its degree once for each of its did_i incident edges. Also ∑idi=2e\sum_i d_i=2e, since every edge has two ends. The identity n∑idi2−(∑idi)2=∑i<j(di−dj)2≥0n\sum_i d_i^2-\left(\sum_i d_i\right)^2=\sum_{i\lt j}(d_i-d_j)^2\ge0 therefore gives 4e2e^{2}≤n2n^{2}e. If e=0 the bound is immediate; otherwise divide by e to obtain e≤n2n^{2}/4 and take the integer part. For attainment, split the vertices into groups of sizes floor(n/2) and ceiling(n/2), join every pair from different groups, and join none within a group. Three vertices always include two in the same group, so no triangle occurs. The edge count is their product, floor(n2n^{2}/4).

Conclusion: The maximum is floor(n2n^{2}/4), attained by two balanced groups joined across.

Question 5

Let a,b be coprime positive integers. Prove ∑k=1b−1⌊akb⌋=(a−1)(b−1)2.\sum_{k=1}^{b-1}\left\lfloor\frac{ak}{b}\right\rfloor=\frac{(a-1)(b-1)}2. The sum is empty and equals zero when b=1.

Hint 1

When b>1, none of ak/b for 1≤k≤b−1 is an integer.

Hint 2

Pair the term at k with the one at b−k, and take care not to double-count.

Worked solution 5

The b=1 case has both sides zero. Suppose b>1. Coprimality implies b does not divide ak for 1≤k≤b−1, so ak/b is not an integer. For any noninteger real t and integer a, ⌊t⌋+⌊a−t⌋=a−1\lfloor t\rfloor+\lfloor a-t\rfloor=a-1: writing t as its integer part plus a fractional part strictly between 0 and 1 proves this directly. Apply it to t=ak/b. Since a−ak/b=a(b−k)/b, we get ⌊akb⌋+⌊a(b−k)b⌋=a−1.\left\lfloor\frac{ak}{b}\right\rfloor+\left\lfloor\frac{a(b-k)}b\right\rfloor=a-1. Sum over all k from 1 to b−1. The map k↦b−k permutes these indices, so the left side is twice the original sum, even if an index pairs with itself. Thus 2S=(a−1)(b−1), as required.

Conclusion: The sum is (a−1)(b−1)/2.

Question 6

Find all positive integer triples x≤y≤zx\le y\le z satisfying xyz=x+y+z+2xyz=x+y+z+2.

Hint 1

The ordering gives x+y+z+2≤3z+2. Use it to limit x.

Hint 2

For x=1 or x=2, convert the remaining equation into a product of two shifted factors.

Worked solution 6

If x≥3, then y≥x≥3 and xyz≥9z, while x+y+z+2≤3z+2<9z for positive z. This is impossible. If x=1, the equation becomes yz=y+z+3, hence (y−1)(z−1)=4(y-1)(z-1)=4. Its factors are positive and ordered, so they are (1,4) or (2,2). This gives (1,2,5) and (1,3,3). If x=2, the equation is 2yz=y+z+4, and multiplying by 2 and completing the product gives (2y−1)(2z−1)=9(2y-1)(2z-1)=9. Because y,z≥2, both factors are at least 3, so both equal 3. This gives (2,2,2). Each of the three triples satisfies the original equation, proving completeness.

Conclusion: Exactly (1,2,5),(1,3,3),(2,2,2)(1,2,5),(1,3,3),(2,2,2).

After this paper

Choose one gap in your proof to repair, study the linked idea, and write a complete solution again before the next mock.

Choose another paper · Check your German selection route

Format reference: official organiser information. Questions and explanations are independent practice material.