1978 USAMO Problems

Problems from the 1978 USAMO.

Problem 1

Given that $a,b,c,d,e$ are real numbers such that

$a+b+c+d+e=8$ ,

$a^2+b^2+c^2+d^2+e^2=16$ .

Determine the maximum value of $e$ .

Problem 2

$ABCD$ and $A'B'C'D'$ are square maps of the same region, drawn to different scales and superimposed as shown in the figure. Prove that there is only one point $O$ on the small map that lies directly over point $O'$ of the large map such that $O$ and $O'$ each represent the same place of the country. Also, give a Euclidean construction (straight edge and compass) for $O$ .

$[asy] defaultpen(linewidth(0.7)+fontsize(10)); real theta = -100, r = 0.3; pair D2 = (0.3,0.76); string[] lbl = {'A', 'B', 'C', 'D'}; draw(unitsquare); draw(shift(D2)*rotate(theta)*scale(r)*unitsquare); for(int i = 0; i < lbl.length; ++i) { pair Q = dir(135-90*i), P = (.5,.5)+Q/2^.5; label("$"+lbl[i]+"'$", P, Q); label("$"+lbl[i]+"$",D2+rotate(theta)*(r*P), rotate(theta)*Q); }[/asy]$

Solution

Problem 3

An integer $n$ will be called good if we can write

$n=a_1+a_2+\cdots+a_k$ ,

where $a_1,a_2, \ldots, a_k$ are positive integers (not necessarily distinct) satisfying

$\frac{1}{a_1}+\frac{1}{a_2}+\cdots+\frac{1}{a_k}=1$ .

Given the information that the integers 33 through 73 are good, prove that every integer $\ge 33$ is good.

Solution

Problem 4

(a) Prove that if the six dihedral (i.e. angles between pairs of faces) of a given tetrahedron are congruent, then the tetrahedron is regular.

(b) Is a tetrahedron necessarily regular if five dihedral angles are congruent?

Solution

Problem 5

Nine mathematicians meet at an international conference and discover that among any three of them, at least two speak a common language. If each of the mathematicians speak at most three languages, prove that there are at least three of the mathematicians who can speak the same language.

Solution

1978 USAMO (Problems • Resources)
Preceded by 1977 USAMO	Followed by 1979 USAMO
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
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1978 USAMO Problems

Contents

Problem 1

Problem 2

Problem 3

Problem 4

Problem 5

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