Problems

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Found: 17

All the positive fractions smaller than \(1\) with denominators not more than \(100\) are written in a row. Isley and Ella put signs \("+"\) or \("-"\) in front of any fraction, which does not yet have a sign before it. They write signs in turns, but it is known that Isley has to make the last move and calculate the resulting sum. If the total sum turns out to be an integer number, then Ella will give her a chocolate bar. Will Isley be able to get a chocolate bar regardless of Ella’s actions?

Cambria was building various cuboids from \(1\times 1\times1\) cubes. She initially built one cuboid, then increased its length and width by \(1\) and reduced its height by \(2\). She then understood that she needs the same number of \(1\times 1\times 1\) cubes to build both the original and new cuboids. Prove that the number of cubes used for each of the cuboids is divisible by \(3\).

Let \(a\) and \(b\) be positive real numbers. Using volumes of cubes and parallelepipeds, show that \((a+b)^3 = a^3 +3a^2b+3ab^2 +b^3\).

The real numbers \(a,b,c\) are non-zero and satisfy the following equations: \[\left\{ \begin{array}{l} a^2 +a = b^2 \\ b^2 +b = c^2 \\ c^2 +c = a^2. \end{array} \right.\] Show that \((a-b)(b-c)(c-a)=1\).

Find all solutions of the equation: \(x^2 + y^2 + z^2 + t^2 = x(y + z + t)\).

Let \(a\) and \(b\) be real numbers. Find a representation of \(a^3 + b^3\) as a product.

  • Find a representation of the number \(117 = 121-4\) as a product.

  • Let \(a\) and \(b\) be real numbers. Find a representation of \(a^2 - b^2\) as a product.

Find all solutions of the system of equations: \[\left\{ \begin{aligned} x+y+z = a\\ x^2 + y^2+z^2 = a^2\\ x^3+y^3+z^3 = a^3 \end{aligned} \right.\]

Find the mistake in the sequence of equalities: \(-1=(-1)^{\frac{2}{2}}=((-1)^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}=1^{\frac{1}{2}}=1\).

Let’s prove that \(1\) is the smallest positive real number: Assume the contrary and let \(x\) be the smallest positive real number. If \(x>1\) then \(1\) is smaller, thus \(x\) is not the smallest. If \(x<1,\) then \(\frac{x}{2}<x\) so \(x\) can not be the smallest either. Then \(x\) can only be equal to \(1\).