Olympiad Corner

~Oi1i~.~.fiJ c=)

1997 Chinese Mathematical .zympiad:

!1RsJM

Part I (8:00-12:30, January 13, 1997)

Problem 1~ Let ;XI, X2, ..., X1997be real

numbers &atisfying th~ following two

conditions:
1
(1)

-~~Xi
-v3

~J3

(i=

1, 2, ..., 1997);

+ ;\i!t*C!f;f , JIM:!:ill T -fft*~~

~~tJi:(Euler) 0 f&~~':(=+~~
!f;fB~~aJI
' {g.~gj]!c:*~
~~~
' ~ftRM
0 ~~J:~Ij)~
:@...i}A:fD.1J;l;t.i)~fm~:fJ1.
..majj
~ ~ ajj(JIg0 ~ ~ :fJ1.
.:(~f/ if?d(JIg
~ ~

(2) XI +X2+ ...+X1997 = -318J3~

tJi:,fj (EulerLine)-

Find the maximumvalue of

M~OO.m:~(JIgI5(J1g~iV&o

12

12

stfl.ii ' AH:fa A 'O51.8U~ffi {~~~

%ABC;f[]A'B'C'~J;J~~
' mPj,
AH:A'0=BC:B'C'=2:1
f'tiJ:5t1!?' :l;.JL\G -tl?reJt:l~ AA' 9f.fjX,
AG:A'G=2:1

-~.~=-~

1E11I:t.
' =- ~ % HAG;f[] OA'G ffi ~ 0
8311:
t.:Ift~

12

~-ff~~.:=.~~
ABC, ;;:m~E~
LHGA = LOGA'
.:=...iif1'9 ~~ (mid-poinJS),A"B' ~D
iR Sf,$t ~ mJ.-.10 ' G' H JjJ(.-~~ ' mm~lli
Problem 2. Let AIBI C1D1 be an c' $t;8tl1~m~.:=. ~jj~.
(perpendicular
bisectors)
0
~1r}~rn
: ~, ~ROG:GH=
1:2 0
arbitrary convexquadrilateral. Let P be
XI +xz +"'+XI997'

~.:=...iRSf,:i1-~mx~~~I!i'

a point inside the quadrilateral such that

0 0 ~15 0 ~~.:=.~~
the segmentsfrom P to eachvertex form llPIII-~15
ABC
~'J}~IIJL\
(circumcentre)'rn
acuteangles with the two sides through
the vertex. Recursivelydefine Ak.Bk. Ck }J.mfg**B~;;Ho
and Dkas the points symmetricto P with
A
respect to the lines Ak-1Bk-l. Bk-lCk-l.
Ck-'IDk-l and Dk-lAk-l. respectively
", r'I

(k=2.3

).

B /,~

(continued onpag(! 4)

L-r

B~..."

' '0," :A"

'"~'-+-:~.
~

C, (III.=.)

~m~OH~~l5m1'i-}L,'E~

(II-)

:I=::g~ fL IS iii (Nine-point

circle)~

"~;,-~

IiI/L'

~-1iOO
~ .=-;:I1!J7f;:;i
A'B'C';fDABC:;;p
{gffifJ'), , ffij1i.f;JLI!.if~1'J
0 ~{I.if

~./j\~~rI"J.=-;:I1!J7f;:;iA'B'C'
fim.=-

0 m~1L!!i1il~1~-OO;;m~=.

:;llj~ ABC ~ =.~ ~~!!i

A', B',
c', =.~~..ff:. D' E' FPJ&=.m
~;fO./L,r~ ~ ~ IS K' L' M ~ III
(liJlZ9)

;:I1!J
7f;:;iABC rI"J~ I!i .=- ;:I1!J
7f;:;i(medial
triangle)

0 E rI"J.=- f~;@j

(altitudes)

I;n

tlfi,t~.:t
OA' , DB' :fa OC'L ' I!I JJ:t
0 l!it!?ffi~7
~1!i.=-;:I1!J7f;:;i
A'B'C' rI"J
;JL'

(orthocentre);:I1!J@

(111=)

([lJIZY)

:fiI~ ~fL 15m ~ ~ # 11/a';J::7f;

~ m aJj
~~~W.~tl
(Poncelet)
~ 1821
~Jt.t(tIili
a';J, f&~ A', B', C',
K,
L,
M
~155}J3X".R:fiIm:m:lZYl!im
<111-=:
1i!i ' ~ f& m aJj~ 'fIm
m 1i!ia';JIZY
I!i # iii
, ~;fIJffl~.=. 'fImm-g-a';Jm:m:11maJj
~ 1ft ~ ~J1.
ff: 1iiJ.=. :frj ~ ~ 7i- ~ 1;1
~.=. 'fIm
fil. 'N L ~ ~ -'fIm fil ' JWi:
1:&
IL\ (0) ..m/L\ (G) :fD~/L\ (H) #~
'
maJj
D
,
E,
F-&:(~IIIL
0
.~'frJ
$~maJj:!lIJT (III.=.) :
m ~.=.:frj ~ ABC ~ ~ AH :fa jf BC
~~~s:rz:.$t~
OA's:rz:fi ' lEI!i:t
LHAG = LOA'G

~~f&a';Jm~:

:$'c.::?!;.I.I.
B' , C', L , M ~ ~ (!liE) 0
(continuedon page 2)

/...

No.1 J@-Feb,97

Mathematical Excalib!!! '--Vat.

~age 2

~ Bijj~ IX tt'J~ W (.=>

.J2:;I;.J.I.a9~1I1I~

(continuedfrom page 1)
:t=.:fiJ ~ ABH J:t:1' c' f[) L:St.8tl ~
.if AB f[) HB (I/;JJ:t:11!i' 1!l1l:t.C'L SJZ
fT
AH 0 rm:tJ. ' :t =. :fiJ ~ ACH J:t:1'
B'M SJZfTAH 0 ffl Pj, C'L SJZfT B'M 0
W ~ 1.:1.
=.::fiJ~ ABC f[] HBC , flJ m
rm fl (I/;JJ:t:11!i
~:tJ. ' DJ:;I;:D
B'C' SJZ
fj
ML f[) CB 0 EI3~ AD ~ ~ BC, 1!l1l:t.
B'C'LM~OO;;~ 0 ;;g~(l/;Jml!i'M"~
#[;]0

:wm*~~~*
.X5!li
r 1lofiiJml3J3
.J2 ~_$II:IVE?

~*

n
.,

c: (rilE)

ma~ff~~~~A'C'KMfDA'B'KL

~fPJ~~'~~~~~=T~~~~.

fa n 1'~~fMII:
0 Ei:I* m2 = 2n2, m ~\
~fM:fi ' ~f~ 2k, ~U 4t2 = 2n2, 2k2 =
n2 , n:Icn /J)'~fMI'i. ' ~ J I J

J::jzI!;~aj3, Rmitl~.f~'r:I:.~ ' *~B~

"5Jfi~ Q52.m.:t~~
(ARISTOTLE)
f1}ftBfj 330 ~~;fJre'E
(PJ.~fPJ~
~) a~*,
m{~&~~~~~'"5J~
f~~1I~~3i@J$B~~ffl~~T
Q~
~E!:j~~~JJ}3~:fl[]IltMiJ? ' m~fx:~!J!.
*~f{~~~:;;r\"~~@J*~~~~~
' [ffi
~ r *f!fLJJ}3 J ~m~ Q

"CJ~~~fr~-tt:?~~~ ' lZlJ!:t/if"Ztl#

iii Qf..~-=-flW~~~:::fj#~ti~
~ ' RnJ;t~liJ(circumclrcle)~~r~
(III-'-)
/'\ Q

C (111:;;"\)

:;r\"~tJ"1fi1:;r\"DJ~g::'Fif#~~f~
' ~!i:t

~1}#~.a"J~T~fi.ffi'~~~~,

.J2 ~ ~~~fi.
0 (PJ.~~,ZI!;. , ~;j:t~
H. EVES a"J::I=f~"ANINTRODUcrION
TO THE ffiSTORY OF MA11ffiMATICS"
a"J~ 3 .'
3rd edition, 1969 0 ) ;(~

IIII=P~AP~~15~a"Jf;j~~ACfa.il
AB a"J1}#~:m ' RP~AC=jAP fa AB
= kAP 0.f~ BICI ~ BICI.;lR~AC,
~ff CB = CBI 0 ~.~m
BCI = BICI
= ABI ' rtlJJ:t.
ACI=AB -ABI = AB -(AC-AB)
= ME -AC= (2k- flAP,

f~OO~JJ}3~, 2 ?~~trM~3U ' ~T

~g-1I~:fI.'
rP].~,~,~17J"5J~m,
9-~J~~{~'r:I:.~~W:.~
' .:@miU~
[!J-1-PfE-.)tm'r:I:.~ Q:jIj::ftf.IIi/j/WF
' ~~

ABI = AC -AB = (j -k)AP 0

~ijg~~JJ}3::e:PI ' ..., P s~ s 1I~rP]~

?!~ : ACI fD ABI ~-OO~/J\a"J~jj~
~:fI. ' ~U~-:::-P; ~;4!\1;;~. Q[!JIlt, ::e: a"Jf;j~~fD.iI ' ~~OO~/J\a"J~jj~a"J-iI
ABI/J\~}g:~jj~a"J-iI
AB a"J-~ 0 ~
H:;;r\"~:J\:=;~~1J' ~u.JH~;4!\I;;~fx:Q~
JJ:t.7Ji~m~~~ ' ~\~itl-OOff:.~/j\a"J
.' :fl[]*l!j.~.~:i:lm~f!1-1-PfE-.)tm
~jj:Jf:;i; , 'Ea"J-iI ABt IJ\~ AP, f'' ABt
'r:I:.~' ~~g-1I~JJ}31h$~'
~P~.W17Jf&~ AP a"J~T~fi.ffi
' ~;jF~

:fI.m2= Hn2m'~~~.[!J-1-te~~-*

~I

fx:'-~-1M'~JI

A', B', C', K, L, M~m#iI

0~
0 ~.JH = m/n
-1500 ' LA'DK~~~(III[g)
, iliJ .ft~*~m=1I~SJ3
,
"PI'i"
m
fD
n
~/;}#I!IT
0 EB~ m2 =
A'K~MjlI!;~miltJ"1~f~
' ~!i:tD
Hn2
=
n(Hn)
,
n
~\~~
1
~
-1 ,~p~
{t!.:(!i:t~ I!i 1111: 0 ~ ~,
E:fO F {t!.
NH~1I%~~$'
~~ I ~1ImSJ3m
:(!i:t~~fil1:
' fifrP)'fL~#fiI
0
fLl5li]

:fa ~ :tV.~ ::Iff~)if

11m
f* ?

15 iii ~ iii JL\~"

Hiffl1~tSlE
KIM~~JL\

OH m

$t 8tl ~ .=. f!!J]f;::;A 'B'C' :fa

("6J~~IiI=&IiIIZY)
,

lE11l:t~~~.=.f!!J]f;::;

A'B'C':fO KIM ~

/\

./"',-

RL

pV'"

A/;Jmo~~~~~fim~~@$~o)
~:f:f:JM1Il.
' ~fi/J\.IE;1Il. k ~ k.J2 ~;

~?-1g : AC1IAB1 = (2k -j)/(j -k) , ffij"

m = j -k :IE~t-*.Wr~~ ~m/J\mt~ma)3
~ ~ m 0 [!l:m AC1IAB1 =.J2 ' f ~

Ill. , ~Um =k.J2-k=k(.J2-1)~-1I

~ k/J\a"Jl;1Il.' fg m.J2=2k -k.J2

<m2

(2k -fllm

=.J2

' ~p~ m.J2 = 2k- j ~

~f;;T o"lifJ(;1MT~t-*.Wr~~ma)3~~
~~~W~~
' ~~~p)re~m~~m

~f~-1I?F:1G~:sv.15
H , ~{P.1.a"J~aJ3ji:;"\1Wma)3: ;:S:.J2 = jlk ~MlM~

fflo)

, ~u~.J2

J:;;ztt.majj~II:~W*~Wr~~

8'

( THEODOR ESTERMANN)

'\":A= /

~::I= <Ii: ~ m. ~ JB*> (EUCLID'S

ELEMENTS) a"J~wr~f:tcmPJ~ I )

+c.x+co=O A/;Jm' f9lJllD.JH ~ ;- -H =0

JJL1!I5'E'fr:IJ~I=PI5:tt.~fLl5li]~ ~~;IIl.'~~ka"J~~~~1
iii JL\ 0

Z 0~*~A.S

: r ~D~rfr~m*~

\C <1II-t) ~ ' -~t~tI:\~pajjD;r;~

~~=-~~~-w~-I!i{il.:if'~f.9to

= (2k -fll(j

j.J2 -k.J2 = 2k -j)

;( 1975

:1f--~um)'(aI;J
P-1~' )::Ijt!!})ftfi~
' ~ffij~

~tft~~:if'M. ' ~-~~rn,t:.' , ~

~a"J~~oPJm";~a"Jfi.~*~~m~
'~~~r*~~~~';(E~.fi.~

1'+CN-lx""-l+
...

1800"6J~ .=.ffJ]f;::; ~1~*-1I+5J-M~(J'g~aJ3 : ~.J2

A'B'C' 0 .=..ffJ]f;::;ABC ~ ~:tV.~

(~@fi.~*~mE~~.fi.~

*~{IIJj::J.JJ:tjj~~~~PJ
1}~:m~
, ;f:";~{IIJjj:~~*mf~~5tfi.~OO

FJUm1lmSJ3:fi-l!i~.f
/PJ' ~tgmIJ::.
~-m.'it:A/;J'~R ' mSJ3T :E=:fi~fIl.~f\:fIl.
~fIl. ' ~U~~\~~fIl.
0 (f\:fIl.~fIl.~t~

*~~tfj*IBJL\.tt~mOO rn 1S~:(fL ~-~fIl.*fIl.~~.J:\$m

I!i III 1:..~ .=. f!!J% A 'B'C' :fa KIM (iii
-t;) 0 E8~ KA' , LB':fa MC' ~fLlS
Ii] at ~ 1~ ' lE11l:t.=. f!!J% KIM m. fL

~fD.iI~ ~PJ
~PJ1}~.,
~1~~
' ~Jj~~fD.iI~~~

1}~.a"J~~~!
ff;(-1}#~.

' jiOO

r B~ji71'?ff~ I ~ .J2=m/n , "iiJ"iI m fi.~*jj:m~jj~a"Jti~

' ~f&.r"I:Jitl'Ea"J~fPJ~~

(~:m

1 <.J2<2)

-k)

:StfJI:~

(:Ii~[!l:m

, f.. k < j < 2k

, ~2k-j<jfD

j-k<k,3:tWjfDk~~:ijX~flil

' fg~@m*
~ :iij W ~ ~ ill $ ~ ~ ill. wr ~3~~-~ .~W~~~n~ma~.
? ~~n~m
(pYTHAGORAS)
= T ~:1f-~::j'-~ t~ tI:\ ~~~n~~~~~a~u.~
* I J ~D*~1M~IIJ~~~DfiiJ3X~m aI;J ~~ma~ll'B?

Solution: CHEUNG Tak Fai (Valtortll Problem 48. SquaresABDE and BCFG
College, Form 6) and Gary NG Ka are drawn outside of triangle ABC.
We welcomereadersto submit solutions Wing (STFA Leung Kau Kui College, Prove that triangle ABC is isosceles if
to the problems posed below for Form4).
DG is parallel to AC.
publication consideration. Solutions
should beprecededby the solver's name, Suppose
Solution: Henry NG Ka Man (S1FA
address; school affiliation and grade
Leung
Kau Kui College, Form 6), Gary
X13+ x + 90= (~ -x + a)q(x),
level. Pleasesend submissionsto Dr.
NG Ka Wing {S1FA Leung Kau Kui
Kin-Yin Li, Dept of Mathematics,Hong where q(x) is a polynomial with integer College, Form 4) and YUNG Fai
Kong University of Science and coefficients. Taking x = -1, 0, 1, we get (CUHK).
Technology,Clear Water Bay, Kowloon.
88 = (2+a)q(-1),
The deadline tor submitting solutions is
From B, draw a perpendicularline to AC
90 = aq(O)
Apr. 5, 1997.
(and hence also perpendicular to DG.)
and
92 = aq(l).
Let it intersectAC at X and DG at Y.
Problem 51. Is there a positive integer n Since a divides 90, 92 and a+2 Since LABX = 900 -LDBY = LBDY
r--r-such that ..jn-l +..jn+l is a rational divides 88, a can only be 2 or -1.. Now and AB = BD, the right triangles ABX
X2-X -1 has a positive root, but and BDY are congruentand AX = BY.
number?
X13+ x + 90 cannothave a positive root. Similarly, the right triangles CBX and
So
a can only be 2. We can check by BGYare congruentand BY = CX. So AX
Problem 52. Let a, b, c be distinct real
long
division that ~ -x + 2 divides = CX, which impliesAB = CR.
numbers such that a3 = 3(b2+c1 -25,
X13
+
x
+ 90 or observethat if w is any of
b3= 3(c2+a1 -25, C3= 3(a2+b1 -25.
the
two
roots of x2 -x
+ 2, then Comments:This was a problem on the
Find the value of abc.
..J-=w-2, W4= -3w+ 2, W8= -3w- 14, 1988
Leningrad
Mathematical
W12
=
45w-46
andw13
+
w+
90
=
O.
Olympiad.
Most
solvers
gave
solutions
Problem 53. For MBC, define A' on
using
pure
geometry
or
a
bit of
BC so that AB + BA' = AC + CA' and
trigonometry.
The
editor
will
like
to
Other
commended
solvers:
CHANMing
similarly defineB' on CAand C' on AB.
point
out
there
is
also
a
simple
vector
Chiu
(La
Salle
College,
Form
6),
CHAN
ShowthatAA', BB', CC' are concurrent.
(The point of concurrencyis called the Wing Sum (HKUST) and William solution. Set the origin 0 at the
-+
-+
CHEUNG Pok-man (S.T.F.A. Leung midpoint of AC. Let OC
Nagelpoint of MBC.)
= m, OB = n
Kau Kui College, Fonn 6).
and k be the unit vectorperpendicularto
Problem 54. Let R be the set of real
-+
-+
numbers. Find all func~ons f: R -+ R Problem 47. If x, y, z are real numbers the plane. Then AB = n + m, CB = n -m,
-+
-+
suchthatx2 + y2 + i = 2, then show that
such that
BD= -(n + m) x k, BG= (n -m) x k
x + y + z ~ xyz+ 2.
-+
-+
-+
f(j{x+y = .f{x+y) + .f{x)fl.y) -xy
and DG= BG- BD = 2n x k. IfDG is
for all x. Y E R. (Source: 1995 Byelorussian Solution: CHAN Ming Chiu (La Salle parallel to AC, then n x k is a multiple of

Problem Corner

Mathematical Olympiad (Final Round

Problem 55. In the beginning, 65
beetles are placed at different squares of
a 9 x 9 square board. In each move,
every beetle creeps to a horizontal or
vertical adjacent square. If no beetle
makes either two horizontal moves or
two vertical moves in succession, show
that after some moves, there will be at
least two beetles in the same square.
(Source: 1995 Byelorussian Mathematical
Olympiad (Fmal Round

College,Form6).

-+

-+

m and so m = OC and n = OB are

If one of x, y, z is nonpositive,sayz, then perpendicular. Therefore, triangle ABC
is isosceles.
l+xyz-xy-z = (l-x-y)-z(l-xy) ~O

Other commended solvers: CHAN

Wing Chiu (La Salle College, Form 4),
x+y~
~2(X2+y2)~2
Calvin CHEUNG Cheuk Lon (S.T.F.A.
and
Leung Kau Kui College, Form 5),
xy ~ (X2+ Y1/2~ 1
William CHEUNG Pok-man (S.T.F.A.
Leung
Kau Kui College, Form 6), Yves
So we may assumex, y, z are positive,
CHEUNG Yui Ho (S.T.F.A. Leung Kau
sayO<x~y~z.
Ifz~l,then
Kui College, Form 5), CHING Wai
Hung (S.T.F.A. Leung Kau Kui College,
2+xyz-x-y-z
= (l-x)(l-y) + (l-z)(l-xy) ~ O.
Form 5), Alan LEUNG Wing Lun
(STFA Leung Kau Kui College, Form
Ifz> 1, then
5), .OR Fook Sing & WAN Tsz Kit
*****************
(x + y) + z ~~2(x+ y)2 +Z2)
(Valtorta College, Form 6), TSANG Sai
Solutions
Wing
(Valtorta College, Form 6),
*****************
= 2j";i+i ~ xy + 2 ~ xyz+ 2. WONG Hau Lun (STFA Leung Kau
Kui College, Form 5), Sam YUEN Man
Problem 46. For what integer a does Comments:This was an unusedproblem
Long (STFA Leung Kau Kui Coll~ge,
X2-x + a divide X13+ x + 90? (Source: in the 1987IMO and later appearedas a Form4).
1963 Putnam Exam.)
problem on
the 1991
Polish
MathematicalOlympiad.
(continued on page 4)
because

Mathematical Excalibur, Vol.

No.1, lan-Feb. 97

Problem Corner

PaJr,e4

c = 2(y -,.2z+ 3w -2x),

d= 2(z-2w+ 3y -2z).

(continued from page 3)

Problem 49. Let Ul, U2, U3~ ...be a
sequence of integers such that Ul = 29,
Uz= 45 and Un+2= Un+i2-Un for n= 1,2,
3,
Show that 1996 divides infini~ly
many terms of this sequence. (Source:
1986 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad
with modification)

Part II (8:00-12:30.January14, 1997)

Problem 4. Let quadrilateral ABCD be

From that point on, a, b, c, d will always inscribed in a circle. Supposelines AB
be even,so Ibc-adl, lac-bdl, lab-cdl
and DC intersect atP and lines AD and
BC
intersectat Q. From Q, constructthe
will alwaysbe divisible by 4.
two tangents QE and QF to the circle
where E and F are the points of
Solution 2: Official Solution.
tangency. Prove that the three points P,
After n ?;1 steps, the sum of the integers E, F are collinear.
will be O. So d = -a -b -c.

Solution: William CHEUNG Pok-man

(STFA LeungKau Kui College,Form 6)
andYUNG Fai (CUHK).

bc -ad

Then

Problem 5. Let A = {I, 2, 3, ..., 17}

For a mappingf: A -+ A, denote

= bc +a(a + b + c)
= (a + b)(a + c).

fllJ(X) =f(x) ,
flk+lJ(X) = fV1kJ(X)) (k = 1,2,3,

Similarly,
Let Un be the remainder
division by 1996, i.e.,

of Un upon

Un = Un (mod 1996).
Consider the sequence of pairs (Un,Un+V.
There are at most 19962 distinct pairs.
So let (Up,Up+V = (Uq,Uq+J be the first
repetition
recurrence

with p < q.
relation

ac -bd

= (a + b)(b + c)

ab -cd

= (a + c)(b + c).

and
Finally !bc-adl,
lac-:-bd!, lab-cd!
cannot all be prime ~ause
their
product is the square of (a+b ) (a+c)(b+c).

If p > 1, then the

implies

(UP"'-l,Up} =

(Uq-l,Uq)
resulting
in
an
earlier
repetition.
So p= 1 and the sequence of
pairs (Un,Un+V is periodic with period q
-1.
Since U3 = 1996, we have 0 = U3 =
U3+.1:(q:--l)
and so 1996divid.es
every positive integer k.

Other commended solvl}rs:

Calvin
CHEUNG Cheuk Lon (S.T.F.A. Leung
Kau Kui College, Form 5) and Willia~
~HEU~G Pok-man (S1FA Leung KaU
KuiCollege, Form 6).

U3+.1:(q-l)
for
--

,---~'"'D<:::><:5"'r

Other commendedsolvers;CHAN Ming

Olympiad Corner
Chiu (La Salle College,Form 6), C~
Wing Sum (HKUST) and Gary NG K:a (continuedfrom page 1)
Wing (STFA Leung Kau Kui College,
Considerthe s~uence of quadrilaterals
Form4).
AftjCPj (j = 1, 2,--,).
Problem SO.Four integers are marked
on a circle.
On. each" step we (1)Determine which of the first 12
quadrilaterals are similar to the
simultaneouslyreplace each number by
1997thquadrilateral.
the difference betweenthis number and
next number on the circle in a given (2) If the 1997thquadrilateral is cyclic,
direction (that is, the numbers a, b, c, d
determine which of the first 12
are replacedby a -b, b -c, c~ d, d quadrilateralsare cyclic.
a). Is it possibleafter 1996such stepsto
have numbers a, b, c, d such that the Problem3. Provethat thereare infinitely
numbers Ibc -adl, lac -bdl, labmanynatural numbersn suchthat
cd I are primes?
(Source: unused
1,2, ..., 3n
problem in the 1996 !MO.)
Solution 1: Henry NG Ka Man (STFA
Leung Kau Kui College, Form 6) and
Gary NG Ka Wing (STFA Leung Kau
Kui College,Fo11Il4).
If. the initial numbers are a = w, b = x,
c= y, d = z, then after 4 steps, the
numberswin be
a = 2(w -2x + 3y -2z),
b = 2(x -2y + 3z -2w),

can be put into an axray

al a2 ...an
b1 b2 ...bn
Cl

C2

...Cn

satisfyingthe following two conditions:

(1) al+b1+Cl = a2+~+C2 = ...=

an+bn+cn

and the sumis a multiple of6;

(2) al~+"

""+a" = ~+b2+. ".+bn = Cl+Czt.. .+Cn

and the sumis a multiple of 6.

Considerone-to-onemappings f from A
to A satisfyingthe condition: there exists
a natural number M such that
(1) for m < M, 1 $ i $ 16,
f[m](i+ 1)- f[m](i) ~:tl (mod 17),
f[m](I)-

f[m](17) ~:tI (mod 17);

(2) tor 1 ~ i ~ 16;

f[M](i+.1)-f[M](i)

=1oc-1 (moo17),

f[M](1)-f[M]<.i7)=1oc-1

(moot?).

For all mappings f satisfying the above

condition, determinethe largestpossible
value of the correspondingM's.

Problem 6. Considera sequenceof

nonnegativereal numbersa.l. a2. ...
satisfyingthe condition