Category B

Sample Questions
Set 1
Subjective
2021

This paper should only be considered as a sample paper. Neither the

distribution nor the exact format might be repeated in the actual paper. The
intent of this paper is to help the examinee practice relevant question patterns.

1. For any positive integer n, show that

1 3 5 2n − 1 1
· · ··· ≤√
2 4 6 2n 2n + 1

2. Let 4ABC be a triangle and D be the midpoint of BC. Suppose the

angle bisector of ∠ADC is tangent to the circumcircle of 4ABC at D.
Prove that ∠A is a right angle.

3. Find all real numbers a such that 4 < a < 5 and a(a − 3{a}) is an
integer. (Here {a} denotes the fractional part of a. For example {2.4} =
0.4, {−3.4} = 0.6)

1
4. Let f : R → R be a function satisfying |f (x + y) − f (x − y) − y| ≤ y 2
for all x, y ∈ R. Show that f (x) = x2 + c where c is a constant.

5. Let ABC be a triangle with sides 51, 52, 53. Let Ω denote the incircle of
4ABC. Draw tangents to Ω which are parallel to the sides of 4ABC.
Let r1 , r2 , r3 be the inradii of the three corner triangles so formed. Find
the largest integer that does not exceed r1 + r2 + r3 .

6. Consider n2 unit squares in the xy-plane centered at point (i, j) with

integer coordinates, 1 ≤ i ≤ n, 1 ≤ j ≤ n. It is required to colour
each unit square in such a way that whenever 1 ≤ i < j ≤ n and
1 ≤ k < l ≤ n, the three squares with centres at (i, k), (j, k), (j, l) have
distinct colours. What is the least possible number of colours needed?

7. Show that there are infinitely many triples (x, y, z) of integers such that
x3 + y 4 = z 31 .

8. Let x1 , x2 , . . . , x2014 be real numbers different from 1, such that

x1 + x2 + · · · + x2014 = 1 and
x1 x2 x2014
+ + ··· + = 1.
1 − x1 1 − x2 1 − x2014
What is the value of
x1 2 x2 2 x2014 2
+ + ··· + ?
1 − x1 1 − x2 1 − x2014