Australian Mathematical Olympiad Committee

Exam J2, I2 (Algebra and Geometry) 2021 Selection School

Friday 2 April, 2021

Junior: Problems 1,2,3,4. (2 hours)

Intermediate: Problems 3,4,5,6. (3 hours)

Problem 1. Find all solutions in positive real numbers x, y, z to the following system of equations.

x(6 − y) = 9
y(6 − z) = 9
z(6 − x) = 9

Problem 2. Points A, B and P lie on a circle Γ1 such that ∠AP B is an obtuse angle. Let Q be
the foot of the perpendicular from P to AB. A second circle Γ2 is drawn with centre P and radius
P Q. The tangents from A and B to Γ2 intersect Γ1 at F and H, respectively.
Prove that F H is tangent to Γ2 .

Problem 3. Let P (x) = x2 + 2021x + 1. Prove that for every positive integer n, the equation

P (P (. . . (P (x)) . . .)) = 0

 
n times

has at least one real solution.

Problem 4. Circles Γ1 and Γ2 centred at O1 and O2 , respectively, intersect at points A and B.

Suppose that the circle Γ3 through O1 , O2 and A intersects Γ1 at C and Γ2 at D, and that the arc
CD of Γ3 which does not contain A, lies outside Γ1 and Γ2 .
Prove that AB bisects the arc CD which does not contain A.

Problem 5. Determine all real valued functions f defined on the real numbers for which the
following identity is satisfied for all real numbers x and y.

f (f (x + y)f (x − y)) = x2 − yf (y)

Problem 6. Let D be a point on side AC of triangle ABC. Let I1 and I2 be the incentres of
triangles ABD and BCD, respectively. The circle through BI1 I2 intersects sides BA and BC at X
and Y , respectively.
Show that AX + CD = CY + AD.
Exam Instructions

• At the beginning of the exam, turn off your cameras and mute your microphones.
• Any queries must be submitted via Zoom chat privately to Michelle Chen during the first 30
minutes of the exam.
• Rulers and compasses are permitted. No protractors, books, notes, calculators are permitted.
Except for the purpose of asking questions during the first 30 minutes, no computers, tablets
or mobile phones are permitted.
• Write only on one side of each sheet of paper
• Keep your workings for different questions on separate pages.
Clearly label each page with your name and the question number. Indicate if it is a solution
page (S) or a rough work page (R). Hand in all solutions, partial solutions and ideas along with
rough workings. See the picture below.

Name Q1/R3
Name Q1/R2
Name Q1/R1
Name Q1/S2
Name Q1/S1

Name Q2/R3
Name Q2/R2
Name Q2/R1
Name Q2/S2
Name Q2/S1

• Please write a short cover sheet to put on top of everything stating the exam and your name,
making this page 1 of your scan. E.g. “J1 John Smith”, “I1 Amy Jones etc”.
• At the end of the exam, promptly scan (in colour if possible) all your papers and email them
in a single file to Grace He sien0120@gmail.com. Name your file the same as your cover sheet.
(“J1 John Smith” etc.)
• If your file size exceeds 20MB you will need to split your file into smaller pieces before sending
each piece in a separate email. E.g. “I1 John Smith 1 of 3” etc.