Berkeley Math Circle Monthly Contest #1

Due September 24, 2000

1. Two sets of points in the coordinate plane are given: [(-1,1), (-1, 2), . . . , (-1, 2000)} and {(1, 1), (1, 2),
. . . , (1, 2000)}. 2000 line segments are drawn connecting these points so that each point in the first set
is connected to exactly one point in the second set, and vice versa. Find, with proof, the sum of the y-
intercepts of the segments.
2. Find all functions f from the set R of real numbers to itself such that f ( xy + 1) = x f ( y) + 2 for all x, y
∈ R.
3. Let ABC be a triangle and D, E, F, G, H, I, J points on sides BC, CA, AB, BC, CA, AB, BC, respec-
tively, such that EF and HI are parallel to BC; IJ and FG are parallel to CA; and DE, GH are parallel to
AB. Prove that D = J.
4. There are 30 members of the math faculty at UC Berkeley. The evil Gastropod places a red or green
stamp on each member’s forehead, then places them all in separate rooms. Each day, the Gastropod
convenes all the faculty in one room and asks any member who has conclusively determined that
his/her stamp is red to raise his/her hand. No other communication between them is allowed. As it
turns out, everyone has a red stamp (but since each can only see the other’s stamps, none of them
realize this at first. The Gastropod remarks on the first day: “At least one of you has a red stamp.”
Given that all Berkeley faculty members are perfect reasoners, and each knows all the others are
perfect reasoners, prove that everyone will eventually determine that his/her stamp is red.
5. Let a1, a2, . . . , a2000 be real numbers in the interval [0, 1]. Find the maximum possible value of

Please write solutions to different problems on separate pages. At the top of each page, write your name,
school, city, contest number, problem number, and the division in which you are participating (beginner or
advanced). Please go to http://mathcircle.berkleey.edu for more information about the contest, or email
questions to gastropod@hotmail.com or dudzik@yahoo.com. © Berkeley Math Circle
 


 
 

 
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 Berkeley Math Circle Monthly Contest #3
Due November 19, 2000
1. I have three opaque jars filled with coins. One contains only nickels; one contains only dimes; one
contains some nickels and some dimes. Also, the three jars are labeled “Nickels,” “Dimes,” and “Nickels
and Dimes,” but it is known that all of the jars are labeled incorrectly. You are allowed to choose one jar
and look at one coin randomly drawn from it. How can you determine which jar is which?

2. An n × n matrix of integers is called “golden” if, for every row and every column, their union contains all
of the numbers 1, 2, 3, . . . , 2n − 1. Find all golden matrices (of all sizes).

3. An equilateral triangle in the coordinate plane has vertices (a, b), (c, d), (e, f ). Prove that a, b, c, d, e, f
cannot all be integers.

4. Let f, g be two functions from the set R of real numbers to itself, such that f (x) < g(x) for all x ∈ R.
Prove that there exists an infinite subset S ⊆ R such that f (x) < g(y) for all x, y ∈ S.

5. A permutation of the numbers 1, 2, . . . , n is called “bad” if it contains a subsequence of 10 numbers in

decreasing order, and “good” otherwise. For example, for n = 15,
15, 13, 1, 12, 7, 11, 9, 8, 10, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 14
is a bad permutation, because it contains the subsequence
15, 13, 12, 11, 10, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.
Prove that, for each n, the number of good permutations is at most 81n .

Please write solutions to different problems on separate pages. At the top of each page, write your name,
school, city, contest number, problem number, and the division in which you are participating (beginner
or advanced). Please go to http://mathcircle.berkeley.edu for more information about the contest, or
email questions to gastropodc@hotmail.com or dudzik1@yahoo.com. c Berkeley Math Circle
 



 
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