RMO 2017 Solution Notes

Arjun Agarwal
12 October 2023

This is a compilation of solutions for the 2017 RMO. Some of the solutions
are my own design, most are from the official solutions provided by the
organizers (for which they hold any copyrights), and others were found by
users on the Art of Problem Solving forums. In particular, if a theorem or
technique is not very well known but is still considered “standard”, then I
often prefer to use this theory anyways, rather than try to work around or
conceal it. For example instead of trying to create some weird combinitorial
arguments I will just make a graph in an obvious graph theory problem. Also
statements like Let x be a natural number are omitted for sake of compactness.
Corrections and comments are welcome!
The template is based on USAMO solutions by Evan Chen.

Contents
0 Problems 2

1 Solutions 3
1.1 RMO 2017/1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 RMO 2017/2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 RMO 2017/3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.4 RMO 2017/4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.5 RMO 2017/5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.6 RMO 2017/6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§0 Problems
1. Let AOB be a given angle less than 180◦ and let P be an interior point of the
angular region determined by ∠AOB. Show, with proof, how to construct, using
only ruler and compass, a line segment CD passing through P such that C lies on
the way OA and D lies on the ray OB, and CP : P D = 1 : 2.

2. Show that the equation a3 + (a + 1)3 + . . . + (a + 6)3 = b4 + (b + 1)4 has no solutions

in integers a, b.

3. Show that the equation a3 + (a + 1)3 + . . . + (a + 6)3 = b4 + (b + 1)4 has no solutions

in integers a, b.
x
4. Let P (x) = x2 + + b and Q(x) = x2 + cx + d be two polynomials with real
2
coefficients such that P (x)Q(x) = Q(P (x)) for all real x. Find all real roots of
P (Q(x)) = 0.

5. Let Ω be a circle with a chord AB which is not a diameter. Γ1 be a circle on one

side of AB such that it is tangent to AB at C and internally tangent to Ω at D.
Likewise, let Γ2 be a circle on the other side of AB such that it is tangent to AB at
E and internally tangent to Ω at F . Suppose the line DC intersects Ω at X ̸= D
and the line F E intersects Ω at Y ̸= F . Prove that XY is a diameter of Ω .

6. Let x, y, z be real numbers, each greater than 1. Prove that

x+1 y+1 z+1 x−1 y−1 z−1
+ + ≤ + + .
y+1 z+1 x+1 y−1 z−1 x−1

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1 Solutions
§1.1 RMO 2017/1
Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525173p9137085 .

Problem statement

Let AOB be a given angle less than 180◦ and let P be an interior point of the
angular region determined by ∠AOB. Show, with proof, how to construct, using
only ruler and compass, a line segment CD passing through P such that C lies on
the way OA and D lies on the ray OB, and CP : P D = 1 : 2.

Proof. Draw a line parallel to OA through P . Let it intersect OB in M . Using compasses,

draw an arc of a circle with centre M and radius M O to cut OB in L, L ̸= O. Again
with L as centre and with the same radius OM draw one more arc of a circle to cut
OB in D, D ̸= M . Join DP and extend it to meet OA in C. Then CD is the required
line segment such that CP : P D = 1 : 2. This follows from similar triangles OCD and
M P D.

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1.2 RMO 2017/2

Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525174p9137091 .

Problem statement

Show that the equation a3 + (a + 1)3 + . . . + (a + 6)3 = b4 + (b + 1)4 has no solutions

in integers a, b.

Proof. Noticing that we have 7 consecutive numbers on the LHS, we consider taking
modulo 7.
Thus, the LHS is equal to:
0 + 1 + 1 + −1 + 1 + −1 + −1 = 0
Now looking at the RHS, we have the fourth power of two consecutive numbers. Taking
modulo 7 of all possible fourth powers,

Number Modulo
0 0
1 1
2 16 (mod 7) ≡ 2
3 81 (mod 7) ≡ 4
4 44 ≡ (−3)4 (mod 7) ≡ 4
5 54 ≡ (−2)4 (mod 7) ≡ 2
6 54 ≡ (−1)4 (mod 7) ≡ 1
We can see that the sum can never be 0 and hence we have no integer solutions.

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1.3 RMO 2017/3

Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525175p9137098 .

Problem statement

x
Let P (x) = x2 + + b and Q(x) = x2 + cx + d be two polynomials with real
2
coefficients such that P (x)Q(x) = Q(P (x)) for all real x. Find all real roots of
P (Q(x)) = 0.

Proof. Set P (x) = 0 ⇒ Q(0) = 0 ⇒ d = 0. Expanding both sides gives:

1
c=
2
1 1
b=d− =−
2 2
1
Putting these values in P (x), gives −1 and 2 as it’s roots.

1
P (Q(x)) = 0 ⇒ Q(x) = −1 or
2
1 1
Q(x) = −1 gives imaginary roots and Q(x) = 2 gives x = 2 and − 1.

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1.4 RMO 2017/4

Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525177p9137131 .

Problem statement

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?

Proof. The most convaluted way of saying that two square in the same row or column
should have diffrent colours. Observe that squares with centres (i, 1) must all have
different colours for 1 ≤ i ≤ n; Besides, the squares with centres (n, j), for 2 ≤ j ≤ n
must have different colours and these must be different from the ones in the row. Thus
we need at least n + (n − 1) = 2n − 1 colours.

Remark 1.1. This question is about English, not math. And I didn’t come to give Regional
English Olympiad.

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1.5 RMO 2017/5

Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525180p9137159 .

Problem statement

Let Ω be a circle with a chord AB which is not a diameter. Γ1 be a circle on one

side of AB such that it is tangent to AB at C and internally tangent to Ω at D.
Likewise, let Γ2 be a circle on the other side of AB such that it is tangent to AB at
E and internally tangent to Ω at F . Suppose the line DC intersects Ω at X = ̸ D
and the line F E intersects Ω at Y ̸= F . Prove that XY is a diameter of Ω .

Proof. A homothety takes Γ1 to Ω and C to X, which is the midpoint of the arc AB not
containing D.
Similarly, a homothety takes Γ2 to Ω and E to Y , which is the midpoint of the arc AB
not containing F (and containing D).
Hence XY is a diameter of Ω.

Remark 1.2. The question is directly copied from chapter four of Euclidien Geometry for
Math Olympiad by Evan Chen.

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RMO 2017 Solution Notes arjunagarwal.substack.com, updated 12 October 2023

§1.6 RMO 2017/6

Available online at https: // artofproblemsolving. com/ community/ c6h1525182p9137180 .

Problem statement

x+1 y+1 z+1

Let x, y, z be real numbers, each greater than 1. Prove that + + ≤
y+1 z+1 x+1
x−1 y−1 z−1
+ + .
y−1 z−1 x−1

x−1 x+1 2(x−y)

Proof. y−1 − y+1 = y 2 −1
, so it suffices to show that

x y z x y z
+ + ≤ 2 + +
x2 − 1 y 2 − 1 z 2 − 1 y − 1 z 2 − 1 x2 − 1
1
which is just rearrangement, as x, y, z and , 1 , 1
x2 −1 y 2 −1 z 2 −1
are oppositely sorted