HK IMO Training 2025–2026

Problem Set 18 Suggested Solutions

Problem 69 (Tuymaada Olympiad 2025 Junior Problem 5). All positive real numbers are coloured with three given colours where
all colours are used. Prove that there exist three numbers of pairwise distinct colours such that each of them is less than the sum of
the other two.

Solution. Consider any a < b < c of colours C1 , C2 , C3 respectively. We are done if a + b > c. Suppose a + b ⩽ c. If there exists
x ∈ (c − a, c) which is of colour C1 , then x, b, c are of different colours and c < c − a + b < x + b (and c > x, b). Similarly,
if there exists y ∈ (c − a, c) which is of colour C2 , then a, y, c are of different colours and c < a + y (and c > a, y). Therefore,
a a
we may assume all numbers in (c − a, c) are of colour C3 . We can replace c by c − (where c − > c − a ⩾ b) and repeat the
2 2
argument. The process must terminate as the largest element is reduced by a fixed positive quantity every time. This means we can
always achieve our goal.

Problem 70 (Balkan MO Shortlist 2024 N2). Let n be an integer. Prove that n4 − 12n2 + 144 is not the cube of an integer.

Solution. Suppose n4 − 12n2 + 144 = m3 . This implies

(n2 − 6n + 12)(n2 + 6n + 12) = m3 . (1)

Let d = (n2 − 6n + 12, n2 + 6n + 12).

• If 2 | d, then 2 | n. Let n = 2k. Equation (1) becomes 16(k 2 − 3k + 3)(k 2 + 3k + 3) = m3 . Since k 2 ± 3k + 3 is odd, the
left-hand side is divisible by 16 but not 32. So it cannot be a cube.
• If 3 | d, then 3 | n. Let n = 3ℓ. Equation (1) becomes 9(3ℓ2 − 6ℓ + 4)(3ℓ2 + 6ℓ + 4) = m3 . Since 3ℓ2 ± 6ℓ + 4 is not divisible
by 3, the left-hand side is divisible by 9 but not 27. So it cannot be a cube.
Thus, d = (n2 − 6n + 12, 12n) = (n2 − 6n + 12, n) = (12, n) = 1. It follows that both n2 − 6n + 12 and n2 + 6n + 12 are cubes and
are not divisible by 3. Therefore, n2 ± 6n + 12 must be ≡ ±1 (mod 9). However, (n2 + 6n + 12) − (n2 − 6n + 12) = 12n ≡ 3, 6
(mod 9) since 3 ∤ n. This is a contradiction. So n4 − 12n2 + 144 is not the cube of an integer.

Problem 71 (Balkan MO Shortlist 2024 A4). Let a ⩾ b ⩾ c ⩾ 0 be real numbers satisfying ab + bc + ca = 3. Prove that
√
(2 − 3)(b − c)2
3+ √ ⩽a+b+c
b + ( 3 − 1)c

and find all equality cases.

Solution. Homogenizing the inequality, we have to prove

√
» (2 − 3)(b − c)2
3(ab + bc + ca) + √ ⩽a+b+c
b + ( 3 − 1)c

for all a ⩾ b ⩾ c ⩾ 0 with b > 0 (and the condition ab + bc + ca = 3 can be removed).

√ √
• If c = 0, we need to prove 3ab + (2 − 3)b ⩽ a + b. Now,
√ √
3ab + (2 − 3)b ⩽ a + b
√ √
⇔ 3ab ⩽ a + ( 3 − 1)b
√ √
⇔ 0 ⩽ a2 + (2 3 − 5)ab + (4 − 2 3)b2
√
⇔ 0 ⩽ (a − b)(a + (2 3 − 4)b).
√
This is true since a ⩾ b > (4 − 2 3)b. Equality holds when a = b. Taking into account the condition ab + bc + ca = 3,
√ √
equality holds when (a, b, c) = ( 3, 3, 0).

1
 • If c > 0, we may assume c = 1 by normalization (and a, b ⩾ 1). We need to prove
√
» (2 − 3)(b − 1)2
3(ab + a + b) + √ ⩽ a + b + 1.
b+ 3−1

a+b x2
Let s = ⩾ b. By the AM-GM inequality, we have ab + a + b ⩽ s2 + 2s. Let f (x) = √ . As
2 x+ 3
√
′ x2 + 2x 3
f (x) = √ ⩾0
(x + 3)2

for x ⩾ 0, f is increasing on [0, ∞). Therefore, f (b − 1) ⩽ f (s − 1). This implies

√ √
» (2 − 3)(b − 1)2 » (2 − 3)(s − 1)2
3(ab + a + b) + √ 2
⩽ 3(s + 2s) + √ .
b+ 3−1 s+ 3−1
To show that this is at most 2s + 1, we need to prove
√
(2 − 3)(s − 1)2 » (s − 1)2
√ ⩽ 2s + 1 − 3(s2 + 2s) = p . (1)
s+ 3−1 2s + 1 + 3(s2 + 2s)

Note that
√
2− 3 1
√ ⩽ p
s+ 3−1 2s + 1 + 3(s2 + 2s)
» √ √
⇔ 2s + 1 + 3(s2 + 2s) ⩽ (2 + 3)(s + 3 − 1)
» √ √
⇔ 3(s2 + 2s) ⩽ 3s + 3
⇔ s2 + 2s ⩽ (s + 1)2 .

This is clearly true. Equality of (1) holds when s = 1. This means a = b = c = 1. This agrees with the condition
ab + bc + ca = 3.
√ √
Thus, the equality cases are (a, b, c) = ( 3, 3, 0), (1, 1, 1).

Problem 72 (Balkan MO Shortlist 2024 G7). Let f be a function defined on the Euclidean plane such that f (P ) is a real number
for every point P and
f (A) + f (B) + f (C) = f (O) + f (G) + f (H)

for any acute triangle ABC with circumcentre O, centroid G and orthocentre H. Prove that f is a constant function.

Solution. Let G1 and G2 be arbitrary distinct points and let ℓ be the perpendicular bisector of G1 G2 . Choose a point M on ℓ. We
can construct an acute △A1 BC with centroid G1 such that M is the midpoint of BC (note that A is fixed, and we can extend or
shorten the segment BC to make the triangle acute). Let A2 be the reflection of A1 about ℓ. Then G2 is the centroid of △A2 BC.
Since A2 A1 BC is an isosceles trapezoid, it lies on a circle with centre O where O lies on ℓ. Let H1 and H2 be the orthocentres of
△A1 BC and △A2 BC respectively.

B′ C′

A1 A2
G′1 G′2

O
G1 G2
H1 H2

B M C

2
Therefore, we have

f (A1 ) + f (B) + f (C) = f (O) + f (G1 ) + f (H1 ),

f (A2 ) + f (B) + f (C) = f (O) + f (G2 ) + f (H2 ).

This gives
f (A1 ) − f (A2 ) = f (G1 ) − f (G2 ) + f (H1 ) − f (H2 ).

We reflect the whole figure about the perpendicular bisector of A1 H1 (which is the same as that of A2 H2 ). Let G′1 and G′2 be the
images of G1 and G2 respectively. By symmetry, we have

f (H1 ) − f (H2 ) = f (G′1 ) − f (G′2 ) + f (A1 ) − f (A2 ).

Comparing these equations, we obtain

f (G1 ) − f (G2 ) + f (G′1 ) − f (G′2 ) = 0.

Since the relation remains true up to translation and dilation, we have proven that

f (W ) + f (Z) = f (X) + f (Y )

for any rectangle W XY Z that is similar to G1 G2 G′2 G′1 . Consider any such rectangle. Let P, Q, R, S be the midpoints of
W X, XY, Y Z, ZW respectively, and let T be the intersection of P R and QS. Then each of W P T S, P XQT , T QY R and ST RZ
is similar to W XY Z. It follows that

f (W ) + f (Z) = f (X) + f (Y ), (1)

f (W ) + f (S) = f (P ) + f (T ), (2)
f (P ) + f (T ) = f (X) + f (Q), (3)
f (T ) + f (R) = f (Q) + f (Y ), (4)
f (S) + f (Z) = f (T ) + f (R). (5)

Computing (1)+(2)+(3)−(4)−(5), we obtain 2f (W ) = 2f (X), or f (W ) = f (X). In particular, when W XY Z = G1 G2 G′2 G′1 ,

we have f (G1 ) = f (G2 ). Since G1 , G2 are arbitrary, f is a constant function.

Z R Y

T Q
S

W P X