# Algebra

 1. (25 p.) Let $$a$$ and $$b$$ be positive real numbers such that $$ab=2$$ and $\dfrac{a}{a+b^2}+\dfrac{b}{b+a^2}=\dfrac78.$ Find $$a^6+b^6$$.

 2. (13 p.) The equation $$2^{333x-2} + 2^{111x+2} = 2^{222x+1} + 1$$ has three real roots. Assume that their sum is expressed in the form $$\frac mn$$ where $$m$$ and $$n$$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $$m+n$$.

 3. (25 p.) A sequence $$x_n$$ of real numbers satisfies $$x_0=0$$ and $$|x_{n}|=|x_{n-1}+1|$$ for $$n\geq 1$$. Find the minimal value of $$|x_1+x_2+\dots+ x_{2008}|$$.

 4. (25 p.) Let $$f:\mathbb N\rightarrow\mathbb R$$ be the function defined by $$f(1) = 1$$, $$f(n) = n/10$$ if $$n$$ is a multiple of 10 and $$f(n) = n+1$$ otherwise. For each positive integer $$m$$ define the sequence $$x_1$$, $$x_2$$, $$x_3$$, ... by $$x_1 = m$$, $$x_{n+1} = f(x_n)$$. Let $$g(m)$$ be the smallest $$n$$ such that $$x_n = 1$$. (Examples: $$g(100) = 3$$, $$g(87) = 7$$.) Denote by $$N$$ be the number of positive integers $$m$$ such that $$g(m) = 20$$. The number of distinct prime factors of $$N$$ is equal to $$2^u\cdot v$$ for two non-negative integers $$u$$ and $$v$$ such that $$v$$ is odd. Determine $$u+v$$.

 5. (11 p.) Let $$a$$ be the coefficient of $$x^2$$ in the polynomial $(1-x)(1+2x)(1-3x)\dots (1+14x)(1-15x).$ Determine $$|a|$$

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