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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

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[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
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April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
k i A Letter to MSM
Arr0w   23
N Sep 19, 2022 by scannose
Greetings.

I have seen many posts talking about commonly asked questions, such as finding the value of $0^0$, $\frac{1}{0}$,$\frac{0}{0}$, $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$, why $0.999...=1$ or even expressions of those terms combined as if that would make them defined. I have made this post to answer these questions once and for all, and I politely ask everyone to link this post to threads that are talking about this issue.
[list]
[*]Firstly, the case of $0^0$. It is usually regarded that $0^0=1$, not because this works numerically but because it is convenient to define it this way. You will see the convenience of defining other undefined things later on in this post.

[*]What about $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$? The issue here is that $\infty$ isn't even rigorously defined in this expression. What exactly do we mean by $\infty$? Unless the example in question is put in context in a formal manner, then we say that $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$ is meaningless.

[*]What about $\frac{1}{0}$? Suppose that $x=\frac{1}{0}$. Then we would have $x\cdot 0=0=1$, absurd. A more rigorous treatment of the idea is that $\lim_{x\to0}\frac{1}{x}$ does not exist in the first place, although you will see why in a calculus course. So the point is that $\frac{1}{0}$ is undefined.

[*]What about if $0.99999...=1$? An article from brilliant has a good explanation. Alternatively, you can just use a geometric series. Notice that
\begin{align*}
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{9}{10^n}&=9\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{10^n}=9\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\biggr(\frac{1}{10}\biggr)^n=9\biggr(\frac{\frac{1}{10}}{1-\frac{1}{10}}\biggr)=9\biggr(\frac{\frac{1}{10}}{\frac{9}{10}}\biggr)=9\biggr(\frac{1}{9}\biggr)=\boxed{1}
\end{align*}
[*]What about $\frac{0}{0}$? Usually this is considered to be an indeterminate form, but I would also wager that this is also undefined.
[/list]
Hopefully all of these issues and their corollaries are finally put to rest. Cheers.

2nd EDIT (6/14/22): Since I originally posted this, it has since blown up so I will try to add additional information per the request of users in the thread below.

INDETERMINATE VS UNDEFINED

What makes something indeterminate? As you can see above, there are many things that are indeterminate. While definitions might vary slightly, it is the consensus that the following definition holds: A mathematical expression is be said to be indeterminate if it is not definitively or precisely determined. So how does this make, say, something like $0/0$ indeterminate? In analysis (the theory behind calculus and beyond), limits involving an algebraic combination of functions in an independent variable may often be evaluated by replacing these functions by their limits. However, if the expression obtained after this substitution does not provide sufficient information to determine the original limit, then the expression is called an indeterminate form. For example, we could say that $0/0$ is an indeterminate form.

But we need to more specific, this is still ambiguous. An indeterminate form is a mathematical expression involving at most two of $0$, $1$ or $\infty$, obtained by applying the algebraic limit theorem (a theorem in analysis, look this up for details) in the process of attempting to determine a limit, which fails to restrict that limit to one specific value or infinity, and thus does not determine the limit being calculated. This is why it is called indeterminate. Some examples of indeterminate forms are
\[0/0, \infty/\infty, \infty-\infty, \infty \times 0\]etc etc. So what makes something undefined? In the broader scope, something being undefined refers to an expression which is not assigned an interpretation or a value. A function is said to be undefined for points outside its domain. For example, the function $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\cup\{0\}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ given by the mapping $x\mapsto \sqrt{x}$ is undefined for $x<0$. On the other hand, $1/0$ is undefined because dividing by $0$ is not defined in arithmetic by definition. In other words, something is undefined when it is not defined in some mathematical context.

WHEN THE WATERS GET MUDDIED

So with this notion of indeterminate and undefined, things get convoluted. First of all, just because something is indeterminate does not mean it is not undefined. For example $0/0$ is considered both indeterminate and undefined (but in the context of a limit then it is considered in indeterminate form). Additionally, this notion of something being undefined also means that we can define it in some way. To rephrase, this means that technically, we can make something that is undefined to something that is defined as long as we define it. I'll show you what I mean.

One example of making something undefined into something defined is the extended real number line, which we define as
\[\overline{\mathbb{R}}=\mathbb{R}\cup \{-\infty,+\infty\}.\]So instead of treating infinity as an idea, we define infinity (positively and negatively, mind you) as actual numbers in the reals. The advantage of doing this is for two reasons. The first is because we can turn this thing into a totally ordered set. Specifically, we can let $-\infty\le a\le \infty$ for each $a\in\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ which means that via this order topology each subset has an infimum and supremum and $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ is therefore compact. While this is nice from an analytic standpoint, extending the reals in this way can allow for interesting arithmetic! In $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ it is perfectly OK to say that,
\begin{align*}
a + \infty = \infty + a & = \infty, & a & \neq -\infty \\
a - \infty = -\infty + a & = -\infty, & a & \neq \infty \\
a \cdot (\pm\infty) = \pm\infty \cdot a & = \pm\infty, & a & \in (0, +\infty] \\
a \cdot (\pm\infty) = \pm\infty \cdot a & = \mp\infty, & a & \in [-\infty, 0) \\
\frac{a}{\pm\infty} & = 0, & a & \in \mathbb{R} \\
\frac{\pm\infty}{a} & = \pm\infty, & a & \in (0, +\infty) \\
\frac{\pm\infty}{a} & = \mp\infty, & a & \in (-\infty, 0).
\end{align*}So addition, multiplication, and division are all defined nicely. However, notice that we have some indeterminate forms here which are also undefined,
\[\infty-\infty,\frac{\pm\infty}{\pm\infty},\frac{\pm\infty}{0},0\cdot \pm\infty.\]So while we define certain things, we also left others undefined/indeterminate in the process! However, in the context of measure theory it is common to define $\infty \times 0=0$ as greenturtle3141 noted below. I encourage to reread what he wrote, it's great stuff! As you may notice, though, dividing by $0$ is undefined still! Is there a place where it isn't? Kind of. To do this, we can extend the complex numbers! More formally, we can define this extension as
\[\mathbb{C}^*=\mathbb{C}\cup\{\tilde{\infty}\}\]which we call the Riemann Sphere (it actually forms a sphere, pretty cool right?). As a note, $\tilde{\infty}$ means complex infinity, since we are in the complex plane now. Here's the catch: division by $0$ is allowed here! In fact, we have
\[\frac{z}{0}=\tilde{\infty},\frac{z}{\tilde{\infty}}=0.\]where $\tilde{\infty}/\tilde{\infty}$ and $0/0$ are left undefined. We also have
\begin{align*}
z+\tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}, \forall z\ne -\infty\\
z\times \tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}, \forall z\ne 0
\end{align*}Furthermore, we actually have some nice properties with multiplication that we didn't have before. In $\mathbb{C}^*$ it holds that
\[\tilde{\infty}\times \tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}\]but $\tilde{\infty}-\tilde{\infty}$ and $0\times \tilde{\infty}$ are left as undefined (unless there is an explicit need to change that somehow). One could define the projectively extended reals as we did with $\mathbb{C}^*$, by defining them as
\[{\widehat {\mathbb {R} }}=\mathbb {R} \cup \{\infty \}.\]They behave in a similar way to the Riemann Sphere, with division by $0$ also being allowed with the same indeterminate forms (in addition to some other ones).
23 replies
Arr0w
Feb 11, 2022
scannose
Sep 19, 2022
k i Marathon Threads
LauraZed   0
Jul 2, 2019
Due to excessive spam and inappropriate posts, we have locked the Prealgebra and Beginning Algebra threads.

We will either unlock these threads once we've cleaned them up or start new ones, but for now, do not start new marathon threads for these subjects. Any new marathon threads started while this announcement is up will be immediately deleted.
0 replies
LauraZed
Jul 2, 2019
0 replies
k i Basic Forum Rules and Info (Read before posting)
jellymoop   368
N May 16, 2018 by harry1234
f (Reminder: Do not post Alcumus or class homework questions on this forum. Instructions below.) f
Welcome to the Middle School Math Forum! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the rules.

Overview:
[list]
[*] When you're posting a new topic with a math problem, give the topic a detailed title that includes the subject of the problem (not just "easy problem" or "nice problem")
[*] Stay on topic and be courteous.
[*] Hide solutions!
[*] If you see an inappropriate post in this forum, simply report the post and a moderator will deal with it. Don't make your own post telling people they're not following the rules - that usually just makes the issue worse.
[*] When you post a question that you need help solving, post what you've attempted so far and not just the question. We are here to learn from each other, not to do your homework. :P
[*] Avoid making posts just to thank someone - you can use the upvote function instead
[*] Don't make a new reply just to repeat yourself or comment on the quality of others' posts; instead, post when you have a new insight or question. You can also edit your post if it's the most recent and you want to add more information.
[*] Avoid bumping old posts.
[*] Use GameBot to post alcumus questions.
[*] If you need general MATHCOUNTS/math competition advice, check out the threads below.
[*] Don't post other users' real names.
[*] Advertisements are not allowed. You can advertise your forum on your profile with a link, on your blog, and on user-created forums that permit forum advertisements.
[/list]

Here are links to more detailed versions of the rules. These are from the older forums, so you can overlook "Classroom math/Competition math only" instructions.
Posting Guidelines
Update on Basic Forum Rules
What belongs on this forum?
How do I write a thorough solution?
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How do I study for mathcounts?
Mathcounts FAQ and resources
Mathcounts and how to learn

As always, if you have any questions, you can PM me or any of the other Middle School Moderators. Once again, if you see spam, it would help a lot if you filed a report instead of responding :)

Marathons!
Relays might be a better way to describe it, but these threads definitely go the distance! One person starts off by posting a problem, and the next person comes up with a solution and a new problem for another user to solve. Here's some of the frequently active marathons running in this forum:
[list][*]Algebra
[*]Prealgebra
[*]Proofs
[*]Factoring
[*]Geometry
[*]Counting & Probability
[*]Number Theory[/list]
Some of these haven't received attention in a while, but these are the main ones for their respective subjects. Rather than starting a new marathon, please give the existing ones a shot first.

You can also view marathons via the Marathon tag.

Think this list is incomplete or needs changes? Let the mods know and we'll take a look.
368 replies
jellymoop
May 8, 2015
harry1234
May 16, 2018
Sets With a Given Property
oVlad   4
N 4 minutes ago by oVlad
Source: Romania TST 2025 Day 1 P4
Determine the sets $S{}$ of positive integers satisfying the following two conditions:
[list=a]
[*]For any positive integers $a, b, c{}$, if $ab + bc + ca{}$ is in $S$, then so are $a + b + c{}$ and $abc$; and
[*]The set $S{}$ contains an integer $N \geqslant 160$ such that $N-2$ is not divisible by $4$.
[/list]
Bogdan Blaga, United Kingdom
4 replies
1 viewing
oVlad
Apr 9, 2025
oVlad
4 minutes ago
Mock 22nd Thailand TMO P10
korncrazy   2
N 5 minutes ago by aidan0626
Source: own
Prove that there exists infinitely many triples of positive integers $(a,b,c)$ such that $a>b>c,\,\gcd(a,b,c)=1$ and $$a^2-b^2,a^2-c^2,b^2-c^2$$are all perfect square.
2 replies
korncrazy
an hour ago
aidan0626
5 minutes ago
pairwise coprime sum gcd
InterLoop   22
N 7 minutes ago by Nuran2010
Source: EGMO 2025/1
For a positive integer $N$, let $c_1 < c_2 < \dots < c_m$ be all the positive integers smaller than $N$ that are coprime to $N$. Find all $N \ge 3$ such that
$$\gcd(N, c_i + c_{i+1}) \neq 1$$for all $1 \le i \le m - 1$.
22 replies
InterLoop
Today at 12:34 PM
Nuran2010
7 minutes ago
one cyclic formed by two cyclic
CrazyInMath   15
N 17 minutes ago by ThatApollo777
Source: EGMO 2025/3
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle. Points $B, D, E$, and $C$ lie on a line in this order and satisfy $BD = DE = EC$. Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of $AD$ and $AE$, respectively. Suppose triangle $ADE$ is acute, and let $H$ be its orthocentre. Points $P$ and $Q$ lie on lines $BM$ and $CN$, respectively, such that $D, H, M,$ and $P$ are concyclic and pairwise different, and $E, H, N,$ and $Q$ are concyclic and pairwise different. Prove that $P, Q, N,$ and $M$ are concyclic.
15 replies
CrazyInMath
Today at 12:38 PM
ThatApollo777
17 minutes ago
Math and AI 4 Girls
mkwhe   15
N 3 hours ago by REACHAW
Hey everyone!

The 2025 MA4G competition is now open!

Apply Here: https://xmathandai4girls.submittable.com/submit


Visit https://www.mathandai4girls.org/ to get started!

Feel free to PM or email mathandai4girls@yahoo.com if you have any questions!
15 replies
mkwhe
Apr 5, 2025
REACHAW
3 hours ago
2⁠0⁠⁠2⁠4
Technodoggo   83
N 6 hours ago by ZMB038
Happy New Year!
To celebrate the start of 2024, I've decided to put up a few facts about the year. I don't have many, so y'all should also

1

2

(1 and 2 are the same :sob: just distribute)

Post more cool facts here! Keep a running chain with quote boxes for facts. (I don't know if this technically qualifies as a marathon, but I hope this is allowed lol)
83 replies
Technodoggo
Jan 1, 2024
ZMB038
6 hours ago
cutoffs for RSM IMC
bubby617   10
N Today at 2:21 PM by ZMB038
what are the percentile cutoffs for the RSM IMC? i got in with an 82nd percentile so im curious on the requirements for advancement in R1/prizes in R2
10 replies
bubby617
Yesterday at 10:18 PM
ZMB038
Today at 2:21 PM
Bogus Proof Marathon
pifinity   7558
N Today at 2:20 PM by e_is_2.71828
Hi!
I'd like to introduce the Bogus Proof Marathon.

In this marathon, simply post a bogus proof that is middle-school level and the next person will find the error. You don't have to post the real solution :P

Use classic Marathon format:
[hide=P#]a1b2c3[/hide]
[hide=S#]a1b2c3[/hide]


Example posts:

P(x)
-----
S(x)
P(x+1)
-----
Let's go!! Just don't make it too hard!
7558 replies
pifinity
Mar 12, 2018
e_is_2.71828
Today at 2:20 PM
Website to learn math
hawa   23
N Today at 2:15 PM by sadas123
Hi, I'm kinda curious what website do yall use to learn math, like i dont find any website thats fun to learn math
23 replies
hawa
Apr 9, 2025
sadas123
Today at 2:15 PM
Facts About 2025!
Existing_Human1   244
N Today at 1:58 PM by ZMB038
Hello AOPS,

As we enter the New Year, the most exciting part is figuring out the mathematical connections to the number we have now temporally entered

Here are some facts about 2025:
$$2025 = 45^2 = (20+25)(20+25)$$$$2025 = 1^3 + 2^3 +3^3 + 4^3 +5^3 +6^3 + 7^3 +8^3 +9^3 = (1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9)^2 = {10 \choose 2}^2$$
If anyone has any more facts about 2025, enlighted the world with a new appreciation for the year


(I got some of the facts from this video)
244 replies
Existing_Human1
Jan 1, 2025
ZMB038
Today at 1:58 PM
Doubt on a math problem
AVY2024   10
N Today at 6:50 AM by Yiyj1
Solve for x and y given that xy=923, x+y=84
10 replies
AVY2024
Apr 8, 2025
Yiyj1
Today at 6:50 AM
9 Was the 2025 AMC 8 harder or easier than last year?
Sunshine_Paradise   180
N Today at 4:27 AM by aichinara
Also what will be the DHR?
180 replies
Sunshine_Paradise
Jan 30, 2025
aichinara
Today at 4:27 AM
EaZ_Shadow
Apr 6, 2025
RandomMathGuy500
Today at 3:01 AM
Geometry 7.3 tangent
luciazhu1105   5
N Today at 1:50 AM by sanaops9
I have trouble getting tangents and most things in the chapter, so some help would be appreciated!
5 replies
1 viewing
luciazhu1105
Apr 9, 2025
sanaops9
Today at 1:50 AM
Problem3
samithayohan   113
N Apr 7, 2025 by VideoCake
Source: IMO 2015 problem 3
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with $AB > AC$. Let $\Gamma $ be its circumcircle, $H$ its orthocenter, and $F$ the foot of the altitude from $A$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Let $Q$ be the point on $\Gamma$ such that $\angle HQA = 90^{\circ}$ and let $K$ be the point on $\Gamma$ such that $\angle HKQ = 90^{\circ}$. Assume that the points $A$, $B$, $C$, $K$ and $Q$ are all different and lie on $\Gamma$ in this order.

Prove that the circumcircles of triangles $KQH$ and $FKM$ are tangent to each other.

Proposed by Ukraine
113 replies
samithayohan
Jul 10, 2015
VideoCake
Apr 7, 2025
Problem3
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: IMO 2015 problem 3
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samithayohan
41 posts
#1 • 17 Y
Y by sydneymark, Davi-8191, Wizard_32, microsoft_office_word, Flow25, itslumi, somlogan, Abidabi, megarnie, HWenslawski, son7, tiendung2006, Toinfinity, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, Funcshun840
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with $AB > AC$. Let $\Gamma $ be its circumcircle, $H$ its orthocenter, and $F$ the foot of the altitude from $A$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Let $Q$ be the point on $\Gamma$ such that $\angle HQA = 90^{\circ}$ and let $K$ be the point on $\Gamma$ such that $\angle HKQ = 90^{\circ}$. Assume that the points $A$, $B$, $C$, $K$ and $Q$ are all different and lie on $\Gamma$ in this order.

Prove that the circumcircles of triangles $KQH$ and $FKM$ are tangent to each other.

Proposed by Ukraine
This post has been edited 7 times. Last edited by djmathman, Feb 14, 2020, 4:21 AM
Reason: typo after 4.5 years!
Z K Y
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TelvCohl
2312 posts
#3 • 38 Y
Y by mssmath, anantmudgal09, AdithyaBhaskar, MariusStanean, utkarshgupta, Abubakir, CeuAzul, reveryu, DreamComeTrue, PeppaBear, Tawan, naw.ngs, samoha, Avlon, enhanced, Abbas11235, Limerent, tree_3, OlympusHero, amar_04, myh2910, PIartist, megarnie, SSaad, hakN, Assassino9931, Derpy_Creeper, Jalil_Huseynov, nguyenducmanh2705, Toinfinity, David-Vieta, OronSH, Adventure10, EpicBird08, sabkx, Sedro, Funcshun840, MS_asdfgzxcvb
Let $ \Psi $ be the inversion with center $ H $ that fixed $ \odot (ABC). $ Since $ Q, H, M  $ and the antipode of $ A $ in $ \odot (ABC) $ are collinear, so $ \Psi(Q) $ is the antipode of $ A $ in $ \odot (ABC) $ and note that $ MH=M\Psi(Q) $ we get $ \Psi(M) $ is the reflection of $ H $ in $ Q. $ Clearly, $ \Psi(K) $ is the antipode of $ Q $ in $ \odot (ABC) $ and $ \Psi(F) $ is the reflection of $ H $ in $ A, $ so $ AQ\Psi(Q) \Psi(K) $ is a rectangle and $ A\Psi(K) $ is the perpendicular bisector of $ \Psi(F)\Psi(M), $ hence $ \Psi(Q)\Psi(K) $ is the tangent of $ \odot (\Psi(F)\Psi(K)\Psi(M)) $ $ \equiv $ $ \Psi(\odot (FKM)). $ I.e., $ \odot (HQK) $ is tangent to $ \odot (FKM). $ $ \qquad \blacksquare $
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by TelvCohl, Aug 15, 2023, 9:23 AM
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oneplusone
1459 posts
#4 • 50 Y
Y by buratinogigle, rkm0959, proglote, samyfinsher, BBeast, acegikmoqsuwy2000, shinichiman, toto1234567890, CatalinFetoiu, Vietnamisalwaysinmyheart, quangminhltv99, joshy0604, Garfield, utkarshgupta, baopbc, rterte, PRO2000, muffin_cowee, Ankoganit, reveryu, don2001, MathBoy2001, Lam.DL.01, Tawan, Anar24, samoha, qweDota, Adolmephus, thczarif, Supercali, sriraamster, Atpar, A-Thought-Of-God, Abbas11235, OlympusHero, myh2910, Mop2018, hakN, rayfish, Jalil_Huseynov, nguyenducmanh2705, kimyager, Adventure10, EpicBird08, Dansman2838, Gaunter_O_Dim_of_math, Math_legendno12, Sedro, Funcshun840, MS_asdfgzxcvb
Let $AE$ be the diameter of $\Gamma$. Extend $AF$ to meet $\Gamma$ again at $D$. Suppose $\Gamma$ has center $O$.

Step 1: $Q,H,M,E$ are collinear.
Proof: $BECH$ is a parallelogram, so $E,M,H$ are collinear. $AE$ is the diameter, and $\angle AQE=90$, so $Q,H,M,E$ are collinear.

Step 2: circumcircle of $\triangle DHK$ is tangent to $QE$.
Proof: Let $QP$ be the diameter of $\Gamma$, then $P,H,K$ are collinear. Now $\angle HKD = \angle PQD = \angle OQD = 90-\angle QBD$. Note that $\angle QMC=\angle DMC$, so $QBDC$ is harmonic, so $\angle QBD = \angle QMC$. Thus $\angle HKD = 90-\angle QMC=\angle MHD$, proving step 2.

Now let $X$ be the circumcenter of $\triangle KHD$. Then $X$ lies on $BC$ because it is the perpendicular bisector of $HD$, and $XH\perp QE$. So $XK^2 = XH^2 = XF\cdot XM$, which means $XK$ is tangent to circumcircle of $\triangle MFK$. Also since $XK=XH$ and $XH$ is tangent to circumcircle of $\triangle QHK$, $XK$ is also tangent to circumcircle of $\triangle QHK$, and the result follows.
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leminscate
109 posts
#5 • 5 Y
Y by samyfinsher, reveryu, Abdollahpour, e_plus_pi, Adventure10
This can be done with complex numbers with $\Gamma$ as the unit circle. We construct the tangent to $(KQH)$ at $K$ and let it intersect $\Gamma$ at $X\neq K$. Now we can prove that if $A', Q'$ are the points diametrically opposite $A,Q$, respectively, then $A'MHQ, Q'HK$ are collinear.

$\angle XKH = \angle KQH \implies \frac{(x-k)(h-q)}{(h-k)(k-q)} \in \mathbb{R} \implies \frac{(x-k)(q+a)}{(q+k)(q-k)} \in \mathbb{R} \implies \frac{(x-k)(q+a)}{(q+k)(q-k)} = \frac{\frac{k-x}{xk}\frac{q+a}{qa}}{\frac{q+k}{qk}\frac{k-q}{qk}} \implies x=\frac{qk}{a}$.

EDIT: Just realised that since $\angle AQK = \angle QKX$, $QK || AX$ so $x=\frac{qk}{a}$. So the above paragraph is unnecessary.

We want to prove that $\angle FKX=\angle FMK \iff \frac{(f-k)(k-m)}{(x-k)(b-c)} \in \mathbb{R} \iff \frac{(f-k)(k-m)}{(x-k)(b-c)} = \frac{\overline{(f-k)}\overline{(k-m)}}{\frac{k-x}{xk}\frac{c-b}{bc}} \iff (f-k)(k-m) = xkbc\overline{(f-k)}\overline{(k-m)} \iff (f-k)(k-m) = \frac{qk^2bc}{a} \overline{(f-k)}\overline{(k-m)}$.

Now we can calculate $q=\frac{bc(2a+b+c)}{2bc+ab+ac}$ from $aq=-\frac{q-a}{\overline{(q-a)}} = \frac{h+a}{\overline{(h+a)}} = \frac{2a+b+c}{\frac{2}{a}+\frac{1}{b}+\frac{1}{c}}$.
We calculate $k=a\frac{(a+b+c)(3bc+ab+ac)+abc}{(ab+bc+ca)(3a+b+c)+abc}$ from $kq=-\frac{k-q}{\overline{(k-q)}} = \frac{-q-h}{\overline{(-q-h)}} =q\frac{q+h}{1+q\overline{h}}$.
The hard part is calculating $f-k$ and $k-m$.
$k-m = \frac{(2a+b+c)[(b+c)(a^2-bc)-a(b-c)^2]}{2[(ab+bc+ca)(3a+b+c)+abc]}$ and $f-k = \frac{[(b+c)(a^2-bc)+a(b-c)^2](a+b)(a+c)}{2a[(ab+bc+ca)(3a+b+c)+abc]}$. The main step was really finding the factorisation for the numerator of $k-m$, which I did by somewhat guessing the factor $2a+b+c$ by inspection and luck (mostly luck). Then you can guess the form of $f-k$ so that the RTP statement holds. Here's how I sort of guessed that $2a+b+c$ was a factor:

The numerator of $k-m$ is
\begin{align*} & 2a[(a+b+c)(3bc+ab+ac)+abc] - (b+c)[(ab+bc+ca)(3a+b+c)+abc] \\
&= 2a(a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca) + abc(6a+3b+3c) - (ab+bc+ca)(b+c)(3a+b+c) \\
&= 3abc(2a+b+c) - (ab+bc+ca)(b+c)(2a+b+c) - a(ab+bc+ca)(b+c) + 2a(a+b+c)(ab+bc+ca) \\
&= 3abc(2a+b+c) - (ab+bc+ca)(b+c)(2a+b+c) +a(ab+bc+ca)(2a+b+c). \end{align*} The first manipulation was done with the intention of possibly factoring out $ab+bc+ca$, but then the $3abc(2a+b+c)$ appeared and it seemed as if the $3a+b+c$ was "pretty close" to $2a+b+c$ and that possibly $2a+b+c$ would factor out...and it did.

The remainder of the solution is basically conjugating these expressions and substituting everything in.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by leminscate, Jul 11, 2015, 5:03 AM
Reason: Adding some details, fixing typos
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buratinogigle
2327 posts
#9 • 10 Y
Y by THVSH, andria, anantmudgal09, baopbc, don2001, Tawan, PIartist, Kyleray, Adventure10, Mango247
Great idea to draw circumcenter of triangle $KHD$ dear One Plus One. So we must prove that $(KHD)$ is tangent to $QE$. I do a little different from you. We easily seen $\triangle KQH$ and $\triangle KAE$ is right and $\angle KQH=\angle KQE=\angle KAE$, we deduce $\angle KHQ=\angle KEA=\angle KHD$. So we are done.

I propose a general problem and solution

Let $ABC$ be an actue triangle inscribed in circle $(O)$ and $P$ is a point inside it such that $\angle BPC=180^\circ-\angle A$. $BP,CP$ cut $CA,AB$ at $E,F$. Circle $(AEF)$ cuts $(O)$ again at $G$. Circle diameter $PG$ cuts $(O)$ again at $K$. $D$ is projection of $P$ on $BC$ and $M$ is midpoint of $BC$. Prove that the circle $(KPG)$ and circle $(KDM)$ are tangent.

Solution. Let $Q$ are symmetric of $P$ through $D$, easily seen $Q$ lie on $(O)$. Let $GP$ cuts $(O)$ again at $N$. We see $\angle NPC=\angle FPG=\angle FAG=\angle BNP$ so $BN\parallel PC$ similarly, $CN\parallel BP$. Let $AS,NR$ are diameter of $(O)$. We eaily seen $\angle PQN=90^\circ$ so $P,Q,R$ are collinear. So $M$ is midpoint of $PN$. We have $\angle KPG=90^\circ-\angle KGP=90^\circ-\angle KAN=\angle AKN+\angle ANK-90^\circ=\angle NKS+\angle KQA=\angle NAS+\angle KQA=\angle ANR+\angle KQA=\angle AQR+\angle KQA=\angle KQP.$

From this, $GN$ is tangent to $(KPQ)$. Let tangent at $K,P$ of $(KPG)$ intersect at $T$. We have $\angle KTP=180^\circ-2\angle KGP=2\angle KPG=2\angle KQP$ and $TK=TP$, so we have $T$ is circumcenter of triangle $KPQ$, but $BC$ is perpendicular bisector of $PQ$, therefore $T$ lies on $BC$. Now, $TK^2=TP^2=TD.TM$, this means $TK$ is common tangents of $(KGP)$ and circle $(KHM)$ or they are tangent. We are done.
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THVSH
158 posts
#12 • 3 Y
Y by buratinogigle, Adventure10, Mango247
Another generalization:
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with circumcircle $\odot (O)$. A arbitrary circle $\odot (D)$ passing through $B, C$ intersects $CA, AB$ at $E, F$, respectively. $K$ is the orthogonal projection of $D$ on $AP$. Construct the diameter $AP$ of $\odot (AEF)$. $\odot (AEF) \cap \odot (O)=\{A, G\}$. $\odot (GP) \cap \odot (O)=\{G, J\}$. Prove that $\odot (JGP)$ and $\odot (JKD)$ are tangent.
:)
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LeVietAn
375 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Another generalization :) :
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with circumcircle $\Gamma$ . A arbitrary circle $(O)$ passing through $B, C$ intersects $CA, AB$ at $D, E$, respectively. Let $H=BD\cap CE$. Let $Q $ be the point on $ \Gamma $ such that $\angle HQA =90^{\circ}$ and let $K $ be the point on $\Gamma $ such that $\angle HKQ=90^{\circ}$.
Let $F$ is the orthogonal projection of $H$ on $BC$, and let $M=KO\cap BC$.
Prove that the circumcircles of triangles $KQH $ and $FKM $ are tangent to each other.
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TelvCohl
2312 posts
#14 • 5 Y
Y by gold46, Tawan, enhanced, Adventure10, Mango247
THVSH wrote:
Another generalization:
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with circumcircle $\odot (O)$. A arbitrary circle $\odot (D)$ passing through $B, C$ intersects $CA, AB$ at $E, F$, respectively. $K$ is the orthogonal projection of $D$ on $AP$. Construct the diameter $AP$ of $\odot (AEF)$. $\odot (AEF) \cap \odot (O)=\{A, G\}$. $\odot (GP) \cap \odot (O)=\{G, J\}$. Prove that $\odot (JGP)$ and $\odot (JKD)$ are tangent.
:)
The solution by oneplusone also works for this generalization :)
I just want to note that step 2 in the solution simplified follows from Reim theorem ($ \because AQEP $ is rectangle $ \Longrightarrow QE \parallel AP $) .
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v_Enhance
6872 posts
#15 • 24 Y
Y by mssmath, rkm0959, silouan, Dukejukem, zschess, aayush-srivastava, huricane, don2001, Tawan, Wizard_32, naw.ngs, MathbugAOPS, Limerent, Purple_Planet, myh2910, SSaad, Assassino9931, nguyenducmanh2705, UI_MathZ_25, Adventure10, Mango247, Tellocan, Rounak_iitr, Sedro
Probably equivalent to the other inversion solutions, but anyways. . .
[asy]size(6cm);
defaultpen(fontsize(9pt));

size(8cm);
pair A = dir(80);
pair B = dir(220);
pair C = dir(-40);

draw(unitcircle, blue);
pair O = circumcenter(A, B, C);
pair H = orthocenter(A, B, C);
pair Q = IP(CP(midpoint(A--H), H), unitcircle);
pair N = midpoint(H--Q);
pair T = midpoint(A--H);
pair N_9 = midpoint(O--H);
pair M = midpoint(B--C);
pair F = foot(A, B, C);

draw(circumcircle(M, F, N), darkcyan);

pair L = M+T-N;
pair K = OP(CP(N, H), unitcircle);

draw(A--B--C--cycle, red);
draw(A--F);
draw(T--M--L--N, heavygreen);
draw(M--Q--A, magenta);
draw(Q--K--L, heavymagenta);

dot("$A$", A, dir(A));
dot("$B$", B, dir(B));
dot("$C$", C, dir(C));
dot("$O$", O, dir(O));
dot("$H$", H, dir(H));
dot("$Q$", Q, dir(Q));
dot("$N$", N, dir(N));
dot("$T$", T, dir(T));
dot("$N_9$", N_9, dir(N_9));
dot("$M$", M, dir(M));
dot("$F$", F, dir(F));
dot("$L$", L, dir(L));
dot("$K$", K, dir(K));

/* Source generated by TSQ */
[/asy]

Let $N$, $T$ be midpoints of $HQ$, $AH$. Let $L$ be on the nine-point circle with $\angle HML = 90^{\circ}$. The negative inversion at $H$ swapping $\Gamma$ and nine-point circle maps $A$ to $F$, $K$ to $L$, $Q$ to $M$. AS $LM \parallel AQ$ we just need to prove $LA = LQ$. But $MT$ is a diameter, hence $LTNM$ is a rectangle, so $LT$ passes through the center of $\Gamma$.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by v_Enhance, Jul 10, 2015, 2:39 PM
Reason: Shrink diagram, edit solution
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ISHO95
221 posts
#16 • 3 Y
Y by Mathuzb, Adventure10, Mango247
Let $R$ be the reflection of $H$ onto $BC$ and $KR$ intersects $BC$ at $T$. We easily prove that $KQMT$ is cyclic. If $KF$ intersects circle $KQH$ at $P$ , then $Q,P,T$ are collinear. => let $l$ be line which tangents circle $KQH$ at $K$. Then it is not hard to see line $l$ also tangents to the circle $KFM$ at $K$. Done!
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by ISHO95, Jul 10, 2015, 7:56 PM
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Math-lover123
304 posts
#17 • 2 Y
Y by mssmath, Adventure10
If $O$ is cicumcenter of $ABC$ and $V,S,T$ are midpoints of segments $OH,HK,HQ$ respectively,
then $VS$ and $VT$ are midlines of triangles $HOK$ and $HOQ$ resprectively.
So $S,T$ lie on Euler's circle of $ABC$.
If $t$ is a line through $H$ which is perpendicular to $HM$,
then $t,MF,ST$ are concurrent at radical center $X$ of Euler's circle of $ABC$ and circumcircles of triangles $STH$ and $MFH$.
Triangles $XKS$ and $XHS$ are congruent,
so $XK^2=XH^2=XS\cdot XT=XM\cdot XF$ and $\measuredangle XKS=90$,
which means that the line $XK$ is common tangent of circumcircles of triangles $KFM$ and $HKQ$.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Math-lover123, Jul 10, 2015, 8:26 PM
Reason: circumcircle
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Kfp
17 posts
#18 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I found this problem quite pretty.

First of all, it is well known that $Q$, $H$ and $M$ are collinear. Assuming this, we call $H_{A}$ the second intersection of $AH$ with $\Gamma$, and we perform an inversion of center $H$ and power $HA \cdot HH_{A}$. After very basic angle chasing + application of the fact stated above, we get the problem transformed into the following: let $ABC$ be a triangle and let $H'$ be its incenter. Let $F'$ be its A-excenter (we know that $BF'CH'$ is cyclic for obvious reasons, we call this circle $\omega$), let $Q'$ be the midpoint of the circumcircle arc containing $A$, let $M'$ be the second intersection of $Q'H$ with $\omega$ and let $K'$ be the intersection between $\Gamma^{'}$ and the perpendicular line wrt $HQ'$ passing through $Q'$. We want to show that the circumcircle of $F'M'K'$ is tangent to $Q'K'$ at $K'$.

To do this, we'll show that $K'$ lies on the AXIS of $F'M'$. To show this is enough , once we defined $D$ as the center of $\omega$, to show that $K'D$ is orthogonal to $M'F'$. But $M'F'$ is orthogonal to $M'Q'$ ($HF'$ being a diameter) and $M'Q'$ is orthogonal to $Q'K'$ by definition. But $Q'D'$ is a diameter of $\Gamma^{'}$, hence done!!
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by Kfp, Jul 10, 2015, 9:54 PM
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mathuz
1512 posts
#19 • 2 Y
Y by Davrbek, Adventure10
I think it's easy for Problem 3:

We have that two lemmas:

\textbf{Lemma 1.} The points $Q$, $H$ and $M$ are collinear.

\textbf{Lemma 2.} Let $N$ is the midpoint of $QH$ and a point $R$ lies on the line $BC$ such that $RH\parallel AQ$. Then $\angle RNO= 90^{\circ} $, where $O$ is the circumcenter of the triangle $ABC$.

We can use by two lemmas and we easily can see that the circumcircles of the triangles $KHQ$ and $KFM$ are tangent. :)
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proglote
958 posts
#20 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Here's a solution with inversion WRT $Q$. First, let $A_0$ denote the antipode of $A$ in $\Gamma$; we know that $Q, H, M, A_0$ are collinear and $M$ is the midpoint of $HA_0$, so that $M'$ becomes the harmonic conjugate of $Q$ WRT $A'_0, H'$ (Note that $A', M', F'$ are collinear since $(QAMF)$ is cyclic):
[asy]
 /* Geogebra to Asymptote conversion, documentation at artofproblemsolving.com/Wiki, go to User:Azjps/geogebra */
import graph; size(15cm); 
real labelscalefactor = 0.5; /* changes label-to-point distance */
pen dps = linewidth(0.7) + fontsize(10); defaultpen(dps); /* default pen style */ 
pen dotstyle = black; /* point style */ 
real xmin = -4.800874036810980, xmax = 34.89250840395043, ymin = -7.788624316942659, ymax = 11.96084728234451;  /* image dimensions */
pen qqttqq = rgb(0.000000000000000,0.2000000000000002,0.000000000000000); pen aqaqaq = rgb(0.6274509803921575,0.6274509803921575,0.6274509803921575); pen qqwuqq = rgb(0.000000000000000,0.3921568627450985,0.000000000000000); 

draw((558.4074274619950,-167.6931808709421)--(558.4848138116372,-168.2773169816810)--(559.0689499223762,-168.1999306320388)--(558.9915635727340,-167.6157945212999)--cycle, qqwuqq); 
draw((11.94814897609412,-2.701786992093843)--(11.83986216803928,-3.280991282635144)--(12.41906645858058,-3.389278090689988)--(12.52735326663543,-2.810073800148687)--cycle, qqwuqq); 
draw((12.24038502123578,-5.722950743110142)--(11.76393233897595,-5.376257096575377)--(11.41723869244118,-5.852709778835205)--(11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)--cycle, qqwuqq); 
draw((18.65735096727185,3.095730151442312)--(19.13380364953167,2.749036504907546)--(19.48049729606644,3.225489187167374)--(19.00404461380661,3.572182833702140)--cycle, qqwuqq); 
 /* draw figures */
draw(circle((11.92149259612108,3.614427735914360), 7.082678004468662), linewidth(1.200000000000002) + qqttqq); 
draw((11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)--(16.80965888055248,-1.511014497759957), aqaqaq); 
draw((7.004365667404278,-1.483237463161803)--(11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972), aqaqaq); 
draw((19.00404461380661,3.572182833702140)--(11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)); 
draw((11.53043691294743,-3.457446355699668)--(11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)); 
draw((5.406156668775245,-1.478709958916395)--(11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)); 
draw((5.406156668775245,-1.478709958916395)--(26.02563863289654,-1.537122089126370)); 
draw((19.00404461380661,3.572182833702140)--(26.02563863289654,-1.537122089126370)); 
draw((26.02563863289654,-1.537122089126370)--(8.649924021738130,-3.839056692143185)); 
draw((5.406156668775245,-1.478709958916395)--(14.14050284768400,-3.111664830980842)); 
draw((11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972)--(12.52735326663543,-2.810073800148687)); 
 /* dots and labels */
dot((19.00404461380661,3.572182833702140),dotstyle); 
label("$Q$", (19.11515275219922,3.738845041291063), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((7.004365667404278,-1.483237463161803),dotstyle); 
label("$C'$", (7.143250840395042,-1.205467117180268), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((16.80965888055248,-1.511014497759957),dotstyle); 
label("$B'$", (16.42078039617833,-1.122136013385808), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((11.89369137470101,-6.199403425369972),dotstyle); 
label("$H'$", (12.25422520645530,-6.177556310249753), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((26.02563863289654,-1.537122089126370),dotstyle); 
label("$A'$", (26.14274250553207,-1.372129324769190), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((15.30832042658575,-1.506761414320957),dotstyle); 
label("$A'_0$", (14.55971907810204,-1.177690082582115), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((14.14050284768400,-3.111664830980842),dotstyle); 
label("$M'$", (14.19861762832604,-3.455406919630706), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((11.53043691294743,-3.457446355699668),dotstyle); 
label("$F'$", (10.92092754574392,-3.260967677443630), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((5.406156668775245,-1.478709958916395),dotstyle); 
label("$K'$", (5.504405799103985,-1.316575255572882), NE * labelscalefactor); 
dot((8.649924021738130,-3.839056692143185),dotstyle); 
label("$M_0$", (8.143224085928571,-4.233163888379004), SW * 0.1*labelscalefactor); 
dot((12.52735326663543,-2.810073800148687),dotstyle); 
label("$X$", (12.64310369082944,-2.649872916284253), NE * labelscalefactor); 
clip((xmin,ymin)--(xmin,ymax)--(xmax,ymax)--(xmax,ymin)--cycle); 
 /* end of picture */[/asy]
Note that $A'(Q, M'; A'_0, H')$ is a harmonic pencil and $A'Q \parallel H'K' \Longrightarrow A'M'$ cuts $H'K'$ at its midpoint $M_0$. Define $X$ as the foot of the perpendicular from $H'$ to $M'K'$, so that $(H'M'XF')$ all lie on the circle with diameter $H'M'$. Now $\angle K' XF' = \angle F'H'M' = 180 - \angle K'M_0 F'$, i.e. $(K' X F' M_0)$ is cyclic. But note that $M_0 X^2 = M_0 H'^2 = M_0 F' \cdot M_0 M'$, i.e. $M_0 X$ is tangent to $(M' X F')$ and $\angle H' K' F' = \angle M_0 X F' = \angle K' M' F'$, i.e. $H'K'$ is tangent to $(F'K'M')$, i.e. $(KQH)$ is tangent to $(FKM)$ at $K$, as desired.
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Géza Kós
111 posts
#24 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I can be found quickly that $Q$ is the intersection of $\Gamma$ and the ray $MH$.

What happens if, by accident, we take the other intersection point? Instead of $Q$ and $K$, we will get the reflections of $H$ about $M$ and $F$, respectively and find that the two circles in the problem statement are trivially tangent to each other.

Now let us draw both sides of the problem in the same picture. We can realize what object can connect the two parts...
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