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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1345
N 2 hours ago by GoodGamer123
I write today to announce my retirement as CEO from Art of Problem Solving. When I founded AoPS 22 years ago, I never imagined that we would reach so many students and families, or that we would find so many channels through which we discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. I am very proud of all we have accomplished and I’m thankful for the many supporters who provided inspiration and encouragement along the way. I'm particularly grateful to all of the wonderful members of the AoPS Community!

I’m delighted to introduce our new leaders - Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland. Ben has extensive experience in education and edtech prior to joining AoPS as my successor as CEO, including starting like I did as a classroom teacher. He has a deep understanding of the value of our work because he’s an AoPS parent! Meanwhile, Andrew and I have common roots as founders of education companies; he launched Quizlet at age 15! His journey from founder to MIT to technology and product leader as our Chief Product Officer traces a pathway many of our students will follow in the years to come.

Thank you again for your support for Art of Problem Solving and we look forward to working with millions more wonderful problem solvers in the years to come.

And special thanks to all of the amazing AoPS team members who have helped build AoPS. We’ve come a long way from here:IMAGE
1345 replies
1 viewing
rrusczyk
Monday at 6:37 PM
GoodGamer123
2 hours ago
k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/list]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes run 7:30pm-8:45pm ET/4:30pm - 5:45pm PT unless otherwise noted.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Adding contests to the Contest Collections
dcouchman   1
N Apr 5, 2023 by v_Enhance
Want to help AoPS remain a valuable Olympiad resource? Help us add contests to AoPS's Contest Collections.

Find instructions and a list of contests to add here: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c40244h1064480_contests_to_add
1 reply
dcouchman
Sep 9, 2019
v_Enhance
Apr 5, 2023
k i Zero tolerance
ZetaX   49
N May 4, 2019 by NoDealsHere
Source: Use your common sense! (enough is enough)
Some users don't want to learn, some other simply ignore advises.
But please follow the following guideline:


To make it short: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!
If you don't have common sense, don't post.


More specifically:

For new threads:


a) Good, meaningful title:
The title has to say what the problem is about in best way possible.
If that title occured already, it's definitely bad. And contest names aren't good either.
That's in fact a requirement for being able to search old problems.

Examples:
Bad titles:
- "Hard"/"Medium"/"Easy" (if you find it so cool how hard/easy it is, tell it in the post and use a title that tells us the problem)
- "Number Theory" (hey guy, guess why this forum's named that way¿ and is it the only such problem on earth¿)
- "Fibonacci" (there are millions of Fibonacci problems out there, all posted and named the same...)
- "Chinese TST 2003" (does this say anything about the problem¿)
Good titles:
- "On divisors of a³+2b³+4c³-6abc"
- "Number of solutions to x²+y²=6z²"
- "Fibonacci numbers are never squares"


b) Use search function:
Before posting a "new" problem spend at least two, better five, minutes to look if this problem was posted before. If it was, don't repost it. If you have anything important to say on topic, post it in one of the older threads.
If the thread is locked cause of this, use search function.

Update (by Amir Hossein). The best way to search for two keywords in AoPS is to input
[code]+"first keyword" +"second keyword"[/code]
so that any post containing both strings "first word" and "second form".


c) Good problem statement:
Some recent really bad post was:
[quote]$lim_{n\to 1}^{+\infty}\frac{1}{n}-lnn$[/quote]
It contains no question and no answer.
If you do this, too, you are on the best way to get your thread deleted. Write everything clearly, define where your variables come from (and define the "natural" numbers if used). Additionally read your post at least twice before submitting. After you sent it, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.


For answers to already existing threads:


d) Of any interest and with content:
Don't post things that are more trivial than completely obvious. For example, if the question is to solve $x^{3}+y^{3}=z^{3}$, do not answer with "$x=y=z=0$ is a solution" only. Either you post any kind of proof or at least something unexpected (like "$x=1337, y=481, z=42$ is the smallest solution). Someone that does not see that $x=y=z=0$ is a solution of the above without your post is completely wrong here, this is an IMO-level forum.
Similar, posting "I have solved this problem" but not posting anything else is not welcome; it even looks that you just want to show off what a genius you are.

e) Well written and checked answers:
Like c) for new threads, check your solutions at least twice for mistakes. And after sending, read it again and use the Edit-Button if necessary to correct errors.



To repeat it: ALWAYS USE YOUR COMMON SENSE IF POSTING!


Everything definitely out of range of common sense will be locked or deleted (exept for new users having less than about 42 posts, they are newbies and need/get some time to learn).

The above rules will be applied from next monday (5. march of 2007).
Feel free to discuss on this here.
49 replies
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
D1010 : How it is possible ?
Dattier   13
N 33 minutes ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Is it true that$$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (24^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2 = 0 $$?

A=1728400904217815186787639216753921417860004366580219212750904
024377969478249664644267971025952530803647043121025959018172048
336953969062151534282052863307398281681465366665810775710867856
720572225880311472925624694183944650261079955759251769111321319
421445397848518597584590900951222557860592579005088853698315463
815905425095325508106272375728975

B=2275643401548081847207782760491442295266487354750527085289354
965376765188468052271190172787064418854789322484305145310707614
546573398182642923893780527037224143380886260467760991228567577
953725945090125797351518670892779468968705801340068681556238850
340398780828104506916965606659768601942798676554332768254089685
307970609932846902
13 replies
Dattier
Mar 10, 2025
Dattier
33 minutes ago
integral points
jhz   1
N 36 minutes ago by gaussiemann144
Source: 2025 CTST P17
Prove: there exist integer $x_1,x_2,\cdots x_{10},y_1,y_2,\cdots y_{10}$ satisfying the following conditions:
$(1)$ $|x_i|,|y_i|\le 10^{10} $ for all $1\le i \le 10$
$(2)$ Define the set \[S = \left\{ \left( \sum_{i=1}^{10} a_i x_i, \sum_{i=1}^{10} a_i y_i \right) : a_1, a_2, \cdots, a_{10} \in \{0, 1\} \right\},\]then \(|S| = 1024\)and any rectangular strip of width 1 covers at most two points of S.
1 reply
jhz
6 hours ago
gaussiemann144
36 minutes ago
7 triangles in a square
gghx   2
N an hour ago by lightsynth123
Source: SMO junior 2024 Q3
Seven triangles of area $7$ lie in a square of area $27$. Prove that among the $7$ triangles there are $2$ that intersect in a region of area not less than $1$.
2 replies
gghx
Oct 12, 2024
lightsynth123
an hour ago
Practice AMC 10 Final Fives
freddyfazbear   1
N 2 hours ago by WannabeUSAMOkid
So someone pointed out to me that the last five problems on my previous practice AMC 10 test were rather low quality. Here are some problems that are (hopefully) better.

21.
A partition of a positive integer n is writing n as the sum of positive integer(s), where order does not matter. Find the number of partitions of 6.
A - 10, B - 11, C - 12, D - 13, E - 14

22.
Let n be the smallest positive integer that satisfies the following conditions:
- n is even
- The last digit of n is not 2 or 8
- n^2 + 1 is composite
Find the sum of the digits of n.
A - 3, B - 5, C - 8, D - 9, E - 10

23.
Find the sum of the coordinates of the reflection of the point (6, 9) over the line x + 2y + 3 = 0.
A - (-17.7), B - (-17.6), C - (-17.5), D - (-17.4), E - (-17.3)

24.
Find the number of ordered pairs of integers (a, b), where both a and b have absolute value less than 69, such that a^2 + 42b^2 = 13ab.
A - 21, B - 40, C - 41, D - 42, E - 69

25.
Let f(n) be the sum of the positive integer factors of n, where n is an integer. Find the sum of all positive integers n less than 1000 such that f(f(n) - n) = f(n).
A - 420, B - 530, C - 690, D - 911, E - 1034
1 reply
freddyfazbear
2 hours ago
WannabeUSAMOkid
2 hours ago
What should I do
Jaxman8   0
2 hours ago
I recently mocked 2 AMC 10’s, and 2 AIME’s. My scores for the AMC 10 were both 123 and my AIME scores were 8 and 9 for 2010 I and II. What should I study for 2025-2026 AMCs? Goal is JMO.
0 replies
Jaxman8
2 hours ago
0 replies
n-variable inequality
ABCDE   65
N 2 hours ago by LMat
Source: 2015 IMO Shortlist A1, Original 2015 IMO #5
Suppose that a sequence $a_1,a_2,\ldots$ of positive real numbers satisfies \[a_{k+1}\geq\frac{ka_k}{a_k^2+(k-1)}\]for every positive integer $k$. Prove that $a_1+a_2+\ldots+a_n\geq n$ for every $n\geq2$.
65 replies
ABCDE
Jul 7, 2016
LMat
2 hours ago
usamOOK geometry
KevinYang2.71   86
N 2 hours ago by deduck
Source: USAMO 2025/4, USAJMO 2025/5
Let $H$ be the orthocenter of acute triangle $ABC$, let $F$ be the foot of the altitude from $C$ to $AB$, and let $P$ be the reflection of $H$ across $BC$. Suppose that the circumcircle of triangle $AFP$ intersects line $BC$ at two distinct points $X$ and $Y$. Prove that $C$ is the midpoint of $XY$.
86 replies
KevinYang2.71
Mar 21, 2025
deduck
2 hours ago
Scary Binomial Coefficient Sum
EpicBird08   38
N 2 hours ago by Mathandski
Source: USAMO 2025/5
Determine, with proof, all positive integers $k$ such that $$\frac{1}{n+1} \sum_{i=0}^n \binom{n}{i}^k$$is an integer for every positive integer $n.$
38 replies
EpicBird08
Mar 21, 2025
Mathandski
2 hours ago
2 degree polynomial
PrimeSol   3
N 3 hours ago by PrimeSol
Let $P_{1}(x)= x^2 +b_{1}x +c_{1}, ... , P_{n}(x)=x^2+ b_{n}x+c_{n}$, $P_{i}(x)\in \mathbb{R}[x], \forall i=\overline{1,n}.$ $\forall i,j ,1 \leq i<j \leq n : P_{i}(x) \ne P_{j}(x)$.
$\forall i,j, 1\leq i<j \leq n : Q_{i,j}(x)= P_{i}(x) + P_{j}(x)$ polynomial with only one root.
$max(n)=?$
3 replies
PrimeSol
Mar 24, 2025
PrimeSol
3 hours ago
Additive Combinatorics!
EthanWYX2009   3
N 3 hours ago by flower417477
Source: 2025 TST 15
Let \( X \) be a finite set of real numbers, \( d \) be a real number, and \(\lambda_1, \lambda_2, \cdots, \lambda_{2025}\) be 2025 non-zero real numbers. Define
\[A = 
\left\{ 
(x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2025}) : x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2025} \in X \text{ and } \sum_{i=1}^{2025} \lambda_i x_i = d 
\right\},\]\[B = 
\left\{ 
(x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2024}) : x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2024} \in X \text{ and } \sum_{i=1}^{2024} (-1)^i x_i = 0 
\right\},\]\[C = 
\left\{ 
(x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2026}) : x_1, x_2, \cdots, x_{2026} \in X \text{ and } \sum_{i=1}^{2026} (-1)^i x_i = 0 
\right\}.\]Show that \( |A|^2 \leq |B| \cdot |C| \).
3 replies
EthanWYX2009
Yesterday at 12:49 AM
flower417477
3 hours ago
Inspired by IMO 1984
sqing   0
3 hours ago
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 $ and $a^2+b^2+ ab +24abc\geq\frac{81}{64}$. Prove that
$$a+b+\frac{9}{5}c\geq\frac{9}{8}$$$$a+b+\frac{3}{2}c\geq \frac{9}{8}\sqrt [3]{\frac{3}{2}}-\frac{3}{16}$$$$a+b+\frac{8}{5}c\geq  \frac{9\sqrt [3]{25}-4}{20}$$Let $ a,b,c\geq 0 $ and $ a^2+b^2+ ab +18abc\geq\frac{343}{324} $. Prove that
$$a+b+\frac{6}{5}c\geq\frac{7\sqrt 7}{18}$$$$a+b+\frac{27}{25}c\geq\frac{35\sqrt [3]5-9}{50}$$
0 replies
1 viewing
sqing
3 hours ago
0 replies
equal angles
jhz   2
N 3 hours ago by YaoAOPS
Source: 2025 CTST P16
In convex quadrilateral $ABCD, AB \perp AD, AD = DC$. Let $ E$ be a point on side $BC$, and $F$ be a point on the extension of $DE$ such that $\angle ABF = \angle DEC>90^{\circ}$. Let $O$ be the circumcenter of $\triangle CDE$, and $P$ be a point on the side extension of $FO$ satisfying $FB =FP$. Line BP intersects AC at point Q. Prove that $\angle AQB =\angle DPF.$
2 replies
jhz
6 hours ago
YaoAOPS
3 hours ago
Flee Jumping on Number Line
utkarshgupta   23
N 3 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: All Russian Olympiad 2015 11.5
An immortal flea jumps on whole points of the number line, beginning with $0$. The length of the first jump is $3$, the second $5$, the third $9$, and so on. The length of $k^{\text{th}}$ jump is equal to $2^k + 1$. The flea decides whether to jump left or right on its own. Is it possible that sooner or later the flee will have been on every natural point, perhaps having visited some of the points more than once?
23 replies
utkarshgupta
Dec 11, 2015
Ilikeminecraft
3 hours ago
Smallest value of |253^m - 40^n|
MS_Kekas   3
N 3 hours ago by imagien_bad
Source: Kyiv City MO 2024 Round 1, Problem 9.5
Find the smallest value of the expression $|253^m - 40^n|$ over all pairs of positive integers $(m, n)$.

Proposed by Oleksii Masalitin
3 replies
MS_Kekas
Jan 28, 2024
imagien_bad
3 hours ago
funny title placeholder
pikapika007   55
N Yesterday at 1:58 AM by cowstalker
Source: USAJMO 2025/6
Let $S$ be a set of integers with the following properties:
[list]
[*] $\{ 1, 2, \dots, 2025 \} \subseteq S$.
[*] If $a, b \in S$ and $\gcd(a, b) = 1$, then $ab \in S$.
[*] If for some $s \in S$, $s + 1$ is composite, then all positive divisors of $s + 1$ are in $S$.
[/list]
Prove that $S$ contains all positive integers.
55 replies
pikapika007
Mar 21, 2025
cowstalker
Yesterday at 1:58 AM
funny title placeholder
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: USAJMO 2025/6
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DottedCaculator
7313 posts
#43 • 1 Y
Y by Pengu14
oops wrong
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by DottedCaculator, Mar 21, 2025, 4:41 PM
Z K Y
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OmenOrNot
8 posts
#44
Y by
bjump wrote:
u can get 1->p-1
then use v2 casework on p-1 and p+1 to show you can get p^2-1 -> p^2-> p then get up to the next prime -1. you win

Exactly my sol but I realized it doesn’t work for Fermat and mersenne primes lmao is that like a 5 or
Z K Y
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VulcanForge
626 posts
#45 • 1 Y
Y by bjump
Solved with awang11

Assume otherwise, and look at the smallest missing number; clearly it must be a prime $p > 2025$. Let $4^k$ be the smallest power of four larger than $p$.

Claim: All divisors of $4^k$ are in $S$.

Proof. Since $2^k+1 < 4^{k-1} < p$, we have that the numbers $2^k \pm 1$ are less than $p$ (hence in $S$) and relatively prime. Hence the product $(2^k-1)(2^k+1) = 4^k-1$ is in $S$, which then generates all divisors of $4^k$ as desired.

Now consider the numbers $\tfrac{p-1}{\nu_2(p-1)}$ and $\tfrac{p+1}{\nu_2(p+1)}$, which are less than $p$ (hence in $S$) and relatively prime. Exactly one of $\nu_2(p-1)$ and $\nu_2(p+1)$ is $1$, and since $p+1 \neq 4^k$ (because the latter is $1 \pmod{3}$) both of them are at most $2k-1$. Hence
\[\nu_2(p^2-1) = \nu_2(p-1) + \nu_2(p+1) \le 1 + (2k-1) = 2k \implies 2^{\nu_2(p^2-1)} \in S\]by the claim. Now the relatively-prime generation rule gives
\[ \left( \frac{p-1}{\nu_2(p-1)}, \frac{p+1}{\nu_2(p+1)}, 2^{\nu_2(p^2-1)} \right) \implies p^2-1 \in S \]which consequently generates $p$, contradiction.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by VulcanForge, Mar 21, 2025, 5:07 PM
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dragoon
1922 posts
#46
Y by
andliu766 wrote:
Haven't found anyone else with this solution, so it might be fakesolve :wacko:

FTSOC, let $p$ be smallest integer not in $S$. Clearly, $p$ must be prime, and $p > 2025$.
By Bertrands, let $\frac p2 < q < p$ be prime. If $q_1 \equiv - \frac 1q \pmod{p}$, then either $\gcd(q,q_1) = 1$ or $q=q_1$. If former, then we are done. Otherwise $q^2 \equiv (p-q)^2 -1 \pmod{p}$, and $p \equiv 1 \pmod{4}$.
Then, let $m$ be prime between $\frac p4$ and $\frac p2$. Define $m_1$ similar to above. Similarly, $\gcd(m,m_1)=1$ so we're done, or $m_1 = m,2m,3m$.
If $m_1=m$, then $m^2\equiv -1\pmod{p}$, which is impossible since $m = q$ and $m = p-q$.
If $m_1 = 2m$, then $(p-2m)(p-m)$ is $-1 \pmod{p}$, and $\gcd(p-2m,p-m)=\gcd{p,m}=1$, so $p$ belongs in $S$
If $m_1=3m$, then $p^2 \equiv -\frac{1}{3} \pmod {3}$. Using Legendre symbol, we get $1 = \binom{\frac{-1}{3}}{p} = \binom{-3}{p} = \binom{-1}{p}\binom{3}{p}=\binom{3}{p} = \binom{p}{3}$, using the fact that $p \equiv 1 \pmod{4}$ twice. This implies that $p \equiv 1 \pmod{3}$. Then, $(p-2)(\frac{p+1}{2})=p(\frac{p-1}{2})-1$ and $\gcd(p-2,\frac{p+1}{2}) = \gcd(p-2,3)$, which is $1$ by $p \equiv 1 \pmod{3}$. Thus $p$ is in $S$.

In all cases, $p$ is in $S$, so we are done.

I basically did that please give me points :pray:
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llddmmtt1
392 posts
#47
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someone check my sol

induction. composite is trivial so get p, assuming 1,2,...,p-1 in s.
let p/2<q<p, qr=-1 mod p
if q\ne r then gcd(q,r)=1 so you get qr, then p|qr+1 and ur done
if q=r then q^2=-1 mod p, then q(q+p) mod p. you now want p+q in s
if p+q is a power of 2, notice 2^k-1, 2^k+1 gives 2^(2k)
if p+q not a power of 2, do 2^v_2(p+q) and (p+1)/2^v_2(p+q)

also another skibidi solution is p/2<q,r<p, then q^2=-1 and r^2=-1 are both impossible so at least one of them works, but idk how to prove that there are two primes between p/2 and p
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aliz
157 posts
#48
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Everything in red is stuff I definitely not write during the contest

Assume contradiction, then let p be the smallest positive integer not in S.

Claim 1: p is prime
Proof: Since 2023 < p-1 and p-1 < p, p-1 is in S, therefore if p is composite then it is in S.

Claim 2: For integer a>1 I may have done a > 0, ap - 1 is not in S
Proof: If it is, ap is composite so all of its divisors, including p, are in S.

Setting a = p in Claim 2 gives that p^2 - 1 must not be in S. Now we split into cases.

Case 1: p = 1 mod 4
Proof 1:
(1/2): We will first show p = 2^k + 1 for some positive integer k.

Factor p^2 - 1 = (1/2 * (p+1)) * (2 * (p-1)), then notice gcd(1/2 * (p+1), 2 * (p-1)) | 2gcd(p-1, p+1) | 4 but 1/2 * (p+1) is odd so the numbers are coprime.
1/2 * (p+1) < p so if 2 * (p-1) is also in S we have contradiction. Let 2 * (p-1) = 2^a * b where 2^a and b are positive integers and b is odd. Now 4|p-1 so 8|2(p-1), 2^a >= 8. This means b = 2 / 2^a * (p-1) <= 1/4 * (p-1) < p. If b >= 3, 2 * (p-1) / b <= 2/3 * (p-1) < p. Therefore b < 3. b is odd so b = 1, therefore 2 * (p-1) = 2^a, and since a > 5 this means p = 2^(a-1) + 1 and this is 1 mod 4.

(2/2): Now consider a = 5 in claim 2 to get 5p-1. 5p-1 = 5-1 = 0 mod 4 (I believe here I mentioned bounding and then wrote something along the lines of v_3(5p-1) = 1 and (5p-1) - (2p-1) = [i forgot the exact thing]).

First notice 5p-1 cannot be a power of 2 because of bounding (p-1 is a power of 2, but 4(p-1) < 5p-1 < 8(p-1) since p > 2025). If 5p-1 = 3 * 2^k, then 3p-3 is also 3 times a power of 2, but 3p-3 < 5p-1 < 6p-6. If 5p-1 = 4 * q for a prime q, then notice 2^k + 1 =/ 0 mod 3 so p must equal 2 mod 3, which yields 3 | q (obviously q > 3).

We can prove 5p-1 must take this form. Let 5p-1 = 2^a * b where b is odd and a, b are positive integers. If 2^a >= 8 and b is not equal to 1 or 3, b cannot equal 2, or 4 other, so b >= 5. Now b = (5p-1) / 2^a <= (5p-1) / 8 < p and 2^a = (5p-1) / b <= (5p-1) / 5 < p.

If 2^a = 4 and b is not prime, let b = b_1 * b_2 for coprime b_1, b_2 both greater than 1. Then b_1 > 3 and b_2 > 3, so b_1 and b_2 >= 5. Now 4 * b_1 * b_2 = 5p - 1 so b_2 = (5p-1) / 4b_1 < (5p-1) / 5 < p and b_1 = (5p-1) / b_2 < (5p-1) / 5 < p.

Notice that in all cases if 5p-1 does not take this form we reach a contradiction.

Case 2: p = 3 mod 4
Proof 2:
(1/2): We will first show p = 2^k - 1 for some positive integer k.

p^2 - 1 = (1/2 * (p-1)) * (2 * (p+1)), again 1/2 * (p-1) is odd and the terms are coprime, let
2 * (p+1) = 2^a * b for positive integers a, b with odd b, a >= 3 so b <= 2/8 * (p+1) < p and if b >= 3 then 2^a <= 2/3 * (p+1) < p, so b = 1 and since a > 5 we have 2 * (p+1) = 2^a, so p = 2^(a-1) - 1 so
p = 2^k - 1.

(2/2): Consider a = 3 in claim 2, or 3p-1. Now notice 4|3p-1. If 3p-1 = 2^a * b for odd positive integer b and positive integer a and b =/ 1, then b >= 3 (b can't be 2) we have 2^a = (3p-1)/b < (3p-1)/3 < p, and remember that b = (3p-1)/2^a <= (3p-1)/4 < p. Therefore b = 1 so 3p-1 is a power of 2. But p+1 is a power of 2 and 2p+2 < 3p-1 < 4p+4 by bounding so we are done.

So p is not 1 mod 4 or 3 mod 4 and it is prime, but it is larger than 2025, so p cannot exist. Thus we have proven our desired statement by contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by aliz, Mar 22, 2025, 5:25 AM
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llddmmtt1
392 posts
#49 • 1 Y
Y by megarnie
"1 mod 4 or 3 mod 4"
what the 1434
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by llddmmtt1, Mar 22, 2025, 12:39 PM
Reason: what the typo
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ReaperGod
1577 posts
#50
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vincentwant wrote:
How many points would I get taken off for this:

Let 1 to p-1 in S. Let p/2<c<p be prime. Then c divided one of p-1, 2p-1, 3p-1, etc up to (c-1)p-1. It cannot be p-1 bc size. Then let c divide gp-1. Then (gp-1)/c and c are both in S, so then (this is the error) gp-1 is in S. Thus p is in S.

I missed the case where c^2 divides gp-1. However this case is fine because size gives c^2=gp-1 and c^2-1 is easy to show to be in S (consider $(c\pm1)/2$), but I didn't have time to find this in contest as I found the error in the last 10 min oops

Edit: this doesn't actually work, but just choosing another c I think guarantees that it can't happen again

That is exactly what I did. Could someone confirm that it is considered well known that there are two primes between n/2 and n for large n?
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vincentwant
1272 posts
#51
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ReaperGod wrote:
vincentwant wrote:
How many points would I get taken off for this:

Let 1 to p-1 in S. Let p/2<c<p be prime. Then c divided one of p-1, 2p-1, 3p-1, etc up to (c-1)p-1. It cannot be p-1 bc size. Then let c divide gp-1. Then (gp-1)/c and c are both in S, so then (this is the error) gp-1 is in S. Thus p is in S.

I missed the case where c^2 divides gp-1. However this case is fine because size gives c^2=gp-1 and c^2-1 is easy to show to be in S (consider $(c\pm1)/2$), but I didn't have time to find this in contest as I found the error in the last 10 min oops

Edit: this doesn't actually work, but just choosing another c I think guarantees that it can't happen again

That is exactly what I did. Could someone confirm that it is considered well known that there are two primes between n/2 and n for large n?

yes (from wikipedia)
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llddmmtt1
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#52
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i thought you had to say the name of a theorem if you wanted to use it, as this is not like extremely well known
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MathLuis
1466 posts
#54
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This kind of qns has been getting more popular lately, kinda fun I'd say.
We prove by induction that if $\{1,2 \cdots ,n \} \in S$ then $n+1 \in S$, this is clear if $n+1$ is composite so assume that $n+1$ is prime.
Now we will prove that $2^{\ell \cdot 2^k} \pm 1, 2^{\ell \cdot 2^k}$ are all on $S$ for all positive integers $k$ and $\ell=3,5$ (because $2025$ is smol :c), base cases are given and for the inductive step just note that $\gcd(2^{\ell \cdot 2^k}-1, 2^{\ell \cdot 2^k}+1)=1$ and therefore $2^{\ell \cdot 2^{k+1}}-1 \in S$ and also then $2^{\ell \cdot 2^{k+1}} \in S$ but also note that $2^{2^{k+1}}+1 \mid 2^{\ell \cdot 2^{k+1}}+1$ so it can't be prime therefore it is also in $S$ thus claim proven.
Now clearly because $k$ can be made large enough from here we get that all powers of $2$ are on $S$, notice then as well that from here we get that $2^x+1 \in S$ for all $x$ composite and that posses one odd factor but then considering the rest of divisors of this amount by making $x$ have a lot of factors we have that all $2^x+1 \in S$ for all positive integers $x$ and using trivial induction from here. we can also get that $2^x-1 \in S$ for all positive integers $x$ and thus we also have $2^x-2 \in S$ for all positive integers $x$ using condition 1 and thus using condition 2 now here consider some large enough composite $x$ then all positive divisors of $2^x-1$ are on $S$ as well so by setting $p-1 \mid x$ for $p$ odd prime and FLT we get that all primes are on $S$ but also by taking $(p-1) p^{\ell} \mid x$ and using euler theorem we get that all odd prime powers are on $S$ as well and well this is kinda overkill since all we needed was $n+1$ prime to be on $S$ so that induction is complete as well xD, thus we are done :cool:.
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v_Enhance
6870 posts
#55 • 1 Y
Y by bachkieu
Solution from Twitch Solves ISL:

We prove by induction on $N$ that $S$ contains $\{1, \dots, N\}$ with the base cases being $N = 1, \dots, 2025$ already given.
For the inductive step, to show $N+1 \in S$:
  • If $N+1$ is composite we're already done from the third bullet.
  • Otherwise, assume $N+1 = p \ge 2025$ is an (odd) prime number. We say a number is good if the prime powers in its prime factorization are all less than $p$. Hence by the second bullet (repeatedly), good numbers are in $S$. Now our proof is split into three cases:
    1. Suppose neither $p-1$ nor $p+1$ is a power of $2$ (but both are still even). We claim that the number \[ s \coloneq p^2-1 = (p-1)(p+1) \]is good. Indeed, one of the numbers has only a single factor of $2$, and the other by hypothesis is not a power of $2$ (but still even). So the largest power of $2$ dividing $p^2-2$ is certainly less than $p$. And every other prime power divides at most one of $p-1$ and $p+1$.
      Hence $s \coloneq p^2-1$ is good. As $s+1 = p^2$, Case 1 is done.
    2. Suppose $p+1$ is a power of $2$; that is $p = 2^q-1$. Since $p > 2025$, we assume $q \ge 11$ is odd. First we contend that the number \[ s' \coloneq 2^{q+1} - 1 = \left( 2^{(q+1)/2}-1 \right) \left( 2^{(q+1)/2}+1 \right) \]is good. Indeed, this follows from the two factors being coprime and both less than $p$. Hence $s'+1 = 2^{q+1}$ is in $S$.
      Thus, we again have \[ s \coloneq p^2-1 = (p-1)(p+1) \in S \]as we did in the previous case, because the largest power of $2$ dividing $p^2-1$ will be exactly $2^{q+1}$ which is known to be in $S$. And since $s+1=p^2$, Case 2 is done.
    3. Finally suppose $p-1$ is a power of $2$; that is $p = 2^{2^e}+1$ is a Fermat prime. Then in particular, $p \equiv 2 \pmod 3$. Now observe that \[ s \coloneq 2p-1 \equiv 0 \pmod 3 \]and moreover $2p-1$ is not a power of $3$ (it would imply $2^{2^e+1} + 1 = 3^k$, which is impossible for $k \ge 3$ by Zsigmondy/Mihailescu/etc.). So $s$ is good, and since $s = 3p$, Case 3 is done.
    Having finished all the cases, we conclude $p \in S$ and the induction is done.

Remark: In fact just $2025 \in S$ is sufficient as a base case; however this requires a bit more work to check. Here is how:
  • From $2025 \in S$ we get $2026 = 2 \cdot 1013$, so $2,1013 \in S$.
  • From $1013+1 = 1014 = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 13^2$ we get $3,13 \in S$.
  • From $3+1 = 4$ we get $4 \in S$.
  • $3 \cdot 13 + 1 = 40 = 2^3 \cdot 5$ we get $5 \in S$.
  • Once $\{1,2,\dots,5\} \subseteq S$, the induction above actually works fine; that is, $N \le 6$ are sufficient as base cases for the earlier cases to finish the rest of the problem. (Case 2 works once $q \ge 3$, and Case 3 works once $e \ge 2$.)
However, $\{1,2,3,4\} \subseteq S$ is not sufficient; for example $S = \{1,2,3,4,6,12\}$ satisfies all the problem conditions.
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Quique
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#56
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v_Enhance wrote:
Remark: In fact just $2025 \in S$ is sufficient as a base case; however this requires a bit more work to check. Here is how:
  • From $2025 \in S$ we get $2026 = 2 \cdot 1013$, so $2,1013 \in S$.
  • From $1013+1 = 1014 = 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 13^2$ we get $3,13 \in S$.
  • From $3+1 = 4$ we get $4 \in S$.
  • $3 \cdot 13 + 1 = 40 = 2^3 \cdot 5$ we get $5 \in S$.
  • Once $\{1,2,\dots,5\} \subseteq S$, the induction above actually works fine; that is, $N \le 6$ are sufficient as base cases for the earlier cases to finish the rest of the problem. (Case 2 works once $q \ge 3$, and Case 3 works once $e \ge 2$.)
However, $\{1,2,3,4\} \subseteq S$ is not sufficient; for example $S = \{1,2,3,4,6,12\}$ satisfies all the problem conditions.

Nice catch. The problem was proposed with just $2025\in S$.
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Gedagedigedagedago-
4 posts
#57 • 12 Y
Y by scannose, i3435, popop614, bjump, megarnie, xTimmyG, balllightning37, zoinkers, EpicBird08, AlexWin0806, Jack_w, qwerty123456asdfgzxcvb
($\{1, 2, \dots, 2025\} \subseteq S$) Gegagedigeda! ($\text{gcn}(a,b) = 1 \implies ab \in S$) Gegagedigedagedago! $s+1$ composite? WHAT! Help Me!

Like == Help

Ding!

Gegagedimethod: INuggetduction! Casework: IF $[x] \cap S = [x]$. NOITCE: $x \ge 2025$!
1. $x+1$ is NOT PRIME NUGGET! By theorem: $x+1 = nk$ WHERE: $\text{gcn}(n,k) = 1$, $n \le k < x$. NUGGET POINT 2 = SOLUTION!
2. $x+1=\mathfrak p$ IS PRIME NUGGET! Consider case:
2.Gegagedi. Three nuggets divide $\mathfrak p-1$! Notice : $\text{gcn}(\mathfrak p-2, p+1) = \text{gcn}(3, \mathfrak p+1) = 1$. Conclusion: Greatest common nugget of $(\mathfrak p-2)$ and $(\mathfrak p+1)/2$ is 1! Notice: $\mathfrak p-2, (p+1)/2 < \mathfrak p$! Conclusion nugget special: $(\mathfrak p-2)(\mathfrak p+1)/2 \in S$! Conclusion 2: $(\mathfrak p-2)(\mathfrak p+1)/2 + 1$ is NOT PRIME! Because divide by prime nugget $\mathfrak p$.
2.Gegagedi2. Three nuggets divide $\mathfrak p-2$! Consider case again:
2.Gegagedi2.1. Four nuggets divide $\mathfrak p-1$. Notice two: $\text{gcn}(2\mathfrak p+2, \mathfrak p-3) = \text{gcn}(8, \mathfrak p-3) = 2$. Gegagedi special technique: IMBALANCE VALUE! Because Four nuggets divide $\mathfrak p-1$, only two nuggets divide $\mathfrak p-3$! Conclusion: $\text{gcn}(2\mathfrak p + 2, (\mathfrak p-3)/2) = 1$. Nugget point 2 give: $(2\mathfrak p+2)/3 \cdot (\mathfrak p-3)/2 \in S$! Notice: prime nugget divide $(2\mathfrak p+2)(\mathfrak p-3)/6 + 1$!
2.Gegagedi2.2. Four nuggets divide $\mathfrak p - 3$. Then gegagedi residue theory: $12$ NUGGETS DIVIDE $\mathfrak p + 1$! So $4$ nuggets do not divide $\mathfrak p - 1$! And $\mathfrak p - 1$ and $\mathfrak p + 1$ Are not pure 2 nuggets! Imply: Let $\mathfrak p + 1 = 2^{\mathcal G}\nu$ so $\mathfrak  - 1 = 2\mu$. Then $\nu > 2$! So $2^{\mathcal G + 1} < p$! And: $\text{gcn}(\nu, \mu) = 1$! Conclusion: \[ 2^{\mathcal G + 1} \nu \mu \in S!!!!!!!!! \]Gegagedi finish: Nugget point 3 give $(p-1)(p+1) + 1$ divisors in $S$! INuggetduction max design pro!
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Gedagedigedagedago-, Mar 23, 2025, 5:11 PM
Reason: Gegagemistake!
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cowstalker
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#58
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Quique wrote:

Nice catch. The problem was proposed with just $2025\in S$.

yikes thank god it didnt go through lol
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