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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
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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
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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
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Inequality em981
oldbeginner   15
N 13 minutes ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $a, b, c>0, a+b+c=3$. Prove that
\[\sqrt{a+\frac{9}{b+2c}}+\sqrt{b+\frac{9}{c+2a}}+\sqrt{c+\frac{9}{a+2b}}+\frac{2(ab+bc+ca)}{9}\ge\frac{20}{3}\]
15 replies
oldbeginner
Sep 22, 2016
sqing
13 minutes ago
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Functional equation
shobber   19
N an hour ago by Unique_solver
Source: Canada 2002
Let $\mathbb N = \{0,1,2,\ldots\}$. Determine all functions $f: \mathbb N \to \mathbb N$ such that
\[ xf(y) + yf(x) = (x+y) f(x^2+y^2) \]
for all $x$ and $y$ in $\mathbb N$.
19 replies
shobber
Mar 5, 2006
Unique_solver
an hour ago
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Prove the inequality
Butterfly   0
an hour ago
Let $a,b,c$ be real numbers such that $a+b+c=3$. Prove $$a^3b+b^3c+c^3a\le \frac{9}{32}(63+5\sqrt{105}).$$
0 replies
Butterfly
an hour ago
0 replies
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Functional equation
shactal   1
N an hour ago by ariopro1387
Let $f:\mathbb R\to \mathbb R$ a function satifying $$f(x+2xy) = f(x) + 2f(xy)$$for all $x,y\in \mathbb R$.
If $f(1991)=a$, then what is $f(1992)$, the answer is in terms of $a$.
1 reply
shactal
3 hours ago
ariopro1387
an hour ago
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interesting diophantiic fe in natural numbers
skellyrah   5
N an hour ago by skellyrah
Find all functions \( f : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N} \) such that for all \( m, n \in \mathbb{N} \),
\[ mn + f(n!) = f(f(n))! + n \cdot \gcd(f(m), m!). \]
5 replies
skellyrah
Yesterday at 8:01 AM
skellyrah
an hour ago
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Non-linear Recursive Sequence
amogususususus   3
N 2 hours ago by SunnyEvan
Given $a_1=1$ and the recursive relation
$$a_{i+1}=a_i+\frac{1}{a_i}$$for all natural number $i$. Find the general form of $a_n$.

Is there any way to solve this problem and similar ones?
3 replies
amogususususus
Jan 24, 2025
SunnyEvan
2 hours ago
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Inspired by 2025 Beijing
sqing   6
N 2 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c,d >0 $ and $ (a^2+b^2+c^2)(b^2+c^2+d^2)=36. $ Prove that
$$ab^2c^2d \leq 8$$$$a^2bcd^2 \leq 16$$$$ ab^3c^3d \leq \frac{2187}{128}$$$$ a^3bcd^3 \leq \frac{2187}{32}$$
6 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 4:56 PM
sqing
2 hours ago
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Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025 - P4
OgnjenTesic   2
N 2 hours ago by sqing-inequality-BUST
Source: Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025
For a permutation $\pi$ of the set $A = \{1, 2, \ldots, 2025\}$, define its colorfulness as the greatest natural number $k$ such that:
- For all $1 \le i, j \le 2025$, $i \ne j$, if $|i - j| < k$, then $|\pi(i) - \pi(j)| \ge k$.
What is the maximum possible colorfulness of a permutation of the set $A$? Determine how many such permutations have maximal colorfulness.

Proposed by Pavle Martinović
2 replies
OgnjenTesic
May 22, 2025
sqing-inequality-BUST
2 hours ago
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Nice "if and only if" function problem
ICE_CNME_4   14
N 2 hours ago by wh0nix
Let $f : [0, \infty) \to [0, \infty)$, $f(x) = \dfrac{ax + b}{cx + d}$, with $a, d \in (0, \infty)$, $b, c \in [0, \infty)$. Prove that there exists $n \in \mathbb{N}^*$ such that for every $x \geq 0$
\[ f_n(x) = \frac{x}{1 + nx}, \quad \text{if and only if } f(x) = \frac{x}{1 + x}, \quad \forall x \geq 0. \](For $n \in \mathbb{N}^*$ and $x \geq 0$, the notation $f_n(x)$ represents $\underbrace{(f \circ f \circ \dots \circ f)}_{n \text{ times}}(x)$. )

Please do it at 9th grade level. Thank you!
14 replies
ICE_CNME_4
Friday at 7:23 PM
wh0nix
2 hours ago
J
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2-var inequality
sqing   1
N 3 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b> 0 , ab(a+b+1) =3.$ Prove that$$\frac{1}{a^2}+\frac{1}{b^2}+\frac{24}{(a+b)^2} \geq 8$$$$ \frac{a}{b^2}+\frac{b}{a^2}+\frac{49}{(a+ b)^2} \geq \frac{57}{4}$$Let $ a,b> 0 , (a+b)(ab+1) =4.$ Prove that$$\frac{1}{a^2}+\frac{1}{b^2}+\frac{40}{(a+b)^2} \geq 12$$$$\frac{a}{b^2}+\frac{b}{a^2}+\frac{76}{(a+ b)^2} \geq 21$$
1 reply
sqing
3 hours ago
sqing
3 hours ago
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Balkan Mathematical Olympiad
ABCD1728   1
N 3 hours ago by ABCD1728
Can anyone provide the PDF version of the book "Balkan Mathematical Olympiads" by Mircea Becheanu and Bogdan Enescu (published by XYZ press in 2014), thanks!
1 reply
ABCD1728
Yesterday at 11:27 PM
ABCD1728
3 hours ago
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area of quadrilateral
AlanLG   1
N 3 hours ago by Altronrren
Source: 3rd National Women´s Contest of Mexican Mathematics Olympiad 2024 , level 1+2 p5
Consider the acute-angled triangle \(ABC\). The segment \(BC\) measures 40 units. Let \(H\) be the orthocenter of triangle \(ABC\) and \(O\) its circumcenter. Let \(D\) be the foot of the altitude from \(A\) and \(E\) the foot of the altitude from \(B\). Additionally, point \(D\) divides the segment \(BC\) such that \(\frac{BD}{DC} = \frac{3}{5}\). If the perpendicular bisector of segment \(AC\) passes through point \(D\), calculate the area of quadrilateral \(DHEO\).
1 reply
AlanLG
Jun 14, 2024
Altronrren
3 hours ago
J
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Inspired by 2025 SXTB
sqing   1
N 3 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b $ be real number such that $ a^2+b^2=\frac12. $ Prove that
$$-\frac{\sqrt{9+6\sqrt 3}}{2}\leq(a+1)^2- (b-1)^2\leq\frac{\sqrt{9+6\sqrt 3}}{2}$$Let $ x $ be real number . Prove that
$$-\frac{2\sqrt 2}{3}\leq \frac{x}{x^2+1}+ \frac{ 2x}{x^2+4} \leq\frac{2\sqrt 2}{3}$$
1 reply
sqing
4 hours ago
sqing
3 hours ago
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IMO Shortlist 2014 G2
hajimbrak   14
N 4 hours ago by ezpotd
Let $ABC$ be a triangle. The points $K, L,$ and $M$ lie on the segments $BC, CA,$ and $AB,$ respectively, such that the lines $AK, BL,$ and $CM$ intersect in a common point. Prove that it is possible to choose two of the triangles $ALM, BMK,$ and $CKL$ whose inradii sum up to at least the inradius of the triangle $ABC$.

Proposed by Estonia
14 replies
hajimbrak
Jul 11, 2015
ezpotd
4 hours ago
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\sqrt{(1^2+2^2+...+n^2)/n}$ is an integer.
parmenides51   7
N Apr 30, 2025 by lightsynth123
Source: Singapore Open Math Olympiad 2017 2nd Round p3 SMO
Find the smallest positive integer $n$ so that $\sqrt{\frac{1^2+2^2+...+n^2}{n}}$ is an integer.
7 replies
parmenides51
Mar 26, 2020
lightsynth123
Apr 30, 2025
J
\sqrt{(1^2+2^2+...+n^2)/n}$ is an integer.
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Reveal topic tags
Integer
number theory
Sum
Sum of Squares
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Source: Singapore Open Math Olympiad 2017 2nd Round p3 SMO
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parmenides51
30653 posts
parmenides51
#1 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:08 PM
Y by
Find the smallest positive integer $n$ so that $\sqrt{\frac{1^2+2^2+...+n^2}{n}}$ is an integer.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by parmenides51, Mar 28, 2020, 3:42 AM
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Alphatrion
816 posts
Alphatrion
#2 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:13 PM
Y by
parmenides51 wrote:
Find the smallest positive integer $n$ so that $$\sqrt{\frac{(n+1)(2n+1)}{6}}$$is an integer.
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golema11
83 posts
golema11
#3 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:17 PM
Y by
$n=1$ satisfy
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usernameyourself
4390 posts
usernameyourself
#4 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:18 PM
Y by
parmenides51 wrote:
Find the smallest positive integer $n$ so that $\sqrt{\frac{1^2+2^2+...+n^2}{n}}$ is an integer.

[see also here for more unsolved Singapore Contests]

Is it not just 1?
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parmenides51
30653 posts
parmenides51
#5 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:24 PM • 1 Y
Y by sabkx
by the time is has written 2 in the sum it means more than 2, that was the exact wording anyway

the result is
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by parmenides51, Mar 26, 2020, 5:45 PM
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i3435
1350 posts
i3435
#6 h  Mar 26, 2020, 5:46 PM
Y by
Sol
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by i3435, Mar 26, 2020, 6:05 PM
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Gryphos
1702 posts
Gryphos
#7 h  Mar 26, 2020, 6:59 PM
Y by
The exact same problem has been posted yesterday, see here.
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lightsynth123
19 posts
lightsynth123
#8 h  Apr 30, 2025, 12:57 AM
Y by
note that the answer is not $1$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by lightsynth123, Apr 30, 2025, 12:58 AM
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