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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.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

Summer camps are starting next month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have an enriching summer experience. There are middle and high school competition math camps as well as Math Beasts camps that review key topics coupled with fun explorations covering areas such as graph theory (Math Beasts Camp 6), cryptography (Math Beasts Camp 7-8), and topology (Math Beasts Camp 8-9)!

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[*]May 20th, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 1 Math Jam, Problems 1 to 4, join the Canada/USA Mathcamp staff for this exciting Math Jam, where they discuss solutions to Problems 1 to 4 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz!
[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 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
Japanese Olympiad
parkjungmin   1
N 9 minutes ago by alexheinis
It's about the Japanese Olympiad

I can't solve it no matter how much I think about it.

If there are people who are good at math

Please help me.
1 reply
parkjungmin
5 hours ago
alexheinis
9 minutes ago
Integration Bee Kaizo
Calcul8er   59
N 16 minutes ago by franklin2013
Hey integration fans. I decided to collate some of my favourite and most evil integrals I've written into one big integration bee problem set. I've been entering integration bees since 2017 and I've been really getting hands on with the writing side of things over the last couple of years. I hope you'll enjoy!
59 replies
Calcul8er
Mar 2, 2025
franklin2013
16 minutes ago
Balanced grids
BR1F1SZ   0
41 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Francophone MO Juniors/Seniors P2
Let $n \geqslant 2$ be an integer. We consider a square grid of size $2n \times 2n$ divided into $4n^2$ unit squares. The grid is called balanced if:
[list]
[*]Each cell contains a number equal to $-1$, $0$ or $1$.
[*]The absolute value of the sum of the numbers in the grid does not exceed $4n$.
[/list]
Determine, as a function of $n$, the smallest integer $k \geqslant 1$ such that any balanced grid always contains an $n \times n$ square whose absolute sum of the $n^2$ cells is less than or equal to $k$.
0 replies
BR1F1SZ
41 minutes ago
0 replies
Radiant sets
BR1F1SZ   0
44 minutes ago
Source: 2025 Francophone MO Juniors P1
A finite set $\mathcal S$ of distinct positive real numbers is called radiant if it satisfies the following property: if $a$ and $b$ are two distinct elements of $\mathcal S$, then $a^2 + b^2$ is also an element of $\mathcal S$.
[list=a]
[*]Does there exist a radiant set with a size greater than or equal to $4$?
[*]Determine all radiant sets of size $2$ or $3$.
[/list]
0 replies
BR1F1SZ
44 minutes ago
0 replies
Classic Diophantine
Adywastaken   4
N an hour ago by mrtheory
Source: NMTC 2024/6
Find all natural number solutions to $3^x-5^y=z^2$.
4 replies
Adywastaken
Today at 3:39 PM
mrtheory
an hour ago
Where are the Circles?
luminescent   43
N 2 hours ago by Amkan2022
Source: EGMO 2022/1
Let $ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle in which $BC<AB$ and $BC<CA$. Let point $P$ lie on segment $AB$ and point $Q$ lie on segment $AC$ such that $P \neq B$, $Q \neq C$ and $BQ = BC = CP$. Let $T$ be the circumcenter of triangle $APQ$, $H$ the orthocenter of triangle $ABC$, and $S$ the point of intersection of the lines $BQ$ and $CP$. Prove that $T$, $H$, and $S$ are collinear.
43 replies
luminescent
Apr 9, 2022
Amkan2022
2 hours ago
Divisibilty...
Sadigly   0
3 hours ago
Source: Azerbaijan Junior NMO 2025 P2
Find all $4$ consecutive even numbers, such that the square of their product divides the sum of their squares.
0 replies
Sadigly
3 hours ago
0 replies
Quadratic system
juckter   35
N 4 hours ago by shendrew7
Source: Mexico National Olympiad 2011 Problem 3
Let $n$ be a positive integer. Find all real solutions $(a_1, a_2, \dots, a_n)$ to the system:

\[a_1^2 + a_1 - 1 = a_2\]\[ a_2^2 + a_2 - 1 = a_3\]\[\hspace*{3.3em} \vdots \]\[a_{n}^2 + a_n - 1 = a_1\]
35 replies
juckter
Jun 22, 2014
shendrew7
4 hours ago
D1029 : A story of equivalent and increasing sequence
Dattier   1
N 4 hours ago by Phorphyrion
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $(a_n) \in (\mathbb R^*_+) ^\mathbb N$ an increasing sequence, with $\forall (b_n) \in (\mathbb R^*_+) ^\mathbb N$, if $\lim \dfrac {a_n}{b_n}=1$ then $(b_n)$ increasing, from a certain rank.

Is it true $\exists M >1, \exists N \in \mathbb N, \forall n>N, \dfrac {a_{n+1}}{a_n} \geq M$ ?
1 reply
Dattier
Today at 5:47 PM
Phorphyrion
4 hours ago
IMO Shortlist 2012, Geometry 3
lyukhson   75
N 4 hours ago by numbertheory97
Source: IMO Shortlist 2012, Geometry 3
In an acute triangle $ABC$ the points $D,E$ and $F$ are the feet of the altitudes through $A,B$ and $C$ respectively. The incenters of the triangles $AEF$ and $BDF$ are $I_1$ and $I_2$ respectively; the circumcenters of the triangles $ACI_1$ and $BCI_2$ are $O_1$ and $O_2$ respectively. Prove that $I_1I_2$ and $O_1O_2$ are parallel.
75 replies
lyukhson
Jul 29, 2013
numbertheory97
4 hours ago
Diophantine
TheUltimate123   31
N 5 hours ago by SomeonecoolLovesMaths
Source: CJMO 2023/1 (https://aops.com/community/c594864h3031323p27271877)
Find all triples of positive integers \((a,b,p)\) with \(p\) prime and \[a^p+b^p=p!.\]
Proposed by IndoMathXdZ
31 replies
TheUltimate123
Mar 29, 2023
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
5 hours ago
Non-homogenous Inequality
Adywastaken   7
N 5 hours ago by ehuseyinyigit
Source: NMTC 2024/7
$a, b, c\in \mathbb{R_{+}}$ such that $ab+bc+ca=3abc$. Show that $a^2b+b^2c+c^2a \ge 2(a+b+c)-3$. When will equality hold?
7 replies
Adywastaken
Today at 3:42 PM
ehuseyinyigit
5 hours ago
FE with devisibility
fadhool   2
N 5 hours ago by ATM_
if when i solve an fe that is defined in the set of positive integer i found m|f(m) can i set f(m) =km such that k is not constant and of course it depends on m but after some work i find k=c st c is constant is this correct
2 replies
fadhool
Today at 4:25 PM
ATM_
5 hours ago
Hello, I'm a math Olympiad question for a Japanese high school. I'm asking here
parkjungmin   0
5 hours ago
This is very difficult, can anyone solve it?

The percentage of correct answers is low
0 replies
parkjungmin
5 hours ago
0 replies
Jordan form and canonical base of a matrix
And1viper   3
N Apr 19, 2025 by Suan_16
Find the Jordan form and a canonical basis of the following matrix $A$ over the field $Z_5$:
$$A = \begin{bmatrix}
    2 & 1 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
    0 & 4 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
    0 & 0 & 2 & 1 & 2 \\
    0 & 0 & 0 & 4 & 1 \\
    0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 2
  \end{bmatrix}
$$
3 replies
And1viper
Feb 26, 2023
Suan_16
Apr 19, 2025
Jordan form and canonical base of a matrix
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And1viper
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#1
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Find the Jordan form and a canonical basis of the following matrix $A$ over the field $Z_5$:
$$A = \begin{bmatrix}
    2 & 1 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
    0 & 4 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
    0 & 0 & 2 & 1 & 2 \\
    0 & 0 & 0 & 4 & 1 \\
    0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 2
  \end{bmatrix}
$$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by And1viper, Feb 26, 2023, 1:51 PM
Reason: Edited Latex
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Suan_16
67 posts
#2
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bro $Z$ is not a field, the problem is faulty
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rchokler
2975 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by aidan0626
Suan_16 wrote:
bro $Z$ is not a field, the problem is faulty

Actually it is a field. $\mathbb{Z}_p$ is a finite field for all primes $p$.

The eigenvalues are $\lambda_1=\lambda_2=\lambda_3=2$ and $\lambda_4=\lambda_5=4$.

$A-2I_5=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 1 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 2 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 2 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 2 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0
\end{bmatrix}$

Observe from rows 3 and 4, we must take none of columns 4 and 5. Then row 2 forces us to take none of column 2. Then row 1 means we must take none of column 3. So $E_2=\text{span}(\mathbf{e}_1)$. The geometric multiplicity is 1.

$(A-2I_5)^3=\begin{bmatrix}
0 & 4 & 0 & 1 & 3 \\
0 & 3 & 0 & 1 & 3 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 4 & 2 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0
\end{bmatrix}$

If we take none of columns 4 and 5, then we must take none of column 2. So the kernel here contains $\mathbf{e}_1$ and $\mathbf{e}_3$. If we take instead 1 of column 4 and 3 of column 5, which means we have to take none of column 2. So another vector in this kernel is $\mathbf{e}_4+3\mathbf{e}_5$.

$A-4I_5=\begin{bmatrix}
3 & 1 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
0 & 0 & 3 & 1 & 2 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 3
\end{bmatrix}$

From row 4 or 5, we must take none of column 5. Then from row 2, we must take none of column 4. Then from row 3, we must take none of column 3. So the geometric multiplicity is again 1.

$(A-4I_5)^2=\begin{bmatrix}
4 & 3 & 2 & 0 & 3 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 4 & 3 & 3 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 3 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 4
\end{bmatrix}$

We still must take none of column 5.
If we take none of columns 3 and 4, then we can take 1 of column 1 and 2 of column 2. So the kernel here contains $\mathbf{e}_1+2\mathbf{e}_2$. We can take instead 1 of column 3 and 2 of column 4. In that case, we can take 1 of column 1 and 3 of column 2. This gives us $\mathbf{e}_1+3\mathbf{e}_2+\mathbf{e}_3+2\mathbf{e}_4$.

So the generalized eigenvectors are $v_1=\begin{bmatrix}1\\0\\0\\0\\0\end{bmatrix}$, $v_2=\begin{bmatrix}0\\0\\1\\0\\0\end{bmatrix}$, $v_3=\begin{bmatrix}0\\0\\0\\1\\3\end{bmatrix}$, $v_4=\begin{bmatrix}1\\2\\0\\0\\0\end{bmatrix}$, and $v_5=\begin{bmatrix}1\\3\\1\\2\\0\end{bmatrix}$

So $A=PJP^{-1}$ where:

$P=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 2 & 3 \\
0 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 2 \\
0 & 0 & 3 & 0 & 0
\end{bmatrix}$, $J=\begin{bmatrix}
2 & 2 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 2 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 2 & 0 & 0 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 4 & 3 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 4
\end{bmatrix}$, $P^{-1}=\begin{bmatrix}
1 & 2 & 0 & 4 & 2 \\
0 & 0 & 1 & 2 & 1 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 2 \\
0 & 3 & 0 & 3 & 4 \\
0 & 0 & 0 & 3 & 4
\end{bmatrix}$

Note that the three positions where we would normally have 1s are instead 2s and a 3. These are chosen so the product comes out correct.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by rchokler, Apr 19, 2025, 3:10 AM
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Suan_16
67 posts
#4
Y by
Oh sorry I forgot that it is $Z_5={0,1,2,3,4}$ instead of $Z^5$
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