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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
J
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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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Nice Collinearity
oVlad   10
N an hour ago by Trenod
Source: KöMaL A. 831
In triangle $ABC$ let $F$ denote the midpoint of side $BC$. Let the circle passing through point $A$ and tangent to side $BC$ at point $F$ intersect sides $AB$ and $AC$ at points $M$ and $N$, respectively. Let the line segments $CM$ and $BN$ intersect in point $X$. Let $P$ be the second point of intersection of the circumcircles of triangles $BMX$ and $CNX$. Prove that points $A, F$ and $P$ are collinear.

Proposed by Imolay András, Budapest
10 replies
oVlad
Oct 11, 2022
Trenod
an hour ago
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Hardest in ARO 2008
discredit   29
N 2 hours ago by JARP091
Source: ARO 2008, Problem 11.8
In a chess tournament $ 2n+3$ players take part. Every two play exactly one match. The schedule is such that no two matches are played at the same time, and each player, after taking part in a match, is free in at least $ n$ next (consecutive) matches. Prove that one of the players who play in the opening match will also play in the closing match.
29 replies
discredit
Jun 11, 2008
JARP091
2 hours ago
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Macedonian Mathematical Olympiad 2019 problem 1
Lukaluce   5
N 2 hours ago by AylyGayypow009
In an acute-angled triangle $ABC$, point $M$ is the midpoint of side $BC$ and the centers of the $M$- excircles of triangles $AMB$ and $AMC$ are $D$ and $E$, respectively. The circumcircle of triangle $ABD$ intersects line $BC$ at points $B$ and $F$. The circumcircle of triangle $ACE$ intersects line $BC$ at points $C$ and $G$. Prove that $BF\hspace{0.25mm} = \hspace{0.25mm} CG$ .
5 replies
Lukaluce
Apr 20, 2019
AylyGayypow009
2 hours ago
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Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025 - P6
OgnjenTesic   9
N 2 hours ago by JARP091
Source: Serbian selection contest for the IMO 2025
For an $n \times n$ table filled with natural numbers, we say it is a divisor table if:
- the numbers in the $i$-th row are exactly all the divisors of some natural number $r_i$,
- the numbers in the $j$-th column are exactly all the divisors of some natural number $c_j$,
- $r_i \ne r_j$ for every $i \ne j$.

A prime number $p$ is given. Determine the smallest natural number $n$, divisible by $p$, such that there exists an $n \times n$ divisor table, or prove that such $n$ does not exist.

Proposed by Pavle Martinović
9 replies
OgnjenTesic
May 22, 2025
JARP091
2 hours ago
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DE is tangent to a fixed circle whose radius is half the radius of (O)
parmenides51   1
N 2 hours ago by TigerOnion
Source: 2017 Saudi Arabia JBMO Training Tests 2
Let $ABC$ be a triangle inscribed in circle $(O)$ such that points $B, C$ are fixed, while $A$ moves on major arc $BC$ of $(O)$. The tangents through $B$ and $C$ to $(O)$ intersect at $P$. The circle with diameter $OP$ intersects $AC$ and $AB$ at $D$ and $E$, respectively. Prove that $DE$ is tangent to a fixed circle whose radius is half the radius of $(O)$.
1 reply
parmenides51
May 28, 2020
TigerOnion
2 hours ago
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Orthocorrespondent of P on Euler line
Luis González   1
N 2 hours ago by AuroralMoss
Let $O,G$ and $K$ be the circumcenter, centroid and symmedian point of $\triangle ABC,$ respectively. $P$ is an arbitrary point on Euler line $OG.$ Show that the orthocorrespondent of $P$ WRT $\triangle {ABC}$ falls on $GK.$
1 reply
Luis González
Feb 8, 2025
AuroralMoss
2 hours ago
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JBMO Shortlist 2023 N3
Orestis_Lignos   9
N 2 hours ago by Just1
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2023, N3
Let $A$ be a subset of $\{2,3, \ldots, 28 \}$ such that if $a \in A$, then the residue obtained when we divide $a^2$ by $29$ also belongs to $A$.

Find the minimum possible value of $|A|$.
9 replies
Orestis_Lignos
Jun 28, 2024
Just1
2 hours ago
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polygon's area doesn't add much when combined with its centric symmetry
mathematics2003   7
N 2 hours ago by sttsmet
Source: 2021ChinaTST test4 day2 P2
Find the smallest real $\alpha$, such that for any convex polygon $P$ with area $1$, there exist a point $M$ in the plane, such that the area of convex hull of $P\cup Q$ is at most $\alpha$, where $Q$ denotes the image of $P$ under central symmetry with respect to $M$.
7 replies
mathematics2003
Apr 14, 2021
sttsmet
2 hours ago
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a^2-bc square implies 2a+b+c composite
v_Enhance   41
N 2 hours ago by cursed_tangent1434
Source: ELMO 2009, Problem 1
Let $a,b,c$ be positive integers such that $a^2 - bc$ is a square. Prove that $2a + b + c$ is not prime.

Evan o'Dorney
41 replies
v_Enhance
Dec 31, 2012
cursed_tangent1434
2 hours ago
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IMO Shortlist 2008, Geometry problem 2
April   42
N 2 hours ago by s27_SaparbekovUmar
Source: IMO Shortlist 2008, Geometry problem 2, German TST 2, P1, 2009
Given trapezoid $ ABCD$ with parallel sides $ AB$ and $ CD$, assume that there exist points $ E$ on line $ BC$ outside segment $ BC$, and $ F$ inside segment $ AD$ such that $ \angle DAE = \angle CBF$. Denote by $ I$ the point of intersection of $ CD$ and $ EF$, and by $ J$ the point of intersection of $ AB$ and $ EF$. Let $ K$ be the midpoint of segment $ EF$, assume it does not lie on line $ AB$. Prove that $ I$ belongs to the circumcircle of $ ABK$ if and only if $ K$ belongs to the circumcircle of $ CDJ$.

Proposed by Charles Leytem, Luxembourg
42 replies
April
Jul 9, 2009
s27_SaparbekovUmar
2 hours ago
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help me ..
exoticc   0
2 hours ago
Find all pairs of functions (f,g) : R->R that satisfy:
f(1)=2025;
g(f(x+y))+2x+y-1=f(x)+(2x+y)g(y) , ∀x,y∈R
0 replies
exoticc
2 hours ago
0 replies
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Number of real roots
girishpimoli   2
N 3 hours ago by HAL9000sk
Number of real roots of

$\displaystyle 2\sin(\theta)\cos(3\theta)\sin(5\theta)=-1$
2 replies
girishpimoli
Yesterday at 5:35 PM
HAL9000sk
3 hours ago
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Inequality
lgx57   1
N 4 hours ago by sqing
$a,b,c \in \mathbb{R}^{+}$,$\dfrac{1}{a}+\dfrac{1}{b}+\dfrac{1}{c}=1$. Prove that
$$a^abc+b^bac+c^cab \ge 27(ab+bc+ca)$$
1 reply
lgx57
4 hours ago
sqing
4 hours ago
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Pls help I'm stuck
UtkarshSri   3
N 4 hours ago by lbh_qys
So I was solving this problem
Cbrt(x+1) - cbrt(x-1) = pow((x²-1),1/6)


Here, the square root is defined in the domain x≤-1 OR x≥1
I substituted a= cbrt(x+1) and b= cbrt(x-1)
And then the equation turned out to be
a-b= sqrt(ab)
Here, since the RHS is +ve, the LHS must be too, so a>b (Done so as to prevent extraneous roots)
Now, I can write the domain in terms of a and b as ab≥0
Squaring, we get a²+b²-3ab=0
On solving we get a/b = (3±sqrt(5))/2
Now, we know that a>b from the above condition, so the only root is a/b= (3+sqrt(5))/2 and on substituting for x, and applying componendo and dividendo after cubing, I get x= sqrt(5)/2

Now, my question is, since the equation is even i.e f(x)=f(-x), it's symmetric about the y-axis, so x= -sqrt(5)/2 must also satisfy the equation, and indeed it does, so where did I made some irreversible step that caused this loss of the root?
when I plugged the equation to wolframalpha, it showed that the "principle root" has the former solⁿ only where's for a "real valued root", it has both.I also found that on solving the equation
b-a= sqrt(ab), I get the latter root.But I mean where did that extra -ve sign come from?
I'm familiar that f(x)=sqrt(g(x)) is equivalent to f²(x)=g(x) AND f(x)≥0 AND g(x)≥0 but the g(x)≥0 condition is not necessary as f²(x) is already ≥0
and also that abs(f(x))=abs(g(x)) is equivalent to f²(x)=g²(x)

PS: Pardon me I don't know latex well, I'm tried to make this as comprehensive as possible and made sure there's no loss of equivalence in any step.
I hope someone clarifies this for me, it's really bothering me for a while.
3 replies
UtkarshSri
Yesterday at 9:57 AM
lbh_qys
4 hours ago
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Any tips for IOQM(indian olympiad qualifier for math)
Indianmathenthusiast1234   4
N Apr 17, 2025 by Indianmathenthusiast1234
Guys I'm preparing for the IOQM, and i feel like the linear congruences, modular arithmetic and number bases are a bit hard to grasp. Any tips?
4 replies
Indianmathenthusiast1234
Apr 17, 2025
Indianmathenthusiast1234
Apr 17, 2025
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Any tips for IOQM(indian olympiad qualifier for math)
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Reveal topic tags
Competition Math
modular arithmetic
Bases
number theory
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Indianmathenthusiast1234
8 posts
Indianmathenthusiast1234
#1 h  Apr 17, 2025, 3:49 PM
Y by
Guys I'm preparing for the IOQM, and i feel like the linear congruences, modular arithmetic and number bases are a bit hard to grasp. Any tips?
Z K Y
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Alex-131
5395 posts
Alex-131
#2 h  Apr 17, 2025, 3:51 PM
Y by
intro to number theory
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Indianmathenthusiast1234
8 posts
Indianmathenthusiast1234
#3 h  Apr 17, 2025, 3:53 PM
Y by
Done with that book. Any general ones?
Btw thanks for the advice :)
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Alex-131
5395 posts
Alex-131
#4 h  Apr 17, 2025, 3:55 PM
Y by
You can take a look at MONT (modern olympiad number theory), maybe the first two chapters. It's structured for more olympiads, but may be helpful if you've done intro to nt before.

You could also mess around with OTIS Excerpts, specifically the nt part.
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Indianmathenthusiast1234
8 posts
Indianmathenthusiast1234
#5 h  Apr 17, 2025, 4:08 PM
Y by
Thank you so much
I will definitely look into it
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