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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
Euler Line Madness
raxu   75
N 32 minutes ago by lakshya2009
Source: TSTST 2015 Problem 2
Let ABC be a scalene triangle. Let $K_a$, $L_a$ and $M_a$ be the respective intersections with BC of the internal angle bisector, external angle bisector, and the median from A. The circumcircle of $AK_aL_a$ intersects $AM_a$ a second time at point $X_a$ different from A. Define $X_b$ and $X_c$ analogously. Prove that the circumcenter of $X_aX_bX_c$ lies on the Euler line of ABC.
(The Euler line of ABC is the line passing through the circumcenter, centroid, and orthocenter of ABC.)

Proposed by Ivan Borsenco
75 replies
+1 w
raxu
Jun 26, 2015
lakshya2009
32 minutes ago
Own made functional equation
Primeniyazidayi   8
N 42 minutes ago by MathsII-enjoy
Source: own(probably)
Find all functions $f:R \rightarrow R$ such that $xf(x^2+2f(y)-yf(x))=f(x)^3-f(y)(f(x^2)-2f(x))$ for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$
8 replies
Primeniyazidayi
May 26, 2025
MathsII-enjoy
42 minutes ago
IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
orl   110
N an hour ago by SimplisticFormulas
Source: IMO ShortList 2002, geometry problem 7
The incircle $ \Omega$ of the acute-angled triangle $ ABC$ is tangent to its side $ BC$ at a point $ K$. Let $ AD$ be an altitude of triangle $ ABC$, and let $ M$ be the midpoint of the segment $ AD$. If $ N$ is the common point of the circle $ \Omega$ and the line $ KM$ (distinct from $ K$), then prove that the incircle $ \Omega$ and the circumcircle of triangle $ BCN$ are tangent to each other at the point $ N$.
110 replies
orl
Sep 28, 2004
SimplisticFormulas
an hour ago
Cute NT Problem
M11100111001Y1R   6
N an hour ago by X.Allaberdiyev
Source: Iran TST 2025 Test 4 Problem 1
A number \( n \) is called lucky if it has at least two distinct prime divisors and can be written in the form:
\[
n = p_1^{\alpha_1} + \cdots + p_k^{\alpha_k}
\]where \( p_1, \dots, p_k \) are distinct prime numbers that divide \( n \). (Note: it is possible that \( n \) has other prime divisors not among \( p_1, \dots, p_k \).) Prove that for every prime number \( p \), there exists a lucky number \( n \) such that \( p \mid n \).
6 replies
M11100111001Y1R
May 27, 2025
X.Allaberdiyev
an hour ago
Possible values of determinant of 0-1 matrices
mathematics2004   4
N 3 hours ago by loup blanc
Source: 2021 Simon Marais, A3
Let $\mathcal{M}$ be the set of all $2021 \times 2021$ matrices with at most two entries in each row equal to $1$ and all other entries equal to $0$.
Determine the size of the set $\{ \det A : A \in M \}$.
Here $\det A$ denotes the determinant of the matrix $A$.
4 replies
mathematics2004
Nov 2, 2021
loup blanc
3 hours ago
ISI UGB 2025
Entrepreneur   1
N 3 hours ago by Knight2E4
Source: ISI UGB 2025
1.)
Suppose $f:\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable and $|f'(x)|<\frac 12\;\forall\;x\in\mathbb R.$ Show that for some $x_0\in\mathbb R,f(x_0)=x_0.$

3.)
Suppose $f:[0,1]\to\mathbb R$ is differentiable with $f(0)=0.$ If $|f'(x)|\le f(x)\;\forall\;x\in[0,1],$ then show that $f(x)=0\;\forall\;x.$

4.)
Let $S^1=\{z\in\mathbb C:|z|=1\}$ be the unit circle in the complex plane. Let $f:S^1\to S^1$ be the map given by $f(z)=z^2.$ We define $f^{(1)}:=f$ and $f^{(k+1)}=f\circ f^{(k)}$ for $k\ge 1.$ The smallest positive integer $n$ such that $f^n(z)=z$ is called period of $z.$ Determine the total number of points $S^1$ of period $2025.$

6.)
Let $\mathbb N$ denote the set of natural numbers, and let $(a_i,b_i), 1\le i\le 9,$ be nine distinct tuples in $\mathbb N\times\mathbb N.$ Show that there are $3$ distinct elements in the set $\{2^{a_i}3^{b_i}:1\le i\le 9\}$ whose product is a perfect cube.

8.)
Let $n\ge 2$ and let $a_1\le a_2\le\cdots\le a_n$ be positive integers such that $$\sum_{i=1}^n a_i=\prod_{i=1}^n a_i.$$Prove that $$\sum_{i=1}^n a_i\le 2n$$and determine when equality holds.
1 reply
Entrepreneur
May 27, 2025
Knight2E4
3 hours ago
Recurrence trouble
SomeonecoolLovesMaths   3
N 3 hours ago by Knight2E4
Let $0 < x_0 < y_0$ be real numbers. Define $x_{n+1} = \frac{x_n + y_n}{2}$ and $y_{n+1} = \sqrt{x_{n+1}y_n}$.
Prove that $\lim_{n \to \infty} x_n = \lim_{n \to \infty} y_n$ and hence find the limit.
3 replies
SomeonecoolLovesMaths
May 28, 2025
Knight2E4
3 hours ago
Trigo or Complex no.?
hzbrl   5
N Today at 9:20 AM by GreenKeeper
(a) Let $y=\cos \phi+\cos 2 \phi$, where $\phi=\frac{2 \pi}{5}$. Verify by direct substitution that $y$ satisfies the quadratic equation $2 y^2=3 y+2$ and deduce that the value of $y$ is $-\frac{1}{2}$.
(b) Let $\theta=\frac{2 \pi}{17}$. Show that $\sum_{k=0}^{16} \cos k \theta=0$
(c) If $z=\cos \theta+\cos 2 \theta+\cos 4 \theta+\cos 8 \theta$, show that the value of $z$ is $-(1-\sqrt{17}) / 4$.



I could solve (a) and (b). Can anyone help me with the 3rd part please?
5 replies
hzbrl
May 27, 2025
GreenKeeper
Today at 9:20 AM
Quadruple Binomial Coefficient Sum
P162008   3
N Today at 4:28 AM by pineconee
Source: Self made by my Elder brother
$\sum_{p=0}^{\infty} \sum_{r=0}^{\infty} \sum_{q=1}^{\infty} \sum_{s=0}^{p+q - 1} \frac{((-1)^{p+r+s+1})(2^{p+q-1}) \binom{p + q - s - 1}{p + q - 2s - 1}}{4^s(2p^2q + 2pqr + pq + qr)(2p + 2q + 2r + 3)}.$
3 replies
P162008
Yesterday at 8:04 PM
pineconee
Today at 4:28 AM
2023 Putnam A1
giginori   29
N Yesterday at 10:52 PM by kidsbian
For a positive integer $n$, let $f_n(x)=\cos (x) \cos (2 x) \cos (3 x) \cdots \cos (n x)$. Find the smallest $n$ such that $\left|f_n^{\prime \prime}(0)\right|>2023$.
29 replies
giginori
Dec 3, 2023
kidsbian
Yesterday at 10:52 PM
A MATHEMATICA E BONITA
P162008   0
Yesterday at 7:54 PM
Source: Self made by my Elder brother
Let $K = \sum_{i=0}^{\infty} \sum_{j=0}^{\infty}\sum_{m=0}^{\infty}\sum_{l=0}^{\infty} \frac{1}{(i+j+m+l)!}$ where $i,j,k$ and $l \in W.$

Now, consider the ratio $Z$ defined as
$Z = \frac{\sum_{r=0}^{\lfloor k \rfloor} \sum_{i=0}^{\lfloor k \rfloor} (-1)^r \binom{\lfloor k \rfloor}{r}(\lfloor k \rfloor - r)^i}{\sum_{r=0}^{\lfloor k \rfloor + 1}(-1)^r\binom{\lfloor k \rfloor + 1}{r}(\lfloor k \rfloor + 1 - r)^{\lfloor k \rfloor + 1}}.$

The summation function $S(n)$ is given by
$S(n) = \sum_{j=1}^{n} \left(\binom{n}{j} (j!)\left(\sum_{b=0}^{j} \frac{(-1)^b}{b!}\right)\right)$

Let $p$ denotes the number of points of intersection between the curves
$x^2 + y^2 - \tan(e^x) - \frac{|x|}{\sin y} = 0, (x\sin (a))^y + (y - x\cos(a))^x = |a|.$

Define $A(m)$ as
$A(m) = p\left(\sum_{k=0}^{m} \binom{2m + 1}{k} ((2m + 1) - 2k) (-1)^k\right).$

The value of $X$ is
$X = \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{\sqrt{n}}{e^n} \text{exp} \left(\int_{0}^{\infty} \lfloor ne^{-x} \rfloor \text{dx}\right).$

And, $8Y =$ Number of subsets of $\left(1,2,3,\cdots,100\right)$ whose sum of elements is divisible by $5.$

Finally, compute the value of $\frac{1}{Z} +S(4) + 1 + e^{A(20)} + X\sqrt{8\pi} + Y.$
0 replies
P162008
Yesterday at 7:54 PM
0 replies
Ultra-hyper saddle with logarithmic weight
randomperson1021   0
Yesterday at 5:22 PM
Fix integers \(k\ge 3\) and \(1<r<k\), a parameter \(\lambda>0\), and a real log-exponent \(\beta\in\mathbb R\). For every real \(a\) define
$$
F_{a,\beta}^{(k,r)}(x)
  \;:=\;
  \sum_{n\ge 1}
       n^{\,a}\,(\log n)^{\beta}\,e^{\lambda n^{r}}\,x^{\,n^{k}},
  \qquad 0\le x<1.
$$
Put
$$
\Lambda_{k,r,\lambda}
   \;:=\;
   \lambda\!\left(1-\frac{r}{k}\right)
   \left(\frac{\lambda r}{k}\right)^{\!\frac{r}{\,k-r\,}},
   \qquad
   \gamma=\frac{r}{k-r}.
$$
(1) Show that there exists a real constant \(c=c(k,r)\) (independent of \(\lambda\) and of \(\beta\)) such that
$$
\lim_{x\to 1^{-}}
      F_{a,\beta}^{(k,r)}(x)\,
      e^{-\Lambda_{k,r,\lambda}\,(1-x)^{-\gamma}}
      \;=\;
      \begin{cases}
          0, & a<c,\\[6pt]
          \infty, & a>c.
      \end{cases}
$$
(2) Determine this critical value \(c\) explicitly and verify that it coincides with the classical case \(r=1\), namely \(c=-\tfrac12\).

(3) Evaluate the finite, non-zero limit that occurs at the borderline \(a=c\) (your answer may depend on \(k,r,\lambda\) but not on \(\beta\)).
0 replies
randomperson1021
Yesterday at 5:22 PM
0 replies
3rd AKhIMO for university students, P5
UzbekMathematician   1
N Yesterday at 3:53 PM by grupyorum
Source: AKhIMO 2025, P5
Show that for every positive integer $n$ there exist nonnegative integers $p, q$ and integers $a_1, a_2, ... , a_p, b_1, b_2, ... , b_q \ge 2$ such that $$ n=\frac{(a_1^3-1)(a_2^3-1)...(a_p^3-1)}{(b_1^3-1)(b_2^3-1)...(b_q^3-1)} $$
1 reply
UzbekMathematician
May 28, 2025
grupyorum
Yesterday at 3:53 PM
Sum of three squares
perfect_radio   9
N Yesterday at 1:36 PM by RobertRogo
Source: RMO 2004, Grade 12, Problem 4
Let $\mathcal K$ be a field of characteristic $p$, $p \equiv 1 \left( \bmod 4 \right)$.

(a) Prove that $-1$ is the square of an element from $\mathcal K.$

(b) Prove that any element $\neq 0$ from $\mathcal K$ can be written as the sum of three squares, each $\neq 0$, of elements from $\mathcal K$.

(c) Can $0$ be written in the same way?

Marian Andronache
9 replies
perfect_radio
Feb 26, 2006
RobertRogo
Yesterday at 1:36 PM
Counting friends in two ways
joybangla   18
N Apr 17, 2025 by Mathworld314
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P1
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}
18 replies
joybangla
May 11, 2014
Mathworld314
Apr 17, 2025
Counting friends in two ways
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P1
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joybangla
836 posts
#1 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, Oly
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by joybangla, May 11, 2014, 3:56 PM
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tensor
433 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Come here in this thread post as many as you can.. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=362&t=588965
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chaotic_iak
2932 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.
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joybangla
836 posts
#4 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Your counter-example is correct. I have edited it. So the problem was indeed wrong. :mad: :dry: This is unexpected. And sad. Because I just proved a wrong problem. :wallbash_red:
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tensor
433 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Oho nooooo//// how that can be?? such institutes problem, that's implying evry one would probably get its all point....
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BISHAL_DEB
270 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
I did not explicitly mention that the problem is wrong but proved the correct version by using considering the students as points and friendship as line segment. I guess I should score
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BBAI
563 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Devarka, Adventure10, Mango247
A simple solution ,
The person having the $a_i$ friends is counted in $c_0,c_1, ....c_{a_i - 1}$ .i.e $a_i$ times . so in the RHS too it is counted $a_i$ times . so these are two different ways of counting the sum $ \sum _{i=1}^{100} a_i $ and hence it is proved
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joybangla
836 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
BBAI wrote:
A simple solution ,
The person having the $a_i$ friends is counted in $c_0,c_1, ....c_{a_i - 1}$ .i.e $a_i$ times . so in the RHS too it is counted $a_i$ times . so these are two different ways of counting the sum $ \sum _{i=1}^{100} a_i $ and hence it is proved
So what's new in your solution BBAI? :huh: :huh: chaotic_iak already gave that "simple solution" of yours. Why bother repeating it?
chaotic_iak wrote:
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.
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sayantanchakraborty
505 posts
#9 • 3 Y
Y by ADEWADE, Adventure10, Mango247
Solution to the edited problem:

Consider a $100$-gon with vertices $A_i$($i=1....100$) as persons.We colour the segment $A_iA_j$ red if $A_i$ and $A_j$ are friends,otherwise we colour it as blue.We shall now show that both the sides number twice the number of red sides.


LHS:Consider a red line $A_iA_j$.It is counted once when $a_i$ is counted and once when $a_j$ is counted.Thus LHS part is proved.

RHS:Let $c_i=r$.While we are counting $c_i$,we are only counting $r$ redlines emanating from $A_{i_1},A_{i_2},...,A_{i_r}$.This proves our claim for RHS.(Note that thus summing over the $c_i$'s gives the sum of exact number of redlines originating from each vertex).

This problem is one of the simplest applications of two way counting.So nice to see this in ISI exams.....
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Target_cmi
113 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
If $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends. , then what is $c_{99}$ ? 0 ?
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Target_cmi, Apr 18, 2017, 2:13 AM
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adityaguharoy
4657 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
No there was that error in the original problem.
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ftheftics
651 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Gerninza, Adventure10
Translation to a graph theoretic problem

Suppose ,$G(V,E)$ be a simple graph with $\boxed{k=100}$ vertex. Suppose $V=\{v_1,\cdots ,v_k\}$ And we connect $v_i,v_j$ if they are friend $i\neq j$. Suppose $a_i = \deg (v_i)$.And $\tau _j$ denote number of vertices having degree more than $j,0\le j \le k-1$.

We would like to show that $\sum_{i=1}^k a_i = \sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau_j$.
$\boxed{\text{Key Lemma}}$.
$\sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau _j =2|E|$.
Proof.
Suppose the statement is true for $k=n$ .
Then join a certex call $v_{n+1}$.If it is isolated then $\sum_{i=0}^n \tau ' _i = \sum _{i=0}^{n-1} \tau_i$ ,$\tau '_j$ count number of vertex having degree more than $j$ in the new graph with $n+1$ vertex. we are done.

if $v_{n+1}$ is not isolated. . Suppose it joins with $v_j$ ,$j\le n$. Then $\deg (v_{n+1})=1$.
And ,$\tau ' _{\deg v_j} = \tau_{\deg v_j} +1$,
$\tau '_0 =\tau_0 +1$.
And another $\tau_j$ will as same as $\tau '_j$.

So,in this case $\sum_{j=0}^{n} \tau '_j = 2|E|+2$.One must see that number of edges in new graph is $|E|+1$.

Similar approach can prove the case for more than $1$ new edges$\blacksquare$.
Now ,$\sum a_j = \sum_{v\in V} \deg (v)=2|E|$.

So,$\sum_{i=1}^k a_i = \sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau_j$.

Proved!!!!
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by ftheftics, Feb 1, 2020, 10:17 AM
Reason: Nlll
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cyberrushMIKU3799
51 posts
#15
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I have a different solution than the above ones.
I will use induction
obviously the base case holds true

Lets assume it holds for n students
Our n+1th student has say i friends
So the LHS will increment by i.
For RHS 1 will be added for each j from 0 to i so the RHS Will also increase by 1*i
So LHS = RHS and our induction for n+1th step is complete. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by cyberrushMIKU3799, Jun 7, 2020, 7:59 AM
Reason: Latex typo
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stranger_02
337 posts
#16 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
chaotic_iak wrote:
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.

No your argument is incorrect.. $c_0$ is NOT equal to $100$, it is indeed $0$. Observe the question carefully.. $c_0$ means the number of students having MORE than $0$ (i.e. $\geq1$ ) friends.. which according to your assumption that everyone hates everyone is indeed $0$. For the same reason, the iteration of $j$ stops at $99$ and not $100$ because no one can possibly have $101$ friends.. hope I could make myself clear..

The problem is beautiful..
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stranger_02
337 posts
#17
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joybangla wrote:
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}

Beautiful problems demand beautiful solutions.. Here's a simple way to think-

observe

if you still need help

my extension on this problem

Q.E.D. $\square$
This post has been edited 5 times. Last edited by stranger_02, Jun 21, 2020, 1:45 PM
Reason: Latex :'(
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stranger_02
337 posts
#18
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Target_cmi wrote:
If $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends. , then what is $c_{99}$ ? 0 ?

Obviously
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R-sk
429 posts
#19 • 2 Y
Y by Mango247, Mango247
This problem is direct once we apply. Incidence matrices
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Hypatia1728
728 posts
#20
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Sol
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Mathworld314
57 posts
#21
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matrix
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Mathworld314, May 4, 2025, 6:37 AM
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