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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

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[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 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
Killer NT that nobody solved (also my hardest NT ever created)
mshtand1   1
N a few seconds ago by YaoAOPS
Source: Ukraine IMO 2025 TST P8
A positive integer number \( a \) is chosen. Prove that there exists a prime number that divides infinitely many terms of the sequence \( \{b_k\}_{k=1}^{\infty} \), where
\[
b_k = a^{k^k} \cdot 2^{2^k - k} + 1.
\]
Proposed by Arsenii Nikolaev and Mykhailo Shtandenko
1 reply
mshtand1
3 hours ago
YaoAOPS
a few seconds ago
Mildly interesting
GreekIdiot   1
N an hour ago by GreekIdiot
Source: my teacher
Let numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3,\cdots,a_n \in \mathbb{Z_+}$ such that $\forall \: 1 \leq i \leq n, a_i<1000$ and $\forall \: i \neq j, \: lcm(a_i,a_j)>1000$. Prove that $\sum_{i=1}^{n} \dfrac{1}{a_i}<3/2$.
1 reply
GreekIdiot
Yesterday at 12:54 PM
GreekIdiot
an hour ago
My hardest algebra ever created (only one solve in the contest)
mshtand1   5
N an hour ago by BlazingMuddy
Source: Ukraine IMO TST P9
Find all functions \( f: (0, +\infty) \to (0, +\infty) \) for which, for all \( x, y > 0 \), the following identity holds:
\[
f(x) f(yf(x)) + y f(xy) = \frac{f\left(\frac{x}{y}\right)}{y} + \frac{f\left(\frac{y}{x}\right)}{x}
\]
Proposed by Mykhailo Shtandenko
5 replies
mshtand1
3 hours ago
BlazingMuddy
an hour ago
This year's Diophantine equation
GreekIdiot   2
N 2 hours ago by GreekIdiot
Source: own
Let $x,y,z \in \mathbb {Z}$ such that $5^x-y^2=z^3+2025$. Find all such $(x,y,z)$.
2 replies
GreekIdiot
Yesterday at 12:36 PM
GreekIdiot
2 hours ago
geometry with quadrilateral, tangent circles wanted
trying_to_solve_br   55
N 2 hours ago by cj13609517288
Source: IMO 2020 Shortlist G3
Let $ABCD$ be a convex quadrilateral with $\angle ABC>90$, $CDA>90$ and $\angle DAB=\angle BCD$. Denote by $E$ and $F$ the reflections of $A$ in lines $BC$ and $CD$, respectively. Suppose that the segments $AE$ and $AF$ meet the line $BD$ at $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that the circumcircles of triangles $BEK$ and $DFL$ are tangent to each other.

$\emph{Slovakia}$
55 replies
trying_to_solve_br
Jul 20, 2021
cj13609517288
2 hours ago
IHC 10 Q25: Eight countries participated in a football tournament
xytan0585   1
N 2 hours ago by discula2020
Source: International Hope Cup Mathematics Invitational Regional Competition IHC10
Eight countries sent teams to participate in a football tournament, with the Argentine and Brazilian teams being the strongest, while the remaining six teams are similar strength. The probability of the Argentine and Brazilian teams winning against the other six teams is both $\frac{2}{3}$. The tournament adopts an elimination system, and the winner advances to the next round. What is the probability that the Argentine team will meet the Brazilian team in the entire tournament?

$A$. $\frac{1}{4}$

$B$. $\frac{1}{3}$

$C$. $\frac{23}{63}$

$D$. $\frac{217}{567}$

$E$. $\frac{334}{567}$
1 reply
1 viewing
xytan0585
Yesterday at 8:17 AM
discula2020
2 hours ago
"Median" Geo
asbodke   25
N 2 hours ago by Giant_PT
Source: 2023 USA TSTST Problem 1
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with centroid $G$. Points $R$ and $S$ are chosen on rays $GB$ and $GC$, respectively, such that
\[ \angle ABS=\angle ACR=180^\circ-\angle BGC.\]Prove that $\angle RAS+\angle BAC=\angle BGC$.

Merlijn Staps
25 replies
asbodke
Jun 26, 2023
Giant_PT
2 hours ago
Find all positive integers a and b
orl   4
N 3 hours ago by Assassino9931
Source: IMO Shortlist 1996, N4
Find all positive integers $ a$ and $ b$ for which

\[ \left \lfloor \frac{a^2}{b} \right \rfloor + \left \lfloor \frac{b^2}{a} \right \rfloor = \left \lfloor \frac{a^2 + b^2}{ab} \right \rfloor + ab.\]
4 replies
orl
Aug 9, 2008
Assassino9931
3 hours ago
PX, IO, MN, BC concurrent iff sides of ABC form arithmetic prgression
parmenides51   2
N 3 hours ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: 2019 Geo Mock - Olympiad by Tovi Wen #3 https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c594864h1787237p11805928
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $AB \le BC \le CA$, incenter $I$, circumcenter $O$, and circumcircle $\Gamma$. The line $\overline{AI}$ meets $\overline{BC}$ at $D$, and meets $\Gamma$ again at $M$. Let $N$ be the reflection of $M$ over $\overline{OD}$. Let the line through $N$ perpendicular to $\overline{BC}$ meet $\overline{AI}$ at $P$. $\overline{IO}$ meets $\overline{AB}$ and $\overline{AC}$ at $E$ and $F$, respectively. Suppose that the circumcircle of $\triangle{AEF}$ meets $\Gamma$ again at $X$. Prove that $\overline{PX}$, $\overline{IO}$, $\overline{MN}$, $\overline{BC}$ are concurrent if and only if the sides of $\triangle{ABC}$ form an arithmetic progression.
2 replies
parmenides51
Nov 26, 2023
ihategeo_1969
3 hours ago
Functional Equation
anantmudgal09   20
N 3 hours ago by bin_sherlo
Source: India TST 2018 D1 P3
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \mapsto \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(x)f\left(yf(x)-1\right)=x^2f(y)-f(x),$$for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$.
20 replies
anantmudgal09
Jul 18, 2018
bin_sherlo
3 hours ago
Squares on height in right triangle
Miquel-point   0
4 hours ago
Source: Romanian NMO 2025 7.4
Consider the right-angled triangle $ABC$ with $\angle A$ right and $AD\perp BC$, $D\in BC$. On the ray $[AD$ we take two points $E$ and $H$ so that $AE=AC$ and $AH=AB$. Consider the squares $AEFG$ and $AHJI$ containing inside $C$ and $B$, respectively. If $K=EG\cap AC$ and $L=IH\cap AB$, $N=IL\cap GK$ and $M=IB\cap GC$, prove that $LK\parallel BC$ and that $A$, $N$ and $M$ are collinear.
0 replies
Miquel-point
4 hours ago
0 replies
Projections on lateral faces of pyramid are coplanar
Miquel-point   0
5 hours ago
Source: Romanian NMO 2025 8.4
From a point $O$ inside a square $ABCD$ we raise a segment $OS$ perpendicular to the plane of the square. Show that the projections of $O$ on the planes $(SAB)$, $(SBC)$, $(SCD)$ and $(SDA)$ are coplanar if and only if $O\in [AC]\cup [BD]$.
0 replies
Miquel-point
5 hours ago
0 replies
NT equation
EthanWYX2009   3
N 5 hours ago by pavel kozlov
Source: 2025 TST T11
Let \( n \geq 4 \). Proof that
\[
(2^x - 1)(5^x - 1) = y^n
\]have no positive integer solution \((x, y)\).
3 replies
EthanWYX2009
Mar 10, 2025
pavel kozlov
5 hours ago
math olympiads
Lirimath   1
N 5 hours ago by maromex
Let a,b,c be real numbers such that a^2(b+c)+b^2(c+a)+c^2(a+b)=3(a+b+c-1) and a+b+c differnet by 0.Prove that ab+bc+ca=3 if and only if abc=1
1 reply
Lirimath
5 hours ago
maromex
5 hours ago
Guess the leader's binary string!
cjquines0   79
N Apr 14, 2025 by gladIasked
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist C1
The leader of an IMO team chooses positive integers $n$ and $k$ with $n > k$, and announces them to the deputy leader and a contestant. The leader then secretly tells the deputy leader an $n$-digit binary string, and the deputy leader writes down all $n$-digit binary strings which differ from the leader’s in exactly $k$ positions. (For example, if $n = 3$ and $k = 1$, and if the leader chooses $101$, the deputy leader would write down $001, 111$ and $100$.) The contestant is allowed to look at the strings written by the deputy leader and guess the leader’s string. What is the minimum number of guesses (in terms of $n$ and $k$) needed to guarantee the correct answer?
79 replies
cjquines0
Jul 19, 2017
gladIasked
Apr 14, 2025
Guess the leader's binary string!
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: 2016 IMO Shortlist C1
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ryanbear
1055 posts
#69
Y by
For each digit, the number of correct values is ${n-1 \choose k}$ and the number of incorrect values is ${n-1 \choose k-1}$. If $n=2k$, then they are equal. If $n>2k$, then there are more correct values. If $n<2k$, then there are more correct values. As a result, if $n \neq 2k$, then only $1$ guess is needed.
If $n=2k$, then note that if a binary string works, then the string with all its digits inverted also works. As a result, WLOG the last digit is $0$. Then, remove the last digit to everything. If the removed digit is $0$, then it becomes another problem but with $1$ less digit. If the removed digit is $1$, then it becomes another problem but with $1$ less digit and $1$ less swap. So there is $1$ possible value, but multiply by $2$ because the last digit could be $1$, so the answer is $2$.
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Sagnik123Biswas
420 posts
#70
Y by
If $n=2k$, then it takes $2$ moves. Otherwise $1$ move. We can recover each bit by making use of the fact that $\binom{n-1}{k} \neq \binom{n-1}{k-1}$ when $2k \neq n$. However when $n=2k$, the the produced list anyways has $2$ possible generators. So we do casework, and are able to get it in $2$ moves.
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MathLuis
1498 posts
#71
Y by
Note that we are given $\binom{n}{k}$ strings, consider one fixed position in each of them, by an easy counting we know that $\binom{n-1}{k}$ strings will have this digit in the right position and $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$ of them will have this digit changed, now if $n \ne 2k$ then since those two quantities are different we can easly differenciate them and thus re-construct the original string in only 1 guess. But if $n=2k$ then note that if we swap all the digits in the leader's binary string then after repeating the process we get that the deputy leader shares to the student the same list of binary strings as the string un-swapped, therefore, there is exactly 2 possible outcomes both correct from what the deputy leader gives to the student, and as a result the student is forced to make at least 2 guesses, now to achieve exactly 2 guesses just do the following, take all $k+1$ strings where the last $k-1$ digits remain fixed, and now we have two outcomes, one is assuming that those $k-1$ have all changed and that among the $k+1$ strings exactly one digit changes each time thus the student can guess one only string, on the other hand the student can assume that those $k-1$ digits never suffered a change and each time among those $k+1$ strings, $k$ strings change, giving a inverted string compared to your first choice, it is clear that by what we have seen, one of these two strings is correct so it takes at most 2 guesses.
Therefore the minimun for $n \ne 2k$ is 1 and for $n=2k$ is 2 thus we are done :cool:.
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blueprimes
329 posts
#72
Y by
We claim the answer is $1$ for $n \ne 2k$ and $2$ when $n = 2k$.

$\textbf{Case 1: } n \ne 2k$
Note that among the $\binom{n}{k}$ strings, for each digit, it stays the same in $\binom{n - 1}{k}$ strings and toggles in $\binom{n - 1}{k - 1}$. Since $\binom{n - 1}{k} \ne \binom{n - 1}{k - 1}$, we can uniquely identify the digit in the original string by simply counting the number of instances of $0$s and $1$s. This yields $1$ as the minimum number of guesses.

$\textbf{Case 2: } n = 2k$
First we show that we cannot get the correct answer in $1$ guess. Let $s$ be the chosen $n$-digit binary string, and let $s'$ be the string $s$ when all of its digits are toggled. We claim that both $s$ and $s'$ yield the same list, say $\ell$, of altered strings. This is easy to see: Given any alteration of $k$ digits on $s$, a unique equivalent alteration exists for $s'$ by simply toggling the other $k$ digits.

We will now also show that $s$ and $s'$ are the only two strings that can generate this list $\ell$. By considering a constant binary vector shift, we can WLOG $s$ is the all-$0$ string and $s'$ is the all-$1$ string. But all strings in $\ell$ have precisely $k$ $0$s which is impossible to achieve with any other strings.

Now to show that we can get the correct answer in at most $2$ attempts, just generate the list over all strings and see what works. By our above claim, we get it in at most $2$ tries.

We are done!
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by blueprimes, Feb 18, 2025, 6:43 PM
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ezpotd
1253 posts
#73
Y by
We claim the answer is $1$ if $n \neq 2k$ and $2$ otherwise.

Case if $n = 2k$: For every string, the string formed by inverting each bit is present in the set, so by symmetry we require at least $2$ attempts. To prove that $2$ attempts is sufficient, consider the first half of the string. For each subset of $i$ bits of the first half, there are $\binom ki \binom{k}{k - i}$ strings with these $i$ bits inverted. There are thus only two distinct strings that have a unique first half, one of which that has all of the first half inverted and one with none. Thus it suffices to take the first half of all the strings and only note the two strings that have no matches in the list. Out of these, one is the correct string with the first half inverted and the second is the correct string with the second half inverted. We do not know which one. Invert the first half of both of these, then one of them is the correct answer.

Case if $n \neq 2k$: For each bit, we can determine the inverted form appears $\binom{n - 1}{k - 1}$ times in the list and the correct form appears $\binom{n - 1}{k}$ times, and since these values are guaranteed to be distinct by $n \neq 2k$, we can uniquely determine each bit correctly on the first try.
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lpieleanu
2907 posts
#74
Y by
Solution
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eg4334
631 posts
#75
Y by
The answer is $\boxed{1, n \neq 2k}$ and $\boxed{2, n = 2k}$
If $n \neq 2k$, then for each index of the string the correct one appears $\binom{n-1}{k}$ and the incorrect one appears $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$. Therefore the correct one can always be deduced.
This argument fails however when $\binom{n-1}{k} = \binom{n-1}{k-1} \implies n = 2k$. In this case, clearly the string and its complement both work so we require two guesses. To achieve this, simply fix the first digit and use the same argument above on the rest of the string. For example consider $n=6, k=3$ with the string $101110$. If the first digit truly is $1$, then we know the first two digits are correct in $\binom{4}{3}$ ways but the first digit is correct and second digit incorrect in $\binom{4}{2}$ ways. Thus we can deduce the second digit and in a similar fashion the rest of the sting. The case where the first digit is incorrect gives the other case, so we are done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by eg4334, Dec 10, 2024, 1:33 AM
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cursed_tangent1434
590 posts
#76
Y by
First notice that the $n^{th}$ digit will be flipped in $$\binom{n-1}{k-1}$$of the given binary strings. So unless $$\binom{n-1}{k-1} = \frac{\binom{n}{k}}{2}\implies n=2k$$Po-Shen can directly find what each digit must be and in find the correct string in 1 guess. Now, suppose $n=2k$. Notice half the binary strings given will end in 0 and the other half in 1. Now, consider the remaining $n-1$ digits of each binary string. Assume that the last digit was flipped and became $x \in {0,1}$. Then, of first $n-1$ digits in the $\frac{\binom{n}{k}}{2}$ strings ending with $x$, we will have $k-1$ digits being flipped, which is identical to the case when Titu selects $n-1$ and $k-1$ and since clearly $n-1 \neq \frac{k-1}{2}$ the first $n-1$ digits can be determined in 1 guess. Thus, Po-Shen has to guess the last digit (with two options) requiring 2 guesses in total to hit the right answer.
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Eka01
204 posts
#77
Y by
Solved with a slight hint/being told that I was wrong.
Obviously the number of strings written by deputy leader are $\binom{n}{k}$. For a particular place, the number of strings where it has the correct digit is $\binom{n-1}{k}$ so if the number of places it is written incorrectly is not equal to the number of places it is written correctly, then the contestant can uniquely determine all the places without leaving anything to chance. A quick calculation shows that this happens iff $n \neq 2k$. If $n=2k$, then fix any digit, say the foremost one, then if we fixed the correct digit, then we can instead view the case as being given a string of length $n-1$ and all the strings varying from this in $\frac{n}{2}$ places. Otherwise, we can view it as being given a string of length $n-1$ varying in $\frac{n-2}{2}$ places. In each of these cases, the contestant needs just one attempt, hence $2$ guesses are sufficient for the $n=2k$ case.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Eka01, Dec 28, 2024, 7:44 PM
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smileapple
1010 posts
#78
Y by
If $n\neq 2k$, then $1$ guess suffices. Specifically, Po-Shen can look at the $i$th bit across all $\binom{n}k$ strings written down. The original bit will appear $\binom{n-1}k$ times and the flipped bit will appear $\binom{n-1}{k-1}\neq\binom{n-1}k$ times as $n\neq 2k$. Hence Po-Shen can extract the $i$th bit of the original string for all $i$ and obtain the correct answer.

If $n=2k$, then $2$ guesses is the minimum. Note that $2$ guesses are necessary as both Titu's original string and its complement, with all bits flipped, fit Zuming's description. On the other hand, if the first bit is determined, then Po-Shen can reduce the situation to one with $n'=2k-1$ by considering only the $\binom{n-1}k$ matching strings and throwing away the rest, extracting the other $n-1$ bits. $\blacksquare$
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NTguy
23 posts
#79 • 1 Y
Y by alexanderhamilton124
Very cool problem, there are $\binom{n}{k}$ total strings, and in $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$ of them, a particular digit will have been changed. So, for each digit we need to count the number of strings where it is $0$ and $1$. Whichever of $0$ and $1$ comes $\binom{n}{k} - \binom{n-1}{k-1}$ times is the correct digit. The only problem arises when $\binom{n}{k} = 2\cdot \binom{n-1}{k-1}$ which is true iff $n=2k$. For this case, first assume the first digit in the leader's string is $1$. Then, in the $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$ strings which have $0$ as the first digit, we know that the first digit has changed, leaving an $n-1$ digit number with $k-1$ digits changed. This is the same as the case of $n \neq 2k$. So, from this we can deduce the entire string and guess it. If it is wrong, we know that the first digit is $0$, and repeat this process. So, for $n=2k$ we require $2$ guesses and for $n \neq 2k$ we require only $1$ guess.
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alexanderhamilton124
388 posts
#80 • 1 Y
Y by L13832
For $n$ odd, and for $n$ even and $k \neq \frac{n}{2}$, the answer is $1$. Consider any digit place. The right digit occurs $\binom{n - 1}{k}$ times in this place, and the wrong one appears $\binom{n - 1}{k - 1}$. These two are clearly not equal for this case, so the contestant simply picks the one that apears $\binom{n - 1}{k}$ times for each digit, which gives us one guess.

For $n = 2k$, we can't do it in one guess. This is because if the leader gives the string which is different from this string in all places, we get the same set of strings. We now prove we can do it in two guesses. Randomly pick the first digit. Consider a digit place. The right digit will appear $\binom{n - 2}{k}$ times and the wrong one will appear $\binom{n - 2}{k - 1}$ times (even if the first digit is wrong, the digits in this place will have the same number of occurrences in the reverse order). These two aren't equal since $n - 2$ is even, so pick the one that appears $\binom{n - 2}{k}$ times for each digit place. Give this as the answer. If it's wrong, that means we picked the first digit wrong and then simply do this with the second digit.
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Maximilian113
549 posts
#81
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Note that swapping $k$ with $n-k$ and vice versa yield equivalent cases, so WLOG assume that $k \leq \frac{n}{2}.$

If $n \neq 2k,$ we have $2k < n.$ Therefore there are multiple pairs of strings that differ at $2k$ places, those places must be where a bit flipped. Therefore in the other positions the bits must not have changed, therefore we can determine them. And, since we have all $\binom{n}{k}$ strings it follows that we can use this method to uniquely determine the original string, so $\boxed{1}$ guess.

If $n = 2k,$ we can look at pairs of strings that differ by $n-2$ places. Then, for the other $2$ places, one of them must have been changed twice, while the other one has to have been original. Therefore if we fix the first digit, taking all pairs of such strings and analyzing the pairs of unchanged bits allows us to determine the string. Hence we have at most $\boxed{2}$ possibilites as there were $2$ possibilites for the first digit.
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de-Kirschbaum
193 posts
#82
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We claim that the contestant can guess it in $1$ if $k \neq \frac{n}{2}$ and $2$ if $k=\frac{n}{2}$.

If $k \neq \frac{n}{2}$ then we know that each digit will be flipped $\binom{n-1}{k-1}$ times and be correct $\binom{n}{k}-\binom{n-1}{k-1}=\binom{n-1}{n-k-1} \neq \binom{n-1}{k-1}$ times. Thus at each digit the contestant can look at all of the binary strings written and pick the digit that appears $\binom{n-1}{n-k-1}$ times and that gives them the correct bit.

If $k=\frac{n}{2}$ then we know that $\binom{n-1}{n-k-1}=\binom{n-1}{k-1}$ so the contestant can no longer pick the correct digit just by looking at the number of times they appear. However, the contestant can guess the first bit to be $1$ or $0$ (unflipped) and then assume the rest of the $n-1$ bits are flipped in $\frac{n}{2}$ places, then following the strategy in the previous case the contestant can guess a number according to that. If the first bit was guessed correctly, then the contestant will recover the original string following this method because then obviously all the flips must happen in the $n-1$ bits. If the first bit was guessed incorrectly, the contestant will recover the complement of the original string, but either way since the first bit is either $1$ or $0$ it takes two guesses to guarantee the original string.
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gladIasked
649 posts
#83
Y by
flavortext :P
If $n=2k$, then Po-Shen needs two guesses. Otherwise, he only needs one guess.

Note that if Po-Shen focuses on a single digit, there are exactly $n-1\choose k$ strings with that digit being ``correct" and exactly $n-1\choose k-1$ strings with that digit being ``incorrect." As long as ${n-1\choose k} \ne {n-1\choose k-1}\iff n\ne2k$, Po-Shen is able to determine the correct digits and the original string.

If $n=2k$, then Po-Shen can randomly guess the ``correct" first digit and determine the ``correct" values of the remaining digits (assuming that his guess was correct). If his guess was incorrect, the Po-Shen can simply choose the other possible value for the first digit and determine the original string. $\blacksquare$
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