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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Thursday at 11:16 PM
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)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following upcoming events:
[list][*]May 9th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, Casework 2: Overwhelming Evidence — A Text Adventure, a game where participants will work together to navigate the map, solve puzzles, and win! All are welcome.
[*]May 19th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, What's Next After Beast Academy?, designed for students finishing Beast Academy and ready for Prealgebra 1.
[*]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
Thursday at 11:16 PM
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
1 viewing
ZetaX
Feb 27, 2007
NoDealsHere
May 4, 2019
Subset of digits to express as a sum
anantmudgal09   46
N 23 minutes ago by anudeep
Source: INMO 2020 P3
Let $S$ be a subset of $\{0,1,2,\dots ,9\}$. Suppose there is a positive integer $N$ such that for any integer $n>N$, one can find positive integers $a,b$ so that $n=a+b$ and all the digits in the decimal representations of $a,b$ (expressed without leading zeros) are in $S$. Find the smallest possible value of $|S|$.

Proposed by Sutanay Bhattacharya

Original Wording
46 replies
anantmudgal09
Jan 19, 2020
anudeep
23 minutes ago
A problem on functions on sets
Ritangshu   0
28 minutes ago
For a finite set $A$, let $|A|$ denote the number of elements in the set $A$.

(a) Let $F$ be the set of all functions
\[ f : \{1, 2, \ldots, n\} \to \{1, 2, \ldots, k\} \quad \text{with } n \geq 3,\; k \geq 2 \]satisfying the condition:
\[ f(i) \ne f(i+1) \quad \text{for every } i,\; 1 \leq i \leq n-1. \]Show that
\[ |F| = k(k-1)^{n-1}. \]
(b) Let $c(n, k)$ denote the number of functions in $F$ satisfying $f(n) \ne f(1)$.
For $n \geq 4$, show that
\[ c(n, k) = k(k-1)^{n-1} - c(n-1, k). \]
(c) Using part (b), prove that for $n \geq 3$,
\[ c(n, k) = (k-1)^n - (-1)^n(k-1). \]
0 replies
Ritangshu
28 minutes ago
0 replies
Arbitrary point on BC and its relation with orthocenter
falantrng   29
N 30 minutes ago by optimusprime154
Source: Balkan MO 2025 P2
In an acute-angled triangle \(ABC\), \(H\) be the orthocenter of it and \(D\) be any point on the side \(BC\). The points \(E, F\) are on the segments \(AB, AC\), respectively, such that the points \(A, B, D, F\) and \(A, C, D, E\) are cyclic. The segments \(BF\) and \(CE\) intersect at \(P.\) \(L\) is a point on \(HA\) such that \(LC\) is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle \(PBC\) at \(C.\) \(BH\) and \(CP\) intersect at \(X\). Prove that the points \(D, X, \) and \(L\) lie on the same line.

Proposed by Theoklitos Parayiou, Cyprus
29 replies
falantrng
Apr 27, 2025
optimusprime154
30 minutes ago
Strange angle condition and concyclic points
lminsl   127
N 31 minutes ago by reni_wee
Source: IMO 2019 Problem 2
In triangle $ABC$, point $A_1$ lies on side $BC$ and point $B_1$ lies on side $AC$. Let $P$ and $Q$ be points on segments $AA_1$ and $BB_1$, respectively, such that $PQ$ is parallel to $AB$. Let $P_1$ be a point on line $PB_1$, such that $B_1$ lies strictly between $P$ and $P_1$, and $\angle PP_1C=\angle BAC$. Similarly, let $Q_1$ be the point on line $QA_1$, such that $A_1$ lies strictly between $Q$ and $Q_1$, and $\angle CQ_1Q=\angle CBA$.

Prove that points $P,Q,P_1$, and $Q_1$ are concyclic.

Proposed by Anton Trygub, Ukraine
127 replies
lminsl
Jul 16, 2019
reni_wee
31 minutes ago
IMO Shortlist 2009 - Problem C5
April   37
N 38 minutes ago by ihategeo_1969
Five identical empty buckets of $2$-liter capacity stand at the vertices of a regular pentagon. Cinderella and her wicked Stepmother go through a sequence of rounds: At the beginning of every round, the Stepmother takes one liter of water from the nearby river and distributes it arbitrarily over the five buckets. Then Cinderella chooses a pair of neighbouring buckets, empties them to the river and puts them back. Then the next round begins. The Stepmother goal's is to make one of these buckets overflow. Cinderella's goal is to prevent this. Can the wicked Stepmother enforce a bucket overflow?

Proposed by Gerhard Woeginger, Netherlands
37 replies
April
Jul 5, 2010
ihategeo_1969
38 minutes ago
Divisibility of a triple
goodar2006   53
N an hour ago by cursed_tangent1434
Source: Iran TST 2013-First exam-2nd day-P5
Do there exist natural numbers $a, b$ and $c$ such that $a^2+b^2+c^2$ is divisible by $2013(ab+bc+ca)$?

Proposed by Mahan Malihi
53 replies
goodar2006
Apr 19, 2013
cursed_tangent1434
an hour ago
Sequences problem
BBNoDollar   0
an hour ago
Source: Mathematical Gazette Contest
Determine the general term of the sequence of non-zero natural numbers (a_n)n≥1, with the property that gcd(a_m, a_n, a_p) = gcd(m^2 ,n^2 ,p^2), for any distinct non-zero natural numbers m, n, p.

⁡Note that gcd(a,b,c) denotes the greatest common divisor of the natural numbers a,b,c .
0 replies
BBNoDollar
an hour ago
0 replies
trigonometric functions
VivaanKam   11
N an hour ago by aok
Hi could someone explain the basic trigonometric functions to me like sin, cos, tan etc.
Thank you!
11 replies
VivaanKam
Apr 29, 2025
aok
an hour ago
all functions satisfying f(x+yf(x))+y = xy + f(x+y)
falantrng   33
N an hour ago by ioannism45
Source: Balkan MO 2025 P3
Find all functions $f\colon \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}$,
\[f(x+yf(x))+y = xy + f(x+y).\]
Proposed by Giannis Galamatis, Greece
33 replies
falantrng
Apr 27, 2025
ioannism45
an hour ago
Solution needed ASAP
UglyScientist   8
N 2 hours ago by deltapc
$ABC$ is acute triangle. $H$ is orthocenter, $M$ is the midpoint of $BC$, $L$ is the midpoint of smaller arc $BC$. Point $K$ is on $AH$ such that, $MK$ is perpendicular to $AL$. Prove that: $HMLK$ is paralelogram(Synthetic sol needed).
8 replies
UglyScientist
6 hours ago
deltapc
2 hours ago
1201 divides sum of powers
V0305   1
N 2 hours ago by vincentwant
(Source: me) Prove that for all positive integers $n$, $1201 \mid 2^{2^n} + 59^{2^n} + 61^{2^n}$.
1 reply
V0305
2 hours ago
vincentwant
2 hours ago
BMO 2024 SL C1
GreekIdiot   11
N 2 hours ago by cursed_tangent1434
Let $n$, $k$ be positive integers. Julia and Florian play a game on a $2n \times 2n$ board. Julia
has secretly tiled the entire board with invisible dominos. Florian now chooses $k$ cells.
All dominos covering at least one of these cells then turn visible. Determine the minimal
value of $k$ such that Florian has a strategy to always deduce the entire tiling.
11 replies
GreekIdiot
Apr 27, 2025
cursed_tangent1434
2 hours ago
Interesting geometry
polarLines   5
N 2 hours ago by Mathworld314
Let $ABC$ be an equilateral triangle of side length $2$. Point $A'$ is chosen on side $BC$ such that the length of $A'B$ is $k<1$. Likewise points $B'$ and $C'$ are chosen on sides $CA$ and $AB$. with $CB'=AC'=k$. Line segments are drawn from points $A',B',C'$ to their corresponding opposite vertices. The intersections of these line segments form a triangle, labeled $PQR$. Prove that $\Delta PQR$ is an equilateral triangle with side length ${4(1-k) \over \sqrt{k^2-2k+4}}$.
5 replies
polarLines
May 20, 2018
Mathworld314
2 hours ago
Showing that certain number is divisible by 13
BBNoDollar   3
N 2 hours ago by Shan3t
Show that 3^(n+2) + 9^(n+1) + 4^(2n+1) + 4^(4n+1) is divisible by 13 for every n natural number.
3 replies
BBNoDollar
4 hours ago
Shan3t
2 hours ago
Combinatoric
spiderman0   3
N Apr 27, 2025 by MathBot101101
Let $ S = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 2024\}.$ Find the maximum positive integer $n \geq 2$ such that for every subset $T \subset S$ with n elements, there always exist two elements a, b in T such that:

$|\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b}| < \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{a - b}$
3 replies
spiderman0
Apr 22, 2025
MathBot101101
Apr 27, 2025
Combinatoric
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spiderman0
11 posts
#1
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Let $ S = \{1, 2, 3, \ldots, 2024\}.$ Find the maximum positive integer $n \geq 2$ such that for every subset $T \subset S$ with n elements, there always exist two elements a, b in T such that:

$|\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b}| < \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{a - b}$
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MathBot101101
17 posts
#2
Y by
We want good sets from a subset T with n elements satisfying that equation.

Solved the inequality to get (just square both sides cuz they're positive, ig)
\frac{9a}{25} < b < a

Now we want the maximum number of elements any bad set can have. Suppose a bad set
P={x_1, x_2, ..., x_{m}} and x_{i}>x_{i-1} for all i belonging to {1, 2, ..., m}
So, x_{i+1} >= \frac{25}{9} x_{i}

x_1=1
x_2= ceiling of (\frac{25}{9}*1)= 3
and so on till we get an x_{k} > 2024

k comes out to be 8.

Therefore your answer is 9. : )

(PS: PLEASEE Latex-ify this, i can't)
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persamaankuadrat
156 posts
#3
Y by
How did you derive $\frac{9a}{25} < b$ ?
Z K Y
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MathBot101101
17 posts
#4
Y by
square both sides and then solve and then take cases, ig
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