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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.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

Looking for summer camps in math and language arts? Be sure to check out the video-based summer camps offered at the Virtual Campus that are 2- to 4-weeks in duration. 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 events:
[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
[*]April 8th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS State Discussion
April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes run 7:30pm-8:45pm ET/4:30pm - 5:45pm PT unless otherwise noted.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
Discuss the Stanford Math Tournament Here
Aaronjudgeisgoat   242
N 12 minutes ago by BS2012
I believe discussion is allowed after yesterday at midnight, correct?
If so, I will put tentative answers on this thread.
By the way, does anyone know the answer to Geometry Problem 5? I was wondering if I got that one right
Also, if you put answers, please put it in a hide tag

Answers for the Algebra Subject Test
Estimated Algebra Cutoffs
Answers for the Geometry Subject Test
Estimated Geo Cutoffs
Answers for the Discrete Subject Test
Estimated Cutoffs for Discrete
Answers for the Team Round
Guts Answers
242 replies
Aaronjudgeisgoat
Apr 14, 2025
BS2012
12 minutes ago
Predicted AMC 8 Scores
megahertz13   154
N 2 hours ago by Aaronjudgeisgoat
$\begin{tabular}{c|c|c|c}Username & Grade & AMC8 Score \\ \hline
megahertz13 & 5 & 23 \\
\end{tabular}$
154 replies
megahertz13
Jan 25, 2024
Aaronjudgeisgoat
2 hours ago
Another Cubic Curve!
v_Enhance   164
N 5 hours ago by IndexLibrorumProhibitorum
Source: USAMO 2015 Problem 1, JMO Problem 2
Solve in integers the equation
\[ x^2+xy+y^2 = \left(\frac{x+y}{3}+1\right)^3. \]
164 replies
v_Enhance
Apr 28, 2015
IndexLibrorumProhibitorum
5 hours ago
How to get good at comp math
fossasor   24
N Today at 6:40 AM by Cha0s
I'm a rising ninth grader who wasn't in the school math league this year, and basically put aside comp math for a year. Unfortunately, that means that now that I'm in high school and having the epiphany about how important comp math actually is, and how much it would help my chances of getting involved in other math-related programs. In addition, I do enjoy math in general, and suspect that things like the AMCs are probably going to be some of the best practice I can get. What this all means is that I'm trying to go from mediocre to orz, 2 years after I probably should have started if I wanted to be any good.

So my question is: how do I get good at comp math?

This year, my scores on AMC 10 (and these are the highest I've ever gotten) were a 73.5 and an 82.5 (AMC 8 was 21/25, but that doesn't matter much). This is not good enough to qualify for AIME, and I probably need to raise my performance on each by at least 10 points. I've been decently good in the past at Number Theory, but I need to work on Geo and Combinatorics, and I'm trying to find the best resources to do that. My biggest flaw is probably not knowing many algorithms like Stars and Bars, and the path is clear here (learn them) but I'm still not sure which ones I need to know.

I'm aware that some of this advice is going to be something like "Practice 5 hours a day and start hardgrinding" or something along those lines. Unfortunately, I have other extracurriculars I need to balance, and for me, time is a limiting resource. My parents are somewhat frowning upon me doing a lot of comp math, which limits my time as well. I have neither the time nor motivation to do more than an hour a day, and in practice, I don't think I can be doing that consistently. As such, I would need to make that time count.

I know this is a very general question, and that aops is chock-full of detailed advice for math competitions. However, I'd appreciate it if anyone here could help me out, or show me the best resources I should use to get started. What mocks are any good, or what textbooks should I use? Where do I get the best practice with the shortest time? Is there some place I can find a list of useful formulas that have appeared in math comps before?

All advice is welcome!

24 replies
fossasor
Apr 10, 2025
Cha0s
Today at 6:40 AM
No more topics!
20th ELMO 2018 (Both Days Released)
whatshisbucket   213
N Jul 13, 2018 by Rickyminer
Source: 2018 ELMO
20th ELMO on AoPS: Eyy LMaO
Jun 9th and 16th, 2018

It's me again! Here for the big two-zero!

The ELMO is an olympiad test similar to both the USAMO and IMO in format. It is written, administrated and graded by returning MOPers for those attending MOP for the first time. However, because there are only finitely many people who can attend MOP each year, for many years the competition has also been posted and run on AoPS, similarly to many of the other mocks that run on this site. Here are links to the previous AoPS ELMO threads. You can also find the problems and shortlist in the USA contests section of the Contest Collections. The acronym is different every year, and will be chosen during the first week of MOP.

[list][*]You should sign up in this thread if you intend to do the contest. Signups are neither mandatory nor binding, but we want to have an estimate of how many people take the test.
[*]You may participate in either or both of the two days. Each day will consist of three problems, of a similar difficulty as the USAMO. The top scores from each day and overall will be recognized, and all scores will be posted on the ELMO website, where you can also find past results.
[*]Solutions will be due on Wednesday, June 27th at 11:59 PM PDT.
[*]Each day should be taken in a contiguous 4.5-hour period, similarly to how you would take the USAMO, although you do not need a proctor and you may take the test anytime before the submission deadline.
[*]Submit your solutions by PM to whatshisbucket and suli on AoPS or to elmograding2018@gmail.com. You may either scan written solutions or write your solutions in LaTeX. You may write your solutions on paper and then transcribe them to LaTeX immediately afterwards, provided that you do so entirely verbatim. Please only do so if you have hideous handwriting like mine that only you can decipher or do not have anything resembling a scanner available.
[*]Please do not discuss the problems with anyone else before you take the test. After you have taken the test, please do not discuss the problems with anyone who has not yet taken the test. After the tests are over, the problems will be posted in the High School Olympiads forum.

We look forward to your participation!
213 replies
whatshisbucket
May 25, 2018
Rickyminer
Jul 13, 2018
20th ELMO 2018 (Both Days Released)
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Source: 2018 ELMO
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thepiercingarrow
573 posts
#226 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Is it too late to submit stuff. plssss :(
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yayups
1614 posts
#227 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
the solutions are out on aops, so i think its probably too late.....
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suli
1498 posts
#228 • 4 Y
Y by tapir1729, 62861, Adventure10, Mango247
The graders are currently finalizing scores. After all scores are finalized, we will send out individual score reports. We thank you for your patience, and we sincerely hope you enjoyed the 20th ELMO 2018.
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suli
1498 posts
#230 • 5 Y
Y by whatshisbucket, 62861, dantaxyz, Adventure10, Mango247
Dear AoPS Community,

Thank you for your patience. After returning from long trip in [redacted country, fear of retribution], I graded all remaining submissions in two painful long nights. It was hard (luckily, jet lag saved me), but it was all worth it to give final scores. All participants who submitted will receive their individual score report and medal distinction from either me (if you submitted via AoPS) or ELMO-grading [at] gmail.com (if you submitted via email). If you do not receive your results within the next hour, please let me know and we will fix the situation. Again, thank you for your patience, and enjoy the rest of your summer.
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suli
1498 posts
#231 • 6 Y
Y by whatshisbucket, 62861, dantaxyz, mathisawesome2169, Adventure10, Mango247
Some problem statistics among the non-MOP/remote participants.

High scores: 36, 35, 28 (x3)
Average score: 13.09
Medal cutoffs: 16 (B), 20 (S), 27 (G)

Individual problem statistics:

\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline
Problem & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\\hline\hline
Average & 3.38 & 2.54 & 0.79 & 5.63 & 1.37 & 0.34 \\\hline
0 & 12 & 20 & 32 & 7 & 31 & 35 \\\hline
1 & 2 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 2 & 3 \\\hline
2 & 9 & 4 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 2 \\\hline
3 & 0 & 2 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\\hline
4 & 0 & 0 & 2 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\\hline
5 & 0 & 3 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\\hline
6 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 2 & 0 \\\hline
7 & 16 & 10 & 2 & 32 & 6 & 1 \\\hline
Total & 39 & 39 & 39 & 41 & 41 & 41 \\\hline
\end{tabular}
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by suli, Jul 7, 2018, 9:10 PM
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whatshisbucket
975 posts
#232 • 6 Y
Y by 62861, dantaxyz, Wizard_32, Mudkipswims42, Adventure10, centslordm
We have finished sending out the score reports, but the results will not be posted on the ELMO website until v_Enhance returns from the IMO in a few days. Thank you everyone for submitting and making this a great ELMO!

Top scorers on Day 1

Top scorers on Day 2

Top overall scorers
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suli
1498 posts
#233 • 4 Y
Y by Wizard_32, 62861, Mudkipswims42, Adventure10
Some notes about grading:

P1. Construction for $n = 2$ got 1 point, proof of $n$ odd can't work got 2 points, 1 + 2 = 2. Do not protest attempting to get more points than you rightly deserve, even though you might have spent a lifetime's energy wondering why you can't solve problem 1.

P2. If it's correct, you get the points. If it's not correct, well then what can we say. Try looking at your solution again to discover the one hole that torpedoed your ultimately futile attempt. To those who got 5, we're sorry, but you might have missed a case or two in a bashy casework that could have been adroitly avoided (c.f. official solution). But at least you still got most of the points.... (to be precise, a 5 out of 7 is $> 70\%$, a passing grade on the assignment)

P4. Yay people can solve geo. Not everyone can provide a good diagram though (cries). If you got 0 or 1 you probably didn't solve the problem and were hoping for partials. In general, an incorrect bash gets 0, so you should have spent your time actually making good synthetic observations. Easy to say in retrospect though.

P5. A completely correct answer gets 1 point. On the other hand, an otherwise correct proof minus the trivial case of all $a_i$ equal gets 6 points. Do not attempt to convert your 6 to a 7 because you overlooked the obvious.

P6. Pretty hard and easy to BS. All we can say is, we gave you what you deserved. If you had correct (a), you get 2. If you had substantive partial progress or you had correct (a) minus rigor, you get 1. Complete BS gets 0.

As graders, we strive to ensure fairness, accuracy, and consistency. We are happy to provide additional light into why you got the score you got upon request via PM or email.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by suli, Jul 7, 2018, 7:01 AM
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Mudkipswims42
8867 posts
#234 • 3 Y
Y by cip999, Adventure10, Mango247
Very nice test! Day 1 was very fun for me!

Unfortunately got swept by day 2 :(
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suli
1498 posts
#235 • 7 Y
Y by mathisawesome2169, 62861, Wizard_32, hwl0304, dantaxyz, Adventure10, Mango247
20th ELMO 2018 Cutoffs.

BRONZE: 16
SILVER: 20
GOLD: 27
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skrublord420
1277 posts
#236 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Yagami1728 wrote:
Signups(140)
suli wrote:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline
Problem & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\\hline\hline
Total & 39 & 39 & 39 & 41 & 41 & 41 \\\hline
\end{tabular}

I just noticed that of the 140 who signed up, merely 41 took the competition.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by skrublord420, Jul 11, 2018, 8:13 AM
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Mudkipswims42
8867 posts
#237 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
That is actually a very respectable submission rate
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Sippi
929 posts
#238 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
skrublord420 wrote:
Yagami1728 wrote:
Signups(140)
suli wrote:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline
Problem & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\\hline\hline
Total & 39 & 39 & 39 & 41 & 41 & 41 \\\hline
\end{tabular}

I just noticed that of the 140 who signed up, merely 41 took the competition.
make that 42 or more.... I didn't get the solution so no need to send it
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greenturtle3141
3543 posts
#239 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I "participated", but didn't solve anything, so I did not submit. I imagine many others are in a similar position.
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suli
1498 posts
#240 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
skrublord420 wrote:
Yagami1728 wrote:
Signups(140)
suli wrote:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline
Problem & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\\hline\hline
Total & 39 & 39 & 39 & 41 & 41 & 41 \\\hline
\end{tabular}

I just noticed that of the 140 who signed up, merely 41 took the competition.

Even less. There were 12 Vietnamese submissions, one of whom scored 36, the top score in AoPS. Make that 41 - 12 = 29 AoPS submissions.
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Rickyminer
343 posts
#241 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
suli wrote:
skrublord420 wrote:
Yagami1728 wrote:
Signups(140)
suli wrote:
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|c|}\hline
Problem & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 \\\hline\hline
Total & 39 & 39 & 39 & 41 & 41 & 41 \\\hline
\end{tabular}

I just noticed that of the 140 who signed up, merely 41 took the competition.

Even less. There were 12 Vietnamese submissions, one of whom scored 36, the top score in AoPS. Make that 41 - 12 = 29 AoPS submissions.

Why should these 12 be discarded?
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