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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/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
Mar 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
high tech FE as J1?!
imagien_bad   45
N 8 minutes ago by gladIasked
Source: USAJMO 2025/1
Let $\mathbb Z$ be the set of integers, and let $f\colon \mathbb Z \to \mathbb Z$ be a function. Prove that there are infinitely many integers $c$ such that the function $g\colon \mathbb Z \to \mathbb Z$ defined by $g(x) = f(x) + cx$ is not bijective.
Note: A function $g\colon \mathbb Z \to \mathbb Z$ is bijective if for every integer $b$, there exists exactly one integer $a$ such that $g(a) = b$.
45 replies
imagien_bad
Today at 12:00 PM
gladIasked
8 minutes ago
MOHS for Day 1
MajesticCheese   12
N 13 minutes ago by KevinChen_Yay
What is your opinion for MOHS for day 1?

JMO 1:
JMO 2/AMO 1:
JMO 3:
AMO 2:
AMO 3:
12 replies
+2 w
MajesticCheese
Today at 3:15 PM
KevinChen_Yay
13 minutes ago
Mathcounts States
RMarri_1018   7
N 18 minutes ago by MichaelLin16
As Mathcounts States has not started yet, I would like to ask a quick question. What would be the target goal to get to nationals in the state of Pennslyvania. I mock 34-38, so I want to know would that be enough to get me to CDR?
7 replies
RMarri_1018
Feb 24, 2025
MichaelLin16
18 minutes ago
2023 AMC 10B Problem 21
rishi09   4
N an hour ago by Equinox8
Source: https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/2022_AMC_10B_Problems/Problem_21
Hi,
I was trying to solve this, but didn't understand how, and the solution was to confuusing. Please help.
4 replies
rishi09
2 hours ago
Equinox8
an hour ago
Oi! These lines concur
Rg230403   18
N 3 hours ago by HoRI_DA_GRe8
Source: LMAO 2021 P5, LMAOSL G3(simplified)
Let $I, O$ and $\Gamma$ respectively be the incentre, circumcentre and circumcircle of triangle $ABC$. Points $A_1, A_2$ are chosen on $\Gamma$, such that $AA_1 = AI = AA_2$, and point $A'$ is the foot of the altitude from $I$ to $A_1A_2$. If $B', C'$ are similarly defined, prove that lines $AA', BB'$ and $CC'$ concurr on $OI$.
Original Version from SL
Proposed by Mahavir Gandhi
18 replies
Rg230403
May 10, 2021
HoRI_DA_GRe8
3 hours ago
Incircle
PDHT   0
4 hours ago
Source: Nguyen Minh Ha
Given a triangle \(ABC\) that is not isosceles at \(A\), let \((I)\) be its incircle, which is tangent to \(BC, CA, AB\) at \(D, E, F\), respectively. The lines \(DE\) and \(DF\) intersect the line passing through \(A\) and parallel to \(BC\) at \(M\) and \(N\), respectively. The lines passing through \(M, N\) and perpendicular to \(MN\) intersect \(IF\) and \(IE\) at \(Q\) and \(P\), respectively.

Prove that \(D, P, Q\) are collinear and that \(PF, QE, DI\) are concurrent.
0 replies
PDHT
4 hours ago
0 replies
Surprisingly low answer to the question what is the maximum
mshtand1   2
N 4 hours ago by sarjinius
Source: Ukrainian Mathematical Olympiad 2025. Day 2, Problem 8.6, 10.5
Given $2025$ positive integer numbers such that the least common multiple (LCM) of all these numbers is not a perfect square. Mykhailo consecutively hides one of these numbers and writes down the LCM of the remaining $2024$ numbers that are not hidden. What is the maximum number of the $2025$ written numbers that can be perfect squares?

Proposed by Oleksii Masalitin
2 replies
mshtand1
Mar 13, 2025
sarjinius
4 hours ago
Functional Equation
AnhQuang_67   5
N 4 hours ago by megarnie
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{R}$ satisfying: $$f(xf(y)+2y)=f(f(y))+f(xy)+xf(y), \forall x, y \in \mathbb{R}$$
5 replies
AnhQuang_67
6 hours ago
megarnie
4 hours ago
hard ............ (2)
Noname23   1
N 4 hours ago by Amkan2022
problem
1 reply
Noname23
5 hours ago
Amkan2022
4 hours ago
Fun issue about Euler’s function
luutrongphuc   2
N 5 hours ago by vi144
Let $p$ is a prime number and $n,\alpha$ are positive integers. Prove that there exist infinitely $a$ such that $\phi(a),\phi(a+1),…,\phi(a+n)$ are divisible by $p^{\alpha}$
2 replies
luutrongphuc
Today at 11:27 AM
vi144
5 hours ago
Inequality with Mobius function and sum of divisors
Zhero   6
N 5 hours ago by allaith.sh
Source: ELMO Shortlist 2010, N1
For a positive integer $n$, let $\mu(n) = 0$ if $n$ is not squarefree and $(-1)^k$ if $n$ is a product of $k$ primes, and let $\sigma(n)$ be the sum of the divisors of $n$. Prove that for all $n$ we have
\[\left|\sum_{d|n}\frac{\mu(d)\sigma(d)}{d}\right| \geq \frac{1}{n}, \]
and determine when equality holds.

Wenyu Cao.
6 replies
Zhero
Jul 5, 2012
allaith.sh
5 hours ago
Prime math
shlesto_mojumder   0
5 hours ago
Source: Own
Let ${{6n+1}}_{n>0}$ be a sequance of natural integers. Proof that, any number in the sequance can be written only as $p$ or $p'^k$
or $p_1p_2p_3.......p_i$ for any $i,k$ and not necessarily distinct primes $p_m$ for $0<m<i+1$. And $p$ and $p'$ are same in some case.
0 replies
shlesto_mojumder
5 hours ago
0 replies
Thanks u!
Ruji2018252   2
N 5 hours ago by InterLoop
Find all f: R->R and
\[2^{xy}f(xy-1)+2^{x+y+1}f(x)f(y)=4xy-2,\forall x,y\in\mathbb{R}\]
2 replies
Ruji2018252
Today at 2:53 PM
InterLoop
5 hours ago
Time to bring it on!
giangtruong13   1
N 5 hours ago by mathlove_13520
Source: New probs
Prove that the equation $$x^2+y^2-z^2+2=xyz$$has no integer solutions
1 reply
giangtruong13
Today at 2:35 PM
mathlove_13520
5 hours ago
Prove Collinearity
tc1729   126
N Yesterday at 2:05 AM by quantam13
Source: 2012 USAMO Day 2 #5 and USAJMO Day 2 #6
Let $P$ be a point in the plane of $\triangle ABC$, and $\gamma$ a line passing through $P$. Let $A', B', C'$ be the points where the reflections of lines $PA, PB, PC$ with respect to $\gamma$ intersect lines $BC, AC, AB$ respectively. Prove that $A', B', C'$ are collinear.
126 replies
tc1729
Apr 25, 2012
quantam13
Yesterday at 2:05 AM
Prove Collinearity
G H J
Source: 2012 USAMO Day 2 #5 and USAJMO Day 2 #6
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allaith.sh
26 posts
#116 • 1 Y
Y by qwerty123456asdfgzxcvb
We have :
$PB , PB'$ are isogonal with respect to$ \angle APA'$.
$PC , PC'$ are isogonal with respect to$ \angle APA'$.
Let $A'B' \cap AB = X$.
By The second isogonality lemma we have $ PX , PC$ are isogonal with respect to$ \angle APA'$.
$ \implies X= C'$.
Z K Y
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signifance
140 posts
#117
Y by
Shreyasharma wrote:
What a cute algebra problem.

We complex bash. Set $\gamma$ as the real axis. Also without loss of generality shift till $p = 0$. Then take $a$, $b$ and $c$ as free variables. Let $D = \overline{AP} \cap \overline{BC}$. Similarly define $E$ and $F$.

Computing $d$ we find,
\begin{align*}
d = \frac{ - a(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}{\overline{a}(b-c) - a(\overline{b}-\overline{c})}
\end{align*}Okay that wasn't too bad. Now similarly we can compute,
\begin{align*}
e &= \frac{- b(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{\overline{b}(c-a) - b(\overline{c} - \overline{a})}\\
f &= \frac{- c(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}{\overline{c}(a-b) - c(\overline{a}-\overline{b})}
\end{align*}Note that $A'$, $B'$ and $C'$ are just reflections over the real axis of $D$, $E$ and $F$ so it suffices to show that $D$, $E$ and $F$ are collinear. To show this it suffices to show,
\begin{align*}
0 &= \begin{vmatrix}
d & \overline{d} & 1\\
e & \overline{e} &1\\
f & \overline{f} & 1
\end{vmatrix}\\
&= \begin{vmatrix}
\frac{ - a(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})} & \frac{ -\overline{a}(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c} )}{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})} & 1\\
\frac{ -b(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{ (\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a}) } & \frac{-\overline{b}(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{ (\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a})} &1\\
\frac{-c(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})} & \frac{-\overline{c}(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}}{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})} & 1
\end{vmatrix}
\end{align*}Then it suffices to show that,
\begin{align*}
0 &= \begin{vmatrix}
a & \overline{a} & \frac{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})}{(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}\\
b & \overline{b} & \frac{(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a})}{(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}\\
c & \overline{c} & \frac{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})}{ (\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}
\end{vmatrix}
\end{align*}Now we expand by minors to find,
\begin{align*}
\sum_{cyc} \frac{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})}{ (\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})} \cdot (a\overline{b} - \overline{a}b) &= \sum_{cyc} -\overline{c}a + c\overline{a} + \overline{c}b - c\overline{b}\\
&= 0
\end{align*}and we're done.

Can someone explain what expanding by minors is?
Z K Y
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lpieleanu
2807 posts
#118
Y by
signifance wrote:
Shreyasharma wrote:
What a cute algebra problem.

We complex bash. Set $\gamma$ as the real axis. Also without loss of generality shift till $p = 0$. Then take $a$, $b$ and $c$ as free variables. Let $D = \overline{AP} \cap \overline{BC}$. Similarly define $E$ and $F$.

Computing $d$ we find,
\begin{align*}
d = \frac{ - a(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}{\overline{a}(b-c) - a(\overline{b}-\overline{c})}
\end{align*}Okay that wasn't too bad. Now similarly we can compute,
\begin{align*}
e &= \frac{- b(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{\overline{b}(c-a) - b(\overline{c} - \overline{a})}\\
f &= \frac{- c(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}{\overline{c}(a-b) - c(\overline{a}-\overline{b})}
\end{align*}Note that $A'$, $B'$ and $C'$ are just reflections over the real axis of $D$, $E$ and $F$ so it suffices to show that $D$, $E$ and $F$ are collinear. To show this it suffices to show,
\begin{align*}
0 &= \begin{vmatrix}
d & \overline{d} & 1\\
e & \overline{e} &1\\
f & \overline{f} & 1
\end{vmatrix}\\
&= \begin{vmatrix}
\frac{ - a(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})} & \frac{ -\overline{a}(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c} )}{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})} & 1\\
\frac{ -b(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{ (\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a}) } & \frac{-\overline{b}(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}{ (\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a})} &1\\
\frac{-c(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})} & \frac{-\overline{c}(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}}{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})} & 1
\end{vmatrix}
\end{align*}Then it suffices to show that,
\begin{align*}
0 &= \begin{vmatrix}
a & \overline{a} & \frac{(\overline{a}b - a\overline{b}) - (\overline{a}c - a\overline{c})}{(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c})}\\
b & \overline{b} & \frac{(\overline{b}c - b\overline{c}) - (\overline{b}a - b\overline{a})}{(\overline{c}a - c\overline{a})}\\
c & \overline{c} & \frac{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})}{ (\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})}
\end{vmatrix}
\end{align*}Now we expand by minors to find,
\begin{align*}
\sum_{cyc} \frac{(\overline{c}a -c\overline{a}) - (\overline{c}b - c\overline{b})}{ (\overline{a}b - a\overline{b})} \cdot (a\overline{b} - \overline{a}b) &= \sum_{cyc} -\overline{c}a + c\overline{a} + \overline{c}b - c\overline{b}\\
&= 0
\end{align*}and we're done.

Can someone explain what expanding by minors is?

\[
\begin{vmatrix} 
a_{11} & a_{12} & a_{13} \\ 
a_{21} & a_{22} & a_{23} \\ 
a_{31} & a_{32} & a_{33} 
\end{vmatrix} = a_{11} \begin{vmatrix} a_{22} & a_{23} \\ a_{32} & a_{33}\end{vmatrix}- a_{12} \begin{vmatrix} a_{21} & a_{23} \\ a_{31} & a_{33}\end{vmatrix} + a_{13} \begin{vmatrix} a_{21} & a_{22} \\ a_{31} & a_{32}\end{vmatrix}
\]
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Shreyasharma
666 posts
#119
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This generalizes for all $n \times n$ matrices, by considering the alternate sum and difference of the smaller $(n - 1) \times (n - 1)$ matrices. If you have EGMO, it's mentioned in the addendum on linear algebra.
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think4l
344 posts
#120
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This is also known as the cofactor expansion of the determinant of a matrix. This may be helpful - https://people.math.carleton.ca/~kcheung/math/notes/MATH1107/wk07/07_cofactor_expansion.html
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ohiorizzler1434
716 posts
#121
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Define $X$ by reverse reconstruction as the intersection of $AB$ and $A'B'$. Observe in quadrilateral $AA'BB'$ there is an involution swapping $PA,PA'$, $PB,PB'$ and $PC,PC'$. From the first two pairs, we see the involution is reflection about the line $\gamma$. This means that $X$ is on the reflection of $PC$, making it the same point as $C'$. Therefore, $A'$, $B'$, $C'$ are collinear.
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cursed_tangent1434
549 posts
#122
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We employ complex numbers. What a weird setup!

Set $P$ be the origin and $\gamma$ be the real axis. Then, $A_1$ is the reflection of $A$ across the real axis. So,
\[a_1=\overline{a} , b_1=\overline{b} \text{ and } c_1 = \overline{c}\]Now, note that since $A' = \overline{BC} \cap \overline{PA_1}$,
\begin{align*}
    a' &= \frac{(\overline{b}c-b\overline{c})(p-a_1)-(b-c)(\overline{p}a_1-p\overline{a_1})}{(\overline{b}-\overline{c})(p-a_1)-(b-c)(\overline{p}-\overline{a_1})}\\
    &= \frac{\overline{a}(\overline{b}c-b\overline{c})}{\overline{a}(\overline{c}-\overline{b})+a(b-c)}
\end{align*}Similarly, we obtain that,
\[b' = \frac{\overline{b}(\overline{c}a-c\overline{a})}{\overline{b}(\overline{a}-\overline{c})+b(c-a)}\]and
\[c' = \frac{\overline{c}(\overline{b}a-b\overline{a})}{\overline{c}(\overline{b}-\overline{a})+c(a-b)}\]Now, let $E= \frac{a'-b'}{a'-c'}$. Note, that,
\begin{align*}
    E &= \frac{a'-b'}{a'-c'}\\
    &= \frac{\frac{\overline{a}(\overline{b}c-b\overline{c})}{\overline{a}(\overline{c}-\overline{b})+a(b-c)} - \frac{\overline{b}(\overline{c}a-c\overline{a})}{\overline{b}(\overline{a}-\overline{c})+b(c-a)}}{\frac{\overline{a}(\overline{b}c-b\overline{c})}{\overline{a}(\overline{c}-\overline{b})+a(b-c)}-\frac{\overline{c}(\overline{b}a-b\overline{a})}{\overline{c}(\overline{b}-\overline{a})+c(a-b)}}\\
\end{align*}We then let, $A=\overline{b}c-b\overline{c}$ , $B=\overline{c}a-c\overline{a}$ and $C=\overline{b}a-b\overline{a}$. Further, let $P=\overline{a}(\overline{c}-\overline{b})+a(b-c)$, $Q=\overline{b}(\overline{a}-\overline{c})+b(c-a)$ and $R=\overline{c}(\overline{b}-\overline{a})+c(a-b)$. Thus, we obtain
\begin{align*}
    E&= \frac{\frac{\overline{a}A}{P}-\frac{\overline{b}B}{Q}}{\frac{\overline{a}A}{P}-\frac{\overline{c}C}{R}}\\
    &= \frac{R(\overline{a}AQ-\overline{b}BP)}{Q(\overline{a}AR-\overline{c}CP)}
\end{align*}one can do a quick check and verify that $\overline{A}=A$, $\overline{B}=B$, $\overline{C}=C$, $\overline{P}=P,\overline{Q}=Q$ and $\overline{R}=R$. Thus,
\[\overline{E}=\frac{R(aAQ-bBP)}{Q(aAR-cCP)}\]we wish to have $E=\overline{E}$. Note the following chain of equivalences,
\begin{align*}
    E &= \overline{E}\\
    \frac{R(\overline{a}AQ-\overline{b}BP)}{Q(\overline{a}AR-\overline{c}CP)} &= \frac{R(aAQ-bBP)}{Q(aAR-cCP)}\\
    a\overline{a}A^2RQ - \overline{a}cACPQ - a\overline{b}ABPR + \overline{b}cBCP^2 &= a\overline{a}A^2RQ - \overline{a}bABPR -a\overline{c}ACPQ +b\overline{c}BCP^2\\
    (\overline{a}b-a\overline{b})ABPR + (\overline{a}c-a\overline{c})ACPQ + (\overline{b}c-b\overline{c})BCP^2 &=0\\
    -ABCPR - ABCPQ -ABCP^2 &=0\\
    -ABCP(P+Q+R) &=0
\end{align*}So, it suffices to show that $P+Q+R=0$ which is quite clear since,
\begin{align*}
    P+Q+R &= \overline{a}(\overline{c}-\overline{b})+a(b-c) + \overline{b}(\overline{a}-\overline{c})+b(c-a) + \overline{c}(\overline{b}-\overline{a})+c(a-b)\\
    &= \overline{a}\overline{c} - \overline{a}\overline{c} + \overline{a}\overline{b} -  \overline{a}\overline{b} + \overline{b}\overline{c} - \overline{b}\overline{c} + ab-ab+ac-ac+bc-bc\\
    &=0
\end{align*}as desired. So, it is clear that $\frac{a'-b'}{a'-c'} \in \mathbb{R}$. Thus, points $A'$, $B'$ and $C'$ are collinear which was the required result.
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OronSH
1723 posts
#123 • 4 Y
Y by dolphinday, ohiorizzler1434, bin_sherlo, MS_asdfgzxcvb
$\measuredangle APB=\measuredangle(AP,\gamma)+\measuredangle(\gamma,PB)=-(\measuredangle(A'P,\gamma)+\measuredangle(\gamma,PB'))=-\measuredangle A'PB',$ thus $P$ has an isogonal conjugate $Q$ in quadrilateral $ABA'B',$ thus $A'B'$ is tangent to the inellipse with foci $P,Q.$ Similarly $B'C',C'A'$ tangent as well and now it is easy to check these three must be the same line.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by OronSH, Jul 4, 2024, 3:54 AM
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thdnder
194 posts
#124 • 1 Y
Y by MS_asdfgzxcvb
Define $C_1 = A'B' \cap AB$. Then, applying DDIT on quadrilateral $BC'B'CAA'$, we see that the involution is the reflection wrt $\gamma$, so $PC_1, PC$ are symmetric wrt $\gamma \implies C_1 = C'$. $\blacksquare$
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AngeloChu
471 posts
#125
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construct perpendiculars of $PA'$, $PB'$, and $PC'$
let the perpendiculars at $B'$ and $C'$ intersect at points $A''$, and similarly define $B''$ and $C''$
doing angle chasing yields that $C'A''P$ and $A'C''P$ are similar
then, $CA''P=A'C''P$ and thus $A''B''C''P$ are cyclic
then, $A'B'C'$ is the simson line of $P$ on circle $A''B''C''$
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qwerty123456asdfgzxcvb
1076 posts
#126 • 6 Y
Y by GrantStar, Zhaom, goaoat, EpicBird08, OronSH, MS_asdfgzxcvb
Define $C'$ as the intersection of $AB$ with the isoptic cubic of $(AA')(BB')$ We want to prove that $C'$ lies on $B'A'$.. First since $APB'=BPA'$ by reflection, we have that $P$ lies on this isoptic cubic. However, since $A'PC = APC'$ by reflection, we have that $P$ lies on the isoptic cubic of $(AA')(CC')$.

Additionally, we have that $B$ and the isogonal conjugate of $P$ lie on this isoptic cubic as well, since $B=AC' \cap A'C$. Since they also have a common Newton line (by reflection), this implies that these two isoptic cubics are the same (they share $A,B',B,A',C,M,P, P^*, I,J,\text{(circle points)},\infty_{\text{Newton}}$, ten points), and thus $C,C'$ are isogonal conjugates in $(AA')(BB')$ (since for a points $P, P'$ and quadrilateral $(AC)(BD)$, we have isoptic cubics of $(AC)(BD)$ and $(AC)(XX')$ are equal iff. $X,X'$ are isogonal conjugates. This can also be approached with the theory of perfect isogonal six-point sets; $(AA')(BB')(CC')$ is a perfect isogonal six-point set).

Since $C=AB' \cap BA'$, we get $C' = AB \cap B'A'$.
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NumberzAndStuff
43 posts
#128
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Solution with Desargue's Involution Theorem

Firstly observe that because of the construction by reflection, there exists a unique projective involution swapping:
$(PA,PA_1) (PB,PB_1) (PC,PC_1)$
Now introduce the point $C' := AB \cap A_1B_1$
We can see that $AB, AB_1, BA_1, A_1B_1$ make up a complete quadrilateral with intersections in $C$ and $C'$
By the dual of Desargue's Involution theorem there exists a unique projective involution swapping:
$(PA, PA_1)$ $(PB, PB_1)$ $(PC, PC_1)$

Therefore this must be the same involution mentioned before, so the points $C'$ and $C_1$ must be the same!
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Martin2001
126 posts
#129
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Double MMP???!!!
Okay so fix $\triangle ABC$ and $\gamma,$ move P on $\gamma.$ Then our $3$ desired points each have $\deg 1$ so we need to check $4$ cases so that they are collinear.
Trivially, let $P=\overline{AB},\overline{BC},\overline{CA}\cap \gamma$
For our final case let $P=$the point at infinity on $\gamma.$ Then to prove the following problem where instead of $PA,PB,PC$ in the original problem we have the lines through $A,B,C$ that are parralel to $\gamma.$
For our second MMP, fix $\triangle ABC$ again however this time move the line. Then the desired points again all have $\deg 1,$ so we need to have 4 cases again. These cases are where $\gamma$ goes through the midpoint of $AB,BC,CA,$ for $3$ cases, and finally where $\gamma$ is the line at infinity$.\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Martin2001, Jan 29, 2025, 1:55 AM
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drago.7437
60 posts
#130
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Consider a Duality centered at $P$ with arbitary radius ,$\gamma$ goes to a point in in finity so does $AP,BP,CP$ goes now theire reflection about a point in infinity just lies on the line at infinity , doing a back transformation we het the concurrency changes to collinearity and we are done
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by drago.7437, Mar 6, 2025, 3:06 AM
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quantam13
96 posts
#131
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DDIT!! :rotfl:

By reflection in $\gamma$, there is an involution on the pencil of lines through $P$ swapping $(PA,PA_1)$, $(PB,PB_1)$, and $(PC,PC_1)$. Now if $C_1'$ is defined to be $A_1B_1\cap AB$, we get that by DDIT on quadrilateral $ABA_1B_1$ with respect to $P$ that the same involution swaps $(PC, PC_1)$. This means $C_1'=C_1$ and we are done.
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