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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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[*]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
May 1, 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
Prove that lines parallel in triangle
jasperE3   5
N 7 minutes ago by Thapakazi
Source: Mongolian MO 2007 Grade 11 P1
Let $M$ be the midpoint of the side $BC$ of triangle $ABC$. The bisector of the exterior angle of point $A$ intersects the side $BC$ in $D$. Let the circumcircle of triangle $ADM$ intersect the lines $AB$ and $AC$ in $E$ and $F$ respectively. If the midpoint of $EF$ is $N$, prove that $MN\parallel AD$.
5 replies
jasperE3
Apr 8, 2021
Thapakazi
7 minutes ago
JBMO Shortlist 2020 N6
Lukaluce   4
N 24 minutes ago by MR.1
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2020
Are there any positive integers $m$ and $n$ satisfying the equation

$m^3 = 9n^4 + 170n^2 + 289$ ?
4 replies
Lukaluce
Jul 4, 2021
MR.1
24 minutes ago
Nice concyclicity involving triangle, circle center, and midpoints
Kizaruno   0
26 minutes ago
Let triangle ABC be inscribed in a circle with center O. A line d intersects sides AB and AC at points E and D, respectively. Let M, N, and P be the midpoints of segments BD, CE, and DE, respectively. Let Q be the foot of the perpendicular from O to line DE. Prove that the points M, N, P, and Q lie on a circle.

0 replies
Kizaruno
26 minutes ago
0 replies
non-perfect square is non-quadratic residue mod some p
SpecialBeing2017   3
N 39 minutes ago by ilovemath0402
If $n$ is not a perfect square, then there exists an odd prime $p$ s.t. $n$ is a quadratic non-residue mod $p$.
3 replies
SpecialBeing2017
Apr 14, 2023
ilovemath0402
39 minutes ago
Circles tangent at orthocenter
Achillys   62
N an hour ago by Rayvhs
Source: APMO 2018 P1
Let $H$ be the orthocenter of the triangle $ABC$. Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of the sides $AB$ and $AC$, respectively. Assume that $H$ lies inside the quadrilateral $BMNC$ and that the circumcircles of triangles $BMH$ and $CNH$ are tangent to each other. The line through $H$ parallel to $BC$ intersects the circumcircles of the triangles $BMH$ and $CNH$ in the points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Let $F$ be the intersection point of $MK$ and $NL$ and let $J$ be the incenter of triangle $MHN$. Prove that $F J = F A$.
62 replies
Achillys
Jun 24, 2018
Rayvhs
an hour ago
Unsymmetric FE
Lahmacuncu   1
N an hour ago by ja.
Source: Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ that satisfies $f(x^2+xy+y)+f(x^2y)+f(xy^2)=2f(xy)+f(x)+f(y)$ for all real $(x,y)$
1 reply
Lahmacuncu
2 hours ago
ja.
an hour ago
find angle
TBazar   3
N an hour ago by TBazar
Given $ABC$ triangle with $AC>BC$. We take $M$, $N$ point on AC, AB respectively such that $AM=BC$, $CM=BN$. $BM$, $AN$ lines intersect at point $K$. If $2\angle AKM=\angle ACB$, find $\angle ACB$
3 replies
TBazar
6 hours ago
TBazar
an hour ago
Polynomial and Irrational Coefficients
Iamsohappy   1
N an hour ago by tom-nowy
Find all natural numbers $n$ such that there exists a monic polynomial of degree $n$ and with irrational coefficients ( excepts its leading term ) and such that it has $n$ distinct irrational roots.
1 reply
Iamsohappy
Jul 5, 2019
tom-nowy
an hour ago
Divisibility on 101 integers
BR1F1SZ   5
N 2 hours ago by Grasshopper-
Source: Argentina Cono Sur TST 2024 P2
There are $101$ positive integers $a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_{101}$ such that for every index $i$, with $1 \leqslant i \leqslant 101$, $a_i+1$ is a multiple of $a_{i+1}$. Determine the greatest possible value of the largest of the $101$ numbers.
5 replies
BR1F1SZ
Aug 9, 2024
Grasshopper-
2 hours ago
Nice number theory problem
ItsBesi   9
N 2 hours ago by Jupiterballs
Source:  Kosovo Math Olympiad 2025, Grade 8, Problem 3
Let $m$ and $n$ be natural numbers such that $m^3-n^3$ is a prime number. What is the remainder of the number $m^3-n^3$ when divided by $6$?
9 replies
ItsBesi
Nov 17, 2024
Jupiterballs
2 hours ago
My Unsolved Problem
ZeltaQN2008   1
N 3 hours ago by wh0nix
Let \(f:[0,+\infty)\to\mathbb{R}\) be a function which is differentiable on \([0,+\infty)\) and satisfies
\[
\lim_{x\to+\infty}\bigl(f'(x)/e^x\bigr)=0.
\]Prove that
\[
\lim_{x\to+\infty}\bigl(f(x)/e^x\bigr)0.
\]
1 reply
ZeltaQN2008
4 hours ago
wh0nix
3 hours ago
Find the value
sqing   8
N 3 hours ago by xytunghoanh
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c$ be distinct real numbers such that $ \frac{a^2}{(a-b)^2}+ \frac{b^2}{(b-c)^2}+ \frac{c^2}{(c-a)^2} =1. $ Find the value of $\frac{a}{a-b}+ \frac{b}{b-c}+ \frac{c}{c-a}.$
Let $a,b,c$ be distinct real numbers such that $\frac{a^2}{(b-c)^2}+ \frac{b^2}{(c-a)^2}+ \frac{c^2}{(a-b)^2}=2. $ Find the value of $\frac{a}{b-c}+ \frac{b}{c-a}+ \frac{c}{a-b}.$
Let $a,b,c$ be distinct real numbers such that $\frac{(a+b)^2}{(a-b)^2}+ \frac{(b+c)^2}{(b-c)^2}+ \frac{(c+a)^2}{(c-a)^2}=2. $ Find the value of $\frac{a+b}{a-b}+\frac{b+c}{b-c}+ \frac{c+a}{c-a}.$
8 replies
sqing
Mar 17, 2025
xytunghoanh
3 hours ago
Simple inequality
sqing   22
N 3 hours ago by ND_
Source: JBMO 2011 Shortlist A3
$\boxed{\text{A3}}$If $a,b$ be positive real numbers, show that:$$ \displaystyle{\sqrt{\dfrac{a^2+ab+b^2}{3}}+\sqrt{ab}\leq a+b}$$
22 replies
sqing
May 15, 2016
ND_
3 hours ago
greatest volume
hzbrl   0
3 hours ago
Source: purple comet
A large sphere with radius 7 contains three smaller balls each with radius 3 . The three balls are each externally tangent to the other two balls and internally tangent to the large sphere. There are four right circular cones that can be inscribed in the large sphere in such a way that the bases of the cones are tangent to all three balls. Of these four cones, the one with the greatest volume has volume $n \pi$. Find $n$.
0 replies
hzbrl
3 hours ago
0 replies
a, b subset
MithsApprentice   20
N Apr 25, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
Source: USAMO 1996
Determine (with proof) whether there is a subset $X$ of the integers with the following property: for any integer $n$ there is exactly one solution of $a + 2b = n$ with $a,b \in X$.
20 replies
MithsApprentice
Oct 22, 2005
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 25, 2025
a, b subset
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: USAMO 1996
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MithsApprentice
2390 posts
#1 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
Determine (with proof) whether there is a subset $X$ of the integers with the following property: for any integer $n$ there is exactly one solution of $a + 2b = n$ with $a,b \in X$.
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Agrippina
126 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
I posted (or meant to post) essentially the same problem a few weeks ago, here:
http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=354033.

I will try to put up a solution soon.
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t0rajir0u
12167 posts
#3 • 10 Y
Y by quangminhltv99, JasperL, Wizard_32, Adventure10, Mango247, aidan0626, kiyoras_2001, and 3 other users
Let $ f(x) = \sum_{a \in X} x^a$; the given condition is equivalent to $ f(x) f(x^2) = \frac {1}{1 - x}$, which immediately gives it away: recall that unique binary expansion implies the identity

$ \frac {1}{1 - x} = (1 + x)(1 + x^2)(1 + x^4)(1 + x^8)...$

so take $ f(x) = (1 + x)(1 + x^4)(1 + x^{16}) ...$. In other words, $ X$ consists of the set of positive integers whose binary expansions in base $ 4$ contain only $ 0$s and $ 1$s. (The bijective proof is straightforward: consider the base-$ 4$ expansion of $ n$ and isolate its digits of $ 2$ and $ 3$, etc.) Agrippina's problem is similar: the identity is $ f(x) f(x^2) f(x^4) = \frac {1}{1 - x}$ and we can take $ f(x) = (1 + x)(1 + x^8)(1 + x^{64})...$.
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dgreenb801
1896 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Ingenious! How did you think of that?
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t0rajir0u
12167 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Well, first of all this problem's been posted before (although without the source) and this solution given by several MOPpers, so it wasn't hard to remember. It was also given as a very nice list of examples in this thread. Generally, it is very natural to analyze solutions to equations like $ a + b = n, a \in A, b \in B$ by studying the generating functions of $ A$ and $ B$ because $ AB$ gives all the possible sums at once. For example, the following can be solved by similar means.

Putnam 2003 A6: For a set $ S$ of non-negative integers let $ r_S(n)$ denote the number of ordered pairs $ (s_1, s_2) \in S^2, s_1 \neq s_2$ such that $ s_1 + s_2 = n$. Is it possible to partition the non-negative integers into disjoint sets $ A$ and $ B$ such that $ r_A(n) = r_B(n)$ for all $ n$?

The important step is to realize that if $ S(x) = \sum_{s \in S} x^s$, then the set of all sums of distinct elements of $ S$ is given by $ S(x)^2 - S(x^2)$ (why?). The rest is computation, and once you've figured out what the answer should be it is not hard to give a direct proof.

I'll note that even if you didn't think of binary expansion, repeated application of the problem condition allows you to perform the following calculation:

$ f(x) = \frac {1}{(1 - x) f(x^2)} = \frac { f(x^4) (1 - x^2)}{1 - x} = \frac {(1 - x^2)}{(1 - x)(1 - x^4) f(x^4)} = \frac {(1 - x^2)(1 - x^{8}) f(x^{16})}{(1 - x)(1 - x^4)} = ...$

Even if this is not rigorous, it tells you what the answer should look like, but even more it strongly suggests that this is the only answer, not just an answer that works.
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t0rajir0u
12167 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
My apologies; I misread "integer" as "non-negative integer," and the solution I gave doesn't work as is. I'll keep thinking.
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aznlord1337
130 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Delray, vsathiam, Adventure10
Use induction: Suppose we have integers $ x_1...x_n$ such that every $ x_i + 2x_j$ is distinct. Suppose this set misses the value $ n$. Then add to the set $ k, n-2k$, so now we have $ n$ included as a sum. It is clear that if you take $ k$ arbitrarily large it wont overlap with any previous sums. So such a set exists.
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tenniskidperson3
2376 posts
#8 • 5 Y
Y by Delray, Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
Since nobody has come up with a (complete) solution, let me post mine (inspired by Kalva):

First, let us verify that a "base -4" can work. That is, every number can be expressed uniquely as $a_1-4a_2+16a_3-64a_4+\ldots$ where $a_i\in\{0, 1, 2, 3\}$. Uniqueness is evident: if we have $a_1-4a_2+\ldots=b_1-4b_2+\ldots$ then suppose $k$ is the first natural number such that $a_k\neq b_k$. Then

$(-4)^{k-1}a_k+(-4)^ka=(-4)^{k-1}b_k+(-4)^kb$

for the rest of the integer $a$ and $b$. Then that means that, dividing by $(-4)^{k-1}$, we have $a_k-b_k=4(a-b)$, so $a_k-b_k$ is divisible by 4, which is impossible because $a_k$ and $b_k$ are not equal and between 0 and 3. So the uniqueness is proved.

Now take the $4^k$ numbers $a_1-4a_2+16a_3-\ldots+(-4)^{k-1}a_k$ where $a_i\in\{0, 1, 2, 3\}$. The minimal number possible is $3(-4-64-\ldots)$ and the maximal number is $3(1+16+256+\ldots)$, which cover a range of

$3(1+16+256+\ldots)-3(-4-64-\ldots)+1=3(1+4+16+\ldots+4^{k-1})+1=4^k$

numbers. Since there are $4^k$ numbers in the possible range and all numbers are expressed at most once, all numbers must be expressed exactly once. Thus base -4 exists and we can work with it like any normal base.

So now as before, we place all numbers with only 0's and 1's in their base -4 expansions in the set. Then for any integer $n$, take its base -4 expansion $n_1-4n_2+16n_3-\ldots$. If $n_i=0$, let $a_i=b_i=0$; if $n_i=1$, let $a_i=1$ and $b_i=0$; if $n_i=2$, let $a_i=0$ and $b_i=1$; and if $n_i=3$, let $a_i=b_i=1$, so that in any case, $a_i+2b_i=n_i$. Then let $a=a_1-4a_2+16a_3-\ldots\in X$ and $b=b_1-4b_2+16b_3-\ldots\in X$ also. Then clearly $a+2b=n$ by construction.

We must show uniqueness. For any $a, b\in X$, we have

$a-b=(a_1-b_1)-4(a_2-b_2)+16(a_3-b_3)-\ldots$.

The first nonzero $a_i-b_i$ is either $1$ or $-1$. Thus $a-b=\pm(-4)^{k-1}+(-4)^kx$ where $x$ is an integer. Hence $|a-b|$ is divisible by $4^{k-1}$ and not $2\cdot4^{k-1}$, so the highest power of two that divides $a-b$ is also a power of 4.

Now if $a+2b=c+2d$ for $a, b, c, d\in X$, then $a-c=2(d-b)$. If $a\neq c$ then let us look at the highest power of 2 that divides this common difference. It must be a power of 4 that divides $a-c$, but also is a power of 4 that divides $d-b$ and so is twice a power of 4 that divides $2(d-b)$. No number is both a power of 4 and twice a power of 4, so this contradiction shows uniqueness and we're done.
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zero.destroyer
813 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Using generating functions since they generalize to alot of counting problems, (though this uses neg exponents, but it still is legit)

Let $f(x)=(1+x^{1})(1+x^{-4})(1+x^{16})(1+x^{-64})*...(1+x^{(-4)^{a}})$ (the same base -4 thing)
Then
$f(x)f(x^{2})=\frac{(1+x^{1})(1+x^{2})(1+x^{4})(1+x^{8})....(1+x^{2^{n}})}{x^{r}}$, where $r$ is a pretty huge number,

which means at the limiting case, as $a$ tends to infinity,
$f(x)f(x^{2})=...+1/x^{3}+1/x^{2}+1/x^{1}+1+x^{1}+x^{2}+x^{3}...$ which solves the problem.
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tenniskidperson3
2376 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
No that's not legit. It's only legit if the generating function converges for some $x$, which this one does not. The generating function approach does not prove the answer, it just points you in the direction. You need another approach to show that it actually works. In the limit, what is $r$? How do you know that the generating function doesn't just become $\ldots+\frac{1}{x^4}+\frac{1}{x^3}+\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{x}+1$ and stop there?
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zero.destroyer
813 posts
#11 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Sorry, I was in a rush, and put only the general idea down. It doesn't HAVE to converge for some X, because of the fact that all it's doing is manipulating the exponents of the terms, as a representation of a sumset problem. I'm not ever actually going to evaluate the function $f(x)$. I know it makes absolutely no sense if you considered $x$ as an actual number, but this wasn't the point here.

And sorry, I can't calculate right now, but essentially it's pretty easy to show through calculation that the most negative exponent and most positive exponents are increasing arbitrarily large as $a$ approaches infinity.
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tenniskidperson3
2376 posts
#12 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
My point is that you cannot just rush into these calculations. You need the theory of formal power series or (in this case) Laurent series. The calculations you do, taking products of sums and expanding them, is only justified when the power (Laurent) series converges. That's why everyone was up in arms when Euler calculated $\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{i^2}=\frac{\pi^2}{6}$ by setting $\sin x=x-\frac{x^3}{6}+\frac{x^5}{120}-\ldots=x(x^2-\pi^2)(x^2-4\pi^2)\ldots$; he had no rigorous justification for saying two power series were equal just because they had exactly the same roots. And this is a bit like what you're doing; you're saying that the power series $\frac{(1+x)(1+x^2)(1+x^4)\ldots}{x^r}=\ldots+\frac{1}{x^3}+\frac{1}{x^2}+\frac{1}{x}+1+x+x^2+x^3+\ldots$, whatever $r$ means in the limiting case.

Now I'm not saying I don't believe you, because I just gave the same solution set as you. I'm just pointing out that your taking the limit of $f(x)f(x^2)$ as $a$ or $n$ goes to infinity and saying that it equals the product of $\lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}f(x)$ and $\lim_{m\rightarrow\infty}f(x^2)$ is unjustified. It would be justified if it converged for some number $x$, but it doesn't.
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zero.destroyer
813 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Sorry if I was unclear with my words, by limit, I didn't actually mean that the numerical value for some particular $x$, of $f(x)*f(x^2)$; by limit, I just meant that the larger integers (in absolute value) could be represented uniquely once we increased the size of our sequence. I'm not ever using $f(x)*f(x^2)$ as any evaluation for a numerical answer, I'm just using $f(x)*f(x^2)$ conveniently because it just simplified the concept of "looking at all sums".
Your example indeed uses these generating functions as actual polynomials, which evaluate numerical answers, which isn't the same as what I'm doing.

I can easily just as well put this into an argument without generating functions, but still using the same concept of "the terms acting like a binary string". It's just that the algebraic manipulations are more representative/clear of what the concept is.
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ZetaX
7579 posts
#14 • 6 Y
Y by v_Enhance, starchan, StarLex1, Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
zero.destroyer's argument is correct. You don't need convergence for formal power series at all, but it is indeed necessary to be careful with Laurent series' that are infinite in both directions; but this is mostly due to the fact that these do not form a ring, not even a module over the power series' (but over polynomials or finite Laurent sums).

The argument here never compares terms in a non-formal nature, unlike Euler, who, as said above, plugged in real numbers to to speak of "roots". It is enough to show that additional factors in the product do not contribute to those summands of exponent $s$, where $|s|$ is bounded by some growing bound dependent on the number of factors. This is the case here.

If one wants to do it very formally, an algebraic version would be to state that the module of Laurent series is the projective limit over $n$ of Laurents sums whose exponent's modulus is bounded by $n$. This is just a less comprehensible way to state what I said in the previous paragraph, though.



Also, note this "fact": $\sum_{n \in \mathbb Z} x^ n = \sum_{n=1}^ \infty x^{-n} + \sum_{n=0}^ \infty x^n = \frac{x^{-1}}{1-x^ {-1}} + \frac{1}{1-x} = \frac{1}{x-1} + \frac{1}{1-x} = 0$. The error here is that to apply geometric series, you would need it to be a module over power series' (i.e. multiplying any Laurent series with a power series would need to make sense; try to multiply the above one by $\sum_{n=0}^ \infty x^n $ to see the problem). But the problem is not that we lack a common are of convergence for those sums.
Actually, the fractions are the meromorphic continuations of the sums (which in turn are the Laurent expansions around $\infty$ and $0$) and as an identity of meromorphic functions, this is completely correct!
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Delray
348 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Not clear or not if $a$ and $b$ are distinct.
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HamstPan38825
8860 posts
#16 • 2 Y
Y by StarLex1, Mango247
Let $f(X) = \sum_{a \in X} X^a$. The necessary and sufficient condition for $X$ to satisfy the condition is for $$f(X)f(X^2) = \frac 1{1-X}$$for all $x \neq 1$. One can notice that we have $$f(X^4) = \frac 1{(1-X^2)f(X^2)} = \frac 1{(1-X^2) \cdot \frac 1{(1-X)f(X)}} = \frac{f(X)(1-X)}{1-X^2} = \frac{f(X)}{1+X},$$so the infinite product $$\frac{f(X)}{(1+X)(1+X^4)(1+X^{16}) \cdots} = f(X^{2^n}) \to f(0) = 1,$$so the function $$f(X) = (1+X)(1+X^4)(1+X^{16}) \cdots$$can be checked to work.

In more concrete terms, we may pick $X$ to be the set of numbers that can be represented as the sum of some distinct nonnegative powers of 4.
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RedFireTruck
4223 posts
#17
Y by
We want to find $X$ such that $(\sum_{i\in X} x^i)(\sum_{i\in X} x^{2i})=\dots+x^{-2}+x^{-1}+1+x^1+x^2+\dots$. $(1+x)(1+x^2)=1+x+x^2+x^3$. $(1+x+x^2+x^3)(1+x^{-4}+x^{-8}+x^{-12})=x^{-12}+\dots+x^3$. $(x^{-12}+\dots+x^3)(1+x^{16}+x^{32}+x^{48})=x^{-12}+\dots+x^{51}$. We could keep going like this forever, extending in both directions. Therefore, $X$ is $\{1, -4, 16, -64, \dots\}$ works.
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pinkpig
3761 posts
#18
Y by
solution
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shendrew7
795 posts
#19
Y by
We interpret this using generating functions. Defining $A(x) = \sum_{k \in \mathcal{X}} x^k$, our condition requires
\[A(x) A(x^2) = \ldots + x^{-2} + x^{-1} + x^0 + x^1 + x^2 + \ldots.\]
to cover all integers exactly once. From here, we note that the functions
\begin{align*}
A(x) &= \prod \left(1+x^{(-4)^i}\right) = (1+x^1)(1+x^{-4})(1+x^{16})(1+x^{-64}) \ldots \\
A(x^2) &= \prod \left(1+x^{2 \cdot (-4)^i}\right) = (1+x^2)(1+x^{-8})(1+x^{32})(1+x^{-128}) \ldots
\end{align*}
indeed have the desired product, so our construction for $\mathcal{X}$ is simply
\[\boxed{\{\mathcal{X}\} = \text{Integers with only 0 and 1 as digits in base -4}}. \quad \blacksquare\]
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by shendrew7, Jan 26, 2024, 2:09 PM
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Maximilian113
575 posts
#20
Y by
Posting for storage, this is basically the same as multiple solutions above

Let $f(x)=\sum_{k \in X} x^k,$ then we require $$f(x)f(x^2)=\cdots+x^{-3}+x^{-2}+x+1+x+x^2+x^3+\cdots.$$However observe that $f(x)=(1+x)(1+x^{-4})(1+x^{16})(1+x^{-64})\cdots$ works since every number has a unique representation in base $-2.$
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Ilikeminecraft
619 posts
#21
Y by
Pick $X = \{4^k\mid k\in\mathbb Z_{\geq0}\}.$ To prove this, just use the generating function.
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