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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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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
angle chasing with 2 midpoints, equal angles given and wanted
parmenides51   5
N 31 minutes ago by breloje17fr
Source: Ukrainian Geometry Olympiad 2017, IX p1, X p1, XI p1
In the triangle $ABC$, ${{A}_{1}}$ and ${{C}_{1}} $ are the midpoints of sides $BC $ and $AB$ respectively. Point $P$ lies inside the triangle. Let $\angle BP {{C}_{1}} = \angle PCA$. Prove that $\angle BP {{A}_{1}} = \angle PAC $.
5 replies
parmenides51
Dec 11, 2018
breloje17fr
31 minutes ago
Problem 4 of Finals
GeorgeRP   2
N an hour ago by Assassino9931
Source: XIII International Festival of Young Mathematicians Sozopol 2024, Theme for 10-12 grade
The diagonals \( AD \), \( BE \), and \( CF \) of a hexagon \( ABCDEF \) inscribed in a circle \( k \) intersect at a point \( P \), and the acute angle between any two of them is \( 60^\circ \). Let \( r_{AB} \) be the radius of the circle tangent to segments \( PA \) and \( PB \) and internally tangent to \( k \); the radii \( r_{BC} \), \( r_{CD} \), \( r_{DE} \), \( r_{EF} \), and \( r_{FA} \) are defined similarly. Prove that
\[
r_{AB}r_{CD} + r_{CD}r_{EF} + r_{EF}r_{AB} = r_{BC}r_{DE} + r_{DE}r_{FA} + r_{FA}r_{BC}.
\]
2 replies
GeorgeRP
Sep 10, 2024
Assassino9931
an hour ago
Interesting functional equation with geometry
User21837561   3
N an hour ago by Double07
Source: BMOSL 2024 G7
For an acute triangle $ABC$, let $O$ be the circumcentre, $H$ be the orthocentre, and $G$ be the centroid.
Let $f:\pi\rightarrow\mathbb R$ satisfy the following condition:
$f(A)+f(B)+f(C)=f(O)+f(G)+f(H)$
Prove that $f$ is constant.
3 replies
User21837561
Today at 8:14 AM
Double07
an hour ago
greatest volume
hzbrl   1
N an hour ago by hzbrl
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 $n$.
1 reply
hzbrl
Yesterday at 9:56 AM
hzbrl
an hour ago
Cute matrix equation
RobertRogo   1
N 3 hours ago by loup blanc
Source: "Traian Lalescu" student contest 2025, Section A, Problem 2
Find all matrices $A \in \mathcal{M}_n(\mathbb{Z})$ such that $$2025A^{2025}=A^{2024}+A^{2023}+\ldots+A$$
1 reply
RobertRogo
6 hours ago
loup blanc
3 hours ago
Group Theory
Stephen123980   1
N 4 hours ago by alexheinis
Show that if $G_1,G_2$ are two finite groups with $\gcd(|G_1|,|G_2|)=1,$ then show that $Aut(G_1\times G_2)\cong Aut(G_1)\times Aut(G_2).$
1 reply
Stephen123980
Today at 12:49 PM
alexheinis
4 hours ago
UC Berkeley Integration Bee 2025 Bracket Rounds
Silver08   9
N 4 hours ago by Silver08
Regular Round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

3rd Place Match

Finals
9 replies
Silver08
Today at 2:26 AM
Silver08
4 hours ago
Putnam 2012 A1
Kent Merryfield   14
N 5 hours ago by anudeep
Let $d_1,d_2,\dots,d_{12}$ be real numbers in the open interval $(1,12).$ Show that there exist distinct indices $i,j,k$ such that $d_i,d_j,d_k$ are the side lengths of an acute triangle.
14 replies
Kent Merryfield
Dec 3, 2012
anudeep
5 hours ago
Nice-looking function of class C^2
RobertRogo   1
N 5 hours ago by pi_quadrat_sechstel
Source: "Traian Lalescu" student contest 2025, Section A, Problem 1
Find all functions $f \colon \mathbb{R} \to (0, \infty)$ of class $C^2$ for which there exists an $\alpha>1$ such that $$f''(x)f(x) \geq \alpha \left(f'(x)\right)^2, \; \forall x \in \mathbb{R}$$
1 reply
RobertRogo
6 hours ago
pi_quadrat_sechstel
5 hours ago
Another integral limit
RobertRogo   0
5 hours ago
Source: "Traian Lalescu" student contest 2025, Section A, Problem 3
Let $f \colon [0, \infty) \to \mathbb{R}$ be a function differentiable at 0 with $f(0) = 0$. Find
$$\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{1}{n} \int_{2^n}^{2^{n+1}} f\left(\frac{\ln x}{x}\right) dx$$
0 replies
RobertRogo
5 hours ago
0 replies
Putnam 1983 B6
Kunihiko_Chikaya   1
N 5 hours ago by pi_quadrat_sechstel
Let $ k$ be a positive integer, let $ m=2^k+1$, and let $ r\neq 1$ be a complex root of $ z^m-1=0$. Prove that there exist polynomials $ P(z)$ and $ Q(z)$ with integer coefficients such that $ (P(r))^2+(Q(r))^2=-1$.
1 reply
Kunihiko_Chikaya
Jun 5, 2008
pi_quadrat_sechstel
5 hours ago
Preparing for Putnam level entrance examinations
Cats_on_a_computer   2
N 6 hours ago by anudeep
Non American high schooler in the equivalent of grade 12 here. Where I live, two the best undergraduates program in the country accepts students based on a common entrance exam. The first half of the exam is “screening”, with 4 options being presented per question, each of which one has to assign a True or False. This first half is about the difficulty of an average AIME, or JEE Adv paper, and it is a requirement for any candidate to achieve at least 24/40 on this half for the examiners to even consider grading the second part. The second part consists of long form questions, and I have, no joke, seen them literally rip off, verbatim, Putnam A6s. Some of the problems are generally standard textbook problems in certain undergrad courses but obviously that doesn’t translate it to being doable for high school students. I’ve effectively got to prepare for a slightly nerfed Putnam, if you will, and so I’ve been looking for resources (not just problems) for Putnam level questions. Does anyone have any suggestions?
2 replies
Cats_on_a_computer
Today at 8:32 AM
anudeep
6 hours ago
Putnam 2016 A2
Kent Merryfield   13
N 6 hours ago by anudeep
Given a positive integer $n,$ let $M(n)$ be the largest integer $m$ such that
\[\binom{m}{n-1}>\binom{m-1}{n}.\]Evaluate
\[\lim_{n\to\infty}\frac{M(n)}{n}.\]
13 replies
Kent Merryfield
Dec 4, 2016
anudeep
6 hours ago
Integration erf(x)
FOL   1
N Today at 1:44 PM by Mathzeus1024
Show that
\[
\int_{-\infty}^{x}e^{-t^2/2}dt=\sqrt{2\pi}\left( \frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2}\mathrm{erf}\left(\frac{x}{\sqrt{2}}\right)\right)
\]
1 reply
FOL
May 3, 2023
Mathzeus1024
Today at 1:44 PM
Counting friends in two ways
joybangla   18
N Apr 17, 2025 by Mathworld314
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P1
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}
18 replies
joybangla
May 11, 2014
Mathworld314
Apr 17, 2025
Counting friends in two ways
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: ISI Entrance 2014, P1
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joybangla
836 posts
#1 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, Oly
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by joybangla, May 11, 2014, 3:56 PM
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tensor
433 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Come here in this thread post as many as you can.. http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=362&t=588965
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chaotic_iak
2932 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.
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joybangla
836 posts
#4 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Your counter-example is correct. I have edited it. So the problem was indeed wrong. :mad: :dry: This is unexpected. And sad. Because I just proved a wrong problem. :wallbash_red:
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tensor
433 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Oho nooooo//// how that can be?? such institutes problem, that's implying evry one would probably get its all point....
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BISHAL_DEB
270 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
I did not explicitly mention that the problem is wrong but proved the correct version by using considering the students as points and friendship as line segment. I guess I should score
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BBAI
563 posts
#7 • 3 Y
Y by Devarka, Adventure10, Mango247
A simple solution ,
The person having the $a_i$ friends is counted in $c_0,c_1, ....c_{a_i - 1}$ .i.e $a_i$ times . so in the RHS too it is counted $a_i$ times . so these are two different ways of counting the sum $ \sum _{i=1}^{100} a_i $ and hence it is proved
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joybangla
836 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
BBAI wrote:
A simple solution ,
The person having the $a_i$ friends is counted in $c_0,c_1, ....c_{a_i - 1}$ .i.e $a_i$ times . so in the RHS too it is counted $a_i$ times . so these are two different ways of counting the sum $ \sum _{i=1}^{100} a_i $ and hence it is proved
So what's new in your solution BBAI? :huh: :huh: chaotic_iak already gave that "simple solution" of yours. Why bother repeating it?
chaotic_iak wrote:
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.
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sayantanchakraborty
505 posts
#9 • 3 Y
Y by ADEWADE, Adventure10, Mango247
Solution to the edited problem:

Consider a $100$-gon with vertices $A_i$($i=1....100$) as persons.We colour the segment $A_iA_j$ red if $A_i$ and $A_j$ are friends,otherwise we colour it as blue.We shall now show that both the sides number twice the number of red sides.


LHS:Consider a red line $A_iA_j$.It is counted once when $a_i$ is counted and once when $a_j$ is counted.Thus LHS part is proved.

RHS:Let $c_i=r$.While we are counting $c_i$,we are only counting $r$ redlines emanating from $A_{i_1},A_{i_2},...,A_{i_r}$.This proves our claim for RHS.(Note that thus summing over the $c_i$'s gives the sum of exact number of redlines originating from each vertex).

This problem is one of the simplest applications of two way counting.So nice to see this in ISI exams.....
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Target_cmi
113 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
If $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends. , then what is $c_{99}$ ? 0 ?
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Target_cmi, Apr 18, 2017, 2:13 AM
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adityaguharoy
4657 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
No there was that error in the original problem.
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ftheftics
651 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Gerninza, Adventure10
Translation to a graph theoretic problem

Suppose ,$G(V,E)$ be a simple graph with $\boxed{k=100}$ vertex. Suppose $V=\{v_1,\cdots ,v_k\}$ And we connect $v_i,v_j$ if they are friend $i\neq j$. Suppose $a_i = \deg (v_i)$.And $\tau _j$ denote number of vertices having degree more than $j,0\le j \le k-1$.

We would like to show that $\sum_{i=1}^k a_i = \sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau_j$.
$\boxed{\text{Key Lemma}}$.
$\sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau _j =2|E|$.
Proof.
Suppose the statement is true for $k=n$ .
Then join a certex call $v_{n+1}$.If it is isolated then $\sum_{i=0}^n \tau ' _i = \sum _{i=0}^{n-1} \tau_i$ ,$\tau '_j$ count number of vertex having degree more than $j$ in the new graph with $n+1$ vertex. we are done.

if $v_{n+1}$ is not isolated. . Suppose it joins with $v_j$ ,$j\le n$. Then $\deg (v_{n+1})=1$.
And ,$\tau ' _{\deg v_j} = \tau_{\deg v_j} +1$,
$\tau '_0 =\tau_0 +1$.
And another $\tau_j$ will as same as $\tau '_j$.

So,in this case $\sum_{j=0}^{n} \tau '_j = 2|E|+2$.One must see that number of edges in new graph is $|E|+1$.

Similar approach can prove the case for more than $1$ new edges$\blacksquare$.
Now ,$\sum a_j = \sum_{v\in V} \deg (v)=2|E|$.

So,$\sum_{i=1}^k a_i = \sum_{j=0}^{k-1} \tau_j$.

Proved!!!!
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by ftheftics, Feb 1, 2020, 10:17 AM
Reason: Nlll
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cyberrushMIKU3799
51 posts
#15
Y by
I have a different solution than the above ones.
I will use induction
obviously the base case holds true

Lets assume it holds for n students
Our n+1th student has say i friends
So the LHS will increment by i.
For RHS 1 will be added for each j from 0 to i so the RHS Will also increase by 1*i
So LHS = RHS and our induction for n+1th step is complete. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by cyberrushMIKU3799, Jun 7, 2020, 7:59 AM
Reason: Latex typo
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stranger_02
337 posts
#16 • 1 Y
Y by Mango247
chaotic_iak wrote:
I believe the problem is wrong. Just imagine a class with all students hating each other. $a_i = 0$ for all $i$, but $c_0 = 100$ (and all other $c_j = 0$), so the equation becomes $0 = 100$. Perhaps $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends.

If so, student $i$ is counted once for all $c_0, c_1, c_2, \ldots, c_{a_i-1}$, namely $a_i$ times. Thus the sum of $c_j$'s counts each student by the number of friends they have, which is exactly the left hand side.

No your argument is incorrect.. $c_0$ is NOT equal to $100$, it is indeed $0$. Observe the question carefully.. $c_0$ means the number of students having MORE than $0$ (i.e. $\geq1$ ) friends.. which according to your assumption that everyone hates everyone is indeed $0$. For the same reason, the iteration of $j$ stops at $99$ and not $100$ because no one can possibly have $101$ friends.. hope I could make myself clear..

The problem is beautiful..
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stranger_02
337 posts
#17
Y by
joybangla wrote:
Suppose a class contains $100$ students. Let, for $1\le i\le 100$, the $i^{\text{th}}$ student have $a_i$ many friends. For $0\le j\le 99$ let us define $c_j$ to be the number of students who have strictly more than $j$ friends. Show that \begin{align*} & \sum_{i=1}^{100}a_i=\sum_{j=0}^{99}c_j \end{align*}

Beautiful problems demand beautiful solutions.. Here's a simple way to think-

observe

if you still need help

my extension on this problem

Q.E.D. $\square$
This post has been edited 5 times. Last edited by stranger_02, Jun 21, 2020, 1:45 PM
Reason: Latex :'(
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stranger_02
337 posts
#18
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Target_cmi wrote:
If $c_j$ means the number of students with strictly more than $j$ friends. , then what is $c_{99}$ ? 0 ?

Obviously
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R-sk
429 posts
#19 • 2 Y
Y by Mango247, Mango247
This problem is direct once we apply. Incidence matrices
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Hypatia1728
728 posts
#20
Y by
Sol
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Mathworld314
34 posts
#21
Y by
matrix
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Mathworld314, May 4, 2025, 6:37 AM
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