Stay ahead of learning milestones! Enroll in a class over the summer!

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
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.

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]
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.

Introductory: Grades 5-10

Prealgebra 1 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 1
Tuesday, May 13 - Aug 26
Thursday, May 29 - Sep 11
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Monday, Jun 30 - Oct 20
Wednesday, Jul 16 - Oct 29

Prealgebra 2 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 2
Wednesday, May 7 - Aug 20
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 29 - Oct 26
Friday, Jul 25 - Nov 21

Introduction to Algebra A Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra A
Sunday, May 11 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Wednesday, May 14 - Aug 27
Friday, May 30 - Sep 26
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Thursday, Jun 26 - Oct 9
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Oct 28

Introduction to Counting & Probability Self-Paced

Introduction to Counting & Probability
Thursday, May 15 - Jul 31
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Wednesday, Jul 9 - Sep 24
Sunday, Jul 27 - Oct 19

Introduction to Number Theory
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Monday, Jun 9 - Aug 25
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Sep 30

Introduction to Algebra B Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra B
Tuesday, May 6 - Aug 19
Wednesday, Jun 4 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Oct 19
Friday, Jul 18 - Nov 14

Introduction to Geometry
Sunday, May 11 - Nov 9
Tuesday, May 20 - Oct 28
Monday, Jun 16 - Dec 8
Friday, Jun 20 - Jan 9
Sunday, Jun 29 - Jan 11
Monday, Jul 14 - Jan 19

Paradoxes and Infinity
Mon, Tue, Wed, & Thurs, Jul 14 - Jul 16 (meets every day of the week!)

Intermediate: Grades 8-12

Intermediate Algebra
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 23
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Nov 18
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 10
Sunday, Jul 13 - Jan 18
Thursday, Jul 24 - Jan 22

Intermediate Counting & Probability
Wednesday, May 21 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Nov 2

Intermediate Number Theory
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Jun 18 - Sep 3

Precalculus
Friday, May 16 - Oct 24
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 9
Monday, Jun 30 - Dec 8

Advanced: Grades 9-12

Olympiad Geometry
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Aug 26

Calculus
Tuesday, May 27 - Nov 11
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 17

Group Theory
Thursday, Jun 12 - Sep 11

Contest Preparation: Grades 6-12

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
Friday, May 23 - Aug 15
Monday, Jun 2 - Aug 18
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced
Sunday, May 11 - Aug 10
Tuesday, May 27 - Aug 12
Wednesday, Jun 11 - Aug 27
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

AMC 10 Problem Series
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

AMC 10 Final Fives
Sunday, May 11 - Jun 8
Tuesday, May 27 - Jun 17
Monday, Jun 30 - Jul 21

AMC 12 Problem Series
Tuesday, May 27 - Aug 12
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Wednesday, Aug 6 - Oct 22

AMC 12 Final Fives
Sunday, May 18 - Jun 15

AIME Problem Series A
Thursday, May 22 - Jul 31

AIME Problem Series B
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21

F=ma Problem Series
Wednesday, Jun 11 - Aug 27

WOOT Programs
Visit the pages linked for full schedule details for each of these programs!


MathWOOT Level 1
MathWOOT Level 2
ChemWOOT
CodeWOOT
PhysicsWOOT

Programming

Introduction to Programming with Python
Thursday, May 22 - Aug 7
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Monday, Jun 30 - Sep 22

Intermediate Programming with Python
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Monday, Jun 30 - Sep 22

USACO Bronze Problem Series
Tuesday, May 13 - Jul 29
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 1

Physics

Introduction to Physics
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15

Physics 1: Mechanics
Thursday, May 22 - Oct 30
Monday, Jun 23 - Dec 15

Relativity
Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs, Jun 23 - Jun 26 (meets every day of the week!)
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
A pentagon inscribed in a circle of radius √2
tom-nowy   5
N 4 minutes ago by tom-nowy
Can a pentagon with all rational side lengths be inscribed in a circle of radius $\sqrt{2}$ ?
5 replies
tom-nowy
May 6, 2025
tom-nowy
4 minutes ago
Menelau's theorem
noneofyou34   6
N 31 minutes ago by Shan3t
Please can someone help me prove that orthocenter of a triangle exists by using Menelau's Theorem!
6 replies
noneofyou34
6 hours ago
Shan3t
31 minutes ago
a,b,c irrational, f(x)=ax^2+bx+c : [-1,1] to [-1,1] surjective
tom-nowy   0
37 minutes ago
Consider a quadratic function $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$, where the coefficients $a, b,$ and $c$ are all irrational numbers.
Is it possible for this function to have a maximum value of $1$ and a minimum value of $-1$ over the interval $[-1, 1]$?
0 replies
tom-nowy
37 minutes ago
0 replies
Equilateral triangle formed by circle and Fermat point
Mimii08   0
an hour ago
Source: Heard from a friend
Hi! I found this interesting geometry problem and I would really appreciate help with the proof.

Let ABC be an acute triangle, and let T be the Fermat (Torricelli) point of triangle ABC. Let A1, B1, and C1 be the feet of the perpendiculars from T to the sides BC, AC, and AB, respectively. Let ω be the circle passing through points A1, B1, and C1. Let A2, B2, and C2 be the second points where ω intersects the sides BC, AC, and AB, respectively (different from A1, B1, C1).

Prove that triangle A2B2C2 is equilateral.

0 replies
Mimii08
an hour ago
0 replies
Problem 3 IMO 2005 (Day 1)
Valentin Vornicu   121
N an hour ago by Rayvhs
Let $x,y,z$ be three positive reals such that $xyz\geq 1$. Prove that
\[ \frac { x^5-x^2 }{x^5+y^2+z^2} + \frac {y^5-y^2}{x^2+y^5+z^2} + \frac {z^5-z^2}{x^2+y^2+z^5} \geq 0 . \]
Hojoo Lee, Korea
121 replies
Valentin Vornicu
Jul 13, 2005
Rayvhs
an hour ago
geo problem saved from graveyard
CrazyInMath   1
N 2 hours ago by Curious_Droid
Source: 3rd KYAC Math-A P5
Given triangle $ABC$ and orthocenter $H$. The foot from $H$ to $BC, CA, AB$ is $D, E, F$ respectively. A point $L$ satisfies that $\odot(LBA)$ and $\odot(LCA)$ are both tangent to $BC$. A circle passing through $B, E$ and tangent to $\odot(BHC)$ intesects $BC$ at another point $P$. $X$ is an arbitrary point on $\odot(PDE)$, and $Y$ is the second intesection point of $\odot(BXE)$ and $\odot(CXD)$.
Prove that $H, Y, L, C$ are concyclic.

Proposed by CrazyInMath.
1 reply
CrazyInMath
Feb 8, 2025
Curious_Droid
2 hours ago
From a well-known prob
m4thbl3nd3r   3
N 2 hours ago by aaravdodhia
Find all primes $p$ so that $$\frac{7^{p-1}-1}{p}$$can be a perfect square
3 replies
m4thbl3nd3r
Oct 10, 2024
aaravdodhia
2 hours ago
weird conditions in geo
Davdav1232   1
N 2 hours ago by NO_SQUARES
Source: Israel TST 7 2025 p1
Let \( \triangle ABC \) be an isosceles triangle with \( AB = AC \). Let \( D \) be a point on \( AC \). Let \( L \) be a point inside the triangle such that \( \angle CLD = 90^\circ \) and
\[
CL \cdot BD = BL \cdot CD.
\]Prove that the circumcenter of triangle \( \triangle BDL \) lies on line \( AB \).
1 reply
Davdav1232
3 hours ago
NO_SQUARES
2 hours ago
Functional equation on R
rope0811   15
N 2 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO ShortList 2003, algebra problem 2
Find all nondecreasing functions $f: \mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that
(i) $f(0) = 0, f(1) = 1;$
(ii) $f(a) + f(b) = f(a)f(b) + f(a + b - ab)$ for all real numbers $a, b$ such that $a < 1 < b$.

Proposed by A. Di Pisquale & D. Matthews, Australia
15 replies
rope0811
Sep 30, 2004
ezpotd
2 hours ago
all functions satisfying f(x+yf(x))+y = xy + f(x+y)
falantrng   34
N 3 hours ago by LenaEnjoyer
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
34 replies
falantrng
Apr 27, 2025
LenaEnjoyer
3 hours ago
exist solutions?
teomihai   5
N 3 hours ago by imbadatmath1233
Find how many perfect squares of five different digits there are, with elements from the set ${0,1,4,6,9}$.
5 replies
teomihai
Today at 5:04 PM
imbadatmath1233
3 hours ago
Miklos Schweitzer 1971_7
ehsan2004   1
N 3 hours ago by pi_quadrat_sechstel
Let $ n \geq 2$ be an integer, let $ S$ be a set of $ n$ elements, and let $ A_i , \; 1\leq i \leq m$, be distinct subsets of $ S$ of size at least $ 2$ such that \[ A_i \cap A_j \not= \emptyset, A_i \cap A_k \not= \emptyset, A_j \cap A_k \not= \emptyset, \;\textrm{imply}\ \;A_i \cap A_j \cap A_k \not= \emptyset \ .\] Show that $ m \leq 2^{n-1}-1$.

P. Erdos
1 reply
ehsan2004
Oct 29, 2008
pi_quadrat_sechstel
3 hours ago
Functional equation with a twist (it's number theory)
Davdav1232   0
3 hours ago
Source: Israel TST 8 2025 p2
Prove that for all primes \( p \) such that \( p \equiv 3 \pmod{4} \) or \( p \equiv 5 \pmod{8} \), there exist integers
\[
1 \leq a_1 < a_2 < \cdots < a_{(p-1)/2} < p
\]such that
\[
\prod_{\substack{1 \leq i < j \leq (p-1)/2}} (a_i + a_j)^2 \equiv 1 \pmod{p}.
\]
0 replies
Davdav1232
3 hours ago
0 replies
Grid combi with T-tetrominos
Davdav1232   0
3 hours ago
Source: Israel TST 8 2025 p1
Let \( f(N) \) denote the maximum number of \( T \)-tetrominoes that can be placed on an \( N \times N \) board such that each \( T \)-tetromino covers at least one cell that is not covered by any other \( T \)-tetromino.

Find the smallest real number \( c \) such that
\[
f(N) \leq cN^2
\]for all positive integers \( N \).
0 replies
Davdav1232
3 hours ago
0 replies
Absolute value
Silverfalcon   8
N Apr 22, 2025 by zhoujef000
This problem seemed to be too obvious.. And I think I"m wrong.. :D

Problem:

Consider the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2,...x_{2000}$ of integers satisfying

\[x_0 = 0, |x_n| = |x_{n-1} + 1|\]

for $n = 1,2,...2000$.

Find the minimum value of the expression $|x_1 + x_2 + ... x_{2000}|$.

My idea

Pretty sure I'm wrong but where did I go wrong?
8 replies
Silverfalcon
Jun 27, 2005
zhoujef000
Apr 22, 2025
Absolute value
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Silverfalcon
5006 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
This problem seemed to be too obvious.. And I think I"m wrong.. :D

Problem:

Consider the sequence $x_0, x_1, x_2,...x_{2000}$ of integers satisfying

\[x_0 = 0, |x_n| = |x_{n-1} + 1|\]

for $n = 1,2,...2000$.

Find the minimum value of the expression $|x_1 + x_2 + ... x_{2000}|$.

My idea

Pretty sure I'm wrong but where did I go wrong?
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Palytoxin
490 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
yes wrong because check this out

$|x_1|=|x_0+1|=|1|$ and this means that $x_1$ can be $x_1=1$ or $x_1=-1$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Silverfalcon
5006 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Ohh..

Then

I'm not sure if that makes the minimum though. No wonder it's the last question now..
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
peeta
364 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
well when u say every even will be 0 u can say for the odd $|x_n|=1$ therefore u can use 1 and -1 alternating coming to the minimum of 0, because there is sequence is periodic with the period 4, and the first 4 $x_n$ besides $x_0$ are 0 and they repeat themselves 250 times. also 0 is the smallest number possible, since $|x|\ge 0$
done :)
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
JesusFreak197
1939 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Sweet, an Olympiad problem that I can actually solve! :P

Click to reveal hidden text
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
K81o7
2417 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Peeta...there's a slight problem...
You can't go from 1 to 0...the thing about this problem is that $|x_n|\le|x_{n+1}|$ when $x_n$ is positive. In other words, you can't go from 1 to -1.
This one isn't quite as easy as it looks at first...
I'm thinking of one where the minimum is 12...
Basically you can start with 0, then go
-1, 0, 1, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, -3, ...
going through sets of sizes which are an odd number each, and by the time you get to 22, you'll be at $x_1976$. 24 more numbers. Then, you go
-23, 22, -23, 22, -23...
But, if there's a way that 2000 - square number=multiple of 23 or 21, then the minimum is 0.
I'm sure there's a solution for that...
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
JesusFreak197
1939 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Oh, you're right... by a more complicated set, you might be able to get it lower.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Assassino9931
1324 posts
#8
Y by
Bump this
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
zhoujef000
316 posts
#9
Y by
see 2006 AIME I P15 for a similar problem. (post #9 has a good solution)
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by zhoujef000, Apr 22, 2025, 7:47 PM
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a