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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.

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]
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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
Combinatorics from EGMO 2018
BarishNamazov   27
N 4 minutes ago by HamstPan38825
Source: EGMO 2018 P3
The $n$ contestant of EGMO are named $C_1, C_2, \cdots C_n$. After the competition, they queue in front of the restaurant according to the following rules.
[list]
[*]The Jury chooses the initial order of the contestants in the queue.
[*]Every minute, the Jury chooses an integer $i$ with $1 \leq i \leq n$.
[list]
[*]If contestant $C_i$ has at least $i$ other contestants in front of her, she pays one euro to the Jury and moves forward in the queue by exactly $i$ positions.
[*]If contestant $C_i$ has fewer than $i$ other contestants in front of her, the restaurant opens and process ends.
[/list]
[/list]
[list=a]
[*]Prove that the process cannot continue indefinitely, regardless of the Jury’s choices.
[*]Determine for every $n$ the maximum number of euros that the Jury can collect by cunningly choosing the initial order and the sequence of moves.
[/list]
27 replies
+1 w
BarishNamazov
Apr 11, 2018
HamstPan38825
4 minutes ago
2-var inequality
sqing   3
N 5 minutes ago by lbh_qys
Source: Own
Let $ a,b>0 $ and $\frac{a}{b+1}+ \frac{b}{a+1}\geq  1   $ . Prove that
$$\frac{a}{a^2+b+1}+ \frac{b}{b^2+a+1} \leq  \frac{2}{3} $$Let $ a,b>0 $ and $\frac{1}{a+1}+ \frac{1}{b+1}\geq 1  $ . Prove that
$$\frac{a}{a^2+b+1}+ \frac{b}{b^2+a+1} \leq  \frac{2}{3} $$
3 replies
sqing
32 minutes ago
lbh_qys
5 minutes ago
Do you have any idea why they all call their problems' characters "Mykhailo"???
mshtand1   1
N 7 minutes ago by sarjinius
Source: Ukrainian Mathematical Olympiad 2025. Day 2, Problem 10.7
In a row, $1000$ numbers \(2\) and $2000$ numbers \(-1\) are written in some order.
Mykhailo counted the number of groups of adjacent numbers, consisting of at least two numbers, whose sum equals \(0\).
(a) Find the smallest possible value of this number.
(b) Find the largest possible value of this number.

Proposed by Anton Trygub
1 reply
mshtand1
Mar 14, 2025
sarjinius
7 minutes ago
3-var inequality
sqing   0
23 minutes ago
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c>0 $ and $\frac{1}{a+1}+ \frac{1}{b+1}+\frac{1}{c+1}   \geq \frac{a+b +c}{2}   $ . Prove that
$$ \frac{1}{a+2}+ \frac{1}{b+2} + \frac{1}{c+2}\geq1$$
0 replies
1 viewing
sqing
23 minutes ago
0 replies
Polynomial divisible by x^2+1
Miquel-point   2
N 44 minutes ago by lksb
Source: Romanian IMO TST 1981, P1 Day 1
Consider the polynomial $P(X)=X^{p-1}+X^{p-2}+\ldots+X+1$, where $p>2$ is a prime number. Show that if $n$ is an even number, then the polynomial \[-1+\prod_{k=0}^{n-1} P\left(X^{p^k}\right)\]is divisible by $X^2+1$.

Mircea Becheanu
2 replies
1 viewing
Miquel-point
Apr 6, 2025
lksb
44 minutes ago
D1030 : An inequalitie
Dattier   1
N an hour ago by lbh_qys
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $0<a<b<c<d$ reals, and $n \in \mathbb N^*$.

Is it true that $a^n(b-a)+b^n(c-b)+c^n(d-c) \leq \dfrac {d^{n+1}}{n+1}$ ?
1 reply
Dattier
Yesterday at 7:17 PM
lbh_qys
an hour ago
IGO 2021 P1
SPHS1234   14
N 2 hours ago by LeYohan
Source: igo 2021 intermediate p1
Let $ABC$ be a triangle with $AB = AC$. Let $H$ be the orthocenter of $ABC$. Point
$E$ is the midpoint of $AC$ and point $D$ lies on the side $BC$ such that $3CD = BC$. Prove that
$BE \perp HD$.

Proposed by Tran Quang Hung - Vietnam
14 replies
SPHS1234
Dec 30, 2021
LeYohan
2 hours ago
Nationalist Combo
blacksheep2003   16
N 2 hours ago by Martin2001
Source: USEMO 2019 Problem 5
Let $\mathcal{P}$ be a regular polygon, and let $\mathcal{V}$ be its set of vertices. Each point in $\mathcal{V}$ is colored red, white, or blue. A subset of $\mathcal{V}$ is patriotic if it contains an equal number of points of each color, and a side of $\mathcal{P}$ is dazzling if its endpoints are of different colors.

Suppose that $\mathcal{V}$ is patriotic and the number of dazzling edges of $\mathcal{P}$ is even. Prove that there exists a line, not passing through any point in $\mathcal{V}$, dividing $\mathcal{V}$ into two nonempty patriotic subsets.

Ankan Bhattacharya
16 replies
blacksheep2003
May 24, 2020
Martin2001
2 hours ago
subsets of {1,2,...,mn}
N.T.TUAN   10
N 2 hours ago by de-Kirschbaum
Source: USA TST 2005, Problem 1
Let $n$ be an integer greater than $1$. For a positive integer $m$, let $S_{m}= \{ 1,2,\ldots, mn\}$. Suppose that there exists a $2n$-element set $T$ such that
(a) each element of $T$ is an $m$-element subset of $S_{m}$;
(b) each pair of elements of $T$ shares at most one common element;
and
(c) each element of $S_{m}$ is contained in exactly two elements of $T$.

Determine the maximum possible value of $m$ in terms of $n$.
10 replies
N.T.TUAN
May 14, 2007
de-Kirschbaum
2 hours ago
Sum and product of digits
Sadigly   4
N 2 hours ago by jasperE3
Source: Azerbaijan NMO 2018
For a positive integer $n$, define $f(n)=n+P(n)$ and $g(n)=n\cdot S(n)$, where $P(n)$ and $S(n)$ denote the product and sum of the digits of $n$, respectively. Find all solutions to $f(n)=g(n)$
4 replies
Sadigly
Sunday at 9:19 PM
jasperE3
2 hours ago
Geometry
smartvong   0
2 hours ago
Source: UM Mathematical Olympiad 2024
Let $P$ be a point inside a triangle $ABC$. Let $AP$ meet $BC$ at $A_1$, let $BP$ meet $CA$ at $B_1$, and let $CP$ meet $AB$ at $C_1$. Let $A_2$ be the point such that $A_1$ is the midpoint of $PA_2$, let $B_2$ be the point such that $B_1$ is the midpoint of $PB_2$, and let $C_2$ be the point such that $C_1$ is the midpoint of $PC_2$. Prove that points $A_2, B_2, C_2$ cannot all lie strictly inside the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$.
0 replies
smartvong
2 hours ago
0 replies
angles in triangle
AndrewTom   34
N 3 hours ago by happypi31415
Source: BrMO 2012/13 Round 2
The point $P$ lies inside triangle $ABC$ so that $\angle ABP = \angle PCA$. The point $Q$ is such that $PBQC$ is a parallelogram. Prove that $\angle QAB = \angle CAP$.
34 replies
AndrewTom
Feb 1, 2013
happypi31415
3 hours ago
Hard to approach it !
BogG   130
N 4 hours ago by Ilikeminecraft
Source: Swiss Imo Selection 2006
Let $\triangle ABC$ be an acute-angled triangle with $AB \not= AC$. Let $H$ be the orthocenter of triangle $ABC$, and let $M$ be the midpoint of the side $BC$. Let $D$ be a point on the side $AB$ and $E$ a point on the side $AC$ such that $AE=AD$ and the points $D$, $H$, $E$ are on the same line. Prove that the line $HM$ is perpendicular to the common chord of the circumscribed circles of triangle $\triangle ABC$ and triangle $\triangle ADE$.
130 replies
BogG
May 25, 2006
Ilikeminecraft
4 hours ago
A game with balls and boxes
egxa   5
N 4 hours ago by compoly2010
Source: Turkey JBMO TST 2023 Day 1 P4
Initially, Aslı distributes $1000$ balls to $30$ boxes as she wishes. After that, Aslı and Zehra make alternated moves which consists of taking a ball in any wanted box starting with Aslı. One who takes the last ball from any box takes that box to herself. What is the maximum number of boxes can Aslı guarantee to take herself regardless of Zehra's moves?
5 replies
egxa
Apr 30, 2023
compoly2010
4 hours ago
Four Complex numbers forming a quadrilateral
Kunihiko_Chikaya   1
N Apr 27, 2025 by Mathzeus1024
Let $a,\ b$ be real numbers. Four solutions on the complex plane of the quartic equation in $z\ ;$ $z^4+az^2+b=0$ form the four vertices of a quadrilateral. Find the condition such that the area of the quadrilateral is less than 1, and also sketch the domain of the set of the points $(a,\ b)$ satisfying the condition.
1 reply
Kunihiko_Chikaya
Sep 20, 2016
Mathzeus1024
Apr 27, 2025
Four Complex numbers forming a quadrilateral
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Kunihiko_Chikaya
14514 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $a,\ b$ be real numbers. Four solutions on the complex plane of the quartic equation in $z\ ;$ $z^4+az^2+b=0$ form the four vertices of a quadrilateral. Find the condition such that the area of the quadrilateral is less than 1, and also sketch the domain of the set of the points $(a,\ b)$ satisfying the condition.
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Mathzeus1024
879 posts
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Solving for $z$ we obtain:

$z = \pm \sqrt{\frac{-a \pm \sqrt{a^2-4b}}{2}}$ (i)

of which we require $a^2-4b<0$ so that four distinct complex values of $z$ is achievable. This leads us to:

$z = \pm \sqrt{-\frac{a}{2} \pm \frac{\sqrt{4b-a^2}}{2}i} = \pm \sqrt{\sqrt{\frac{a^2}{4}+\frac{4b-a^2}{4}} \cdot e^{\pm i \cdot \arctan(\sqrt{4b-a^2}/a)}} = \pm b^{1/4} \cdot e^{\pm \frac{i}{2}\arctan(\sqrt{4b-a^2}/a)}$ (ii).

By symmetry about the origin in the complex plane, the solutions of $z$ form the corners a rectangle whose sides are parallel with the two coordinate axes. WLOG we select the first quadrant value of $z$ (call it $z^{+}$) and obtain:

$A = 2Re\{z^{+}\} \cdot 2Im\{z^{+}\} = 4\sqrt{b}\cos\left[\frac{1}{2}\arctan\left(\frac{\sqrt{4b-a^2}}{a}\right)\right]\sin\left[\frac{1}{2}\arctan\left(\frac{\sqrt{4b-a^2}}{a}\right)\right]$;

or $A = 2\sqrt{b}\sin\left[\arctan\left(\frac{\sqrt{4b-a^2}}{a}\right)\right] = 2\sqrt{b}\sin\left[\arcsin\left(\frac{\sqrt{4b-a^2}}{\sqrt{a^2+4b-a^2}}\right)\right] =\sqrt{4b-a^2}$ (iv).

If (iv) is less than unity, then $\sqrt{4b-a^2}<1 \Rightarrow \textcolor{red}{b < \frac{a^2+1}{4}}$, which the admissible points $(a,b)$ are plotted as:
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