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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
Problem 3
blug   2
N 3 minutes ago by LeYohan
Source: Polish Junior Math Olympiad Finals 2025
Find all primes $(p, q, r)$ such that
$$pq+4=r^4.$$
2 replies
blug
Mar 15, 2025
LeYohan
3 minutes ago
Dophantine equation
MENELAUSS   0
10 minutes ago
Solve for $x;y \in \mathbb{Z}$ the following equation :
$$3^x-8^y =2xy+1 $$
0 replies
MENELAUSS
10 minutes ago
0 replies
New playlist for Geometry Treasure
Plane_geometry_youtuber   0
11 minutes ago
Hi,

I restarted a new playlist which I will introduce about 1500 theorem of plane geometry. This will be a solid foundation for those who want to be familiar and proficient on plane geometry. I put the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7BIBOABuVk&list=PLucWiuOCb2ZrLiPY95kZ6HuywkaNpIEh8

Please share it to the people who need it.

Thank you!
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1 viewing
Plane_geometry_youtuber
11 minutes ago
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Inequalities
pcthang   11
N 26 minutes ago by flower417477
Prove that $|\cos x|+|\cos 2x|+\ldots+|\cos 2^nx|\geq \frac{n}{3}$
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pcthang
Dec 21, 2016
flower417477
26 minutes ago
Calculate the radius of a circle using sidelengths.
richminer   0
5 hours ago
Given triangle ABC with incircle (I), with D being the touchpoint of (I) and BC. Let M be the tangent point of the A-Mixtilinear circle (internally tangent). A' is the reflection of A through I. Calculate the radius of the circle (MDA') using the side lengths of the triangle ABC.
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richminer
5 hours ago
0 replies
Number of real roots
girishpimoli   0
Today at 5:35 PM
Number of real roots of

$\displaystyle 2\sin(\theta)\cos(3\theta)\sin(5\theta)=-1$
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girishpimoli
Today at 5:35 PM
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Factorization Ex.28a Q30
Obvious_Wind_1690   1
N Today at 4:43 PM by Lankou
Please help with factorization. Given is the question


\begin{align*}
a(a+1)x^2+(a+b)xy-b(b-1)y^2\\
\end{align*}
And the given answer is


\begin{align*}
[(a+1)x-(b-1)y][ax+by]\\
\end{align*}
But I am unable to reach the answer.
1 reply
Obvious_Wind_1690
Today at 4:17 AM
Lankou
Today at 4:43 PM
Polynomials
P162008   4
N Today at 4:19 PM by HAL9000sk
If $f(x)$ is a polynomial function such that $f(x) = x\sqrt{1 + (x + 1)\sqrt{1 + (x + 2)\sqrt{1 + (x + 3)\sqrt{1 + \cdots}}}}$ then

A) Degree of $f(x)$ must be greater than $2$

B) $f(-2) = 0$

C) $\sum_{r=1}^{5} \frac{1}{f(r)} = \frac{25}{42}$

D) $\sum_{r=1}^{n} \frac{1}{f(r)} = \frac{n(3n + 5)}{4(n+1)(n+2)}$
4 replies
P162008
Yesterday at 11:18 PM
HAL9000sk
Today at 4:19 PM
Find r_1^2 + r_2^2 + r_3^2
BlackOctopus23   2
N Today at 3:44 PM by BlackOctopus23
Let $r_1$, $r_2$, and $r_3$ be the roots of $3x^3 - 8x^2 + 4x - 13$. Find $r_1^2 + r_2^2 + r_3^2$Solution
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BlackOctopus23
Today at 1:50 AM
BlackOctopus23
Today at 3:44 PM
hard inequality
revol_ufiaw   10
N Today at 3:43 PM by sqing
Prove that $(a-b)(b-c)(c-d)(d-a)+(a-c)^2 (b-d)^2\ge 0$ for rational $a, b, c, d$.
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revol_ufiaw
Today at 1:09 PM
sqing
Today at 3:43 PM
quadratic eq. with integer roots
lakshya2009   2
N Today at 3:31 PM by alexheinis
Find all $a\in \mathbb{Q}$ such that $ax^2+(3a-1)x+1=0$ has integer roots.
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lakshya2009
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Original Problem-Pigeonhole principle
ondynarilyChezy   1
N Today at 3:22 PM by ondynarilyChezy
Ondy has invented a new mathematical function:
f(x) = x^2 + ax + b
where a and b are real constants known only to him. To challenge his friends Gab, Clyde, TJ, and Rian, he picks a secret subset of 12 distinct integers from the set:
S = {1, 2, 3, ..., 21}
and evaluates f(x) at each selected number. He then tells his friends only the remainders of these outputs modulo 7, i.e., the multiset:
T = { f(x_1) mod 7, f(x_2) mod 7, ..., f(x_{12}) mod 7 }
However, Ondy won’t reveal which x_i gave which output.
Help the friends as they argue whether it’s always guaranteed that among the 12 inputs Ondy picked:
> There exist two numbers x_i ≠ x_j such that:
> f(x_i) ≡ f(x_j) mod 7
> |x_i - x_j| ≤ 6
1 reply
ondynarilyChezy
Yesterday at 4:14 PM
ondynarilyChezy
Today at 3:22 PM
Interesting Geometry
captainmath99   4
N Today at 12:35 PM by captainmath99
Let ABC be a right triangle such that $\angle{C}=90^\circ, CA=6, CB=4$. A circle O with center C has a radius of 2. Let P be a point on the circle O.

a)What is the minimum value of $(AP+\dfrac{1}{2}BP)$?
Answer Check

b) What is the minimum value of $(\dfrac{1}{3}AP+BP)$?
Answer Check
4 replies
captainmath99
May 25, 2025
captainmath99
Today at 12:35 PM
[My own problem] logarithms...
jdcuber13   0
Today at 11:09 AM
There exists real numbers $b$ and $n$, such that $\log_3{(\log_b(21\log_b9) - \log_b189)} = 4$, and $\log_b(\log_3 n) = 162$. Find the last two digits of $n$.

Answer

personal solution
0 replies
jdcuber13
Today at 11:09 AM
0 replies
Inequality with gcds and stuff
whatshisbucket   46
N Apr 25, 2025 by Ilikeminecraft
Source: 2017 ELMO #1
Let $a_1,a_2,\dots, a_n$ be positive integers with product $P,$ where $n$ is an odd positive integer. Prove that $$\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,\dots, a_n^n+P)\le 2\gcd(a_1,\dots, a_n)^n.$$
Proposed by Daniel Liu
46 replies
whatshisbucket
Jun 26, 2017
Ilikeminecraft
Apr 25, 2025
Inequality with gcds and stuff
G H J
Source: 2017 ELMO #1
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whatshisbucket
975 posts
#1 • 11 Y
Y by hwl0304, Davi-8191, Centralorbit, centslordm, chessgocube, fluff_E, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, kiyoras_2001, cubres
Let $a_1,a_2,\dots, a_n$ be positive integers with product $P,$ where $n$ is an odd positive integer. Prove that $$\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,\dots, a_n^n+P)\le 2\gcd(a_1,\dots, a_n)^n.$$
Proposed by Daniel Liu
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shinichiman
3212 posts
#2 • 9 Y
Y by Tawan, XbenX, xymking, chessgocube, fluff_E, Adventure10, Mango247, Rounak_iitr, cubres
Let $\gcd (a_1,a_2, \ldots, a_n)=d$ then $a_i=db_i$ for all $1 \le i \le n$ and $\gcd (b_1, \ldots, b_n) =1$. Let $Q= b_1 \cdots b_n$ then it suffices to prove $$\gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q) \le 2.$$
If there is a prime $p \mid \gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q)$ then $p \nmid b_i \; \forall 1 \le i \le n$, otherwise WLOG $p \mid b_1$ then $p \mid Q$ so $p \mid b_i^n$ \for all $2 \le i \le n$, a contradiction to $\gcd (b_1,b_2, \ldots, b_n)=1$.

Since $p \nmid b_i$ so $p \mid b_i^{n-1}+ \frac{Q}{b_i}$ or $b_i^{n-1} \equiv (-1)\frac{Q}{b_i} \pmod{p}$. Thus, $$\prod_{i=1}^n b_i^{n-1} \equiv (-1)^n \frac{Q^n}{b_1 \cdots b_n}=-(b_1 \cdots b_n)^{n-1} \pmod{p}.$$This follows $p \mid 2(b_1 \cdots b_n)^{n-1}$ or $p \mid 2$. Thus, the only possible prime divisor of $\gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q)$ is $2$.

Next, we will go and prove $\nu_2 \left( \gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q) \right) \le 1$. Indeed, if $2 \mid \gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q)$ then $2 \nmid b_i$ and $2 \mid b_i^{n-1}+ \frac{Q}{b_i}$. Since $2 \nmid b_i$ and $2 \mid n-1$ so $b_i^{n-1} \equiv 1 \pmod{4}$.

If $Q=b_1 \cdots b_n \equiv 1 \pmod{4}$. Since $n$ is odd so there exists $b_i \equiv 1  \pmod{4}$. Hence $b_i^{n-1}+\frac{Q}{b_i} \equiv 2 \pmod{4}$.
If $Q \equiv 3 \pmod{4}$ then there exists $b_i \equiv 3 \pmod{4}$. Hence, $b_i^{n-1}+\frac{Q}{b_i} \equiv 2 \pmod{4}$.
Thus, $\nu_2 \left( \gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q) \right) \le 2$. We follow $\gcd (b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q, \ldots, b_n^n+Q) \le 2$, as desired.
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TheDarkPrince
3042 posts
#3 • 16 Y
Y by vjdjmathaddict, RMO17geek, Abdollahpour, Maths_Guy, Wizard_32, Aryan-23, k12byda5h, A-Thought-Of-God, Pluto04, Pluto1708, chessgocube, not_worsen, fluff_E, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
Let the $\gcd(a_1,a_2,..,a_n) = d$. So, we can replace the $a_i's$ as $a_i = db_i$ for all $i's$. Let $Q = b_1b_2... b_n$. Also, $\gcd(b_1,b_2,..,b_n)=1$.

$\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,..,a_n^n+P) = \gcd(d^nb_1^n+d^nQ,d^nb_2^n+d^nQ,..,d^nb_n^n + d^nQ) = d^n\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q)$.
$2\gcd(a_1,a_2,...,a_n)^n = 2\gcd(db_1, db_2, ...,db_n)^n = 2d^n\gcd(b_1,b_2,..,b_n)=2d^n$.

We had to show $\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,..,a_n^n+P)\leq 2\gcd(a_1,a_2,...,a_n)^n$ or $d^n\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q)\leq 2d^n$ or it suffices to show $$\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q)\leq 2$$.

For the sake of contradiction, let there be a prime $p\geq 3$ such that $p|\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q)$.

If there is a $b_k$ such that $p|b_k$, then $p|Q$. So, for every $1\leq i\leq n$, $0\equiv b_i^n + Q \equiv b_i^n (\bmod p)$. So, $p|b_i$ for all $i$. But we had $\gcd(b_1,b_2,..,b_n) = 1$, so there is no such $k$ such that $p|b_k$. $\Rightarrow \gcd(Q,p) = 1$.

We know for $1\leq i \leq n$, $b_i^n + b_1b_2..b_n \equiv 0 (\bmod p)$.
So, $b_i^n \equiv -1 (b_1b_2...b_n)$. If we take the product over all $i's$, we get
$(b_1b_2..b_n)^n \equiv (-1)^n (b_1b_2...b_n)^n (\bmod p)$
So, $$Q^n \equiv (-1)^n Q^n \bmod p$$As $\gcd(Q,p) = 1$, $1\equiv (-1)^n \bmod p$. Now as $p\geq 3$,we get $n$ is even. But we were given that $n$ is odd which gives us a contradiction.

So there is no $p \geq 3$ such that $p|\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q)$. So, $p = 2$ or $\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q) = 1$.

When the $gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q) = 1$, we are done, so we need to consider the case in which $p=2$ that implies $gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n+Q) = 2^m$ for $m\geq 1$.

If there is a $b_j$ such that $b_j$ is even, then $Q$ is also even. So, $0\equiv b_i^n + Q \equiv b_i^n \bmod 2$, which would make all other $b_i's$ also to be even which contradicts the fact that $\gcd(b_1,b_2,..,b_n) = 1$. So, we get all $b_i$ are odd. So, $\gcd(Q,2^m) = 1$.

We know for all $1\leq i\leq n$, $b_i^n + Q \equiv 0 \bmod 2^m$. So, $b_i^n \equiv -1(b_1b_2..b_n) \bmod 2^m$.
Taking the product over all $i's$ we get $(b_1b_2..b_n)^n \equiv (-1)^n (b_1b_2..b_n)^n \bmod 2^m$.
As, $\gcd(Q,2^m) = 1$ and as $n$ is odd, $1 \equiv (-1)^n  \equiv -1 \bmod 2^m$. So, $2 \equiv 0 \bmod 2^m$.
So, $m = 1$

So, we get $\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n + Q) \leq 2$ where $\gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,..,b_n^n + Q) = 2$ for all $b_i$ to be odd.
Proved.
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SAUDITYA
250 posts
#4 • 5 Y
Y by chessgocube, fluff_E, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
Let $gcd(a_1,a_2, \cdots ,a_n) = d$
So $\exists b_1,b_2, \cdots ,b_n \in N $ such that $a_1 = db_1, a_2 = db_2 , \cdots , a_n = db_n$ and $gcd(b_1,b_2,\cdots ,b_n) = 1$
Let $P' = b_1b_2 \cdots b_n$
See that ,
$gcd(a_1^n -P , \cdots , a_n^n -P) = gcd(b_1^n -P', \cdots , b_n^n -P').d^n$
Let $q =  gcd(b_1^n -P', \cdots , b_n^n -P')$ , it suffices to prove that $q \le 2$.

Claim 1. $gcd(q,b_i) = 1 \forall i = \overline{1,n}$
Proof:
Assume the contrary.So $\exists d >1$ such that $d|q$ and $d|b_i$.
As $gcd(b_1,b_2,\cdots ,b_n) =1 => \exists j \neq i$ such that $gcd(d,b_j) =1$
But $d|b_j^n - P' => d|b_j^n$ , contradiction!

Claim 2. $q|2$ and this shows that $q \le 2$
Proof:
(here we will use the fact that $n$ is odd!)
See that $b_i^n \equiv -P' (mod q) ,  \forall i  = \overline{1,n} => {(b_1^n)}^n \equiv - {(P')}^n (mod q)$
So , $b_1^n \equiv b_i^n (mod q) => {(b_1^n)}^n \equiv b_1^nb_2^n \cdots b_n^n \equiv {(P')}^n (mod q)$
So , $q | 2{(P')}^n$ as $gcd(q,P') =1 => q|2$
Hence proved
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Ankoganit
3070 posts
#5 • 6 Y
Y by Pluto1708, lahmacun, chessgocube, Adventure10, Mango247, cubres
Mostly similar to above solutions, but anyways...

Suppose $\text{gcd}(a_1,a_2,\cdots ,a_n)=x$, and set $b_1=\frac{a_1}{x},b_2=\frac{a_2}{x},\cdots ,b_n=\frac{a_n}{x}.$ Clearly $\text{gcd}(b_1,\cdots ,b_n)=1$.

Note that this means $a_i^n+P=a_i^n+a_1a_2\cdots a_n=x^n(b_i^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n)$, so $$\text{gcd}(a_1^n+P,\cdots ,a_n^n+P)=x^n\text{gcd}(b_1^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n,\cdots ,b_n^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n).$$To prove the given inequality, we need to show $$\text{gcd}(b_1^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n,\cdots ,b_n^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n)\le 2.$$
Let $d:=\text{gcd}(b_1^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n,\cdots ,b_n^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n)$; we claim that $d$ is relatively prime of each of the $b_i$'s. To see this, note that if there a $b_i$ and a prime $p$ so that $p|b_i$ and $p|d$, then $p|b_1b_2\cdots b_n$, and since $p|d|b_j^n+b_1\cdots b_n$, we have $p|b_j^n\implies p|b_j$, implying that $p$ divides each of the $b_i$'s. This contradicts $\text{gcd}(b_1,\cdots ,b_n)=1$.

Now for $1\le i\le n$, we have $$d|b_i^n+b_1b_2\cdots b_n\implies b_i^n\equiv -b_1b_2\cdots b_n\pmod{d}.$$Multiplying these congruences for $1\le i\le n$, and noting that $n$ is odd we have $$(b_1b_2\cdots b_n)^n\equiv -(b_1b_2\cdots b_n)^n\pmod{d}\implies d|2(b_1b_2\cdots b_n)^n.$$But since $d$ is relatively prime to $b_1,\cdots ,b_n$, this implies $d|2\implies d\le 2$, as required. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Ankoganit, Jun 26, 2017, 8:07 AM
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rmtf1111
698 posts
#6 • 3 Y
Y by chessgocube, Adventure10, cubres
In case someone is looking for a solution that is pretty challenging to read
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MSTang
6012 posts
#7 • 6 Y
Y by Wave-Particle, XbenX, chessgocube, Adventure10, kiyoras_2001, cubres
Let $d = \gcd(a_1, \ldots, a_n)$, and write $a_k = db_k$ for positive integers $b_1, \ldots, b_n$ with $\gcd(b_1, \ldots, b_n) = 1$. Then \[\gcd(a_1^n + P, \ldots, a_n^n + P) = d^n \gcd(b_1^n + Q, \ldots, b_n^n + Q)\]where $Q = b_1b_2 \dotsm b_n$. Hence it suffices to show \[D := \gcd(b_1^n + Q, \ldots, b_n^n + Q) \le 2.\]To do this, write \[b_1^n \equiv b_2^n \equiv \ldots \equiv b_n^n \equiv -Q \pmod{D}.\]Suppose some prime $p$ divides both $D$ and $Q$. Then \[b_1^n \equiv b_2^n \equiv \ldots \equiv b_n^n \equiv -Q \equiv 0 \pmod{p}\]so $p \mid b_1, b_2, \ldots, b_n$, contradicting $\gcd(b_1, \ldots, b_n) = 1$. Thus $\gcd(D, Q) = 1$. But \[Q^n = b_1^nb_2^n\ldots b_n^n \equiv (-Q)^n \pmod{D}\]so $D \mid 2Q^n$ (since $n$ is odd). This is enough to force $D \mid 2$, i.e. $D \le 2$, as desired.
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pad
1671 posts
#10 • 3 Y
Y by chessgocube, Adventure10, cubres
If $\gcd(a_1,\ldots,a_n) > 1$, we can divide out by $\gcd(a_1,\ldots,a_n)^n$ from both sides since every term in the LHS is of degree $n$. So assume $\gcd(a_1,\ldots,a_n)=1$, then we want to show
\[ d:=\gcd(a_1^n + P, a_2^n+P, \ldots, a_n^n + P) \le 2. \]We have $d=\gcd(a_1^n+P, a_2^n-a_1^n, a_3^n-a_1^n,\ldots,a_n^n-a_1^n)$ by Euclid, so
\[ -a_1a_2\cdots a_n \equiv a_1^n \equiv a_2^n \equiv \cdots \equiv a_n^n \pmod{d}. \]Multiplying together each of the above $n$ relations containing $-a_1a_2\cdots a_n \mod d$, we get
\[ (-a_1a_2\cdots a_n)^n \equiv a_1^na_2^n\cdots a_n^n \pmod{d} \implies 2(a_1a_2\cdots a_n)^n \equiv 0 \pmod{d} \]since $n$ is odd.

Suppose some prime $p$ existed s.t. $p\mid a_1$ and $p\mid d$. Then there must exist some $a_i$ such that $p\nmid a_i$, otherwise $p\mid \gcd(a_1,\ldots,a_n)=1$. We know $a_1^n\equiv a_i^n \pmod{d}$, so $a_1^n\equiv a_i^n \pmod{p}$. But $a_1\equiv 0 \pmod{p}$, so $a_i^n\equiv 0 \pmod{p}$, so $a_i\equiv 0 \pmod{p}$, which is a contradiction since we assumed $p \nmid a_i$. There was nothing special about $a_1$, so $\gcd(a_k,d)=1$ for all $k=1,\ldots,n$. In particular, $\gcd(a_1a_2\cdots a_n, d)=1$. So we can divide by $(a_1a_2\cdots a_n)^n$ on both sides to get $2\equiv 0 \pmod{d}$, so $d\le 2$.

Remark
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Pluto1708
1107 posts
#11 • 5 Y
Y by A-Thought-Of-God, Pluto04, chessgocube, Adventure10, cubres
Easy for a #1
whatshisbucket wrote:
Let $a_1,a_2,\dots, a_n$ be positive integers with product $P,$ where $n$ is an odd positive integer. Prove that $$\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,\dots, a_n^n+P)\le 2\gcd(a_1,\dots, a_n)^n.$$
Proposed by Daniel Liu
Let $d=\gcd(a_1,a_2,\cdots a_n)$.Hence $a_i=d\cdot b_i$ for some $b_i's$.Hence $P=d^n\cdot Q$ where $Q=b_1b_2\cdots b_n$.Thus we have to show \[d^n\cdot \gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,\dots, b_n^n+Q)=\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,\dots, a_n^n+P)\leq 
\gcd(a_1^n+P,a_2^n+P,\dots, a_n^n+P)\leq 2\gcd(a_1,\dots, a_n)^n=2d^n\cdot \gcd(b_1,\dots, b_n)^n\]\[\implies \gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,\dots, b_n^n+Q)\leq 2\gcd(b_1,\dots, b_n)^n =2\].Since $\gcd(b_1,b_2,\dots b_n)=1$Now let $p\mid \gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,\dots, b_n^n+Q)$ be a prime.Then \[-Q\equiv b_1^n\equiv b_2^n\cdots \equiv b_n^n\pmod p\]\[(b_1^n)(b_2^n)\cdots (b_n^n)\equiv (-Q)^n\pmod p \implies Q^n\equiv -Q^n\pmod p\implies 2Q^n\equiv 0\pmod p\].Now if $p\neq 2$.Then $p\mid Q^n\implies p\mid Q\implies p\mid b_i \implies p\mid \gcd(b_1,b_2,\cdots b_n)=1$ a contradiction!Thus $p=2$.Then if $4\mid \gcd(b_1^n+Q,b_2^n+Q,\dots, b_n^n+Q)$.Clearly all $b_i$ are odd.Clearly not all $b_i\equiv 1\pmod 4$ otherwise $-1\equiv -Q\equiv b_i^n\equiv 1\pmod 4$.Similarly not all $b_i\equiv 3\pmod 4$.Thus there are $i,j$ such that $b_i\equiv 1\pmod 4 $ and $b_j\equiv 3\pmod 4$.But then $0\equiv b_i^n-b_j^n\equiv 1-(-1)=2\pmod 4$ again a contradiction.Hence $\gcd(b_1,b_2,\cdots b_n)=1,2\implies \gcd(b_1,b_2,\cdots b_n)\leq 2$ as desired$\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Pluto1708, Dec 10, 2019, 11:06 AM
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jj_ca888
2726 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by chessgocube, cubres
ok !

solution
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sriraamster
1492 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by chessgocube, cubres
Let $d = \gcd(a_1, a_2, \dots a_n).$ Then let $a_i = db_i$ for each $i$. We want to show that $\gcd(b_1^n + b_1 \dots b_n, b_2^n + b_1 \dots b_n , \dots ) \le 2.$

Suppose for the sake of contradiction that there exists prime $p > 2$ dividing each of $b_i^n + b_1 \dots b_n.$ Then, we must have $b_i^n = -b_1 \dots b_n \pmod{p}.$ Multiplying over all $i$ gives $$(-b_1b_2 \dots b_n)^n \equiv (b_1 b_2 \dots b_n)^n  \implies 2(b_1 \dots b_n)^n \equiv 0 \pmod{p}.$$
Claim: $p \nmid b_i$ for any $i.$

Proof: Suppose that it does. Notice that $b_1^n \equiv b_2^n \equiv \dots b_n^n \pmod{p}.$ If there exists $p$ with $p \mid b_i$, then $b_i \equiv 0 \pmod{p}$ for all $p$, contradiction. Thus, $p \mid 2$, and we conclude. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by sriraamster, May 16, 2020, 9:30 PM
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VulcanForge
626 posts
#14 • 1 Y
Y by cubres
Note we can scale so $\text{gcd}(a_1, \dots , a_n) = 1$; then we wish to show that if $q$ divides all of the $a_i^n+P$, then $q \leq 2$. Write down all the equations of the form $a_i^n \equiv -P \pmod{q}$. Note that $q$ cannot share a prime factor with any of the $a_i$, since then that prime would divide all the $a_i$. Now multiplying together all these equations gives $1 \equiv -1 \pmod{q}$ and we're done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by VulcanForge, Sep 3, 2020, 2:58 AM
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mathleticguyyy
3217 posts
#16 • 3 Y
Y by v4913, centslordm, cubres
Let $(a_1,a_2\ldots a_n)=1$; from here, FTSOC assume that there exists some odd prime $q$ dividing all of $a_i+P$. Then, we see that if one $a_i$ is a multiple of $q$, then $P$ is a multiple of $q$ which would force every other $a$ to be a multiple of $q$ and violate the $(a_1,a_2\ldots a_n)=1$ condition. Hence, we have $q\nmid P$. Though, multiplying every equation gives us that $P^n\equiv -P^n$ modulo $q$ which upon dividing both sides by $P^n$ (allowed as it is not a multiple of $q$) gives that $1\equiv -1 \pmod{q}$ which obviously is impossible.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by mathleticguyyy, Jan 11, 2021, 12:06 AM
Reason: I PROVED MY ASSUMPTION USING ITSELF LMAO
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Orangensaft12
28 posts
#17 • 1 Y
Y by cubres
Let $d$ be the $\gcd(a_1,...,a_n)$ and write $a_i = dk_i$.
Then we have $\gcd(a_1+P,...,a_n+P) = \gcd(d^nk_{1}^n+d^nk_1...k_n,...,d^nk_{n}^n+d^nk_1,...,k_n)$. Let P' denote the product $k_1....k_n$. What is left to prove is that $d'=\gcd(k_1+P',...,k_n+P') \leq 2$. Clearly $d'$ is relatively prime to each $k_i$ since otherwise a commmon divisor would divide the remaining $k's$.
We know have the congruences $k_i = -P' \mod d'$ and if we multiply them we get $(a_1...a_n)^n = P^n = (-P)^n = -P^n$ (since n is odd). Hence $d'$ divides $2P$ but since $d'$ and P are relatively prime this implies that $d' | 2$ and hence $d' \leq 2$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Orangensaft12, Oct 11, 2020, 7:31 AM
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IAmTheHazard
5003 posts
#18 • 3 Y
Y by Mathscienceclass, centslordm, cubres
It seems that many people have forgotten to prove that the gcd isn't 4 or 8 or something like that!

Clearly dividing everything by $\gcd(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n)$ doesn't change anything, hence WLOG let $\gcd(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n)=1$, so the inequality becomes:
$$\gcd(a_1^n+P, a_2^n+P,\ldots,a_n^n+P) \leq 2,$$whenever $\gcd(a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n)=1$.
First, I claim that no primes $p>2$ divide the gcd. Suppose FTSOC that a prime $p$ does divide the gcd. Clearly $p$ cannot divide all of $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$. Now suppose $p$ divides some of these numbers, so $p \mid P$. But there exists an $i$ with $p \nmid a_i$, which means $p \nmid a_i^n+P$: contradiction. Hence $p$ divides none of $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$. Then it is necessary to have $a_i^n \equiv -P \pmod{p}$ for all $i$. Since $n$ is odd, multiplying these congruences yields $P^n \equiv -P^n \pmod{p}$. But since $p \nmid P$, this gives $-1 \equiv 1 \pmod{p}$, which is impossible since $p \neq 2$. Hence proved.
Now I claim that $4$ does not divide the gcd. Suppose FTSOC that $a_i^n+P \equiv 0 \pmod{4}$ for all $i$. As with before, since not all of $a_1,a_2,\ldots,a_n$ can be even, none of them can be even. Further, observe that since $n$ is odd, $a_i^n \equiv a_i \pmod{4}$.
Note that if all of the $a_i$ are congruent to $1 \pmod{4}$, then their product is as well and thus $a_i^n+P \equiv 2 \pmod{4}$, contradiction. Similarly not all of the $a_i$ are congruent to $3 \pmod{4}$. But then picking $i,j$ such that $a_i \equiv 1 \pmod{4}$ and $a_j \equiv 3 \pmod{4}$ implies that $a_i^n+P \not \equiv a_j^n+P \pmod{4}$, so they cannot both equal zero: contradiction.
Combining these two claims, it follows that the gcd is at most $2$. $\blacksquare$
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