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k a April Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Apr 2, 2025
Spring is in full swing and summer is right around the corner, what are your plans? At AoPS Online our schedule has new classes starting now through July, so be sure to keep your skills sharp and be prepared for the Fall school year! Check out the schedule of upcoming classes below.

WOOT early bird pricing is in effect, don’t miss out! If you took MathWOOT Level 2 last year, no worries, it is all new problems this year! Our Worldwide Online Olympiad Training program is for high school level competitors. AoPS designed these courses to help our top students get the deep focus they need to succeed in their specific competition goals. Check out the details at this link for all our WOOT programs in math, computer science, chemistry, and physics.

Looking for summer camps in math and language arts? Be sure to check out the video-based summer camps offered at the Virtual Campus that are 2- to 4-weeks in duration. 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 events:
[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
[*]April 8th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS State Discussion
April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/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.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Peer-to-Peer Programs Forum
jwelsh   157
N Dec 11, 2023 by cw357
Many of our AoPS Community members share their knowledge with their peers in a variety of ways, ranging from creating mock contests to creating real contests to writing handouts to hosting sessions as part of our partnership with schoolhouse.world.

To facilitate students in these efforts, we have created a new Peer-to-Peer Programs forum. With the creation of this forum, we are starting a new process for those of you who want to advertise your efforts. These advertisements and ensuing discussions have been cluttering up some of the forums that were meant for other purposes, so we’re gathering these topics in one place. This also allows students to find new peer-to-peer learning opportunities without having to poke around all the other forums.

To announce your program, or to invite others to work with you on it, here’s what to do:

1) Post a new topic in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum. This will be the discussion thread for your program.

2) Post a single brief post in this thread that links the discussion thread of your program in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum.

Please note that we’ll move or delete any future advertisement posts that are outside the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum, as well as any posts in this topic that are not brief announcements of new opportunities. In particular, this topic should not be used to discuss specific programs; those discussions should occur in topics in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum.

Your post in this thread should have what you're sharing (class, session, tutoring, handout, math or coding game/other program) and a link to the thread in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum, which should have more information (like where to find what you're sharing).
157 replies
jwelsh
Mar 15, 2021
cw357
Dec 11, 2023
k i C&P posting recs by mods
v_Enhance   0
Jun 12, 2020
The purpose of this post is to lay out a few suggestions about what kind of posts work well for the C&P forum. Except in a few cases these are mostly meant to be "suggestions based on historical trends" rather than firm hard rules; we may eventually replace this with an actual list of firm rules but that requires admin approval :) That said, if you post something in the "discouraged" category, you should not be totally surprised if it gets locked; they are discouraged exactly because past experience shows they tend to go badly.
-----------------------------
1. Program discussion: Allowed
If you have questions about specific camps or programs (e.g. which classes are good at X camp?), these questions fit well here. Many camps/programs have specific sub-forums too but we understand a lot of them are not active.
-----------------------------
2. Results discussion: Allowed
You can make threads about e.g. how you did on contests (including AMC), though on AMC day when there is a lot of discussion. Moderators and administrators may do a lot of thread-merging / forum-wrangling to keep things in one place.
-----------------------------
3. Reposting solutions or questions to past AMC/AIME/USAMO problems: Allowed
This forum contains a post for nearly every problem from AMC8, AMC10, AMC12, AIME, USAJMO, USAMO (and these links give you an index of all these posts). It is always permitted to post a full solution to any problem in its own thread (linked above), regardless of how old the problem is, and even if this solution is similar to one that has already been posted. We encourage this type of posting because it is helpful for the user to explain their solution in full to an audience, and for future users who want to see multiple approaches to a problem or even just the frequency distribution of common approaches. We do ask for some explanation; if you just post "the answer is (B); ez" then you are not adding anything useful.

You are also encouraged to post questions about a specific problem in the specific thread for that problem, or about previous user's solutions. It's almost always better to use the existing thread than to start a new one, to keep all the discussion in one place easily searchable for future visitors.
-----------------------------
4. Advice posts: Allowed, but read below first
You can use this forum to ask for advice about how to prepare for math competitions in general. But you should be aware that this question has been asked many many times. Before making a post, you are encouraged to look at the following:
[list]
[*] Stop looking for the right training: A generic post about advice that keeps getting stickied :)
[*] There is an enormous list of links on the Wiki of books / problems / etc for all levels.
[/list]
When you do post, we really encourage you to be as specific as possible in your question. Tell us about your background, what you've tried already, etc.

Actually, the absolute best way to get a helpful response is to take a few examples of problems that you tried to solve but couldn't, and explain what you tried on them / why you couldn't solve them. Here is a great example of a specific question.
-----------------------------
5. Publicity: use P2P forum instead
See https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2489297_peertopeer_programs_forum.
Some exceptions have been allowed in the past, but these require approval from administrators. (I am not totally sure what the criteria is. I am not an administrator.)
-----------------------------
6. Mock contests: use Mock Contests forum instead
Mock contests should be posted in the dedicated forum instead:
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c594864_aops_mock_contests
-----------------------------
7. AMC procedural questions: suggest to contact the AMC HQ instead
If you have a question like "how do I submit a change of venue form for the AIME" or "why is my name not on the qualifiers list even though I have a 300 index", you would be better off calling or emailing the AMC program to ask, they are the ones who can help you :)
-----------------------------
8. Discussion of random math problems: suggest to use MSM/HSM/HSO instead
If you are discussing a specific math problem that isn't from the AMC/AIME/USAMO, it's better to post these in Middle School Math, High School Math, High School Olympiads instead.
-----------------------------
9. Politics: suggest to use Round Table instead
There are important conversations to be had about things like gender diversity in math contests, etc., for sure. However, from experience we think that C&P is historically not a good place to have these conversations, as they go off the rails very quickly. We encourage you to use the Round Table instead, where it is much more clear that all posts need to be serious.
-----------------------------
10. MAA complaints: discouraged
We don't want to pretend that the MAA is perfect or that we agree with everything they do. However, we chose to discourage this sort of behavior because in practice most of the comments we see are not useful and some are frankly offensive.
[list] [*] If you just want to blow off steam, do it on your blog instead.
[*] When you have criticism, it should be reasoned, well-thought and constructive. What we mean by this is, for example, when the AOIME was announced, there was great outrage about potential cheating. Well, do you really think that this is something the organizers didn't think about too? Simply posting that "people will cheat and steal my USAMOO qualification, the MAA are idiots!" is not helpful as it is not bringing any new information to the table.
[*] Even if you do have reasoned, well-thought, constructive criticism, we think it is actually better to email it the MAA instead, rather than post it here. Experience shows that even polite, well-meaning suggestions posted in C&P are often derailed by less mature users who insist on complaining about everything.
[/list]
-----------------------------
11. Memes and joke posts: discouraged
It's fine to make jokes or lighthearted posts every so often. But it should be done with discretion. Ideally, jokes should be done within a longer post that has other content. For example, in my response to one user's question about olympiad combinatorics, I used a silly picture of Sogiita Gunha, but it was done within a context of a much longer post where it was meant to actually make a point.

On the other hand, there are many threads which consist largely of posts whose only content is an attached meme with the word "MAA" in it. When done in excess like this, the jokes reflect poorly on the community, so we explicitly discourage them.
-----------------------------
12. Questions that no one can answer: discouraged
Examples of this: "will MIT ask for AOIME scores?", "what will the AIME 2021 cutoffs be (asked in 2020)", etc. Basically, if you ask a question on this forum, it's better if the question is something that a user can plausibly answer :)
-----------------------------
13. Blind speculation: discouraged
Along these lines, if you do see a question that you don't have an answer to, we discourage "blindly guessing" as it leads to spreading of baseless rumors. For example, if you see some user posting "why are there fewer qualifiers than usual this year?", you should not reply "the MAA must have been worried about online cheating so they took fewer people!!". Was sich überhaupt sagen lässt, lässt sich klar sagen; und wovon man nicht reden kann, darüber muss man schweigen.
-----------------------------
14. Discussion of cheating: strongly discouraged
If you have evidence or reasonable suspicion of cheating, please report this to your Competition Manager or to the AMC HQ; these forums cannot help you.
Otherwise, please avoid public discussion of cheating. That is: no discussion of methods of cheating, no speculation about how cheating affects cutoffs, and so on --- it is not helpful to anyone, and it creates a sour atmosphere. A longer explanation is given in Seriously, please stop discussing how to cheat.
-----------------------------
15. Cutoff jokes: never allowed
Whenever the cutoffs for any major contest are released, it is very obvious when they are official. In the past, this has been achieved by the numbers being posted on the official AMC website (here) or through a post from the AMCDirector account.

You must never post fake cutoffs, even as a joke. You should also refrain from posting cutoffs that you've heard of via email, etc., because it is better to wait for the obvious official announcement. A longer explanation is given in A Treatise on Cutoff Trolling.
-----------------------------
16. Meanness: never allowed
Being mean is worse than being immature and unproductive. If another user does something which you think is inappropriate, use the Report button to bring the post to moderator attention, or if you really must reply, do so in a way that is tactful and constructive rather than inflammatory.
-----------------------------

Finally, we remind you all to sit back and enjoy the problems. :D

-----------------------------
(EDIT 2024-09-13: AoPS has asked to me to add the following item.)

Advertising paid program or service: never allowed

Per the AoPS Terms of Service (rule 5h), general advertisements are not allowed.

While we do allow advertisements of official contests (at the MAA and MATHCOUNTS level) and those run by college students with at least one successful year, any and all advertisements of a paid service or program is not allowed and will be deleted.
0 replies
v_Enhance
Jun 12, 2020
0 replies
k i Stop looking for the "right" training
v_Enhance   50
N Oct 16, 2017 by blawho12
Source: Contest advice
EDIT 2019-02-01: https://blog.evanchen.cc/2019/01/31/math-contest-platitudes-v3/ is the updated version of this.

EDIT 2021-06-09: see also https://web.evanchen.cc/faq-contest.html.

Original 2013 post
50 replies
v_Enhance
Feb 15, 2013
blawho12
Oct 16, 2017
The order of colors
Entei   0
13 minutes ago
There are $3n$ balls, with $n$ red, $n$ green, and $n$ blue balls, randomly arranged in a row. Two observers, one at the front and one at the back, each record the order of the first appearance of each color. What is the probability that both observers record the same order of colors?

For example, the sequence RGGBRB would be read as RGB for the front observer and BRG for the back observer.
0 replies
Entei
13 minutes ago
0 replies
Romanian National Olympiad 1997 - Grade 10 - Problem 4
Filipjack   1
N 19 minutes ago by MS_asdfgzxcvb
Source: Romanian National Olympiad 1997 - Grade 10 - Problem 4
Let $a_0,$ $a_1,$ $\ldots,$ $a_n$ be complex numbers such that [center]$|a_nz^n+a_{n-1}z^{n-1}+\ldots+a_1z+a_0| \le 1,$ for any $z \in \mathbb{C}$ with $|z|=1.$[/center]

Prove that $|a_k| \le 1$ and $|a_0+a_1+\ldots+a_n-(n+1)a_k| \le n,$ for any $k=\overline{0,n}.$
1 reply
+1 w
Filipjack
41 minutes ago
MS_asdfgzxcvb
19 minutes ago
Geometry
youochange   3
N 20 minutes ago by Double07
m:}
Let $\triangle ABC$ be a triangle inscribed in a circle, where the tangents to the circle at points $B$ and $C$ intersect at the point $P$. Let $M$ be a point on the arc $AC$ (not containing $B$) such that $M \neq A$ and $M \neq C$. Let the lines $BC$ and $AM$ intersect at point $K$. Let $P'$ be the reflection of $P$ with respect to the line $AM$. The lines $AP'$ and $PM$ intersect at point $Q$, and $PM$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle ABC$ again at point $N$.

Prove that the point $Q$ lies on the circumcircle of $\triangle ANK$.
3 replies
youochange
Today at 11:27 AM
Double07
20 minutes ago
Simple cube root inequality [Taiwan 2014 Quizzes]
v_Enhance   43
N 42 minutes ago by arqady
Prove that for positive reals $a$, $b$, $c$ we have \[ 3(a+b+c) \ge 8\sqrt[3]{abc} + \sqrt[3]{\frac{a^3+b^3+c^3}{3}}. \]
43 replies
v_Enhance
Jul 18, 2014
arqady
42 minutes ago
mdk2013
Mar 30, 2025
mdk2013
an hour ago
SuMAC Email
miguel00   6
N an hour ago by NoSignOfTheta
Did anyone get an email from SuMAC checking availability for summer camp you applied for (residential/online)? I don't know whether it is a good sign or just something that everyone got.
6 replies
+1 w
miguel00
Apr 2, 2025
NoSignOfTheta
an hour ago
Sums of pairs in a sequence
tenniskidperson3   56
N 2 hours ago by Marcus_Zhang
Source: USAJMO 2010, Problem 2
Let $n > 1$ be an integer. Find, with proof, all sequences $x_1 , x_2 , \ldots , x_{n-1}$ of positive integers with the following three properties:
(a). $x_1 < x_2 < \cdots < x_{n-1}$ ;
(b). $x_i + x_{n-i} = 2n$ for all $i = 1, 2, \ldots , n - 1$;
(c). given any two indices $i$ and $j$ (not necessarily distinct) for which $x_i + x_j < 2n$, there is an index $k$ such that $x_i + x_j = x_k$.
56 replies
tenniskidperson3
Apr 29, 2010
Marcus_Zhang
2 hours ago
USA(J)MO qualification
mathkidAP   23
N 4 hours ago by AbhayAttarde01
Hello. I am an 8th grade student who wants to make jmo or usamo. How much practice do i need for this? i have a 63 on amc 10b and i mock roughly 90-100s on most amc 10s.
23 replies
mathkidAP
Apr 4, 2025
AbhayAttarde01
4 hours ago
k Help me find this person..
Pomansq   6
N 5 hours ago by DottedCaculator
I know a certain person with the following achievements, and I think his name is Jonathan...

USAMO Silver, MOP Attendee
PRIMES attendee
USAPHO Qualifier
USABO Awardee
HMMT Awardee...
etc...

I believe I may have met him on a website with anonymous users, and he helped me with math questions when he was working under a certain pseudonym. Please let me know if anyone has his contact...
6 replies
Pomansq
Today at 3:51 AM
DottedCaculator
5 hours ago
Predicted AMC 8 Scores
megahertz13   141
N Today at 8:05 AM by fake123
$\begin{tabular}{c|c|c|c}Username & Grade & AMC8 Score \\ \hline
megahertz13 & 5 & 23 \\
\end{tabular}$
141 replies
megahertz13
Jan 25, 2024
fake123
Today at 8:05 AM
1989 AMC 12 #30 - Boys and Girls in a Line
dft   7
N Today at 6:56 AM by NicoN9
Suppose that $7$ boys and $13$ girls line up in a row. Let $S$ be the number of places in the row where a boy and a girl are standing next to each other. For example, for the row $GBBGGGBGBGGGBGBGGBGG$ we have $S=12$. The average value of $S$ (if all possible orders of the 20 people are considered) is closest to

$ \textbf{(A)}\ 9 \qquad\textbf{(B)}\ 10 \qquad\textbf{(C)}\ 11 \qquad\textbf{(D)}\ 12 \qquad\textbf{(E)}\ 13 $
7 replies
dft
Dec 31, 2011
NicoN9
Today at 6:56 AM
Catch those negatives
cappucher   43
N Today at 2:08 AM by sadas123
Source: 2024 AMC 10A P11
How many ordered pairs of integers $(m, n)$ satisfy $\sqrt{n^2 - 49} = m$?

$
\textbf{(A) }1 \qquad
\textbf{(B) }2 \qquad
\textbf{(C) }3 \qquad
\textbf{(D) }4 \qquad
\textbf{(E) } \text{Infinitely many} \qquad
$
43 replies
cappucher
Nov 7, 2024
sadas123
Today at 2:08 AM
2n equations
P_Groudon   80
N Yesterday at 7:27 PM by vincentwant
Let $n \geq 4$ be an integer. Find all positive real solutions to the following system of $2n$ equations:

\begin{align*}
a_{1} &=\frac{1}{a_{2 n}}+\frac{1}{a_{2}}, & a_{2}&=a_{1}+a_{3}, \\
a_{3}&=\frac{1}{a_{2}}+\frac{1}{a_{4}}, & a_{4}&=a_{3}+a_{5}, \\
a_{5}&=\frac{1}{a_{4}}+\frac{1}{a_{6}}, & a_{6}&=a_{5}+a_{7} \\
&\vdots & &\vdots \\
a_{2 n-1}&=\frac{1}{a_{2 n-2}}+\frac{1}{a_{2 n}}, & a_{2 n}&=a_{2 n-1}+a_{1}
\end{align*}
80 replies
P_Groudon
Apr 15, 2021
vincentwant
Yesterday at 7:27 PM
basic nt
zhoujef000   38
N Yesterday at 6:08 PM by Apple_maths60
Source: 2025 AIME I #1
Find the sum of all integer bases $b>9$ for which $17_b$ is a divisor of $97_b.$
38 replies
zhoujef000
Feb 7, 2025
Apple_maths60
Yesterday at 6:08 PM
Point P on incircle with <APE = <DPB
62861   18
N Dec 7, 2024 by GrantStar
Source: IOM 2018 #6, Dušan Djukić
The incircle of a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC$ and $AC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Suppose $P$ is the point on the shorter arc $DE$ of the incircle such that $\angle APE = \angle DPB$. The segments $AP$ and $BP$ meet the segment $DE$ at points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $2KL = DE$.

Dušan Djukić
18 replies
62861
Sep 6, 2018
GrantStar
Dec 7, 2024
Point P on incircle with <APE = <DPB
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: IOM 2018 #6, Dušan Djukić
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62861
3564 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by aopsuser305, Adventure10, Mango247, Funcshun840
The incircle of a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC$ and $AC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Suppose $P$ is the point on the shorter arc $DE$ of the incircle such that $\angle APE = \angle DPB$. The segments $AP$ and $BP$ meet the segment $DE$ at points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $2KL = DE$.

Dušan Djukić
Z K Y
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MarkBcc168
1594 posts
#2 • 6 Y
Y by Vrangr, AlastorMoody, fcomoreira, Mathematicsislovely, Adventure10, Mango247
Excellent problem for practicing Involution.

Let $PA, PB$ intersects the incircle at $U,V$ and let the tangent to incircle at $P$ intersects $DE$ at $T$. Let the incircle touches $AB$ at $F$ and let $Q = PF\cap DE$. Then by isogonality, there exists involution $\Psi$ which swaps $(D,E), (K,L), (T,\infty)$. Let $\Psi(Q)=R$, we find
$$-1 = (PU;EF) = (TK;EQ) = (\infty L: DR)$$or $L$ is the midpoint of $DR$. Similarly $K$ is the midpoint of $ER$, implying the conclusion.
Z K Y
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Tsukuyomi
31 posts
#3 • 8 Y
Y by Kayak, Vrangr, 62861, tworigami, AlastorMoody, Ru83n05, Adventure10, Mango247
Construct a point $Q$ on line $DE$ such that $\measuredangle{DQP}=\measuredangle{FEP}$ so that $\triangle{DQP}\sim \triangle{FEP}$, where $F$ is the intersection of the incircle and segment $\overline{AB}$. Since $PA$ is the $P$-symmedian of $\triangle{FEP},$ from our similarity we obtain $LQ=DL$ as $\angle{KPE}=\angle{LPD}$. Similarly since $PB$ is the $P$-symmedian of $\triangle{FDP}$, we obtain $KQ=EK$ as $\triangle{EQP}\sim \triangle{FDP}$ and $\angle{KPE}=\angle{LPD}$. Thus we have $KL=KQ+LQ=\dfrac{1}{2}DE$, as desired.
Z K Y
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62861
3564 posts
#4 • 3 Y
Y by AlastorMoody, aopsuser305, Adventure10
Very nice!
[asy]
unitsize(150);
pair C, A, B, I, D, E, F, G, P, K, L, X;
C = dir(130); A = dir(210); B = dir(330);
I = incenter(A, B, C);
D = foot(I, B, C);
E = foot(I, C, A);
F = foot(I, A, B);
G = extension(A, D, B, E);
P = point(incircle(A, B, C), intersections(incircle(A, B, C), G, (D+E)/2)[0]);
K = extension(A, P, D, E);
L = extension(B, P, D, E);
X = K + L - (D+E)/2;
draw(P--F^^P--X, gray(0.5));
draw(D--F--E, gray(0.5));
//draw(C--D^^C--E, gray(0.7));
draw(E--A--B--D);
draw(A--P--B);
draw(D--P--E);
draw(D--E);
draw(incircle(A, B, C));

dot("$A$", A, dir(A-I));
dot("$B$", B, dir(B-I));
//dot("$C$", C, dir(C-I));
dot("$D$", D, dir(D-I));
dot("$E$", E, dir(E-I));
dot("$F$", F, dir(F-I));
dot("$P$", P, dir(P-I));
dot("$K$", K, dir(130));
dot("$L$", L, dir(80));
dot("$X$", X, dir(320));
[/asy]
I think this is essentially the same as the above solution, but more roundabout (essentially reproving the well-known symmedian property).

Let the incircle touch $\overline{AB}$ at $F$. Construct the point $X$ on $\overline{DE}$ with $\triangle PDX \sim \triangle PFE$ and $\triangle PEX \sim \triangle PFD$.

Since $\angle APF = \angle XPL$ and $\angle AFP + \angle PXD = \angle AFP + \angle PEF = 180^{\circ}$,
\[\frac{PA}{AF} = \frac{PL}{XL}.\]Since $\angle EPA = \angle LPD$ and $\angle AEP + \angle PDL = \angle AEP + \angle PDE = 180^{\circ}$,
\[\frac{PA}{AE} = \frac{PL}{DL}.\]Since $AE = AF$ it follows $XL = DL$. Similarly $XK = EK$ so $DE = 2KL$ as desired.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by 62861, May 11, 2019, 8:46 AM
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tastymath75025
3223 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Let $PA,PB,AB, FK, FL$ meet the incircle again at $X,Y,F,K',L'$. By Pascal on hexagon $FK'YPXL'$, we know $KL, K'Y, L'X$ meet at some point $Z$. Now since $DD\cap FF =B\in PY$, we know $(P,Y;D,F)$ is harmonic. Projecting through $L$ yields $(Y,P;E,L')$ is harmonic. From $\angle EPA=\angle DPB$ we deduce $XY||DE$, hence projecting the harmonic pencil $(XY, XP; XE, XL')$ onto line $DE$ yields $(\infty_{DE}, K; E,Z)$ is harmonic, so $K$ is the midpoint of $EZ$. Similarly, $L$ is the midpoint of $DZ$, so $KL=\frac{1}{2}DE$ as desired.
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MilosMilicev
241 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Denote by $X,Y$ the second intersections of $PA, PB$ with the incircle, by $M,N$ the midpoints of $PE,PD,$ respectively, by $U,W$ the midpoints of $PX,PY,$ respectively. Since $\angle EPX= \angle EPA=\angle BPD=\angle DPY$, we get that $EXYD$ is an isosceles trapezoid, also $\Delta PEK \sim \Delta PYD, \Delta PEX \sim \Delta PLD$. Clearly $PEXF$ and $PFYD$ are the harmonic quadrilaterals, so $\Delta XEU \sim \Delta FXU$, so $ 
\angle XEU= \angle UXF= \angle PXF$ and $\angle NLD=\angle UEX=\angle PXF $ (because in the similarity $\Delta PEX \sim \Delta PLD, U,N$ fit to each other).
Analogiously, $\angle MKE=\angle WDY=\angle WYF=\angle PYF$, so $ \pi = \angle PXF+\angle PYF=\angle NLD+\angle MKE$, so $MK||NL$. Also $MN||KL$ as the midline in $\Delta PED$, so $MKLN$ is a parallelogram and $\frac{DE}{2}=MN=KL$, which we had to prove.
This post has been edited 6 times. Last edited by MilosMilicev, Sep 11, 2018, 5:43 PM
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RopuToran
609 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
What is IOM ...
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IMO2021
34 posts
#8 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
International Olympiad of Metropolises, held in Moscow...
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TelvCohl
2312 posts
#10 • 5 Y
Y by DanDumitrescu, Zerver, Mathematicsislovely, Adventure10, Mango247
invert with center $ P, $ power $ PD \cdot PE, $ followed by reflection on the bisector of $ \angle DPE, $ denoting inverse points with $ ^{*}. $ Clearly, $ A^* \in PB, B^* \in PA $ and $ DE $ is tangent to $ \odot (PDA^*), \odot (PEB^*), \odot (PA^*B^*) $ at $ D, E, T, $ respectively, so $$  \left\{\begin{array}{cc} LD^2 = LP \cdot LA^* = LT^2 \\\\ KE^2 = KP \cdot KB^* = KT^2 \end{array}\right\| \Longrightarrow 2KL = DE. $$
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anantmudgal09
1979 posts
#11 • 4 Y
Y by AlastorMoody, Adventure10, Mango247, Funcshun840
My diagram has the $A$-labelling oops.

Let $M, N$ be midpoints of $\overline{DE}, \overline{DF}$ respectively. Observe that $\triangle PFK \sim \triangle PDM$ and $\triangle PLE \sim \triangle PND$. Then $$FK+EL=\frac{PF\cdot DM+PE\cdot DN}{PD}=\tfrac{1}{2}EF$$by Ptolemy’s theorem on cyclic quadrilateral $DEPF$. $\blacksquare$
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Wizard_32
1566 posts
#12 • 4 Y
Y by AlastorMoody, Adventure10, Mango247, Funcshun840
Same as above but posting it because it's really nice!
CantonMathGuy wrote:
The incircle of a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC$ and $AC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Suppose $P$ is the point on the shorter arc $DE$ of the incircle such that $\angle APE = \angle DPB$. The segments $AP$ and $BP$ meet the segment $DE$ at points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $2KL = DE$.
Let $M, N$ be the midpoints of $FE, FD$ respectively. Then since $PA, PB$ are the $P$ symmedians of $\triangle PEF, \triangle PDF,$ hence $\measuredangle FPM=\measuredangle KPE=\measuredangle DPL=\measuredangle NPF.$ Thus $\triangle PEK \sim \triangle PFN$ and $\triangle PLD \sim \triangle PMF$ yield
\begin{align*}
EK+LD &=\frac{PE}{PF} \cdot FN+\frac{PD}{PF} \cdot MF \\
&= \frac{1}{2PF} \left( PE \cdot FD+PD \cdot EF \right) \\
&\overset{\text{Ptolemy}}{=} \frac{1}{2PF} \cdot PF \cdot ED=\frac{1}{2} ED
\end{align*}and so $2KL=ED,$ as desired. $\square$
[asy]
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[/asy]
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Wizard_32, Nov 7, 2018, 10:46 AM
Reason: typo
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Kayak
1298 posts
#13 • 8 Y
Y by anantmudgal09, Wizard_32, rmtf1111, AlastorMoody, Adventure10, Mango247, Mango247, Mango247
Define $X := PA \cap \omega_{DPE}, Y := PB  \cap \omega_{DPE}$, $N$ to the touchpoint of incircle with $AB$. Firstly note the following well known lemma, which

Lemma Let $A,B,C,D$ be four con-cyclic harmonic points with $(A, B; C, D) = -1$. Then after an inversion $\Psi$ centered at $A$ with arbitrary radius, $\Psi(B)$ is the midpoint $\overline{\Psi(C)\Psi(D)}$.

(This can be proved very easily with length chasing/inversion distance formula; I'm omitting the proof).

Perform an arbitrary inversion $\Psi$ centered at $P$. Observe that
  • $\angle \Psi(E)P\Psi(X) = \angle EPX = \angle EPA = \angle DPB = \angle DPY = \angle \Psi(D)P\Psi(Y)$
  • $\Psi(X), \Psi(E), \Psi(F), \Psi(Y)$ are colinear.
  • Observe that $-1 = (P, X; E,N) = (P,Y; N,D)$. By lemma, $\Psi(X)$ is the midpoint of $\Psi(E)\Psi(N)$, and $\Psi(Y)$ is the midpoint of $\Psi(D)\Psi(N)$. Writing them as vectors, $\Psi(N) = 2 \Psi(X) - \Psi(E)$ and $\Psi(N) = 2 \Psi(L) - \Psi(D)$. Equating them, $2(\Psi(K)-\Psi(L)) = \Psi(E)-\Psi(D)$, which means $2\overline{\Psi(K)\Psi(L)} = \overline{\Psi(E)\Psi(D)}$
  • By inversion distance fomula, $2KL = DE \Leftrightarrow \frac{1}{2} = \frac{\Psi(K)\Psi(L) \cdot P\Psi(E) \cdot P\Psi(D)}{\Psi(E)\Psi(D) \cdot P\Psi(K) \cdot P\Psi(L)}$

Writing $\Psi(X) = K, \Psi(Y) = L, \Psi(K) = X, \Psi(L) = Y, \Psi(E) = E, \Psi(D) = D$ (btw this is what you would actually get after $\sqrt{PD \cdot PE}$ inversion after reflection along $P$ angle bisector), the new problem reads:
IOM 2018/P6, inverted wrote:
Let $\Delta PED$ be a triangle. Points $K, L \in \overline{ED}$ such that $\angle EPK = \angle LPD$ and $2 \overline{KL} = \overline{EF}$. Let $X = PK \cap \omega_{PED}, Y = PL \cap \omega_{PED}$. Prove that $\frac{\overline{XY} \cdot \overline{PE} \cdot \overline{PD}}{\overline{ED} \cdot \overline{PX} \cdot \overline{PY}} = \frac{1}{2}$.

By $\angle PXE = \angle PDE = \angle PDL$, and $\angle EPK = \angle LPD$, so $\Delta PEX \sim \Delta PLD$. So $\frac{\overline{PE}}{\overline{PX}} = \frac{\overline{PL}}{\overline{PD}}$. Also, by very easy angle chasing, $XY || ED$, so $\frac{\overline{PL}}{\overline{PX}} = \frac{KL}{XY}$. Putting 'em together, $$ \frac{\overline{XY} \cdot \overline{PE} \cdot \overline{PD}}{\overline{ED} \cdot \overline{PX} \cdot \overline{PY}} = \frac{\overline{XY} \cdot \overline{PL} \cdot \overline{PD}}{\overline{ED} \cdot \overline{PD} \cdot \overline{PY}} $$$$ = \frac{\overline{XY} \cdot \overline{PL}}{\overline{ED} \cdot \overline{PY}} = \frac{\overline{XY} \cdot \overline{KL}}{\overline{ED} \cdot \overline{XY}} = \frac{KL}{ED} = \frac{1}{2}$$, as desired.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Kayak, Nov 23, 2018, 10:54 AM
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ayan.nmath
643 posts
#14 • 3 Y
Y by Wizard_32, AlastorMoody, Adventure10
CantonMathGuy wrote:
The incircle of a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC$ and $AC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Suppose $P$ is the point on the shorter arc $DE$ of the incircle such that $\angle APE = \angle DPB$. The segments $AP$ and $BP$ meet the segment $DE$ at points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $2KL = DE$.

Dušan Djukić

Solution.

We change the labellings as shown in the diagram below. Let $\Omega$ be the incircle. Let $X=\Omega\cap PB,~Y=\Omega\cap PC.$ Reflect everything upon the angle bisector of $\angle BAC.$ For a point $Z,$ let $Z'$ denote the image of the point $Z$ after reflection over the angle bisector of $\angle BAC.$ Note that $X$ and $Y$ swap their places with each other in this transformation since $\angle FPX=\angle EPY$ and the angle bisector of $\angle BAC$ is the perpendicular bisector of $EF.$ It is therefore obvious that $(P',X,C'),~(P', Y,B'),~(B',D',C')$ are triplets of collinear points. Define $J$ as the intersection of $\overline{PD'}$ and $\overline{EF}.$ Let $P_{\infty}$ be the point at infinity along the line $\overline{EF}.$ It is easy to see that $PP'\cap EF=P_{\infty}.$
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[/asy]
Note that $P'FXD'$ is a harmonic quadrilateral, therefore,
\begin{align*}
(F,J;K,P_{\infty})\overset{P}=(F,D';X,P')=-1
\end{align*}So, $KJ=FK.$ Similarly, $JL=LE.$ Thus, $EF=2\cdot KL.$ And we are done.$\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 5 times. Last edited by ayan.nmath, Feb 13, 2019, 8:37 AM
Reason: Typo
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HKIS200543
380 posts
#15
Y by
Nothing new here.

Consider an inversion at $P$ with radius $\sqrt{ PD \cdot PE}$ followed by a reflection over the angle-bisector of $\angle DPE$. This clearly swaps $D$ and $E$ Let $A', B', K'. L'$ denote the images of $A,B,K,L$ respectively. Since $\angle APE = \angle DPB$, it is clear that $P,A,K,B', L'$ are collinear, as are $P,B,L,A',K'$. Moreover, $(PA'B'), (PB'E)$, and $(PA'D)$ are all tangent to the line $DE$. Let $T$ be the point of tangency of of $(PA'B')$ to $DE$.

Then by power of a point
\begin{align*}
KE^2  = KP \cdot KB' = KT^2 \\
LD^2 = LP \cdot LA' = LT^2 .
\end{align*}Hence
\[ KE + LD = KT + LT = KL \implies 2KL = DE, \]as desired.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by HKIS200543, Sep 7, 2020, 5:35 AM
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cmsgr8er
434 posts
#16 • 2 Y
Y by amar_04, Mango247
Probably a better way to prove collinearity but I'm bad so it is what it is.

Some definitions: Let $X,Y$ denote intersections of $AP, BP$ with incircle $\omega,$ respectively. Note the angle conditions imply $XY\parallel DE.$ Let $XD\cap EY = J$ and let $F$ denote the $C$ intouch point, $P'$ be the intersection of $\omega$ with line through $P$ parallel to $XY,$ $Q=P'J\cap \omega, M=QP\cap DE.$

Claim: $F,J,P$ are collinear.

Proof. Since $FXEP, FYDP$ are harmonic and $XYDE$ is isosceles,
$$\frac{XF}{XE} = \frac{PF}{PE} \qquad \frac{YD}{YF}=\frac{PD}{PF} \iff \frac{XF}{YF} = \frac{PD}{PE}$$$$\frac{\sin \angle FPX}{\sin \angle FPY} = \frac{\sin \angle FYX}{\sin \angle FXY} =\frac{XF}{YF} = \frac{PD}{PE} = \frac{\sin \angle DEP}{\sin \angle EDP} = \frac{\sin \angle DXP}{\sin \angle EYP}.$$Hence, applying Trig Ceva on $\triangle XYP$ implies $FP, XD, YE$ are concurrent. $\blacksquare$

Therefore, $QP'EX$ is a reflection of $FPDY$ and hence harmonic. Thus,
$$(Q,E; X, P') \stackrel{P}{=} (M,E; L, \infty) = -1 \qquad \text{and} \qquad (Q,E; X, P') \stackrel{J}{=} (P', Y; D, Q) \stackrel{P}{=} (\infty, K;  D, M) = -1$$Each implying $L$ is the midpoint of $M,E$ and $K$ is the midpoint of $M,D,$ respectively, so we're done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by cmsgr8er, Dec 26, 2020, 4:25 AM
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IndoMathXdZ
691 posts
#17
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CantonMathGuy wrote:
The incircle of a triangle $ABC$ touches the sides $BC$ and $AC$ at points $D$ and $E$, respectively. Suppose $P$ is the point on the shorter arc $DE$ of the incircle such that $\angle APE = \angle DPB$. The segments $AP$ and $BP$ meet the segment $DE$ at points $K$ and $L$, respectively. Prove that $2KL = DE$.

Dušan Djukić

Took wayyy longer than I expected. Great problem!
Let $D'$ and $E'$ be the midpoints of $DF$ and $EF$ respectively and $M \in DE$ such that $(PM,PF)$ are isogonal wrt $\angle EPD$.
Claim 01. $\triangle PMD \sim \triangle PEF$ and similarly, $\triangle PME \sim \triangle PDF$.
Proof. We have $\measuredangle PDM \equiv \measuredangle PDE = \measuredangle PFE$ and by definition, $\measuredangle EPF = \measuredangle MPD$. Then we are done.
Now, notice that $PA$ is the symmedian of $\triangle PEF$. Similarly, $PB$ is the symmedian of $\triangle PDF$.
Hence, we have
\[ \measuredangle E'PF = \measuredangle EPA = \measuredangle BPD \]Claim 02. $\triangle LPD \sim \triangle E'PF$.
Proof. To prove this, notice that $\measuredangle PDL \equiv \measuredangle PDE = \measuredangle PFE \equiv \measuredangle PFE'$ and $\measuredangle LPD = \measuredangle BPD = \measuredangle E'PF$. Hence, we are done.

To finish this, notice that from the above two claims, we have
\[ \frac{PD}{MD} = \frac{PF}{EF} \ \text{and} \ \frac{PD}{LD} = \frac{PF}{E'F} \]This is enough to conclude that $MD = 2 LD$. Similarly, $ME = 2KM$.
Therefore,
\[ DE = MD + ME = 2ML + 2KM = 2KL. \]
Some Remarks on Motivation
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508669
1040 posts
#18 • 1 Y
Y by teomihai
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Ez. Here is a shabbily presented but well detailed proof.

We perform an inversion $\Gamma$ which is inverting the configuration about a circle centered at $P$ with radius $\sqrt{PD \cdot PE}$ and reflecting about angle bisector of $\angle PDE$ where $\Gamma$ takes a point $X$ to a point $X'$. We see that points $D$ and $E$ swap under $\Gamma$ and $\angle APE = \angle DPB$ implies that lines $\overline{PA}, \overline{PB}$ are isogonal with respect to $\triangle PDE$ and so $A' \in \overline{PB}$ and $B' \in \overline{PA}$. Now, $\Gamma$ takes line $\overline{DE}$ to $\odot (\triangle PDE)$ and therefore lines $\overline{AB}, \overline{BD}, \overline{AE}$ are all tangent to $\odot (\triangle PDE)$ implies that the circumcircles of $\triangle PDA', \triangle PEB', \triangle PA'B'$ are all tangent to $\overline{DE}$. Let $M = \odot (\triangle PA'B') \cap \overline{DE}$. Then since $K \in \overline{PA}$ belongs to radical axis of circumcircles of $\triangle PEB'$ and $\triangle PA'B'$ (which means that $K$ has equal power with respect to both these circles) and is also belonging to common tangent of these two circles, we have that $KM = KE$ and using symmetrical arguments we get that $L \in \overline{PB}$ belongs to radical axis of circumcircles of $\triangle PDA'$ and $\triangle PA'B'$ and is also belonging to common tangent of these two circles, we have that $LM = LD$.

Therefore, $KL = KM + ML = \dfrac{KM + KE}{2} + \dfrac{LM + LD}{2} = \dfrac{EM + DM}{2} = \dfrac{DE}{2}$ or $2KL = DE$ as desired.

Remark : This was my first solution. I later on also found involution solution by MarkBcC, the similarity solution and the Ptolemy solution too, however I think in terms of process involved in the proof, the inversion proof is the most easy-going proof and is rather straightforward! :) Also I am interested if someone found a proof using a different inversion like inverting about circumcircle of $\triangle PDE$ or something like that.

Remark : This proof is not new :( nice job HKIS and TelvCohl
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by 508669, Feb 7, 2021, 12:41 PM
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ihatemath123
3441 posts
#20 • 1 Y
Y by alsk
Let lines $AP$ and $BP$ meet the incircle at $X$ and $Y$, respectively. Let $M$ and $N$ be the midpoints of $\overline{EF}$ and $\overline{DF}$, respectively.

Claim: We have $\triangle PEF \sim \triangle PKN$.
Proof: It suffices to show that $\triangle PEK \sim \triangle PFN$. Since quadrilateral $FPDY$ is harmonic, it follows that $\angle KPE = \angle BPD = \angle NPF$. Moreover, $\angle PEK = \angle PFN$ so the similarity follows.

Claim: Line $FP$ bisects $\overline{KN}$.
Proof: Let $J$ be the midpoint of $\overline{KN}$. We have
\[\angle JPN = \angle MPF = \angle EPA = \angle DPB = \angle FPN,\]so $J$ lies on $\overline{FP}$.

Similarly, line $FP$ bisects $\overline{ML}$. Since $\overline{MN} \parallel \overline{KL}$, lines $FP$, $KN$ and $ML$ in fact concur. Therefore, it follows that $MNLK$ is a parallelogram.
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GrantStar
815 posts
#21 • 2 Y
Y by alsk, ihatemath123
Might be a fakesolve??

First, $A$ center the problem and let $BP$, $CP$ meet the incircle again at $X,Y$. Let $P'$ and $D'$ be on the incircle with $DD'\parallel PP' \parallel EF$. We are given that $XY \parallel EF$ as well and $DEXP$, $DFYP$ are harmonic.

Reflect each of these across the perpendicular bisector of $EF$. Then, $D'FXP'$ and $D'EYP'$ are harmonic. Projecting these through $P$ onto $EF$ yields that $PX$ bisects $FT$ and $PY$ bisects $ET$, where $T=PD'\cap EF$. Thus $2KL=2TK+2TL=TE+TF=EF$.
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