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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.

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[*]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
Prove that IMO is isosceles
YLG_123   4
N 16 minutes ago by Blackbeam999
Source: 2024 Brazil Ibero TST P2
Let \( ABC \) be an acute-angled scalene triangle with circumcenter \( O \). Denote by \( M \), \( N \), and \( P \) the midpoints of sides \( BC \), \( CA \), and \( AB \), respectively. Let \( \omega \) be the circle passing through \( A \) and tangent to \( OM \) at \( O \). The circle \( \omega \) intersects \( AB \) and \( AC \) at points \( E \) and \( F \), respectively (where \( E \) and \( F \) are distinct from \( A \)). Let \( I \) be the midpoint of segment \( EF \), and let \( K \) be the intersection of lines \( EF \) and \( NP \). Prove that \( AO = 2IK \) and that triangle \( IMO \) is isosceles.
4 replies
YLG_123
Oct 12, 2024
Blackbeam999
16 minutes ago
Geometric mean of squares a knight's move away
Pompombojam   0
20 minutes ago
Source: Problem Solving Tactics Methods of Proof Q27
Each square of an $8 \times 8$ chessboard has a real number written in it in such a way that each number is equal to the geometric mean of all the numbers a knight's move away from it.

Is it true that all of the numbers must be equal?
0 replies
Pompombojam
20 minutes ago
0 replies
Circumcircle of ADM
v_Enhance   71
N 22 minutes ago by judokid
Source: USA TSTST 2012, Problem 7
Triangle $ABC$ is inscribed in circle $\Omega$. The interior angle bisector of angle $A$ intersects side $BC$ and $\Omega$ at $D$ and $L$ (other than $A$), respectively. Let $M$ be the midpoint of side $BC$. The circumcircle of triangle $ADM$ intersects sides $AB$ and $AC$ again at $Q$ and $P$ (other than $A$), respectively. Let $N$ be the midpoint of segment $PQ$, and let $H$ be the foot of the perpendicular from $L$ to line $ND$. Prove that line $ML$ is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle $HMN$.
71 replies
v_Enhance
Jul 19, 2012
judokid
22 minutes ago
Three operations make any number
awesomeming327.   2
N 43 minutes ago by happymoose666
Source: own
The number $3$ is written on the board. Anna, Boris, and Charlie can do the following actions: Anna can replace the number with its floor. Boris can replace any integer number with its factorial. Charlie can replace any nonnegative number with its square root. Prove that the three can work together to make any positive integer in finitely many steps.
2 replies
awesomeming327.
4 hours ago
happymoose666
43 minutes ago
Inspired by RMO 2006
sqing   3
N an hour ago by Marrelia
Source: Own
Let $ a,b >0  . $ Prove that
$$  \frac {a^{2}+1}{b+k}+\frac { b^{2}+1}{ka+1}+\frac {2}{a+kb}  \geq \frac {6}{k+1}  $$Where $k\geq 0.03 $
$$  \frac {a^{2}+1}{b+1}+\frac { b^{2}+1}{a+1}+\frac {2}{a+b}  \geq 3  $$
3 replies
sqing
Saturday at 3:24 PM
Marrelia
an hour ago
Inspired by 2025 Beijing
sqing   10
N 2 hours ago by ytChen
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c,d >0  $ and $ (a^2+b^2+c^2)(b^2+c^2+d^2)=36. $ Prove that
$$ab^2c^2d \leq 8$$$$a^2bcd^2 \leq 16$$$$ ab^3c^3d \leq \frac{2187}{128}$$$$ a^3bcd^3 \leq \frac{2187}{32}$$
10 replies
sqing
Saturday at 4:56 PM
ytChen
2 hours ago
IMO 2017 Problem 4
Amir Hossein   116
N 4 hours ago by cj13609517288
Source: IMO 2017, Day 2, P4
Let $R$ and $S$ be different points on a circle $\Omega$ such that $RS$ is not a diameter. Let $\ell$ be the tangent line to $\Omega$ at $R$. Point $T$ is such that $S$ is the midpoint of the line segment $RT$. Point $J$ is chosen on the shorter arc $RS$ of $\Omega$ so that the circumcircle $\Gamma$ of triangle $JST$ intersects $\ell$ at two distinct points. Let $A$ be the common point of $\Gamma$ and $\ell$ that is closer to $R$. Line $AJ$ meets $\Omega$ again at $K$. Prove that the line $KT$ is tangent to $\Gamma$.

Proposed by Charles Leytem, Luxembourg
116 replies
Amir Hossein
Jul 19, 2017
cj13609517288
4 hours ago
A sharp one with 3 var
mihaig   10
N 4 hours ago by mihaig
Source: Own
Let $a,b,c\geq0$ satisfying
$$\left(a+b+c-2\right)^2+8\leq3\left(ab+bc+ca\right).$$Prove
$$ab+bc+ca+abc\geq4.$$
10 replies
mihaig
May 13, 2025
mihaig
4 hours ago
Another right angled triangle
ariopro1387   1
N 4 hours ago by lolsamo
Source: Iran Team selection test 2025 - P7
Let $ABC$ be a right angled triangle with $\angle A=90$. Point $M$ is the midpoint of side $BC$ And $P$ be an arbitrary point on $AM$. The reflection of $BP$ over $AB$ intersects lines $AC$ and $AM$ at $T$ and $Q$, respectively. The circumcircles of $BPQ$ and $ABC$ intersect again at $F$. Prove that the center of the circumcircle of $CFT$ lies on $BQ$.
1 reply
ariopro1387
Yesterday at 4:13 PM
lolsamo
4 hours ago
four points lie on a circle
pohoatza   78
N 5 hours ago by ezpotd
Source: IMO Shortlist 2006, Geometry 2, AIMO 2007, TST 1, P2
Let $ ABCD$ be a trapezoid with parallel sides $ AB > CD$. Points $ K$ and $ L$ lie on the line segments $ AB$ and $ CD$, respectively, so that $AK/KB=DL/LC$. Suppose that there are points $ P$ and $ Q$ on the line segment $ KL$ satisfying \[\angle{APB} = \angle{BCD}\qquad\text{and}\qquad \angle{CQD} = \angle{ABC}.\]Prove that the points $ P$, $ Q$, $ B$ and $ C$ are concyclic.

Proposed by Vyacheslev Yasinskiy, Ukraine
78 replies
pohoatza
Jun 28, 2007
ezpotd
5 hours ago
JBMO TST Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023 P4
FishkoBiH   2
N 5 hours ago by Stear14
Source: JBMO TST Bosnia and Herzegovina 2023 P4
Let $n$ be a positive integer. A board with a format $n*n$ is divided in $n*n$ equal squares.Determine all integers $n$3 such that the board can be covered in $2*1$ (or $1*2$) pieces so that there is exactly one empty square in each row and each column.
2 replies
FishkoBiH
Yesterday at 1:38 PM
Stear14
5 hours ago
Does there exist 2011 numbers?
cyshine   8
N 5 hours ago by TheBaiano
Source: Brazil MO, Problem 4
Do there exist $2011$ positive integers $a_1 < a_2 < \ldots < a_{2011}$ such that $\gcd(a_i,a_j) = a_j - a_i$ for any $i$, $j$ such that $1 \le i < j \le 2011$?
8 replies
cyshine
Oct 20, 2011
TheBaiano
5 hours ago
D1036 : Composition of polynomials
Dattier   1
N 5 hours ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Find all $A \in \mathbb Q[x]$ with $\exists Q \in \mathbb Q[x], Q(A(x))= x^{2025!+2}+x^2+x+1$ and $\deg(A)>1$.
1 reply
Dattier
Saturday at 1:52 PM
Dattier
5 hours ago
number sequence contains every large number
mathematics2003   3
N 5 hours ago by sttsmet
Source: 2021ChinaTST test3 day1 P2
Given distinct positive integer $ a_1,a_2,…,a_{2020} $. For $ n \ge 2021 $, $a_n$ is the smallest number different from $a_1,a_2,…,a_{n-1}$ which doesn't divide $a_{n-2020}...a_{n-2}a_{n-1}$. Proof that every number large enough appears in the sequence.
3 replies
mathematics2003
Apr 13, 2021
sttsmet
5 hours ago
3-digit palindrome and binary expansion \overline {xyx}
parmenides51   6
N Apr 10, 2025 by imzzzzzz
Source: RMM Shortlist 2017 N2
Let $x, y$ and $k$ be three positive integers. Prove that there exist a positive integer $N$ and a set of $k + 1$ positive integers $\{b_0,b_1, b_2, ... ,b_k\}$, such that, for every $i = 0, 1, ... , k$ , the $b_i$-ary expansion of $N$ is a $3$-digit palindrome, and the $b_0$-ary expansion is exactly $\overline{\mbox{xyx}}$.

proposed by Bojan Basic, Serbia
6 replies
parmenides51
Jul 4, 2019
imzzzzzz
Apr 10, 2025
3-digit palindrome and binary expansion \overline {xyx}
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Source: RMM Shortlist 2017 N2
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parmenides51
30653 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by jhu08, Sprites, Adventure10, Mango247
Let $x, y$ and $k$ be three positive integers. Prove that there exist a positive integer $N$ and a set of $k + 1$ positive integers $\{b_0,b_1, b_2, ... ,b_k\}$, such that, for every $i = 0, 1, ... , k$ , the $b_i$-ary expansion of $N$ is a $3$-digit palindrome, and the $b_0$-ary expansion is exactly $\overline{\mbox{xyx}}$.

proposed by Bojan Basic, Serbia
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dzy47
41 posts
#2 • 2 Y
Y by jhu08, Sprites
BUMP ON THIS!Anyone has a solution?
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Sprites
478 posts
#3
Y by
Yet another construction:-
Choose \begin{align*} N \equiv b_1(x-20) \pmod {b_1^2+1} \\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\ N \equiv b_k(x-20) \pmod {b_k^2+1} \end{align*}Notice that $$N = b_k (x-20)+(k^2+1)$$since obviously we can select $n$ such that \begin{align*} n^2 \equiv -1 \pmod {b_1^2+1} \\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\.\\ n^2 \equiv -1 \pmod {b_k^2+1} \\ q_1,.....,q_{\tau(n^2+1)}|n^2+1 \implies \prod_{j=1}^{\tau(n^2+1)-1} q_j \equiv 1 \pmod {q_{\tau(n^2+1)}} \end{align*}hence $$ \left( \overline{N} \right)_{q_{\tau(n^2+1)}}=xyx$$
This post has been edited 11 times. Last edited by Sprites, Oct 24, 2021, 4:31 PM
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cadaeibf
701 posts
#4 • 1 Y
Y by Sprites
Quote:
suppose that it works for $k=n$ and at the $n+1$th step increase all the $b_i$ to sufficiently large number $a_i$
Why can you substitute the $b_i$ with some (aribtrarily large) $a_i$ which still preserve the equality between the $n$ expressions? How can you pick the new $x_{i,1},x_{i,2}$ given the new $a_i$s? Did you prove that the system (with $n$ fixed from the induction hypothesis) has infinitely many, and thus arbitrarily large, solutions?
This post has been edited 4 times. Last edited by cadaeibf, Oct 21, 2021, 7:47 PM
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SerdarBozdag
892 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Sprites
Problem is to prove there exist as many as we want $a$ which satisfies $(b_0^2+1)x+b_0y=(a^2+1)z+at$ and there is at least one $(z,t)$ with $z,t \le a-1$.

Any solution? How can I find the official solutions?
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mathematics2004
82 posts
#6 • 1 Y
Y by Sprites
Here is the official solution (copied verbatim).

Solution. We provide a general construction which may be specified in many different ways.

To start, we choose some distinct positive integers $d_1, d_2, \ldots , d_k$ satisfying the following conditions: (i) each of them is coprime with $x$; (ii) $d_i > 100(x + y)$ for all $i$; and (iii) the number $L = \text{lcm}(d_1 + 1, d_2 + 1, \ldots , d_k + 1)$ is coprime with $D = d_1d_2 \cdots d_k$. Such $k$-tuples of numbers exist; for instance, one may choose $d_i=2^{p_i}-1$, where $p_i$ are distinct large primes. Another option is to choose some large odd $d_1$ coprime with $x$, and then proceed inductively by setting $d_{i+1} = xd_1(d_1 + 1)d_2(d_2 + 1) \cdots d_i(d_i + 1) + 1$.

Since $gcd(xL, D) = 1$, the multiples of $xL$ represent all residue classes modulo $D$; in particular, there exists a positive integer $m$ such that $xLm \equiv -y \pmod D$. Set $B = Lm$.

Finally, we define
\[ b_0=B, ~ c_i =\frac{B}{d_i + 1}, ~ b_i=d_ic_i=B-c_i, ~ \text{and}~ N = \overline{xyx}_B = x(B^2 + 1) + yB. \]We claim that these values satisfy all the requirements; moreover, for every $i = 1, \cdots , k$ the $b_i$-ary representation of $N$ has three digits, starting and ending with $x$.

To show this, notice that for every $i \in \{1, 2, \ldots , k \}$ we have
\[ N = x(d_i + 1)^2 c_i^2+y(d_i + 1)c_i + x = (x \cdot (d_ic_i)^2 + x)+ (2c_ix + y) \cdot (d_ic_i) + (xc_i^2+yc_i). \]Clearly, $x$ is a $b_i$-ary digit, since $b_i \ge d_i > x$. Denote $\ell_i = (2c_ix + y) \cdot (d_ic_i)$ and $r_i = xc_i^2 + yc_i$. Now it remains to prove that the number $\ell_i + r_i$ is divisible by $b_i = d_ic_i$, and that $\ell_i + r_i < b_i^2$.

Notice that
\[ xc_i + y = \frac{xB + y(d_i + 1)}{d_i + 1}=\frac{(xB + y) + d_iy}{d_i + 1}. \]The numerator of the last fraction is divisible by $d_i$ (due to the choice of $B$), and the denominator is coprime with $d_i$; so $d_i | xc_i + y$. Thus $bi = d_ic_i | r_i$; set $r_i = b_iq_i$. Notice that $q_i \le xc_i + y$.

Hence, $\ell_i+r_i = b_i(2c_ix+y+q_i)$, where $0 \le 2c_ix+y+q_i \le 3c_ix+2y < 100c_i(x+y) < c_id_i = b_i$. Thus the $b_i$-ary expansion of $N$ is a palindrome of the form $N = \overline{x(2c_ix + y + q_i)x}_{b_i}$.
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imzzzzzz
2 posts
#7
Y by
any other $\huge\huge{solution?}$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by imzzzzzz, Apr 10, 2025, 4:18 AM
Reason: fix
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