We have your learning goals covered with Spring and Summer courses available. Enroll today!

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
k a My Retirement & New Leadership at AoPS
rrusczyk   1571
N Mar 26, 2025 by SmartGroot
I write today to announce my retirement as CEO from Art of Problem Solving. When I founded AoPS 22 years ago, I never imagined that we would reach so many students and families, or that we would find so many channels through which we discover, inspire, and train the great problem solvers of the next generation. I am very proud of all we have accomplished and I’m thankful for the many supporters who provided inspiration and encouragement along the way. I'm particularly grateful to all of the wonderful members of the AoPS Community!

I’m delighted to introduce our new leaders - Ben Kornell and Andrew Sutherland. Ben has extensive experience in education and edtech prior to joining AoPS as my successor as CEO, including starting like I did as a classroom teacher. He has a deep understanding of the value of our work because he’s an AoPS parent! Meanwhile, Andrew and I have common roots as founders of education companies; he launched Quizlet at age 15! His journey from founder to MIT to technology and product leader as our Chief Product Officer traces a pathway many of our students will follow in the years to come.

Thank you again for your support for Art of Problem Solving and we look forward to working with millions more wonderful problem solvers in the years to come.

And special thanks to all of the amazing AoPS team members who have helped build AoPS. We’ve come a long way from here:IMAGE
1571 replies
rrusczyk
Mar 24, 2025
SmartGroot
Mar 26, 2025
k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/list]
Our full course list for upcoming classes is below:
All classes run 7:30pm-8:45pm ET/4:30pm - 5:45pm PT unless otherwise noted.

Introductory: Grades 5-10

Prealgebra 1 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 1
Sunday, Mar 2 - Jun 22
Friday, Mar 28 - Jul 18
Sunday, Apr 13 - Aug 10
Tuesday, May 13 - Aug 26
Thursday, May 29 - Sep 11
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Monday, Jun 30 - Oct 20
Wednesday, Jul 16 - Oct 29

Prealgebra 2 Self-Paced

Prealgebra 2
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Jul 8
Sunday, Apr 13 - Aug 10
Wednesday, May 7 - Aug 20
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 29 - Oct 26
Friday, Jul 25 - Nov 21


Introduction to Algebra A Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra A
Sunday, Mar 23 - Jul 20
Monday, Apr 7 - Jul 28
Sunday, May 11 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Wednesday, May 14 - Aug 27
Friday, May 30 - Sep 26
Monday, Jun 2 - Sep 22
Sunday, Jun 15 - Oct 12
Thursday, Jun 26 - Oct 9
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Oct 28

Introduction to Counting & Probability Self-Paced

Introduction to Counting & Probability
Sunday, Mar 16 - Jun 8
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 2
Thursday, May 15 - Jul 31
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Wednesday, Jul 9 - Sep 24
Sunday, Jul 27 - Oct 19

Introduction to Number Theory
Monday, Mar 17 - Jun 9
Thursday, Apr 17 - Jul 3
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Monday, Jun 9 - Aug 25
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Tuesday, Jul 15 - Sep 30

Introduction to Algebra B Self-Paced

Introduction to Algebra B
Sunday, Mar 2 - Jun 22
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 30
Tuesday, May 6 - Aug 19
Wednesday, Jun 4 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Oct 19
Friday, Jul 18 - Nov 14

Introduction to Geometry
Tuesday, Mar 4 - Aug 12
Sunday, Mar 23 - Sep 21
Wednesday, Apr 23 - Oct 1
Sunday, May 11 - Nov 9
Tuesday, May 20 - Oct 28
Monday, Jun 16 - Dec 8
Friday, Jun 20 - Jan 9
Sunday, Jun 29 - Jan 11
Monday, Jul 14 - Jan 19

Intermediate: Grades 8-12

Intermediate Algebra
Sunday, Mar 16 - Sep 14
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Sep 2
Monday, Apr 21 - Oct 13
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 23
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Nov 18
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 10
Sunday, Jul 13 - Jan 18
Thursday, Jul 24 - Jan 22

Intermediate Counting & Probability
Sunday, Mar 23 - Aug 3
Wednesday, May 21 - Sep 17
Sunday, Jun 22 - Nov 2

Intermediate Number Theory
Friday, Apr 11 - Jun 27
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Jun 18 - Sep 3

Precalculus
Sunday, Mar 16 - Aug 24
Wednesday, Apr 9 - Sep 3
Friday, May 16 - Oct 24
Sunday, Jun 1 - Nov 9
Monday, Jun 30 - Dec 8

Advanced: Grades 9-12

Olympiad Geometry
Wednesday, Mar 5 - May 21
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Aug 26

Calculus
Sunday, Mar 30 - Oct 5
Tuesday, May 27 - Nov 11
Wednesday, Jun 25 - Dec 17

Group Theory
Thursday, Jun 12 - Sep 11

Contest Preparation: Grades 6-12

MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics
Sunday, Mar 23 - Jun 15
Wednesday, Apr 16 - Jul 2
Friday, May 23 - Aug 15
Monday, Jun 2 - Aug 18
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

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

AMC 10 Problem Series
Tuesday, Mar 4 - May 20
Monday, Mar 31 - Jun 23
Friday, May 9 - Aug 1
Sunday, Jun 1 - Aug 24
Thursday, Jun 12 - Aug 28
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Sunday, Jun 22 - Sep 21 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15
Tues & Thurs, Jul 8 - Aug 14 (meets twice a week!)

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

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

AMC 12 Final Fives
Sunday, May 18 - Jun 15

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

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


MathWOOT Level 1
MathWOOT Level 2
ChemWOOT
CodeWOOT
PhysicsWOOT

Programming

Introduction to Programming with Python
Monday, Mar 24 - Jun 16
Thursday, May 22 - Aug 7
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14 (1:00 - 2:30 pm ET/10:00 - 11:30 am PT)
Tuesday, Jun 17 - Sep 2
Monday, Jun 30 - Sep 22

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

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

Physics

Introduction to Physics
Sunday, Mar 30 - Jun 22
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15

Physics 1: Mechanics
Tuesday, Mar 25 - Sep 2
Thursday, May 22 - Oct 30
Monday, Jun 23 - Dec 15

Relativity
Sat & Sun, Apr 26 - Apr 27 (4:00 - 7:00 pm ET/1:00 - 4:00pm PT)
Mon, Tue, Wed & Thurs, Jun 23 - Jun 26 (meets every day of the week!)
0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 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
IMO ShortList 1998, number theory problem 6
orl   28
N 33 minutes ago by Zany9998
Source: IMO ShortList 1998, number theory problem 6
For any positive integer $n$, let $\tau (n)$ denote the number of its positive divisors (including 1 and itself). Determine all positive integers $m$ for which there exists a positive integer $n$ such that $\frac{\tau (n^{2})}{\tau (n)}=m$.
28 replies
orl
Oct 22, 2004
Zany9998
33 minutes ago
A projectional vision in IGO
Shayan-TayefehIR   14
N 38 minutes ago by mathuz
Source: IGO 2024 Advanced Level - Problem 3
In the triangle $\bigtriangleup ABC$ let $D$ be the foot of the altitude from $A$ to the side $BC$ and $I$, $I_A$, $I_C$ be the incenter, $A$-excenter, and $C$-excenter, respectively. Denote by $P\neq B$ and $Q\neq D$ the other intersection points of the circle $\bigtriangleup BDI_C$ with the lines $BI$ and $DI_A$, respectively. Prove that $AP=AQ$.

Proposed Michal Jan'ik - Czech Republic
14 replies
Shayan-TayefehIR
Nov 14, 2024
mathuz
38 minutes ago
(a²-b²)(b²-c²) = abc
straight   3
N 39 minutes ago by straight
Find all triples of positive integers $(a,b,c)$ such that

\[(a^2-b^2)(b^2-c^2) = abc.\]
If you can't solve this, assume $gcd(a,c) = 1$. If this is still too hard assume in $a \ge b \ge c$ that $b-c$ is a prime.
3 replies
straight
Mar 24, 2025
straight
39 minutes ago
A checkered square consists of dominos
nAalniaOMliO   1
N 41 minutes ago by BR1F1SZ
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2025
A checkered square $8 \times 8$ is divided into rectangles with two cells. Two rectangles are called adjacent if they share a segment of length 1 or 2. In each rectangle the amount of adjacent with it rectangles is written.
Find the maximal possible value of the sum of all numbers in rectangles.
1 reply
nAalniaOMliO
Yesterday at 8:21 PM
BR1F1SZ
41 minutes ago
A lot of numbers and statements
nAalniaOMliO   2
N an hour ago by nAalniaOMIiO
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2025
101 numbers are written in a circle. Near the first number the statement "This number is bigger than the next one" is written, near the second "This number is bigger that the next two" and etc, near the 100th "This number is bigger than the next 100 numbers".
What is the maximum possible amount of the statements that can be true?
2 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Yesterday at 8:20 PM
nAalniaOMIiO
an hour ago
USAMO 1981 #2
Mrdavid445   9
N an hour ago by Marcus_Zhang
Every pair of communities in a county are linked directly by one mode of transportation; bus, train, or airplane. All three methods of transportation are used in the county with no community being serviced by all three modes and no three communities being linked pairwise by the same mode. Determine the largest number of communities in this county.
9 replies
Mrdavid445
Jul 26, 2011
Marcus_Zhang
an hour ago
Monkeys have bananas
nAalniaOMliO   2
N an hour ago by nAalniaOMIiO
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2025
Ten monkeys have 60 bananas. Each monkey has at least one banana and any two monkeys have different amounts of bananas.
Prove that any six monkeys can distribute their bananas between others such that all 4 remaining monkeys have the same amount of bananas.
2 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Yesterday at 8:20 PM
nAalniaOMIiO
an hour ago
A number theory problem from the British Math Olympiad
Rainbow1971   12
N 2 hours ago by ektorasmiliotis
Source: British Math Olympiad, 2006/2007, round 1, problem 6
I am a little surprised to find that I am (so far) unable to solve this little problem:

[quote]Let $n$ be an integer. Show that, if $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then it is a perfect square.[/quote]

I set $k := \sqrt{1+12n^2}$. If $2 + 2 \sqrt{1+12n^2}$ is an integer, then $k (=\sqrt{1+12n^2})$ is at least rational, so that $1 + 12n^2$ must be a perfect square then. Using Conway's topograph method, I have found out that the smallest non-negative pairs $(n, k)$ for which this happens are $(0,1), (2,7), (28,97)$ and $(390, 1351)$, and that, for every such pair $(n,k)$, the "next" such pair can be calculated as
$$
\begin{bmatrix}
7 & 2 \\
24 & 7 
\end{bmatrix} \begin{bmatrix}
n \\
k 
\end{bmatrix}
.$$The eigenvalues of that matrix are irrational, however, so that any calculation which uses powers of that matrix is a little cumbersome. There must be an easier way, but I cannot find it. Can you?

Thank you.




12 replies
1 viewing
Rainbow1971
Yesterday at 8:39 PM
ektorasmiliotis
2 hours ago
A number theory about divisors which no one fully solved at the contest
nAalniaOMliO   22
N 2 hours ago by nAalniaOMliO
Source: Belarusian national olympiad 2024
Let's call a pair of positive integers $(k,n)$ interesting if $n$ is composite and for every divisor $d<n$ of $n$ at least one of $d-k$ and $d+k$ is also a divisor of $n$
Find the number of interesting pairs $(k,n)$ with $k \leq 100$
M. Karpuk
22 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Jul 24, 2024
nAalniaOMliO
2 hours ago
D1018 : Can you do that ?
Dattier   1
N 2 hours ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
We can find $A,B,C$, such that $\gcd(A,B)=\gcd(C,A)=\gcd(A,2)=1$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$.

For example :

$C=20$
$A=47650065401584409637777147310342834508082136874940478469495402430677786194142956609253842997905945723173497630499054266092849839$

$B=238877301561986449355077953728734922992395532218802882582141073061059783672634737309722816649187007910722185635031285098751698$

Can you find $A,B,C$ such that $A>3$ is prime, $C,B \in (\mathbb Z/A\mathbb Z)^*$ with $o(C)=(A-1)/2$ and $$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (C^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2=0 $$?
1 reply
Dattier
Mar 24, 2025
Dattier
2 hours ago
Nordic 2025 P3
anirbanbz   8
N 3 hours ago by Primeniyazidayi
Source: Nordic 2025
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle with orthocenter $H$ and circumcenter $O$. Let $E$ and $F$ be points on the line segments $AC$ and $AB$ respectively such that $AEHF$ is a parallelogram. Prove that $\vert OE \vert = \vert OF \vert$.
8 replies
anirbanbz
Mar 25, 2025
Primeniyazidayi
3 hours ago
f( - f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y , in Zxz
parmenides51   6
N 3 hours ago by Chikara
Source: 2020 Dutch IMO TST 3.3
Find all functions $f: Z \to Z$ that satisfy $$f(-f (x) - f (y))= 1 -x - y$$for all $x, y \in Z$
6 replies
parmenides51
Nov 22, 2020
Chikara
3 hours ago
Hard limits
Snoop76   2
N 4 hours ago by maths_enthusiast_0001
$a_n$ and $b_n$ satisfies the following recursion formulas: $a_{0}=1, $ $b_{0}=1$, $ a_{n+1}=a_{n}+b_{n}$$ $ and $ $$ b_{n+1}=(2n+3)b_{n}+a_{n}$. Find $ \lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{a_n}{(2n-1)!!}$ $ $ and $ $ $\lim_{n \to \infty} \frac{b_n}{(2n+1)!!}.$
2 replies
Snoop76
Mar 25, 2025
maths_enthusiast_0001
4 hours ago
2025 Caucasus MO Seniors P2
BR1F1SZ   3
N 4 hours ago by X.Luser
Source: Caucasus MO
Let $ABC$ be a triangle, and let $B_1$ and $B_2$ be points on segment $AC$ symmetric with respect to the midpoint of $AC$. Let $\gamma_A$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $AB$ at $A$. Similarly, let $\gamma_C$ denote the circle passing through $B_1$ and tangent to line $BC$ at $C$. Let the circles $\gamma_A$ and $\gamma_C$ intersect again at point $B'$ ($B' \neq B_1$). Prove that $\angle ABB' = \angle CBB_2$.
3 replies
BR1F1SZ
Mar 26, 2025
X.Luser
4 hours ago
Good triangles in a circle
Neothehero   12
N Mar 2, 2025 by HamstPan38825
Source: ISL 2018 G3
A circle $\omega$ with radius $1$ is given. A collection $T$ of triangles is called good, if the following conditions hold:
[list=1]
[*] each triangle from $T$ is inscribed in $\omega$;
[*] no two triangles from $T$ have a common interior point.
[/list]
Determine all positive real numbers $t$ such that, for each positive integer $n$, there exists a good collection of $n$ triangles, each of perimeter greater than $t$.
12 replies
Neothehero
Jul 17, 2019
HamstPan38825
Mar 2, 2025
Good triangles in a circle
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: ISL 2018 G3
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Neothehero
18 posts
#1 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
A circle $\omega$ with radius $1$ is given. A collection $T$ of triangles is called good, if the following conditions hold:
  1. each triangle from $T$ is inscribed in $\omega$;
  2. no two triangles from $T$ have a common interior point.
Determine all positive real numbers $t$ such that, for each positive integer $n$, there exists a good collection of $n$ triangles, each of perimeter greater than $t$.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
test20
988 posts
#2 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
A really nice problem. A kind of geometric inequality.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Sepled
10 posts
#3 • 5 Y
Y by Reef334, ArMath, Infinityfun, Adventure10, Mango247
The answer is $t \leq 4$.

bound
construction
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Sepled, Jul 17, 2019, 4:10 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
v_Enhance
6870 posts
#4 • 4 Y
Y by v4913, starchan, Adventure10, MS_asdfgzxcvb
The answer is $0 < t \le 4$.

First, we claim that all $t=4$ (and hence $t<4$) work. Indeed, fix $n$ and let $M > 2 n^3$ be a large integer. Construct a $2M$-gon $A_0 A_1 \dots A_{2M-1}$. Consider the triangles $\triangle A_0 A_1 A_M$, $\triangle A_1 A_2 A_M$, \dots, up to $\triangle A_{n-1} A_n A_M$.

[asy] 	size(6cm); 	draw(unitcircle); 	pair A = dir(170); 	pair B = dir(165); 	pair C = dir(0); 	dot("$A_{k-1}$", A, dir(180)); 	dot("$A_k$", B, dir(150)); 	dot("$A_M$", C, dir(C)); 	filldraw(A--B--C--cycle, rgb(.8,.8,.8), black); 	dot("$A_0$", dir(180), dir(225)); [/asy]

The semi-perimeter of the $k$th triangle ($1 \le k \le n$) is \begin{align*} 	s_k &= \sin\left( \frac{(M+(k-1))\pi}{2M} \right) 	+ \sin\left( \frac{(M-k)\pi}{2M} \right) 	+ \sin \left( \frac{\pi}{2M}  \right) \\ 	&= \sin\left( \frac{\pi}{2M} \right) 		+ \cos\left( \frac{(k-1)\pi}{2M} \right) 		+ \cos\left( \frac{k\pi}{2M} \right) \\ 	&= \left( \frac{\pi}{2M} - O(M^{-3}) \right) 	+ \left( 2 - O\left( (kM^{-1})^2 \right) \right) \\ 	&= 2 + \frac{\pi}{2M} - o(M^{-1}). \end{align*}where we have used Taylor's theorem in the form $\sin x = x - O(x^{-3})$ and $\cos x = 1 - O(x^{-2})$. As $M \to \infty$, we see $s_k > 2$ for all $1 \le k \le n$, and so all the triangles have perimeter greater than $4$.

Remark: Many other possible constructions exist for $t=4$. Ankan gives the following one: initially start with a right triangle $ABC$, with hypotenuse $BC$, and $A$ near $B$. The idea is to replace $ABC$ with two triangles $AXC$ and $XBC$, with $X$ chosen on arc $\widehat{AB}$, really close to $B$, so that the perimeter of $AXC$ is greater than $4$. Repeat.

On the other hand, suppose $t > 4+\varepsilon$ for some $\varepsilon > 0$.

Claim: Any triangle with perimeter at least $t$ has area exceeding $\frac{1}{2} \varepsilon^{3/2}$.

Proof. Let $a$, $b$, $c$ be the side lengths and $s$ the semiperimeter. We have $s \ge 2+\varepsilon/2$ and $a,b,c \le 2$, hence $\min(s-a,s-b,s-c) > \varepsilon/2$, so the area is at least $\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} > \sqrt{2 \cdot (\varepsilon/2)^3}$ by Heron's formula. $\blacksquare$

Thus there can be at most finitely many such triangles.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
BOBTHEGR8
272 posts
#5 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Answer $0<t\leq4$
t greater than 4 not possible as
Now it is enough to show that t=4 works
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by BOBTHEGR8, Jul 18, 2019, 8:15 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Abderrahmane_Driouch
46 posts
#6 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
BOBTHEGR8 wrote:
Answer $0<t\leq4$
t greater than 4 not possible as
Now it is enough to show that t=4 works

We should have perimetet $\ge 4$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
BOBTHEGR8
272 posts
#7 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
@ above ,its a typo
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
JAnatolGT_00
559 posts
#8
Y by
The answer is all $t\in (0;4].$ Let $P(XYZ)$ denotes the perimeter of $\triangle XYZ.$

Construction. It's enough to consider case $t=4.$ Let $\omega '$ be a cemicircle of $\omega$ with diameter $AB_{n+1}.$ Pick $B_1\in \omega ';$ by the triangle inequality $P(AB_{n+1}B_1)>2\cdot |AB_{n+1}|=4.$ Next, for $i=2,3,\dots ,n$ because of $P(AB_{n+1}B_{i-1})> 4$ we can choose take $B_i$ on arc $B_{i-1}B$ of $\omega '$ (sufficently near to the $B$) for which $P(AB_{i-1}B_i)>4.$ Thus the collection of $\triangle AB_iB_{i+1}$ for $i=1,2,\dots ,n$ is good.

Upper bound. Now assume there is a good collection with $N$ triangles, each of perimeter greater than $4+\varepsilon .$ Pick an arbitrary triangle $ABC$ from collection; since each of it's side has length at most $2,$ the shortest side has length at least $\varepsilon.$ Using formula connecting area of triangle and it's circumradius we obtain $\text{area}(ABC)>\frac{\varepsilon^3}{4}.$ Since triangles of collection are disjoint, it follows that $N<\frac{4\pi}{\varepsilon^3}$ and hence the conclusion.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
awesomeming327.
1677 posts
#9
Y by
The answer is $t\le 4$. Note that for each triangle with lengths $a$, $b$, and $c$ we have $a,b,c\le 2$ so $a,b,c\ge t-4$ so if $t>4$ then note that \[A=\frac{abc}{4R}=\frac{abc}{4}\ge \frac{(t-4)^3}{4}\]which means that enough triangles will cover the circle so there can't be infinite. If $t< 4$ then we first start by noting that any right triangle works, so let $AB$ be diameter and $C_1$ be any point on the circle and let it be close to $A$. We will split this into $AC_2B$ and $C_2C_1B$. Let $d$ be the perimeter minus $4$. Then, let $AC_2=\frac{d}{2}$ and we get $C_1C_2\ge BC_1-\tfrac{d}2$ and $AC_2\ge AC-\tfrac{d}2$ so $AC_2+C_1C_2+AC_1\ge AC+AC_1+BC_1-d=4$ so we're done.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
dkedu
180 posts
#10
Y by
We claim the answer is $t \le 4$.

If $t>4$ we have the area of a triangle is $\sqrt{s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)} \ge \sqrt{\frac{t(t-4)^3)}{16}} > 0$, so if $t >4$ we get that the triangles will have an area that is bounded below therefore if we pick $n$ large enough the sum of the areas of the triangles will be larger than the area of the circle and we will have a contradiction.

Now if $t \le 4$, we just need to provide a construction for $t = 4$. Let $\overline{AB}$ be a diameter. Pick $C$ on the circle close to $B$. Note that the perimeter of this triangle must be greater than $4$ since $p = AC + BC + AB > 2AB = 4$. Now we want to show that we can divide this triangle into two triangles with perimeter at least $4$. To do this we simply pick $C'$ between $B$ and $C$ such that $BC' > \frac{p-4}{2}$ which obviously exists. Now realize that $CC' > BC - \frac{p-4}{2}$ and $AC' > AB - \frac{p-4}{2}$ so summing gives $AC + C'C + AC' > AC + BC - \frac{p-4}{2} + AB - \frac{p-4}{2} = p - (p-4) = 4$. So we can infinitely split triangles of perimeter greater than $4$ so we are done.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
atdaotlohbh
171 posts
#11
Y by
The answer is $\boxed{(0,4]}$
Firstly, we will prove that for all $t \leq 4$ such a collection exists.
Let $AB$ be the diameter of a circle. Delete the semicircle below $AB$
Now we will introduce a function $f: P \to P$, where $P$ is a set of all points on the remaining semicircle
Let $f(X)$ be such a point $Y$ on arc $BX$, that $BX+XY+YB=4$ (if there are multiple such points, choose the closest to $X$). Note that such a point doesn't exist for all $X$, so when it doesn't exist, function is just not defined
Now note that our function is continious and $f(A)=A$. Consider $g(X)=f^n(X)$. It is also continious and also $g(A)=A$. Then for any point $T$ close enough to $A$ there exists such a $M$, that $f(M)=T$. But then take triangles $BMf(M),Bf(M)f(f(M)),\ldots,Bf^{n-1}(M)f^n(M)$

For $t>4$, note that by Heron's formula $S=\sqrt{p(p-a)(p-b)(p-c)} \geq \sqrt{p(p-2)(p-2)(p-2)}  > \sqrt{\frac{t}{2}(\frac{t}{2}-2)^3}=C>0$, and so not more than $\frac{\pi}{C}$ triangles can be in the collection
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Ritwin
155 posts
#12
Y by
Arbitrary-sized collections exist exactly when $t \leq 4$. We prove this in two parts. Note the following fact.

Corollary [extended law of sines]: Suppose a triangle inscribed in $\omega$ has angles $\alpha$, $\beta$, and $\gamma$. Then the triangle has perimeter $2 (\sin \alpha + \sin \beta + \sin \gamma)$ and area $2 \sin \alpha \sin \beta \sin \gamma$.

$\boldsymbol{\color{blue} t > 4}$ is impossible. Let $t = 4 + \varepsilon$. It suffices to prove for arbitrarily small $\varepsilon$. We make the following claim.

Claim: Any triangle in a good collection must have every angle $\theta = \Omega(\varepsilon)$.
Proof. Suppose a triangle inscribed in $\omega$ has smallest angle $\theta$. Move the vertex $P$ with angle $\theta$ so that the triangle becomes isosceles with $P$ as its apex; this only increases its perimeter.
Now the triangle has angles $90^{\circ} - \tfrac\theta2$ twice and $\theta$, so its perimeter is given by \[ 2 \bigl(\sin \theta + 2 \cos \tfrac\theta2\bigr) = 4 + 2 \theta + O(\theta^2) > 4 + \varepsilon. \]This means $\theta > \tfrac12 \varepsilon - O(\varepsilon^2)$, which we abbreviate as $\theta = \Omega(\varepsilon)$. $\square$

On the other hand, this means every triangle in a good collection has area at least $2 (\sin \theta)^3 = \Omega(\varepsilon^3)$. In particular, there is a positive lower bound $\kappa$. Then every good collection must have at most $\pi/\kappa$ triangles, which is finite, contradiction. $\blacksquare$
$\boldsymbol{\color{blue} t \leq 4}$ is possible. It suffices to show $t = 4$ is possible. We provide a construction, describing the triangles by their angles. Let $\varepsilon > 0$ be a small number we will pick later. Consider the following:
  • For each $k \in \{1, 2, \ldots, n\}$, add a triangle with angles $\varepsilon$, $90^{\circ} + (k-1)\varepsilon$, and $90^{\circ} - k \varepsilon$.
In particular, this only adds triangles in half of the circle, which is okay. It's clear that as long as $k \varepsilon < 90^{\circ}$, this procedure creates a good collection of triangles. It suffices to show that by picking $\varepsilon$ sufficiently small, every triangle will have perimeter greater than $4$. But this is quick: by the lemma, triangle $k$ has perimeter \[ 2 (\sin \varepsilon + \cos (k-1)\varepsilon + \cos k\varepsilon) = 4 + 2 \varepsilon - O_k(\varepsilon^2) = 4 + 2 \varepsilon - O_n(\varepsilon^2), \]so picking a sufficiently small $\varepsilon$ works. $\blacksquare$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
HamstPan38825
8857 posts
#13
Y by
The answer is $t \leq 4$.

Construction: For an $\varepsilon > 0$ yet to be determined, consider $n + 1$ points $A_0, A_1, \dots, A_n$ such that the arc $\widehat{A_iA_{i+1}} = 2\varepsilon$ for each $i$, and let $P$ be the point symmetrically opposite on the circle. I claim that we can pick the triangles $PA_iA_{i+1}$ for each $0 \leq i \leq n-1$ by a suitable choice of $\varepsilon$.

Clearly, the triangle with the smallest perimeter is the one on the edge, which has side lengths $2\sin \varepsilon$, $2 \sin\left(90^\circ - \frac{n\varepsilon}2\right), 2\left(90^\circ - \frac{(n-2)\varepsilon}2\right)$. So it suffices to show that there is a $\varepsilon > 0$ such that
\[\sin \varepsilon + \cos\left(\frac{n\varepsilon}2\right) + \cos\left(\frac{(n-2)\varepsilon}2\right) > 2.\]Let $f(x) = \sin x + \cos\left(\frac{nx}2\right) + \cos\left(\frac{(n-2)x}2\right)$ and observe $f(0) = 2$. Also, \[f'(x) = \cos x - \frac nx \sin \left(\frac{nx}2\right) - \frac{n-2}2\sin\left(\frac{nx}2\right) \geq 0\]on some interval $[0, \varepsilon_0]$. Thus at $\varepsilon = \varepsilon_0$, $f(\varepsilon_0) > f(0) = 2$, so this yields the result.

Construction: Assume that there is a $\varepsilon > 0$ such that there exists a construction with every triangle having perimeter greater than $4+2\varepsilon$. Notice that because the $n$ triangles are disjoint, one has area at most $\frac{\pi}n$.

Claim: There exists a side of a triangle in $T$ measuring less than $\varepsilon$.

Proof: Otherwise, consider the area of the smallest triangle, which is given by \[[\Delta] = \frac 12 S_1 S_2 \sin \theta > \frac 12\varepsilon^2 \cdot \frac{\varepsilon}{2R} = \frac 14 \varepsilon^3.\]Picking $\frac{\pi}n < \frac{\varepsilon^3}4$ yields a contradiction. $\blacksquare$

So this triangle $\Delta$ has perimeter less than $2+2+\varepsilon = 4+\varepsilon < 4+2\varepsilon$, contradiction.
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a