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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.

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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.
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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
Graph again
steven_zhang123   0
a minute ago
Source: China TST 2001 Quiz 7 P2
Let \(L_3 = \{3\}\), \(L_n = \{3, 4, \ldots, h\}\) (where \(h > 3\)). For any given integer \(n \geq 3\), consider a graph \(G\) with \(n\) vertices that contains a Hamiltonian cycle \(C\) and has more than \(\frac{n^2}{4}\) edges. For which lengths \(l \in L_n\) must the graph \(G\) necessarily contain a cycle of length \(l\)?
0 replies
steven_zhang123
a minute ago
0 replies
A and B play a game
EthanWYX2009   1
N 7 minutes ago by DottedCaculator
Source: 2025 TST 23
Let \( n \geq 2 \) be an integer. Two players, Alice and Bob, play the following game on the complete graph \( K_n \): They take turns to perform operations, where each operation consists of coloring one or two edges that have not been colored yet. The game terminates if at any point there exists a triangle whose three edges are all colored.

Prove that there exists a positive number \(\varepsilon\), Alice has a strategy such that, no matter how Bob colors the edges, the game terminates with the number of colored edges not exceeding
\[
\left( \frac{1}{4} - \varepsilon \right) n^2 + n.
\]
1 reply
+1 w
EthanWYX2009
Today at 2:49 PM
DottedCaculator
7 minutes ago
Why are there so many Graphs in China TST 2001?
steven_zhang123   0
10 minutes ago
Source: China TST 2001 Quiz 7 P1
Let $k$ be a given integer, $3 < k \leq n$. Consider a graph $G$ with $n$ vertices satisfying the condition: for any two non-adjacent vertices $x$ and $y$ in graph $G$, the sum of their degrees must satisfy $d(x) + d(y) \geq k$. Please answer the following questions and prove your conclusions.

(1) Suppose the length of the longest path in graph $G$ is $l$ satisfying the inequality $3 \leq l < k$, does graph $G$ necessarily contain a cycle of length $l+1$? (The length of a path or cycle refers to the number of edges that make up the path or cycle.)

(2) For the case where $3 < k \leq n-1$ and graph $G$ is connected, can we determine that the length of the longest path in graph $G$, $l \geq k$?

(3) For the case where $3 < k = n-1$, is it necessary for graph $G$ to have a path of length $n-1$ (i.e., a Hamiltonian path)?
0 replies
steven_zhang123
10 minutes ago
0 replies
2025 TST 22
EthanWYX2009   2
N 11 minutes ago by DottedCaculator
Source: 2025 TST 22
Let \( A \) be a set of 2025 positive real numbers. For a subset \( T \subseteq A \), define \( M_T \) as the median of \( T \) when all elements of \( T \) are arranged in increasing order, with the convention that \( M_\emptyset = 0 \). Define
\[
P(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ odd}}} M_T, \quad Q(A) = \sum_{\substack{T \subseteq A \\ |T| \text{ even}}} M_T.
\]Find the smallest real number \( C \) such that for any set \( A \) of 2025 positive real numbers, the following inequality holds:
\[
P(A) - Q(A) \leq C \cdot \max(A),
\]where \(\max(A)\) denotes the largest element in \( A \).
2 replies
EthanWYX2009
Today at 2:50 PM
DottedCaculator
11 minutes ago
No more topics!
Let's Invert Some
Shweta_16   7
N Feb 1, 2020 by mmathss
Source: STEMS 2020 Math Category B/P4 Subjective
In triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ with incenter $I$, the incircle $\omega$ touches sides $AC$ and $AB$ at points $E$ and $F$, respectively. A circle passing through $B$ and $C$ touches $\omega$ at point $K$. The circumcircle of $\triangle{KEC}$ meets $BC$ at $Q \neq C$. Prove that $FQ$ is parallel to $BI$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal
7 replies
Shweta_16
Jan 26, 2020
mmathss
Feb 1, 2020
Let's Invert Some
G H J
Source: STEMS 2020 Math Category B/P4 Subjective
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Shweta_16
15 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by Smita, mijail, Adventure10, Funcshun840
In triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ with incenter $I$, the incircle $\omega$ touches sides $AC$ and $AB$ at points $E$ and $F$, respectively. A circle passing through $B$ and $C$ touches $\omega$ at point $K$. The circumcircle of $\triangle{KEC}$ meets $BC$ at $Q \neq C$. Prove that $FQ$ is parallel to $BI$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Shweta_16, Jan 26, 2020, 1:34 PM
Reason: let's chase some angels
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GeoMetrix
924 posts
#2 • 5 Y
Y by mueller.25, amar_04, AlastorMoody, sameer_chahar12, Adventure10
[asy]
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[/asy]
IMO the title doesnt suit the prob.
Proof: Let $I_A$ be the $A$-excentre. Its well known(ISL 2002 G7) that $K=I_AD \cap \omega$. Now we'll use a phantom approach . Let $\ell$ be the line through $F$ parallel to $BI$. and let $\ell \cap BC=Q'$ We just need to show that $Q' \in \odot(KEG)$. Firstly define $\ell \cap AI=L$. Notice that $\angle LQ'C=\angle IBC=\angle IKC=\angle LKC \implies LQ'I_AC$ cyclic. Now notice that $\Delta FAL \cong \Delta EAL \implies \angle AFL=\angle AEL$. But notice that $\angle AEL=\angle AFL=\angle ABI=\angle LQ'C\implies LEQ'C$ cyclic. This combined with the fact that $LQ'I_AC$ is cyclic $\implies LQ'CI_AE$ is cyclic. So now we just need to show that $K\in \odot(LQ'CI_AE)$ But notice that $\angle I_AEQ'=\angle I_ACQ'=90-\frac{\angle C}{2}$ and $\angle Q'I_AE=\angle Q'CE=\angle C \implies I_AQ=I_AE$. FInally $\angle EKD =\angle CDE=\angle I_ACD=\angle I_AEQ'=\angle I_AQ'E\implies K \in \odot(I_AQ'E)$ as desired. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 9 times. Last edited by GeoMetrix, Jan 27, 2020, 6:13 AM
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anantmudgal09
1979 posts
#3 • 8 Y
Y by Pluto1708, biomathematics, GammaBetaAlpha, amar_04, Sumitrajput0271, DPS, Adventure10, Funcshun840
My problem.

My solution was to apply $\sqrt{DE \cdot DF}$ inversion in contact triangle $\triangle DEF$. It is quite simple from here :)
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TheDarkPrince
3042 posts
#4 • 2 Y
Y by amar_04, Adventure10
Shweta_16 wrote:
In triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ with incenter $I$, the incircle $\omega$ touches sides $AC$ and $AB$ at points $E$ and $F$, respectively. A circle passing through $B$ and $C$ touches $\omega$ at point $K$. The circumcircle of $\triangle{KEC}$ meets $BC$ at $Q \neq C$. Prove that $FQ$ is parallel to $BI$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal

Quick sketch:

Let $I_a$ be the A-excenter. We know that $I_a,D,K$ are collinear. Angle chase to show that $I_a$ lies on $\odot(KEC)$. This will gives us that $\angle QKD = \angle DIC$ and also we have $\angle BKD = DKC$.

Now we'll fix $K,D$ and move $C$ linearly. Therefore $B$ and $Q$ move linearly, so just work when $C = D$ and $C$ is point of infinity to get that $BQ = BD = BF$, so we are done.
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Wizard_32
1566 posts
#9 • 4 Y
Y by GeoMetrix, amar_04, Adventure10, Mango247
Here's my solution, which is much more of a "complete the configuration" type, while ignoring $A.$ Nice problem btw.
Shweta_16 wrote:
In triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ with incenter $I$, the incircle $\omega$ touches sides $AC$ and $AB$ at points $E$ and $F$, respectively. A circle passing through $B$ and $C$ touches $\omega$ at point $K$. The circumcircle of $\triangle{KEC}$ meets $BC$ at $Q \neq C$. Prove that $FQ$ is parallel to $BI$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal
Clearly, it suffices to show $BF=BQ.$ Let $\omega$ be tangent to $BC$ at $D.$ Since $BF=BD,$ hence it suffices to show that $BQ=BD.$ Call the circle through $B,C$ tangent to $\omega$ as $\gamma.$ We now rephrase the problem without $A:$
Rephrased Problem wrote:
Let $\gamma$ be a circle through two points $B,C,$ and let $\omega$ be a circle tangent to $BC, \gamma$ at $D,K$ respectively. Let $CE$ be the second tangent from $C$ to $\omega.$ Assume that $(KEC)$ meets $BC$ again in $Q.$ Show that $BQ=BD.$
Let $M$ be the midpoint of arc $BC$ not containing $K$ in $\gamma.$ By a well known lemma (shooting lemma), $K,D,M$ are collinear. (proof is by homothety taking $\omega$ to $\gamma$). Let $(M,MC)$ be the circle at $M$ with radius $MC.$

We start off by the following key lemma:

Lemma: The points $ED, CM$ meet at $X,$ where $X$ lies on $(M,MC)$
Proof: Let $O$ be the center of $\omega.$ Let $OC \cap ED=N.$ Now consider the inversion about $(M,MC).$ It is not too hard to see that $\omega$ is fixed under this inversion (since it is tangent to $BC, \gamma,$ both of which are swapped under this inversion). Hence $\omega, (M,MC)$ are orthogonal.

Thus, $ON \cdot OC=OD^2$ is the power of $O$ with respect to $(M,MC).$ Hence, $N$ lies on $(M,MC).$ Since $\angle CND=\pi/2,$ hence this implies the lemma. $\square$
[asy]
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[/asy]
Claim: Now, we claim that $X$ also lies on $(KEC).$
Proof: Indeed,
$$\measuredangle KEX=\measuredangle KED=\measuredangle KDB=\text{arc}(BK)+\text{arc}(MC)=\text{arc}(KM)$$(where the last part since $M$ is the arc midpoint.) But also $$\measuredangle KCX=\measuredangle KCM=\text{arc}(KM)$$Hence $\measuredangle KEX=\measuredangle KCX$ giving that $X$ lies on $(KEC).$ $\square$

To finish, see that $\measuredangle XQC=\measuredangle XEC$ by $(KEC).$ But also $\measuredangle XEC=\measuredangle DEC=\measuredangle CDE=\measuredangle QDX$ and so $XQ=XD.$ But $XB \perp BC$ as $X \in (M,MC)$ and so $B$ is the midpoint of $QD.$ $\blacksquare$
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vivoloh
59 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by amar_04, Adventure10
I have a solution which involve inversion about point $K$ and a little bit of lengthy angle chase.
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BOBTHEGR8
272 posts
#11 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Shweta_16 wrote:
In triangle $\triangle{ABC}$ with incenter $I$, the incircle $\omega$ touches sides $AC$ and $AB$ at points $E$ and $F$, respectively. A circle passing through $B$ and $C$ touches $\omega$ at point $K$. The circumcircle of $\triangle{KEC}$ meets $BC$ at $Q \neq C$. Prove that $FQ$ is parallel to $BI$.

Proposed by Anant Mudgal

Solution-
Let tangent to $\omega$ at $K$ intersect $BC$ at $T$ and $AC$ at $R$. Let $KE$ intersect $BC$ at $S$.
In $\Delta TRC$ , $ K,E,D$ are the incircle touch points and hence $R(T,C,S,D)=-1 \implies R(D,C,S,T)=1-(-1)=2$
Hence $\frac{DS}{SC}=2\frac{DT}{TC} \implies \frac{DS}{SC}(SD-SC)=2\frac{DT}{TC}(TC-TD)\implies \frac{SD^2}{CS}-DS=2(DT-\frac{TD^2}{CT})$
But $SD^2=SE\cdot SK=SC\cdot SQ \implies \frac{SD^2}{SC}=QS$ and $TD^2=TK^2=TB\cdot TC \implies \frac {TD^2}{CT}=BT$
So we have $QS-DS=2(DT-BT) \implies QD=2BD \implies BQ=BD=BF$ and hence we have $\angle QFD=90 $
But $BI\perp FD \implies BI \parallel QF$
Hence proved !!!
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mmathss
282 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by GeoMetrix, Adventure10
GeoMetrix wrote:
[asy]
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[/asy]
IMO the title doesnt suit the prob.
Proof: Let $I_A$ be the $A$-excentre. Its well known(ISL 2002 G7) that $K=I_AD \cap \omega$. Now we'll use a phantom approach . Let $\ell$ be the line through $F$ parallel to $BI$. and let $\ell \cap BC=Q'$ We just need to show that $Q' \in \odot(KEG)$. Firstly define $\ell \cap AI=L$. Notice that $\angle LQ'C=\angle IBC=\angle IKC=\angle LKC \implies LQ'I_AC$ cyclic. Now notice that $\Delta FAL \cong \Delta EAL \implies \angle AFL=\angle AEL$. But notice that $\angle AEL=\angle AFL=\angle ABI=\angle LQ'C\implies LEQ'C$ cyclic. This combined with the fact that $LQ'I_AC$ is cyclic $\implies LQ'CI_AE$ is cyclic. So now we just need to show that $K\in \odot(LQ'CI_AE)$ But notice that $\angle I_AEQ'=\angle I_ACQ'=90-\frac{\angle C}{2}$ and $\angle Q'I_AE=\angle Q'CE=\angle C \implies I_AQ=I_AE$. FInally $\angle EKD =\angle CDE=\angle I_ACD=\angle I_AEQ'=\angle I_AQ'E\implies K \in \odot(I_AQ'E)$ as desired. $\blacksquare$

Well there was no need of phantom point approach
Here's how you can finish it easily:
$\triangle AEI_A\equiv \triangle AFI_A\Rightarrow I_AE=I_AF\Rightarrow I_A$ is circumcenter of $QFE$.Since $\angle QI_AE=C$ we get $\angle QFE=180-\frac {C}{2}$ and we are done.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by mmathss, Feb 1, 2020, 7:01 PM
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