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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.

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.

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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
inequalities
Cobedangiu   1
N 7 minutes ago by Natrium
Source: own
$a,b>0$ and $a+b=1$. Find min P:
$P=\sqrt{\frac{1-a}{1+7a}}+\sqrt{\frac{1-b}{1+7b}}$
1 reply
Cobedangiu
an hour ago
Natrium
7 minutes ago
Is this FE solvable?
Mathdreams   0
34 minutes ago
Find all $f:\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that \[f(2x+y) + f(x+f(2y)) = f(x)f(y) - xy\]for all reals $x$ and $y$.
0 replies
Mathdreams
34 minutes ago
0 replies
OFM2021 Senior P1
medhimdi   0
41 minutes ago
Let $a_1, a_2, a_3, \dots$ and $b_1, b_2, b_3, \dots$ be two sequences of integers such that $a_{n+2}=a_{n+1}+a_n$ and $b_{n+2}=b_{n+1}+b_n$ for all $n\geq1$. Suppose that $a_n$ divides $b_n$ for an infinity of integers $n\geq1$. Prove that there exist an integer $c$ such that $b_n=ca_n$ for all $n\geq1$
0 replies
medhimdi
41 minutes ago
0 replies
Hard NT problem
tiendat004   2
N an hour ago by avinashp
Given two odd positive integers $a,b$ are coprime. Consider the sequence $(x_n)$ given by $x_0=2,x_1=a,x_{n+2}=ax_{n+1}+bx_n,$ $\forall n\geq 0$. Suppose that there exist positive integers $m,n,p$ such that $mnp$ is even and $\dfrac{x_m}{x_nx_p}$ is an integer. Prove that the numerator in its simplest form of $\dfrac{m}{np}$ is an odd integer greater than $1$.
2 replies
tiendat004
Aug 15, 2024
avinashp
an hour ago
disjoint subsets
nayel   2
N an hour ago by alexanderhamilton124
Source: Taiwan 2001
Let $n\ge 3$ be an integer and let $A_{1}, A_{2},\dots, A_{n}$ be $n$ distinct subsets of $S=\{1, 2,\dots, n\}$. Show that there exists $x\in S$ such that the n subsets $A_{i}-\{x\}, i=1,2,\dots n$ are also disjoint.

what i have is this
2 replies
nayel
Apr 18, 2007
alexanderhamilton124
an hour ago
Modular Arithmetic and Integers
steven_zhang123   2
N an hour ago by GreekIdiot
Integers \( n, a, b \in \mathbb{Z}^+ \) satisfies \( n + a + b = 30 \). If \( \alpha < b, \alpha \in \mathbb{Z^+} \), find the maximum possible value of $\sum_{k=1}^{\alpha} \left \lfloor \frac{kn^2 \bmod a }{b-k}  \right \rfloor $.
2 replies
steven_zhang123
Mar 28, 2025
GreekIdiot
an hour ago
f(x+y)f(z)=f(xz)+f(yz)
dangerousliri   30
N an hour ago by GreekIdiot
Source: Own
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ such that for all irrational numbers $x, y$ and $z$,
$$f(x+y)f(z)=f(xz)+f(yz)$$
Some stories about this problem. This problem it is proposed by me (Dorlir Ahmeti) and Valmir Krasniqi. We did proposed this problem for IMO twice, on 2018 and on 2019 from Kosovo. None of these years it wasn't accepted and I was very surprised that it wasn't selected at least for shortlist since I think it has a very good potential. Anyway I hope you will like the problem and you are welcomed to give your thoughts about the problem if it did worth to put on shortlist or not.
30 replies
dangerousliri
Jun 25, 2020
GreekIdiot
an hour ago
Unsolved NT, 3rd time posting
GreekIdiot   6
N an hour ago by GreekIdiot
Source: own
Solve $5^x-2^y=z^3$ where $x,y,z \in \mathbb Z$
Hint
6 replies
GreekIdiot
Mar 26, 2025
GreekIdiot
an hour ago
Need hint:''(
Buh_-1235   0
an hour ago
Source: Canada Winter mock 2015
Recall that for any positive integer m, φ(m) denotes the number of positive integers less than m which are relatively
prime to m. Let n be an odd positive integer such that both φ(n) and φ(n + 1) are powers of two. Prove n + 1 is power
of two or n = 5.
0 replies
Buh_-1235
an hour ago
0 replies
Gut inequality
giangtruong13   1
N 2 hours ago by arqady
Let $a,b,c>0$ satisfy that $a+b+c=3$. Find the minimum $$\sum_{cyc} \sqrt[4]{\frac{a^3}{b+c}}$$
1 reply
giangtruong13
4 hours ago
arqady
2 hours ago
Minimize Expression Over Permutation
amuthup   37
N 2 hours ago by mananaban
Source: 2021 ISL A3
For each integer $n\ge 1,$ compute the smallest possible value of \[\sum_{k=1}^{n}\left\lfloor\frac{a_k}{k}\right\rfloor\]over all permutations $(a_1,\dots,a_n)$ of $\{1,\dots,n\}.$

Proposed by Shahjalal Shohag, Bangladesh
37 replies
amuthup
Jul 12, 2022
mananaban
2 hours ago
Let's Invert Some
Shweta_16   8
N 2 hours ago by ihategeo_1969
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
8 replies
Shweta_16
Jan 26, 2020
ihategeo_1969
2 hours ago
very cute geo
rafaello   2
N 2 hours ago by ihategeo_1969
Source: MODSMO 2021 July Contest P7
Consider a triangle $ABC$ with incircle $\omega$. Let $S$ be the point on $\omega$ such that the circumcircle of $BSC$ is tangent to $\omega$ and let the $A$-excircle be tangent to $BC$ at $A_1$. Prove that the tangent from $S$ to $\omega$ and the tangent from $A_1$ to $\omega$ (distinct from $BC$) meet on the line parallel to $BC$ and passing through $A$.
2 replies
rafaello
Oct 26, 2021
ihategeo_1969
2 hours ago
Inspired by old results
sqing   3
N 2 hours ago by xytunghoanh
Source: Own
Let $ a, b,c\geq 0 $ and $ a+2b+3c= 2(\sqrt{6}-1).$ Prove that
$$a+ab+abc\leq 3$$Let $ a, b,c\geq 0 $ and $ a+2b+3c= 2\sqrt{6}-1.$ Prove that
$$a+ab+abc\leq \frac{25}{8}+\sqrt{ \frac{3}{2}}$$Let $ a, b,c\geq 0 $ and $ a+2b+3c= 2\sqrt{3}-1.$ Prove that
$$a+ab+abc\leq \frac{13}{8}+\frac{\sqrt{ 3}}{2}$$
3 replies
sqing
5 hours ago
xytunghoanh
2 hours ago
Functional Geometry
naman12   11
N Jun 17, 2024 by idkk
Source: 2019 ISL G8
Let $\mathcal L$ be the set of all lines in the plane and let $f$ be a function that assigns to each line $\ell\in\mathcal L$ a point $f(\ell)$ on $\ell$. Suppose that for any point $X$, and for any three lines $\ell_1,\ell_2,\ell_3$ passing through $X$, the points $f(\ell_1),f(\ell_2),f(\ell_3)$, and $X$ lie on a circle.
Prove that there is a unique point $P$ such that $f(\ell)=P$ for any line $\ell$ passing through $P$.

Australia
11 replies
naman12
Sep 22, 2020
idkk
Jun 17, 2024
Functional Geometry
G H J
Source: 2019 ISL G8
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
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naman12
1358 posts
#1 • 4 Y
Y by son7, itslumi, Mango247, idkk
Let $\mathcal L$ be the set of all lines in the plane and let $f$ be a function that assigns to each line $\ell\in\mathcal L$ a point $f(\ell)$ on $\ell$. Suppose that for any point $X$, and for any three lines $\ell_1,\ell_2,\ell_3$ passing through $X$, the points $f(\ell_1),f(\ell_2),f(\ell_3)$, and $X$ lie on a circle.
Prove that there is a unique point $P$ such that $f(\ell)=P$ for any line $\ell$ passing through $P$.

Australia
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by elitza, May 22, 2023, 11:39 AM
Z K Y
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v_Enhance
6870 posts
#2 • 36 Y
Y by magicarrow, spartacle, Imayormaynotknowcalculus, MarkBcc168, lminsl, Dr_Vex, richrow12, mathlogician, SnowPanda, Pluto1708, Eliot, Limerent, RodwayWorker, Zorger74, khina, Aryan-23, v4913, son7, superagh, IAmTheHazard, PIartist, HamstPan38825, tenebrine, 554183, megarnie, rayfish, crazyeyemoody907, IMUKAT, sabkx, Ritwin, awesomehuman, starchan, EpicBird08, bhan2025, Sedro, Kingsbane2139
"It's like someone made configuration issues into a problem"

--- during USA training test development
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by v_Enhance, Sep 22, 2020, 11:38 PM
Z K Y
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yayups
1614 posts
#3 • 1 Y
Y by Hapi
Call a point $X$ $k$-bad if at most $k$ lines $\ell$ through $X$ satisfy $f(\ell)\ne X$.

Claim: [due to Jeffrey Kwan] We can't have three collinear $k$-bad points.

Proof: Suppose $X,Y,Z$ collinear and $k$-bad. Then vary $P$ not collinear with them until $f(PX)=X$, $f(PY)=Y$, $f(PZ)$, at which point we lose as $P,X,Y,Z$ can't be cyclic. $\blacksquare$

Claim: There are at most $2k+1$ $k$-bad points.

Proof: Suppose we have $k$-bad points $X_1,\ldots,X_n$. Double count the number of pairs $(i,j)$ such that $f(X_iX_j)=X_i$. Fixing $i$, we see that at least $n-1-k$ $j$ work, so the number of pairs is at least $n(n-1-k)$. Fixing $j$, we see that at most $k$ $i$ work, so the number of pairs is at most $nk$, so we have \[n(n-1-k)\le nk,\]or $n\le 2k+1$, as desired. $\blacksquare$

For each point $X$, let $\omega(X)$ be a circle of nonzero radius such that $f(\ell)\in\omega(X)$ for each $X\in \ell$ (exists by the problem condition).

Pick an arbitrary line $\ell$, and pick $X$ and $Y$ on $\ell$ not equal to $f(\ell)$, and pick $X$ and $Y$ to be $100$-good (we can do this as there are at most $201$ $100$-bad points in the first place). Since $X$ is $100$-good, we may pick a line $\ell'\ne\ell$ through $X$ such that $f(\ell')\ne X$. Draw $99$ more lines through $Y$ called $m_1,\ldots,m_{99}$ such that $f(m_i)\ne Y$, and let $Z_i=m_i\cap\ell'$. \We have at most two of the $Z_i$ such that $f(YZ_i)=Z_i$ since $Z_i\in\omega(Y)$, and $\omega(Y)$ has at most two intersections with $\ell'$. So WLOG, we have $Z_1,\ldots,Z_{97}\in\ell'$ such that $f(YZ_i)\ne Z_i,Y$.

There are at most $81$ $40$-bad points, so some $Z_i$ is $40$-good, let this be $Z$. Thus, we have $X$, $Y$, $Z$, all $40$-good such that $f(XY)\ne X,Y$, $f(XZ)\ne X,Z$, and $f(YZ)\ne Y,Z$. Letting $A=f(YZ)$, $B=f(XZ)$, $C=f(XY)$, we see that $\omega(A)$, $\omega(B)$, $\omega(C)$ concur at some $P$ by Miquel's theorem.

Claim: $P$ is the desired point.

Proof: Now, pick some $Y'\in YZ$ such that $Y'\ne Y,A,Z$, $Y'\not\in(XBC)$, and $f(XY')\ne X$ (this exists since $X$ is $40$-good). Similarly, pick $Z'\in ZX$, $X'\in XY$. Now, we see that the similarly defined Miquel point of $\triangle XY'Z$ is also $P$, since it is again $\omega(X)\cap\omega(Z)\cap\{B\}$. This is similarly true for $\triangle XYZ'$ and $\triangle X'YZ$.

Now pick a point $Q$ far enough away from these $6$ points such that it is on none of $\omega(X),\ldots,\omega(Z')$, and on none of the possible $\binom{6}{3}$ circumcircles. We'll try to show that $P\in\omega(Q)$. We see that $f(QX)\ne Q$ as $Q\not\in\omega(X)$, and similarly for the other $5$. Now, if $f(QX)\ne X$ and $f(QY)\ne Y$, then we'd be done by Miquel on $\triangle QXY$, so WLOG $f(QX)=X$ or $f(QY)=Y$, so $X\in\omega(Q)$ or $Y\in\omega(Q)$. Writing out all similar statements, we actually have \begin{align*}     X\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Y\in\omega(Q) \\     X\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z\in\omega(Q) \\     Y\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z\in\omega(Q) \\     X\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Y'\in\omega(Q) \\     Y'\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z\in\omega(Q) \\     Y\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z'\in\omega(Q) \\     X\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z'\in\omega(Q) \\     X'\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Y\in\omega(Q) \\     X'\in\omega(Q) &\quad\text{or}\quad Z\in\omega(Q). \\ \end{align*}It is easy to manually verify that these Boolean conditions actually imply that three of $\{X,Y,Z,X',Y',Z'\}$ lie on $\omega(Q)$, which is a contradiction, as this implies $Q$ is on one of the $\binom{6}{3}$ circumcircles, which is false for far enough out $Q$.

Thus, for far enough out $Q$, we have $P\in\omega(Q)$. Now, fix any line $t$ through $P$. We see that for far enough $Q$ on $t$, we have $f(t)\in\omega(Q)$, so $f(t)\in \omega(Q)\cap\ell=\{P,Q\}$, so by varying $Q$, we see that $f(t)=P$. So for all lines $t$ passing through $P$, we have $f(t)=P$. $\blacksquare$

This shows the existence of at least one such point. If there was another, say $P'$, then $f(PP')$ cannot be both $P$ and $P'$, so we're done. This completes the proof.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by yayups, Sep 22, 2020, 11:33 PM
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The_Turtle
254 posts
#4 • 3 Y
Y by aa1024, jlamslam, Modesti
Solution
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spartacle
538 posts
#5 • 2 Y
Y by magicarrow, Aryan-23
During ISL guessing, I guessed that this was G4.

Solution
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by spartacle, May 3, 2021, 4:25 AM
Reason: Add solution sketch
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Modesti
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#7
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The_Turtle wrote:
Let $Z$ be a variable point on $\ell$. The given condition implies $f(\overline{AZ}) \in (AEF)$ along with cyclic variants, and \[Z, f(\ell), f(\overline{AZ}), f(\overline{BZ}), f(\overline{CZ})\]lie on a common circle $\Gamma_Z$. Since $Z$ is variable, \[\lvert\{A, B, C\} \cap \{f(\overline{AZ}), f(\overline{BZ}), f(\overline{CZ})\}\rvert \leq 1;\]otherwise, $\Gamma_Z$ would be fixed.

There is a little issue. What happens if $f(l)\in \{A,B,C\}$? For example, if $l$ passes through $C$, $f(AZ)=A$, $f(BZ)=B_Z$, and $f(l)=f(CZ)=C$. $\Gamma_Z$ won't be fixed, but the inequality would be false.
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IAmTheHazard
5000 posts
#8 • 1 Y
Y by PNT
By the way, it's supposed to say "to each line $\ell \in \mathcal{L}$ a point $f(\ell)$ on $\ell$" not "$f(\ell)$ on $f(\ell)$" (which makes no sense).
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JAnatolGT_00
559 posts
#9 • 1 Y
Y by PRMOisTheHardestExam
Let $g(X)=\odot (Xf(\ell_1)f(\ell_2)f(\ell_3)).$ Note that for every noncollinear points $A,B,C$ such that $\left\{ A,B,C\right\} \cap\left\{ f(AB),f(BC),f(CA)\right\}=\varnothing$ circles $g(A),g(B),g(C)$ concur by Miquel theorem.

Consider arbitrary line $\ell;\mathcal{A} =\bigcup_{i=1}^6 X_i\in \ell\backslash f(\ell),Y\notin \ell \cup \bigcup g(X_i)$. Since $|\mathcal{A} \backslash  g(Y)|\geq 4$ we may suppose $\mathcal{B} =\mathcal{A} \backslash \left\{ X_5,X_6\right\} \notin g(Y),$ therefore $g(X_1),g(X_2),g(Y)$ has common point $Q.$ Consider arbitrary point $Z\notin \ell \cup \bigcup g(X_i).$ By the same reason we may suppose that $\mathcal{C} =\mathcal{B} \backslash \left\{ X_3,X_4\right\} \notin g(Z),$ thus $Q\in g(Z).$
Now we claim that $P=Q$ satisfies the condition, so take arbitrary line $\ell '$ passing through $Y.$ If $\ell '=\ell$ we obtain $Y=\ell' \cap g(X_1)\backslash X_1=f(\ell ').$ In the other case take two different cases $Z_1,Z_2\in \ell '$ of $Z.$ We get $$f(\ell ')=g(Z_1)\cap g(Z_2) \cap \ell '=\left\{ Q,Z_1\right\}\cap \left\{ Q,Z_2\right\}=Q.$$
If there exist point $R\neq Q$ satisfying the condition we conclude $R=f(QR)=Q,$ contradiction.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by JAnatolGT_00, Jul 18, 2022, 9:45 PM
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tesla501
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#10
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Can anyone proof read my solution?

Click to reveal hidden text

PS: How do I hide attachments?
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This post has been edited 6 times. Last edited by tesla501, Apr 20, 2023, 11:47 AM
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L567
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#11
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First, note that really the problem is assigning a circle to every point such that the circle goes through the point and if $X \in \ell$, then $f(\ell)$ is one of the intersections of $\ell$ with the circle corresponding to $X$.

The main point of the problem is to look at a miquel-ish configuration. Suppose there exists a triangle $ABC$ such that $D = f(BC) \neq B,C$ and define $E,F$ similarly. Then by miquel, the circles $(AEF), (BDF), (CDE)$ all concur at a point.

First, I'll show that we can find such a triangle. Suppose not, then pick a line $\ell$ and pick $100$ points on it. Pick a point $A$ not on any of the $100$ circles created, so that $f(AP_i) \neq A$. Call a point $P$ among the hundred bad if $f(AP) = P$. But note that this can happen for at most two points, if this happened for $P_1, P_2, P_3$, then the points $(AP_1P_2P_3)$ must be cyclic, impossible since $P_1, P_2, P_3$ are collinear. Further, ignore the case when one of the points equals $f(\ell)$. Among the remaining, call two of them to be $B,C$, they work.

Now, say this miquel point is $M$. Pick a line $L$ passing through $B$ (say), that is not one of the sides, I claim $f(L) \neq B$ unless $L$ is tangent to $(BFD)$. Suppose not, and that $f(L) = B$. Pick a point $P$ on $L$. Let $X,Y,Z$ be the second intersections of $PA, PB, PC$ with the circles.

Consider a couple of cases: If $f(PA) = A$ and $f(PC) = C$ as well, then $P$ must lie on $(ABC)$, but we can choose $P$ far enough so it doesn't, so this is impossible. Now say $f(PA) = X$ and $f(PC) = C$. Then $P$ must lie on $(BCX)$. But since $\angle PBC$ is fixed, we must have $\angle PXC$ also to be fixed, or that $\angle CXA$ to be fixed. But this happens for finitely many $X$, and so for finitely many $P$ only, contradiction. Now consider the final case, when $f(PA) = X$ and $f(PC) = Z$. Then $P$ lies on $(XZB)$. But by miquel again, $P$ already lies on $(XYZ)$. So the five points $X,Y,Z,B,P$ must be concyclic, impossible as $P,B,Y$ are collinear.

So all in all, we get that $f(L)$ for any line passing through a vertex is the second intersection with the circles. In particular, this actually implies that the circle corresponding to any point not on one of the three sides of the three tangents, passes through $M$.

Now, pick a line $L$ through $M$ and suppose $f(L) \neq M$. But then pick a point $P \in L$ not lying on one of the six lines mentioned above, and also not equal to $f(L), M$. Then we get a contradiction since $f(L)$ must lie on the circle which intersects $L$ at exactly $P,M$. So we must actually have $f(L) = M$ for all lines $L$ passing through $M$.

Finally, to prove uniqueness of this point, say $N \neq M$ also satisfies this property. But then $f(MN)$ equals both $M,N$ contradiction. So we must actually have that $M$ is the unique point such that $f(\ell) = M$ for any line $\ell$ going through $M$.$\blacksquare$
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DottedCaculator
7323 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by EntropiaAwake, GeoKing
If there exists two points $P$ and $P'$ satisfying the condition, then $f(PQ)=P=Q$, contradiction. Therefore, it suffices to find one such $P$.

For any $X$, consider the locus of $f(\ell)$ where $\ell$ passes through $X$. Any three distinct points on this locus lie on a circle through $X$, so if the locus contains at least two points other than $X$, fixing two of those points and varying the third implies that $f(\ell)$ lies on a circle. Let $g(X)$ be the reflection of $X$ over the center of this circle. Then, for all $A\in\ell$, $f(\ell)$ must be the foot from $g(A)$ onto $\ell$. This implies $AB\perp g(A)g(B)$. It suffices to find a fixed point of $g$. If $g$ is a constant $C$, then $g(C)=C$ Otherwise, pick $A$ and $B$ such that $g(A)$ and $g(B)$ are distinct. Let $h$ be the result of $g$ after a spiral similarity mapping $g(A)g(B)$ to $AB$, so $h(A)=A$, $h(B)=B$, and $h(X)h(Y)\parallel XY$. For any $C$ not on $AB$, we get $h(C)=C$ by substituting $Y=A$ and $Y=B$, so we get $h$ is the identity by considering $Y=A$ and $Y=C$ for the points on $AB$. Therefore, the spiral center is a fixed point.
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idkk
118 posts
#13 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
Very beautifull my most fav problem from the shortlist .
My solution:-
Now say the statement in the above mentioned problem is not true.


First observe that the problem can be restated as for any fixed point $P$ if some line $l$ pivots around $P$ then $f(l)$ always lies on some circle. with non zero radius.




For any point $P$ call its this circle $C_P$ [if there are multiple pick any $1$] .


Claim: $f$ is surjective.
Proof: For any point $P$ say the tangent to $C_P$ at $P$ is $t$ then $f(t) \in C_P$ and $f(t) \in t$ this forces $f(t)=P$ .

Claim: $f$ is not injective.

Proof: Say it is , for any point $P$ pick any point $X \neq P \in C_P$ . and such that $X$ is not the antipode of $P$ in $C_P$, observe $XP$ is tangent to $C_X$ this implies $C_X$ and $C_P$ intersect again at some point $T$ and such that $ T,P,X$ are not collinear and then $f(\overline{TP})=T$ and $f(\overline{XT})=T$ contradiction ! .

Now for any point $P$ we define its $f$ class as the set $S_P=\{l |f(l)=P,l \in \mathcal{L}\}$.


Claim: There exists a point $P$ such that $S_P$ is infinite .


Proof: Assume the contrary,

Pick any random point $Q$ , say $t$ is the tangent to $C_Q$ at $Q$ and $l_1$ is another line through $Q$ such that $f(l_1)=Q$ say $l_1$ intersects $C_Q$ again at $P$ . pick any line $l_2 \in S_P$ obviously $l_2 \neq l_1$ .
First we consider the points , $S=\{l \cup C_Q| \measuredangle{(t,l)}=\frac{2 \pi}{\sqrt{2}}k , k \in \mathbb{N}\}$ and pick any point $P_1$ in $S$ but not $S_Q$[if didnt exist just $Q$ would satisfy required condition contradiction!] similarly define $P_2$ for $\sqrt{3}$ and $P_3$ for $\sqrt{5}$
Now we describe an algorithm to generate more elemenets in $S_P$ using previous elements . We will call it by a sequence of lines $a_1,a_2,....$ where $a_1=l_1$ ,

Now we define $a_{n+1}$ using $a_n$ in the following algorithm,

Say $C_P$ intersect $t$ at $K \neq A$ [if exists] , observe for a suitable choice of $P_i$ , $i \in \{1,2,3\}$ , $a_{n}$ will intersect $QP_i$ at some point $G \neq P$ such that $Q,G,P,K$ are not concyclic .




Observe $C_G$ is basically $GPP_i$ , say the tangent to $GPP_i$ at $G$ is $t_1$ now say $t_1$ and $t$ intersects at some point $Q_1$



Claim: $f(\overline{PQ_1})=P$

Proof: By some basic angle chasing $PGQQ_1$ lie on circle. and then $C_{Q_1}=PGQ$


say F.T.S.O.C $f(\overline{PQ_1})=Q$ now play with $C_P$ observe $f(\overline{PQ_1})$ from that POV u easilty get contradiction.


And now we define $a_{n+1}=\overline{PQ_1}$

Its easy to prove that $a_i$ is not recursive by basic NT and chasing down the angles between $a_{n+1}$ and $a_{n}$ .

Claim: We can actually find two such points. as in previous claim.

After we have located one such point $X$ , pick a point $P$ such that $X$ is not in $C_P$[easy to prove existence otherwise obviously $C_X$ as $0$ radius] and repeat similar process as what we did before.



Say after all this huge work the two points we got are $X_1,X_2$ , pick two lines $l_1,l_2$ from $S_{X_1}$ and $l_3,l_4$ from $S_{X_2}$ , such that if $l_1,l_3$ intersects at $Y_1$ and $l_2,l_4$ and $Y_2$ then $Y_i$ never lies on $\overline{X_1X_2}$ and $Y_2,Y_1,X_2,X_1$ do not lie on a circle but now observe the line $\overline{Y_2Y_1}=l$ observe $Y_1,X,Y,f(l)$ are concyclic and $Y_2,X,Y,f(l)$ are as well but that implies $Y_2,Y_1,X_2,X_1$ are concylic contradiction!


https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/8812/P6Iu7n.png
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