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

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

Looking for summer camps in math and language arts? Be sure to check out the video-based summer camps offered at the Virtual Campus that are 2- to 4-weeks in duration. There are middle and high school competition math camps as well as Math Beasts camps that review key topics coupled with fun explorations covering areas such as graph theory (Math Beasts Camp 6), cryptography (Math Beasts Camp 7-8), and topology (Math Beasts Camp 8-9)!

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April 9th (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learn about Video-based Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus
[*]April 10th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MathILy and MathILy-Er Math Jam: Multibackwards Numbers
[*]April 22nd (Webinar), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Competitive Programming at AoPS (USACO).[/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
k i A Letter to MSM
Arr0w   23
N Sep 19, 2022 by scannose
Greetings.

I have seen many posts talking about commonly asked questions, such as finding the value of $0^0$, $\frac{1}{0}$,$\frac{0}{0}$, $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$, why $0.999...=1$ or even expressions of those terms combined as if that would make them defined. I have made this post to answer these questions once and for all, and I politely ask everyone to link this post to threads that are talking about this issue.
[list]
[*]Firstly, the case of $0^0$. It is usually regarded that $0^0=1$, not because this works numerically but because it is convenient to define it this way. You will see the convenience of defining other undefined things later on in this post.

[*]What about $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$? The issue here is that $\infty$ isn't even rigorously defined in this expression. What exactly do we mean by $\infty$? Unless the example in question is put in context in a formal manner, then we say that $\frac{\infty}{\infty}$ is meaningless.

[*]What about $\frac{1}{0}$? Suppose that $x=\frac{1}{0}$. Then we would have $x\cdot 0=0=1$, absurd. A more rigorous treatment of the idea is that $\lim_{x\to0}\frac{1}{x}$ does not exist in the first place, although you will see why in a calculus course. So the point is that $\frac{1}{0}$ is undefined.

[*]What about if $0.99999...=1$? An article from brilliant has a good explanation. Alternatively, you can just use a geometric series. Notice that
\begin{align*}
\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} \frac{9}{10^n}&=9\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\frac{1}{10^n}=9\sum_{n=1}^{\infty}\biggr(\frac{1}{10}\biggr)^n=9\biggr(\frac{\frac{1}{10}}{1-\frac{1}{10}}\biggr)=9\biggr(\frac{\frac{1}{10}}{\frac{9}{10}}\biggr)=9\biggr(\frac{1}{9}\biggr)=\boxed{1}
\end{align*}
[*]What about $\frac{0}{0}$? Usually this is considered to be an indeterminate form, but I would also wager that this is also undefined.
[/list]
Hopefully all of these issues and their corollaries are finally put to rest. Cheers.

2nd EDIT (6/14/22): Since I originally posted this, it has since blown up so I will try to add additional information per the request of users in the thread below.

INDETERMINATE VS UNDEFINED

What makes something indeterminate? As you can see above, there are many things that are indeterminate. While definitions might vary slightly, it is the consensus that the following definition holds: A mathematical expression is be said to be indeterminate if it is not definitively or precisely determined. So how does this make, say, something like $0/0$ indeterminate? In analysis (the theory behind calculus and beyond), limits involving an algebraic combination of functions in an independent variable may often be evaluated by replacing these functions by their limits. However, if the expression obtained after this substitution does not provide sufficient information to determine the original limit, then the expression is called an indeterminate form. For example, we could say that $0/0$ is an indeterminate form.

But we need to more specific, this is still ambiguous. An indeterminate form is a mathematical expression involving at most two of $0$, $1$ or $\infty$, obtained by applying the algebraic limit theorem (a theorem in analysis, look this up for details) in the process of attempting to determine a limit, which fails to restrict that limit to one specific value or infinity, and thus does not determine the limit being calculated. This is why it is called indeterminate. Some examples of indeterminate forms are
\[0/0, \infty/\infty, \infty-\infty, \infty \times 0\]etc etc. So what makes something undefined? In the broader scope, something being undefined refers to an expression which is not assigned an interpretation or a value. A function is said to be undefined for points outside its domain. For example, the function $f:\mathbb{R}^{+}\cup\{0\}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ given by the mapping $x\mapsto \sqrt{x}$ is undefined for $x<0$. On the other hand, $1/0$ is undefined because dividing by $0$ is not defined in arithmetic by definition. In other words, something is undefined when it is not defined in some mathematical context.

WHEN THE WATERS GET MUDDIED

So with this notion of indeterminate and undefined, things get convoluted. First of all, just because something is indeterminate does not mean it is not undefined. For example $0/0$ is considered both indeterminate and undefined (but in the context of a limit then it is considered in indeterminate form). Additionally, this notion of something being undefined also means that we can define it in some way. To rephrase, this means that technically, we can make something that is undefined to something that is defined as long as we define it. I'll show you what I mean.

One example of making something undefined into something defined is the extended real number line, which we define as
\[\overline{\mathbb{R}}=\mathbb{R}\cup \{-\infty,+\infty\}.\]So instead of treating infinity as an idea, we define infinity (positively and negatively, mind you) as actual numbers in the reals. The advantage of doing this is for two reasons. The first is because we can turn this thing into a totally ordered set. Specifically, we can let $-\infty\le a\le \infty$ for each $a\in\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ which means that via this order topology each subset has an infimum and supremum and $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ is therefore compact. While this is nice from an analytic standpoint, extending the reals in this way can allow for interesting arithmetic! In $\overline{\mathbb{R}}$ it is perfectly OK to say that,
\begin{align*}
a + \infty = \infty + a & = \infty, & a & \neq -\infty \\
a - \infty = -\infty + a & = -\infty, & a & \neq \infty \\
a \cdot (\pm\infty) = \pm\infty \cdot a & = \pm\infty, & a & \in (0, +\infty] \\
a \cdot (\pm\infty) = \pm\infty \cdot a & = \mp\infty, & a & \in [-\infty, 0) \\
\frac{a}{\pm\infty} & = 0, & a & \in \mathbb{R} \\
\frac{\pm\infty}{a} & = \pm\infty, & a & \in (0, +\infty) \\
\frac{\pm\infty}{a} & = \mp\infty, & a & \in (-\infty, 0).
\end{align*}So addition, multiplication, and division are all defined nicely. However, notice that we have some indeterminate forms here which are also undefined,
\[\infty-\infty,\frac{\pm\infty}{\pm\infty},\frac{\pm\infty}{0},0\cdot \pm\infty.\]So while we define certain things, we also left others undefined/indeterminate in the process! However, in the context of measure theory it is common to define $\infty \times 0=0$ as greenturtle3141 noted below. I encourage to reread what he wrote, it's great stuff! As you may notice, though, dividing by $0$ is undefined still! Is there a place where it isn't? Kind of. To do this, we can extend the complex numbers! More formally, we can define this extension as
\[\mathbb{C}^*=\mathbb{C}\cup\{\tilde{\infty}\}\]which we call the Riemann Sphere (it actually forms a sphere, pretty cool right?). As a note, $\tilde{\infty}$ means complex infinity, since we are in the complex plane now. Here's the catch: division by $0$ is allowed here! In fact, we have
\[\frac{z}{0}=\tilde{\infty},\frac{z}{\tilde{\infty}}=0.\]where $\tilde{\infty}/\tilde{\infty}$ and $0/0$ are left undefined. We also have
\begin{align*}
z+\tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}, \forall z\ne -\infty\\
z\times \tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}, \forall z\ne 0
\end{align*}Furthermore, we actually have some nice properties with multiplication that we didn't have before. In $\mathbb{C}^*$ it holds that
\[\tilde{\infty}\times \tilde{\infty}=\tilde{\infty}\]but $\tilde{\infty}-\tilde{\infty}$ and $0\times \tilde{\infty}$ are left as undefined (unless there is an explicit need to change that somehow). One could define the projectively extended reals as we did with $\mathbb{C}^*$, by defining them as
\[{\widehat {\mathbb {R} }}=\mathbb {R} \cup \{\infty \}.\]They behave in a similar way to the Riemann Sphere, with division by $0$ also being allowed with the same indeterminate forms (in addition to some other ones).
23 replies
Arr0w
Feb 11, 2022
scannose
Sep 19, 2022
k i Marathon Threads
LauraZed   0
Jul 2, 2019
Due to excessive spam and inappropriate posts, we have locked the Prealgebra and Beginning Algebra threads.

We will either unlock these threads once we've cleaned them up or start new ones, but for now, do not start new marathon threads for these subjects. Any new marathon threads started while this announcement is up will be immediately deleted.
0 replies
LauraZed
Jul 2, 2019
0 replies
k i Basic Forum Rules and Info (Read before posting)
jellymoop   368
N May 16, 2018 by harry1234
f (Reminder: Do not post Alcumus or class homework questions on this forum. Instructions below.) f
Welcome to the Middle School Math Forum! Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the rules.

Overview:
[list]
[*] When you're posting a new topic with a math problem, give the topic a detailed title that includes the subject of the problem (not just "easy problem" or "nice problem")
[*] Stay on topic and be courteous.
[*] Hide solutions!
[*] If you see an inappropriate post in this forum, simply report the post and a moderator will deal with it. Don't make your own post telling people they're not following the rules - that usually just makes the issue worse.
[*] When you post a question that you need help solving, post what you've attempted so far and not just the question. We are here to learn from each other, not to do your homework. :P
[*] Avoid making posts just to thank someone - you can use the upvote function instead
[*] Don't make a new reply just to repeat yourself or comment on the quality of others' posts; instead, post when you have a new insight or question. You can also edit your post if it's the most recent and you want to add more information.
[*] Avoid bumping old posts.
[*] Use GameBot to post alcumus questions.
[*] If you need general MATHCOUNTS/math competition advice, check out the threads below.
[*] Don't post other users' real names.
[*] Advertisements are not allowed. You can advertise your forum on your profile with a link, on your blog, and on user-created forums that permit forum advertisements.
[/list]

Here are links to more detailed versions of the rules. These are from the older forums, so you can overlook "Classroom math/Competition math only" instructions.
Posting Guidelines
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What belongs on this forum?
How do I write a thorough solution?
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Mathcounts FAQ and resources
Mathcounts and how to learn

As always, if you have any questions, you can PM me or any of the other Middle School Moderators. Once again, if you see spam, it would help a lot if you filed a report instead of responding :)

Marathons!
Relays might be a better way to describe it, but these threads definitely go the distance! One person starts off by posting a problem, and the next person comes up with a solution and a new problem for another user to solve. Here's some of the frequently active marathons running in this forum:
[list][*]Algebra
[*]Prealgebra
[*]Proofs
[*]Factoring
[*]Geometry
[*]Counting & Probability
[*]Number Theory[/list]
Some of these haven't received attention in a while, but these are the main ones for their respective subjects. Rather than starting a new marathon, please give the existing ones a shot first.

You can also view marathons via the Marathon tag.

Think this list is incomplete or needs changes? Let the mods know and we'll take a look.
368 replies
jellymoop
May 8, 2015
harry1234
May 16, 2018
Interesting inequalities
sqing   5
N an hour ago by lbh_qys
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c\geq  0 $ and $  ab+bc+ca+abc=4$ . Prove that
$$k(a+b+c) -ab-bc\geq 4\sqrt{k(k+1)}-(k+4)$$Where $ k\geq \frac{16}{9}. $
$$ \frac{16}{9}(a+b+c) -ab-bc\geq  \frac{28}{9}$$
5 replies
1 viewing
sqing
Today at 3:36 AM
lbh_qys
an hour ago
Inequality while on a trip
giangtruong13   7
N an hour ago by arqady
Source: Trip
I find this inequality while i was on a trip, it was pretty fun and i have some new experience:
Let $a,b,c \geq -2$ such that: $a^2+b^2+c^2 \leq 8$. Find the maximum: $$A= \sum_{cyc} \frac{1}{16+a^3}$$
7 replies
+1 w
giangtruong13
Apr 12, 2025
arqady
an hour ago
Quad formed by orthocenters has same area (all 7's!)
v_Enhance   34
N 2 hours ago by Jupiterballs
Source: USA January TST for the 55th IMO 2014
Let $ABCD$ be a cyclic quadrilateral, and let $E$, $F$, $G$, and $H$ be the midpoints of $AB$, $BC$, $CD$, and $DA$ respectively. Let $W$, $X$, $Y$ and $Z$ be the orthocenters of triangles $AHE$, $BEF$, $CFG$ and $DGH$, respectively. Prove that the quadrilaterals $ABCD$ and $WXYZ$ have the same area.
34 replies
1 viewing
v_Enhance
Apr 28, 2014
Jupiterballs
2 hours ago
Finding all possible solutions of
egeyardimli   0
2 hours ago
Prove that if there is only one solution.
0 replies
egeyardimli
2 hours ago
0 replies
Doubt on a math problem
AVY2024   12
N Today at 3:19 AM by derekwang2048
Solve for x and y given that xy=923, x+y=84
12 replies
AVY2024
Apr 8, 2025
derekwang2048
Today at 3:19 AM
9 Was the 2025 AMC 8 harder or easier than last year?
Sunshine_Paradise   188
N Today at 3:14 AM by jkim0656
Also what will be the DHR?
188 replies
Sunshine_Paradise
Jan 30, 2025
jkim0656
Today at 3:14 AM
Hello friends
bibidi_skibidi   9
N Today at 2:57 AM by giratina3
Now unfortunately I don't know the difficulty of the problems posted here but I'll try to replicate:

Bob has 20 apples and 19 oranges. How many ways can he split the fruits between 7 people if each person must have at least 1 apple and 2 oranges?

After looking at the other posters I realized just how bashy this is

Also I can only edit this message for now since new AoPS users can only send 6 messages every day
9 replies
bibidi_skibidi
Yesterday at 4:04 AM
giratina3
Today at 2:57 AM
Annoying Probability Math Problem
RYang2   12
N Today at 2:55 AM by giratina3
I was working in my math textbook(not the AoPS one) when I came across this math problem:

Determine if the events are dependent or independent.
1. Drawing a red and a blue marble at the same time from a bag containing 6 red and 4 blue marbles
2.(omitted)

I thought it was independent, since the events happen at the same time, but the textbook answer said dependent.
Can someone help me understand(or prove the textbook wrong)?
12 replies
RYang2
Mar 14, 2018
giratina3
Today at 2:55 AM
Mathpath acceptance rate
fossasor   14
N Yesterday at 10:30 PM by RainbowSquirrel53B
Does someone have an estimate for the acceptance rate for MathPath?
14 replies
fossasor
Dec 21, 2024
RainbowSquirrel53B
Yesterday at 10:30 PM
1000th Post!
PikaPika999   59
N Yesterday at 9:09 PM by b2025tyx
When I had less than 25 posts on AoPS, I saw many people create threads about them getting 1000th posts. I thought I would never hit 1000 posts, but here we are, this is my 1000th post.

As a lot of users like to do, I'll write my math story:

Daycare
Preschool
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade

In conclusion, AoPS has helped me improve my math. I have also made many new friends on AoPS!

Finally, I would like to say thank you to all the new friends I made and all the instructors on AoPS that taught me!

Minor side note, but

59 replies
PikaPika999
Apr 5, 2025
b2025tyx
Yesterday at 9:09 PM
I think I regressed at math
PaperMath   55
N Yesterday at 8:05 PM by sepehr2010
I found the slip of paper a few days ago that I think I wrote when I was in kindergarten. It is just a sequence of numbers and you have to find the next number, the pattern is $1,2,5,40,1280,?$. I couldn't solve this and was wondering if any of you can find the pattern
55 replies
PaperMath
Mar 8, 2025
sepehr2010
Yesterday at 8:05 PM
Bogus Proof Marathon
pifinity   7572
N Yesterday at 6:22 PM by K1mchi_
Hi!
I'd like to introduce the Bogus Proof Marathon.

In this marathon, simply post a bogus proof that is middle-school level and the next person will find the error. You don't have to post the real solution :P

Use classic Marathon format:
[hide=P#]a1b2c3[/hide]
[hide=S#]a1b2c3[/hide]


Example posts:

P(x)
-----
S(x)
P(x+1)
-----
Let's go!! Just don't make it too hard!
7572 replies
pifinity
Mar 12, 2018
K1mchi_
Yesterday at 6:22 PM
real math problems
Soupboy0   54
N Yesterday at 5:48 PM by K1mchi_
Ill be posting questions once in a while. Here's the first question:

What fraction of numbers from $1$ to $1000$ have the digit $7$ and are divisible by $3$?
54 replies
Soupboy0
Mar 25, 2025
K1mchi_
Yesterday at 5:48 PM
Website to learn math
hawa   26
N Yesterday at 1:04 PM by K1mchi_
Hi, I'm kinda curious what website do yall use to learn math, like i dont find any website thats fun to learn math
26 replies
hawa
Apr 9, 2025
K1mchi_
Yesterday at 1:04 PM
2021 ELMO Problem 1
reaganchoi   69
N Apr 1, 2025 by Giant_PT
In $\triangle ABC$, points $P$ and $Q$ lie on sides $AB$ and $AC$, respectively, such that the circumcircle of $\triangle APQ$ is tangent to $BC$ at $D$. Let $E$ lie on side $BC$ such that $BD = EC$. Line $DP$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle CDQ$ again at $X$, and line $DQ$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle BDP$ again at $Y$. Prove that $D$, $E$, $X$, and $Y$ are concyclic.
69 replies
reaganchoi
Jun 24, 2021
Giant_PT
Apr 1, 2025
2021 ELMO Problem 1
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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nmoon_nya
26 posts
#62 • 1 Y
Y by PRMOisTheHardestExam
$ \angle{BPY} = \angle{BDY} = \angle{CEQ} = \angle{CXQ}$,$\angle{PBD} = \angle{PYQ}$. So $\triangle{BDP}$ and $\triangle{YQP}$ are similar by AAA so $QY : DY = BD : BP$. Also $\angle{BYP} = \angle{BDP} = \angle{CEX} = \angle{CQX}$ so $\triangle{BPY}$ and $\triangle{CXQ}$ are similar by AAA and $BP : CX = YP : QX$.
Moreover $BD = CE$ so $CX : CE = QX : QY$.And $\angle{XCE} = \angle{XQY}$ so $\triangle{CXE}$ so $\triangle{QXY}$ are similar by SAS and $\angle{CEX} = \angle{DYX}$. Then we are done.
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cj13609517288
1888 posts
#63
Y by
Used the 10% hint on ARCH.

Assume WLOG that $B,D,E,C$ are collinear in that order. Note that by Reim's theorem, $BY\parallel AC$ and $CX\parallel AB$. Thus if $BY$ and $CX$ meet at $Z$, quadrilateral $ABZC$ is a parallelogram. We have
\[
\angle CDX=\angle PDB=\angle PAD.
\]Similarly, $\angle BDY=\angle QAD$, so
\[
\angle YDX=180^{\circ}-\angle BDY-\angle CDX
=180^{\circ}-\angle QAD-\angle PAD
=180^{\circ}-\angle BAC
=180^{\circ}-\angle BZC.
\]Therefore, quadrilateral $YDXZ$ is cyclic. But
\[
\angle EZX=\angle EZC=\angle DAB=\angle PAD=\angle CDX=\angle EDX,
\]so quadrilateral $EDZX$ is cyclic. Therefore, $E$ and $Y$ are both on $(DXZ)$, so quadrilateral $DEXY$ is cyclic. $\blacksquare$
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Leo.Euler
577 posts
#64 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
Bit hard for a p1?

First, note that since $(APDQ)$ is cyclic, \[ \angle BYD = 180^{\circ} - \angle BPD = \angle APD = 180^{\circ} - \angle AQD = \angle DQC, \]which implies $BY \parallel AC$. Analogously, $CX \parallel AB$. Let $A' = BY \cap CX$, and realize by our prior observation that $A'=B+C-A$. By easy angle chasing using the fact that $ABA'C$ is a parallelogram, $(A'XDY)$ is cyclic.

Let $N$ denote the intersection of $(DXY)$ and $BC$. Now using the tangency condition, we have $\angle BAD = \angle BDP = 180^{\circ} - \angle BDX = \angle NA'C$. Similarly, $\angle NA'B = \angle CAD$. Thus, upon reflection about $M$, we have $N=E$, as desired.
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P2nisic
406 posts
#65 • 1 Y
Y by GeoKing
reaganchoi wrote:
In $\triangle ABC$, points $P$ and $Q$ lie on sides $AB$ and $AC$, respectively, such that the circumcircle of $\triangle APQ$ is tangent to $BC$ at $D$. Let $E$ lie on side $BC$ such that $BD = EC$. Line $DP$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle CDQ$ again at $X$, and line $DQ$ intersects the circumcircle of $\triangle BDP$ again at $Y$. Prove that $D$, $E$, $X$, and $Y$ are concyclic.

$<YBP=<PDQ=180-<A$ so $YB//AC$ similar $XC//AB$ let $A'$ be the symmetric poin of $A$ we respect the midpoint of $BC$ then we have:
$<XMY=<A=180-<XDY$ so $X,D,Y,A'$ are concyclic.
$<DEA'=<ADC=<APD=<BYD$ so $E$ belongs to $(XDYA')$
We use that $ADA'E$ is parallhlogram
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Z4ADies
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#66
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Solution using Ptolemy's sine lemma (no need to any syntehtic constructions).

Let $\angle BAD=\angle PQD=\angle PDB=\angle PYB=\angle CDX=\alpha$ and $\angle CAD=\angle QPD=\angle QDC=\angle PDY=\beta$.
Ptolemy sine to quadrilaterals $PBYD$ and $QDXC$ from pencil $D$.
$(....1)$ $DP\sin(\beta)+DY\sin(\alpha)=DB\sin(\alpha+\beta)$.
$(....2)$ $DQ\sin(\alpha)+DX\sin(\beta)=DC\sin(\alpha+\beta)$.
If $DEXY$ is cyclic, then $DE\sin(\alpha+\beta)+DY\sin(\alpha)=DX\sin(\beta)(?)$.
Let's write $(....2)$ as $DQ\sin(\alpha)+DX\sin(\beta)=DE\sin(\alpha+\beta)+DB\sin(\alpha+\beta)$ more precisely $DQ\sin(\alpha)+DX\sin(\beta)=DE\sin(\alpha+\beta)+DP\sin(\beta)+DY\sin(\alpha)$ if we prove $DQ\sin(\alpha)=DP\sin(\beta)$ we will finish the problem.
So,sine thrm to $\triangle DPQ$ gives us $DQ\sin(\alpha)=DP\sin(\beta)$.
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Saucepan_man02
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#67
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Angle-Chase:

By Reims, $BY \parallel AC$ and $CX \parallel AB$.
Extend it to point $F$ such that $ABFC$ is a parallelogram.
Notice that: $$\angle YDX = \angle PDQ = 180^\circ - \angle PAQ=180^\circ \angle YFX$$Thus, $YDXF$ is cyclic. Note that: $\triangle ABD \cong \triangle FCE$. Thus, we have: $AD \parallel BF$. Therefore: $$\angle FBD = \angle ADE = \angle AQD = \angle DXC$$which implies $FEDX$ is also cyclic and we are done.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by Saucepan_man02, Oct 30, 2024, 11:13 AM
Reason: Reims
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quantam13
109 posts
#68 • 1 Y
Y by adrian_042
Solved with adrian_042 :trampoline:

Solution
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quantam13
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#69
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redacted accidental post
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cherry265
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#70
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Let $A’$ be the point such that $ABA’C$ is a parallelogram. From here show $DEXA’Y$ cyclic pentagon by angle and length chase.
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ItsBesi
141 posts
#72
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Here is my solution I found on 16.04.2024 (yes almost a year), I solved this one with Ismayil

Solution:

Let $\odot(APQ)=\Omega, \odot(BPYD)=\omega_B , \odot(CQXD)=\omega_C$ and let $BY \cap CX=\{Z\}$

Claim: Quadrilateral $\square ABCZ$ is a parallelogram

Proof:

Now by Reim's Theorem we have that :

$AQ \parallel BY \implies AC \parallel BZ$

Similarly $AP \parallel CX \implies AB \parallel CZ$

Now since $AC \parallel BZ$ and $AB \parallel CZ$ we get that the quadrilateral $ABCZ$ is a parallelogram $\square$

Claim: $\triangle BAD \cong \triangle CZE$

Proof:

From the parallelogram we have: $\boxed{AB=CZ} , \angle BAC=\angle BZC$

So $\angle ABD \equiv \angle ABC=\angle BCZ \equiv \angle ECX \implies \boxed{\angle ABD=\angle ECZ}$

So by combining $AB=CZ , BD=CE$ and $\angle ABD=\angle ECZ$ we get that triangle $\triangle BAD, \triangle CZE$ are congruent

$\iff \triangle BAD \cong \triangle CZE$ $\square$

Claim: Points $Y$,$D$,$E$ and $Z$ are concyclic

Proof:

From previous claim we have: $\angle ZEC=\angle ADB$

$\angle DEZ=180-\angle ZEC=180-\angle ADB=\angle ADC \stackrel{\Omega}{=} \angle APD=180-\angle BPD \stackrel{\omega_B}{=} \angle BYD=180-\angle DYZ \implies$

$ \angle DEZ=180-\angle DYZ \implies \angle DEZ+\angle DYZ=180 \implies$ Points $Y$,$D$,$E$ and $Z$ are concyclic $\square$

Claim: Points $Y$,$D$,$X$ and $Z$ are concyclic

Proof:

$\angle YDX=\angle PDQ \stackrel{\Omega}{=}180-\angle PAQ \equiv 180-\angle BAC=180-\angle BZC \equiv 180-\angle YZX \implies \angle YDX=180-\angle YZX \implies$

$ \angle YDX+\angle YZX=180 \implies$ Points $Y$,$D$,$X$ and $Z$ are concyclic $\square$

Claim: Points $D$,$E$,$X$ and $Y$ are concyclic

Proof:

Since $\square YDEZ$ is cyclic and $YDXZ$ is also cyclic we get that points $Y$,$D$,$E$,$X$,$Z$ all lie on a circle hence

Points $D$,$E$,$X$ and $Y$ are concyclic $\blacksquare$
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Retemoeg
55 posts
#73
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$CX$ intersects $BY$ at $F$. Since $APDQ$ and $BYDP$ are cyclic, $\angle BYD = \angle APD = \angle CQD$ implying $BY \parallel CA$. Similarly, $CX \parallel BA$. Thus, $ACFB$ is a paralellogram, thus $\angle BAD = \angle CFE$ cuz of symmetry. Now, because $DB$ is tangent to $(APDQ)$:
\[ \angle CDX = \angle BDP = \angle BAD = \angle CFE \]Hence $DEXF$ is cyclic. Similarly, $DYXF$ is cyclic so $DEXY$ is cyclic.
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dolphinday
1319 posts
#74 • 1 Y
Y by peace09
By Reim, we have $CX \parallel AB$ and $BY \parallel AC$. Let $CX \cap BY = Z$. Then $ABZC$ is a parallelogram so $\measuredangle{BAC} = \measuredangle{CZB} = \measuredangle{YDX} = \measuredangle{QDP} = \measuredangle{PAQ} \implies Z \in (DYX)$.

Then by symmetry we have $\measuredangle{CEZ} = \measuredangle{BDA} = \measuredangle{DQA} = \measuredangle{DPA} = \measuredangle{DPB} = \measuredangle{DYB} = \measuredangle{DYZ}$. Then $\measuredangle{DYZ} = \measuredangle{CEZ} = \measuredangle{DEZ}$ implies that $E \in (DYZ) = (DYX)$ as desired.


wrote D \in DYX initially lmao
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EpicBird08
1745 posts
#75
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This problem is so cool. Similar in spirit to this problem (has spoilers).

First, we will show that $CX \parallel AB.$ Indeed, we have $$\measuredangle ACX = \measuredangle QCX = \measuredangle QDX = \measuredangle QDP = \measuredangle QAP = \measuredangle CAB.$$Similarly, $BY \parallel AC.$ Thus $BY$ and $CX$ intersect at the point $A'$ such that $ABA'C$ is a parallelogram.

Now, we know that $ADA'E$ is a parallelogram by the given condition, so $A'E \parallel AD,$ giving $$\measuredangle DE'A = \measuredangle EDA = \measuredangle DPA = \measuredangle DPB = \measuredangle DYB = \measuredangle DYA',$$so $D,E,A',Y$ are concyclic. Similarly, $D,E,A',X$ are concyclic, finishing the problem.

Motivation
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blueprimes
326 posts
#76
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Let $BY \cap CX = T$. Define $\angle A, \angle B, \angle C$ wrt $\triangle ABC$.

Claim 1:$D, X, T, Y,$ are concyclic.
We have $\angle XDY = \angle PDQ = 180^\circ - \angle A$. On the other hand, note that $\angle PDY = \angle QDX = \angle A$. Thus, we have
\[ \angle DBY = \angle DPY = 180^\circ - \angle PDY - \angle PYD = 180^\circ - \angle A - \angle B = \angle C. \]Similarly, $\angle DCX = \angle B$. Then $\angle XTY = 180^\circ - \angle DBY - \angle DCX = \angle A$ which proves the claim.

Claim 2: $D, E, X, T,$ are concyclic.
Our angle equalities in the last claim imply $T$ is the reflection of $A$ over the midpoint of $BC$, so in fact $AD \parallel TE$. Thus,
\[ \angle DXT = 180^\circ - \angle BYD = 180^\circ - \angle BPD = \angle BAD + \angle B = \angle ADE = \angle DET \]as wanted.

Therefore, $D, E, X, Y$ are concyclic as needed.
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Giant_PT
24 posts
#77
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Let $E'$ be the intersection with $(DXY)$ and $BC$ that is not $D$. Also, Let $F$ be the second intersection of $(BPD)$ and $PQ$ and $G$ be the second intersection of $CQD$ and $PQ$. We prove that $E=E'$

Claim 1: $BFGC$ is cyclic
By angle chasing we have,
$$\measuredangle PFB=\measuredangle PDB=\measuredangle PQD=\measuredangle GQD=\measuredangle GCD,$$which proves the claim.

Claim 2: $BF\parallel DX$ and $CG\parallel DY$
Again by straightforward angle chasing, we have
$$\measuredangle BDX =\measuredangle CDQ=\measuredangle DPQ=\measuredangle DPF=\measuredangle DBF,$$which proves that $BF\parallel DX.$ Similarly, we can prove that $CG\parallel DY.$ Therefore, the claim is proven.

Claim 3: $(BFGC)$ and $(DXY)$ are concentric.
Since quadrilaterals $BFDX$ and $CGDY$ are concyclic, and $BF\parallel DX$ and $CG\parallel DY$ by claim 2, they are clearly isosceles trapezoids. Then we can see that perpendicular bisectors of $\overline{BF}$ and $\overline{DX}$ are the same, and perpendicular bisectors of $\overline{CF}$ and $\overline{DY}$ are the same. Therefore $(BFGC)$ and $(DXY)$ are concentric as wanted.

$(BFGC)$ and $(DXY)$ being concentric is enough to prove that $BD=E'C$ since it implies that the two circles' center lie on the perpendicular bisector of $BC.$ Therefore, $E=E'$ as wanted.
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