Join our FREE webinar on May 1st to learn about managing anxiety.

G
Topic
First Poster
Last Poster
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)!

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]April 3rd (Webinar), 4pm PT/7:00pm ET, Learning with AoPS: Perspectives from a Parent, Math Camp Instructor, and University Professor
[*]April 8th (Math Jam), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS State Discussion
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]
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, 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tuesday, Jun 10 - Aug 26

Calculus
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
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
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
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
Wednesday, May 21 - Aug 6
Sunday, Jun 15 - Sep 14
Monday, Jun 23 - Sep 15

Physics 1: Mechanics
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
Apr 2, 2025
0 replies
k i Peer-to-Peer Programs Forum
jwelsh   157
N Dec 11, 2023 by cw357
Many of our AoPS Community members share their knowledge with their peers in a variety of ways, ranging from creating mock contests to creating real contests to writing handouts to hosting sessions as part of our partnership with schoolhouse.world.

To facilitate students in these efforts, we have created a new Peer-to-Peer Programs forum. With the creation of this forum, we are starting a new process for those of you who want to advertise your efforts. These advertisements and ensuing discussions have been cluttering up some of the forums that were meant for other purposes, so we’re gathering these topics in one place. This also allows students to find new peer-to-peer learning opportunities without having to poke around all the other forums.

To announce your program, or to invite others to work with you on it, here’s what to do:

1) Post a new topic in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum. This will be the discussion thread for your program.

2) Post a single brief post in this thread that links the discussion thread of your program in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum.

Please note that we’ll move or delete any future advertisement posts that are outside the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum, as well as any posts in this topic that are not brief announcements of new opportunities. In particular, this topic should not be used to discuss specific programs; those discussions should occur in topics in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum.

Your post in this thread should have what you're sharing (class, session, tutoring, handout, math or coding game/other program) and a link to the thread in the Peer-to-Peer Programs forum, which should have more information (like where to find what you're sharing).
157 replies
jwelsh
Mar 15, 2021
cw357
Dec 11, 2023
k i C&P posting recs by mods
v_Enhance   0
Jun 12, 2020
The purpose of this post is to lay out a few suggestions about what kind of posts work well for the C&P forum. Except in a few cases these are mostly meant to be "suggestions based on historical trends" rather than firm hard rules; we may eventually replace this with an actual list of firm rules but that requires admin approval :) That said, if you post something in the "discouraged" category, you should not be totally surprised if it gets locked; they are discouraged exactly because past experience shows they tend to go badly.
-----------------------------
1. Program discussion: Allowed
If you have questions about specific camps or programs (e.g. which classes are good at X camp?), these questions fit well here. Many camps/programs have specific sub-forums too but we understand a lot of them are not active.
-----------------------------
2. Results discussion: Allowed
You can make threads about e.g. how you did on contests (including AMC), though on AMC day when there is a lot of discussion. Moderators and administrators may do a lot of thread-merging / forum-wrangling to keep things in one place.
-----------------------------
3. Reposting solutions or questions to past AMC/AIME/USAMO problems: Allowed
This forum contains a post for nearly every problem from AMC8, AMC10, AMC12, AIME, USAJMO, USAMO (and these links give you an index of all these posts). It is always permitted to post a full solution to any problem in its own thread (linked above), regardless of how old the problem is, and even if this solution is similar to one that has already been posted. We encourage this type of posting because it is helpful for the user to explain their solution in full to an audience, and for future users who want to see multiple approaches to a problem or even just the frequency distribution of common approaches. We do ask for some explanation; if you just post "the answer is (B); ez" then you are not adding anything useful.

You are also encouraged to post questions about a specific problem in the specific thread for that problem, or about previous user's solutions. It's almost always better to use the existing thread than to start a new one, to keep all the discussion in one place easily searchable for future visitors.
-----------------------------
4. Advice posts: Allowed, but read below first
You can use this forum to ask for advice about how to prepare for math competitions in general. But you should be aware that this question has been asked many many times. Before making a post, you are encouraged to look at the following:
[list]
[*] Stop looking for the right training: A generic post about advice that keeps getting stickied :)
[*] There is an enormous list of links on the Wiki of books / problems / etc for all levels.
[/list]
When you do post, we really encourage you to be as specific as possible in your question. Tell us about your background, what you've tried already, etc.

Actually, the absolute best way to get a helpful response is to take a few examples of problems that you tried to solve but couldn't, and explain what you tried on them / why you couldn't solve them. Here is a great example of a specific question.
-----------------------------
5. Publicity: use P2P forum instead
See https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h2489297_peertopeer_programs_forum.
Some exceptions have been allowed in the past, but these require approval from administrators. (I am not totally sure what the criteria is. I am not an administrator.)
-----------------------------
6. Mock contests: use Mock Contests forum instead
Mock contests should be posted in the dedicated forum instead:
https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c594864_aops_mock_contests
-----------------------------
7. AMC procedural questions: suggest to contact the AMC HQ instead
If you have a question like "how do I submit a change of venue form for the AIME" or "why is my name not on the qualifiers list even though I have a 300 index", you would be better off calling or emailing the AMC program to ask, they are the ones who can help you :)
-----------------------------
8. Discussion of random math problems: suggest to use MSM/HSM/HSO instead
If you are discussing a specific math problem that isn't from the AMC/AIME/USAMO, it's better to post these in Middle School Math, High School Math, High School Olympiads instead.
-----------------------------
9. Politics: suggest to use Round Table instead
There are important conversations to be had about things like gender diversity in math contests, etc., for sure. However, from experience we think that C&P is historically not a good place to have these conversations, as they go off the rails very quickly. We encourage you to use the Round Table instead, where it is much more clear that all posts need to be serious.
-----------------------------
10. MAA complaints: discouraged
We don't want to pretend that the MAA is perfect or that we agree with everything they do. However, we chose to discourage this sort of behavior because in practice most of the comments we see are not useful and some are frankly offensive.
[list] [*] If you just want to blow off steam, do it on your blog instead.
[*] When you have criticism, it should be reasoned, well-thought and constructive. What we mean by this is, for example, when the AOIME was announced, there was great outrage about potential cheating. Well, do you really think that this is something the organizers didn't think about too? Simply posting that "people will cheat and steal my USAMOO qualification, the MAA are idiots!" is not helpful as it is not bringing any new information to the table.
[*] Even if you do have reasoned, well-thought, constructive criticism, we think it is actually better to email it the MAA instead, rather than post it here. Experience shows that even polite, well-meaning suggestions posted in C&P are often derailed by less mature users who insist on complaining about everything.
[/list]
-----------------------------
11. Memes and joke posts: discouraged
It's fine to make jokes or lighthearted posts every so often. But it should be done with discretion. Ideally, jokes should be done within a longer post that has other content. For example, in my response to one user's question about olympiad combinatorics, I used a silly picture of Sogiita Gunha, but it was done within a context of a much longer post where it was meant to actually make a point.

On the other hand, there are many threads which consist largely of posts whose only content is an attached meme with the word "MAA" in it. When done in excess like this, the jokes reflect poorly on the community, so we explicitly discourage them.
-----------------------------
12. Questions that no one can answer: discouraged
Examples of this: "will MIT ask for AOIME scores?", "what will the AIME 2021 cutoffs be (asked in 2020)", etc. Basically, if you ask a question on this forum, it's better if the question is something that a user can plausibly answer :)
-----------------------------
13. Blind speculation: discouraged
Along these lines, if you do see a question that you don't have an answer to, we discourage "blindly guessing" as it leads to spreading of baseless rumors. For example, if you see some user posting "why are there fewer qualifiers than usual this year?", you should not reply "the MAA must have been worried about online cheating so they took fewer people!!". Was sich überhaupt sagen lässt, lässt sich klar sagen; und wovon man nicht reden kann, darüber muss man schweigen.
-----------------------------
14. Discussion of cheating: strongly discouraged
If you have evidence or reasonable suspicion of cheating, please report this to your Competition Manager or to the AMC HQ; these forums cannot help you.
Otherwise, please avoid public discussion of cheating. That is: no discussion of methods of cheating, no speculation about how cheating affects cutoffs, and so on --- it is not helpful to anyone, and it creates a sour atmosphere. A longer explanation is given in Seriously, please stop discussing how to cheat.
-----------------------------
15. Cutoff jokes: never allowed
Whenever the cutoffs for any major contest are released, it is very obvious when they are official. In the past, this has been achieved by the numbers being posted on the official AMC website (here) or through a post from the AMCDirector account.

You must never post fake cutoffs, even as a joke. You should also refrain from posting cutoffs that you've heard of via email, etc., because it is better to wait for the obvious official announcement. A longer explanation is given in A Treatise on Cutoff Trolling.
-----------------------------
16. Meanness: never allowed
Being mean is worse than being immature and unproductive. If another user does something which you think is inappropriate, use the Report button to bring the post to moderator attention, or if you really must reply, do so in a way that is tactful and constructive rather than inflammatory.
-----------------------------

Finally, we remind you all to sit back and enjoy the problems. :D

-----------------------------
(EDIT 2024-09-13: AoPS has asked to me to add the following item.)

Advertising paid program or service: never allowed

Per the AoPS Terms of Service (rule 5h), general advertisements are not allowed.

While we do allow advertisements of official contests (at the MAA and MATHCOUNTS level) and those run by college students with at least one successful year, any and all advertisements of a paid service or program is not allowed and will be deleted.
0 replies
v_Enhance
Jun 12, 2020
0 replies
k i Stop looking for the "right" training
v_Enhance   50
N Oct 16, 2017 by blawho12
Source: Contest advice
EDIT 2019-02-01: https://blog.evanchen.cc/2019/01/31/math-contest-platitudes-v3/ is the updated version of this.

EDIT 2021-06-09: see also https://web.evanchen.cc/faq-contest.html.

Original 2013 post
50 replies
v_Enhance
Feb 15, 2013
blawho12
Oct 16, 2017
Reducibility of 2x^2 cyclotomic
vincentwant   2
N 5 minutes ago by vincentwant
Let $S$ denote the set of all positive integers less than $1020$ that are relatively prime to $1020$. Let $\omega=\cos\frac{\pi}{510}+i\sin\frac{\pi}{510}$. Is the polynomial $$\prod_{n\in S}(2x^2-\omega^n)$$reducible over the rational numbers, given that it has integer coefficients?
2 replies
vincentwant
2 hours ago
vincentwant
5 minutes ago
Weighted Blocks
ilovemath04   51
N 12 minutes ago by Maximilian113
Source: ISL 2019 C2
You are given a set of $n$ blocks, each weighing at least $1$; their total weight is $2n$. Prove that for every real number $r$ with $0 \leq r \leq 2n-2$ you can choose a subset of the blocks whose total weight is at least $r$ but at most $r + 2$.
51 replies
ilovemath04
Sep 22, 2020
Maximilian113
12 minutes ago
Very easy NT
GreekIdiot   7
N 13 minutes ago by Primeniyazidayi
Prove that there exists no natural number $n>1$ such that $n \mid 2^n-1$.
7 replies
GreekIdiot
3 hours ago
Primeniyazidayi
13 minutes ago
Azer and Babek playing a game on a chessboard
Nuran2010   1
N 26 minutes ago by Diamond-jumper76
Source: Azerbaijan Al-Khwarizmi IJMO TST
Azer and Babek have a $8 \times 8$ chessboard. Initially, Azer colors all cells of this chessboard with some colors. Then, Babek takes $2$ rows and $2$ columns and looks at the $4$ cells in the intersection. Babek wants to have all these $4$ cells in a same color, but Azer doesn't. With at least how many colors, Azer can reach his goal?
1 reply
Nuran2010
Yesterday at 5:03 PM
Diamond-jumper76
26 minutes ago
MasterScholar North Carolina Math Camp
Ruegerbyrd   6
N 2 hours ago by peelybonehead
Is this legit? Worth the cost ($6500)? Program Fees Cover: Tuition, course materials, field trip costs, and housing and meals at Saint Mary's School.

"Themes:

1. From Number Theory and Special Relativity to Game Theory
2. Applications to Economics

Subjects Covered:

Number Theory - Group Theory - RSA Encryption - Game Theory - Estimating Pi - Complex Numbers - Quaternions - Topology of Surfaces - Introduction to Differential Geometry - Collective Decision Making - Survey of Calculus - Applications to Economics - Statistics and the Central Limit Theorem - Special Relativity"

website(?): https://www.teenlife.com/l/summer/masterscholar-north-carolina-math-camp/
6 replies
Ruegerbyrd
Today at 3:15 AM
peelybonehead
2 hours ago
2025 RAMC 10
Andyluo   39
N 3 hours ago by idk12345678
We, andyluo, MC_ADe, Arush Krisp, pengu14, mathkiddus, vivdax present...

IMAGE

About Errata(0) Test Taking Discussion Test Integrity Notes/Credits

Test: RAMC 10
Leaderboard Yet to be released

mods can you keep this in c & p until it finishes please

To gain access to the private discussion forum, either private message me on AOPS with your Mathdash account, or simply ask and label your AOPS on the Mathdash discussion page.
Forum
39 replies
Andyluo
Apr 26, 2025
idk12345678
3 hours ago
9 Did I make the right choice?
Martin2001   20
N 4 hours ago by MathPerson12321
If you were in 8th grade, would you rather go to MOP or mc nats? I chose to study the former more and got in so was wondering if that was valid given that I'll never make mc nats.
20 replies
Martin2001
Yesterday at 1:42 PM
MathPerson12321
4 hours ago
9 Mathpath vs. AMSP
FuturePanda   33
N 4 hours ago by PEKKA
Hi everyone,

For an AIME score of 7-11, would you recommend MathPath or AMSP Level 2/3?

Thanks in advance!
Also people who have gone to them, please tell me more about the programs!
33 replies
FuturePanda
Jan 30, 2025
PEKKA
4 hours ago
AMSP Combo 2 and Alg 2.5
idk12345678   4
N Today at 4:35 AM by Bread10
Im gonna be taking Geo 2 and i was deciding if to take combo 2, alg2.5, both, or neither.

My main goal is to qualify for JMO in 10th grade(next yr). Ive done aops int c+p but i didnt fully understand everything.

Would combo 2 and/or alg 2 be good for jmo qual?
4 replies
idk12345678
Yesterday at 2:12 PM
Bread10
Today at 4:35 AM
Olympiad Problems Correlation with Computational?
FuturePanda   8
N Today at 3:46 AM by deduck
Hi everyone,

Recently I;ve started doing a lot of nice combo/algebra Olympiad problems(JMO, PAGMO, CMO, etc.) and I’ve got to say, it’s been pretty fun(I’m enjoying it!). I was wondering if doing Olympiad problems also helps increase computational abilities slightly. Currently I am doing 75% computational, 25% oly but if anyone has any expreience I want to switch it to 25% computational and 75% Olympiad, though I still want to have computational skills for ARML, AIME, SMT, BMT, HMMT, etc.

If anyone has any experience, please let me know!

Thank you so much in advance!
8 replies
FuturePanda
Apr 26, 2025
deduck
Today at 3:46 AM
sussy baka stop intersecting in my lattice points
Spectator   24
N Yesterday at 11:56 PM by ilikemath247365
Source: 2022 AMC 10A #25
Let $R$, $S$, and $T$ be squares that have vertices at lattice points (i.e., points whose coordinates are both integers) in the coordinate plane, together with their interiors. The bottom edge of each square is on the x-axis. The left edge of $R$ and the right edge of $S$ are on the $y$-axis, and $R$ contains $\frac{9}{4}$ as many lattice points as does $S$. The top two vertices of $T$ are in $R \cup S$, and $T$ contains $\frac{1}{4}$ of the lattice points contained in $R \cup S$. See the figure (not drawn to scale).

IMAGE

The fraction of lattice points in $S$ that are in $S \cap T$ is 27 times the fraction of lattice points in $R$ that are in $R \cap T$. What is the minimum possible value of the edge length of $R$ plus the edge length of $S$ plus the edge length of $T$?

$\textbf{(A) }336\qquad\textbf{(B) }337\qquad\textbf{(C) }338\qquad\textbf{(D) }339\qquad\textbf{(E) }340$
24 replies
Spectator
Nov 11, 2022
ilikemath247365
Yesterday at 11:56 PM
JSMC texas
BossLu99   27
N Yesterday at 11:53 PM by miles888
who is going to JSMC texas
27 replies
BossLu99
Apr 28, 2025
miles888
Yesterday at 11:53 PM
Question
HopefullyMcNats2025   19
N Yesterday at 10:29 PM by MC_ADe
Is it more difficult to make MOP or make usajmo, usapho, and usabo
19 replies
HopefullyMcNats2025
Apr 7, 2025
MC_ADe
Yesterday at 10:29 PM
System
worthawholebean   10
N Yesterday at 9:24 PM by daijobu
Source: AIME 2008II Problem 14
Let $ a$ and $ b$ be positive real numbers with $ a\ge b$. Let $ \rho$ be the maximum possible value of $ \frac{a}{b}$ for which the system of equations
\[ a^2+y^2=b^2+x^2=(a-x)^2+(b-y)^2\]has a solution in $ (x,y)$ satisfying $ 0\le x<a$ and $ 0\le y<b$. Then $ \rho^2$ can be expressed as a fraction $ \frac{m}{n}$, where $ m$ and $ n$ are relatively prime positive integers. Find $ m+n$.
10 replies
worthawholebean
Apr 3, 2008
daijobu
Yesterday at 9:24 PM
Perpendicular
Fang-jh   22
N Feb 14, 2024 by MathLuis
Source: Chinese TST 2009 P1
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle. Point $ D$ lies on its sideline $ BC$ such that $ \angle CAD = \angle CBA.$ Circle $ (O)$ passing through $ B,D$ intersects $ AB,AD$ at $ E,F$, respectively. $ BF$ meets $ DE$ at $ G$.Denote by$ M$ the midpoint of $ AG.$ Show that $ CM\perp AO.$
22 replies
Fang-jh
Apr 4, 2009
MathLuis
Feb 14, 2024
Source: Chinese TST 2009 P1
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Fang-jh
237 posts
#1 • 5 Y
Y by tenplusten, Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle. Point $ D$ lies on its sideline $ BC$ such that $ \angle CAD = \angle CBA.$ Circle $ (O)$ passing through $ B,D$ intersects $ AB,AD$ at $ E,F$, respectively. $ BF$ meets $ DE$ at $ G$.Denote by$ M$ the midpoint of $ AG.$ Show that $ CM\perp AO.$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Luis González
4148 posts
#2 • 4 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 2 other users
Let $ N \equiv {} AO \cap BC,$ $V \equiv{} AO \cap EF$ and $Q \equiv{} EF \cap BC.$ Let $ T$ be projection of $ C$ on $ AN$ and $ P \equiv{} AQ \cap CT.$ $ \angle CAD = \angle CBA$ implies that $ EF \parallel AC.$ Therefore, $ \triangle ATC$ and $\triangle VZQ$ are similar (Z is the projection of Q on AN). By Menelaus' theorem for $\triangle ANQ$ cut by the transversal $\overline{TPC},$ we obtain:

$\frac {AP}{PQ} = \frac {CN}{CQ} \cdot \frac{TA}{TN}.$ But $ \frac {CN}{NQ} = \frac {AN}{AV},$ due to $ VQ \parallel AC.$

On the other hand, $ \frac {AN}{AV} = \frac {ZN}{ZV}$ (A,V,Z,N are harmonically separeted).

$ \frac {AP}{PQ} = \frac {ZN}{ZV} \cdot \frac{TA}{TN}.$ But $ \frac {TA}{ZV} = \frac {TC}{ZQ} = \frac {TN}{ZN}$ $\Longrightarrow$ $ AP = PQ$

$\Longrightarrow$ $ P$ is the midpoint of $ AQ.$ Consequently, $ T$ is the midpoint of $ AZ$ $\Longrightarrow$ $ AT$ passes through $ G$ and the conclusion follows.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
pohoatza
1145 posts
#3 • 6 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 4 other users
A more synthetic approach: Notice that from the hypothesis we know that $ CA$ is tangent to the circumcircle $ \Gamma$ of $ ABD$. Consider the point $ A$ as a degenerated circle, and thus, since the radical axis of $ A$, $ \Gamma$ and $ (BDEF)$ are concurrent at the circles' radical center, we deduce that $ C$ is the radical center of the three circles. Thus, we are left to show that $ M$ lies on the radical axis of $ A$ and $ (BDEF)$. But this is immediate, since $ G$ lies on the polar of $ A$ wrt. $ (BDEF)$ and so, if we denote by $ X$, $ Y$ the intersections of $ AG$ with $ (BDEF)$, we have that $ XA / XG = YA / YG$, which is equivalent with $ MG^{2} = MA^{2} = MX \cdot MY$.
In conclusion, $ M$ lies on $ AO$ since $ MA^{2}$ is the power of $ M$ wrt. $ A$ and $ MX \cdot MY$ the power of $ M$ wrt. $ BDEF$.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
hollandman
112 posts
#4 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
It might be interesting to formulate the problem this way:

Given a cyclic quadrilateral $ BDFE$. Rays $ BD$ and $ EF$ meet at $ R$, and rays $ BE$ and $ DF$ meet at $ A$. Let a line through $ A$ parallel to $ EF$ meet $ BD$ at $ C$. Let $ FB$ and $ ED$ intersect at $ G$, and $ GR$ and $ AC$ intersect at $ L$. Show that $ AC = CL$.

Would this inspire a different approach?
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
vittasko
1327 posts
#5 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
hollandman wrote:
It might be interesting to formulate the problem this way:

Given a cyclic quadrilateral $ BDFE$. Rays $ BD$ and $ EF$ meet at $ R$, and rays $ BE$ and $ DF$ meet at $ A$. Let a line through $ A$ parallel to $ EF$ meet $ BD$ at $ C$. Let $ FB$ and $ ED$ intersect at $ G$, and $ GR$ and $ AC$ intersect at $ L$. Show that $ AC = CL$.

Would this inspire a different approach?
The pencil $ R.BAFG,$ is in harmonic conjugation as well.

So, because of $ AL\parallel RF,$ we conclude that $ AC = CL$ $ ,(1)$

Similarly, we have that $ AZ = AN$ $ ,(2)$ where $ Z$ is the point of intersection of the line segment $ BF,$ from the line through $ A$ and parallel to $ DE$ and $ N\equiv GR\cap AZ.$

From $ (1),$ $ (2)$ $ \Longrightarrow$ $ CZ\parallel GR$ $ ,(3)$

But, it is well known that $ OA\perp GR$ $ ,(4)$

$ ($ The line connecting the circumcenter of a cyclic quadrilateral, with the point of intersection of its diagonals, is perpendicular to the line connecting the points of intersection of its opposite sidelines. $ )$

Hence, from $ (3),$ $ (4),$ we conclude that $ OA\perp CM$ and the proof of the proposed problem is completed.

REFERENCE. - http://www.mathlinks.ro/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=110887

Kostas Vittas.
Attachments:
t=268931.pdf (7kb)
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
windrock
46 posts
#6 • 3 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247, and 1 other user
Call the intersection of $ BC$ and $ EF$ is $ P$, $ PG$ and $ AD, AC$ are $ X$ and $ T$. We know that $ G$ is the orthorcenter of $ \Delta ABC$, and $ (AXDF) = - 1$, $ AT//PE$ hence $ CA = CT$. But $ PG \perp AO$, so $ AO \perp CM$.
An old idea for the problem!
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
jayme
9787 posts
#7 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
Dear Fang-jh, Cosmin and Mathlinkers,
can some one draw the figure... I don't arrive to the conclusion which is asked.
Thank you
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
jayme
9787 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Dear Mathlinkers,
pleasr can some one draw the figure of the initial, problem...
Is there a typo in the text of the problem?
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
yetti
2643 posts
#9 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
If t is tangent to the circumcircle (P) of triangle ABC at A and t' reflection of t in AC, then t' cuts BC at D, such that
<CAD = <ABC = -<CBA (not <CAD = <CBA).
Attachments:
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
jayme
9787 posts
#10 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Dear Yetti,
now it is clear for me... because I was taking the synthetic result of Cosmin...
Thank you very much
Sincerely
Jean-Louis
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
mathVNpro
469 posts
#11 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Here is my solution (using Inversion:D):
Let $ P$ be the intersection of $ EF$ and $ BC$. Then, it is very well- known that $ G$ is the orthocenter of triangle $ OPA$ (This result can be proved by using Pole-Polar Theory). Let $ A_1$, $ P_1$, $ O_1$ be the intersections of $ (AG,OP)$, $ (PG,OA)$, $ (OG,AP)$, respectively. Consider the inversion through pole $ O$, power $ R^2$, where $ R$ is the radius of $ (O)$, we get, $ I(O,R): B\mapsto B$, $ D\mapsto D$, $ E\mapsto E$, $ F\mapsto F$. Therefore, $ I(O,R): BD\mapsto (OBC)$. Hence, $ P\mapsto A_1$ and $ A_1 \in (OBC)$. Now, it is easy to notice that $ \overline {PD}. \overline {PB} = \overline {PA_1}. \overline {PO} = \overline {PG}. \overline {PP_1}$, which implies $ BP_1GD$ is concyclic quadrilateral, let $ (I)$ be the circumcircle of $ BP_1GD$. $ I(O,R): G\mapsto O_1$, $ P_1\mapsto A$, $ B\mapsto B$, $ D\mapsto D$. Therefore, $ I(O,R): (I)\mapsto (ABD)$. In the other hand, $ I(O,R): C\mapsto C'$, then $ C'\in (OBC)$, hence, $ I(O,R): CP_1\mapsto (OAC')$. Now, it is easy to notice that $ CA$ is the tangent of $ (ABD)$, which implies that $ CA^2 = \overline {CD}.\overline {CB} = \overline {CC'}.\overline {CO}$, which also implies that $ CA$ is also tangent of $ (AOC')$. Therefore, $ (ADB)$ internally tangents $ (AOC')$. Therefore, $ CP_1$ is also a tangent of $ (I)$. Therefore, $ CP_1^2 = \overline {CD}. \overline {CB} = CA^2$, hence $ CP_1 = CA$, which implies that $ C$ lies on the bisector of $ AP_1$, $ M$ also lies on the bisector of $ AP_1$ (Because $ M$ is considered the circumcircle of $ (AP_1G)$). Therefore, $ CM$ is the bisector of $ AP_1$, hence, $ CM\bot AO$.
Our proof is completed :lol:
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
vladimir92
212 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Sorry to revive this old thread but I have an alternative proof to this wonderfull problem. In my proof, $Q$ is the midpoint of $AG$.
[geogebra]623d3e5ef774564f959c2dd8f96536adbf98793b[/geogebra]
My solution
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
TheReds
11 posts
#13 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Fang-jh wrote:
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle. Point $ D$ lies on its sideline $ BC$ such that $ \angle CAD = \angle CBA.$ Circle $ (O)$ passing through $ B,D$ intersects $ AB,AD$ at $ E,F$, respectively. $ BF$ meets $ DE$ at $ G$.Denote by$ M$ the midpoint of $ AG.$ Show that $ CM\perp AO.$
When $ D$ lies on its sideline $ BC$ then D lies on between B and C or not ?
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
TheReds
11 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Please reply me ! I isn't good at English.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
AnonymousBunny
339 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Solution
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
anantmudgal09
1980 posts
#16 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
Nice problem.
By Brokard's Theorem, and angle chasing it suffices to showing that if $AG$ meets $EF,BC$ at $P,T$ respectively then observe that $(A,G;P,T)=-1$ and so $TP.TM=TG.TA$ and the angle condition means $EF$ parallel to $CA$ and we want $CM$ parallel to $HG$. Now this is trivial by converting these angles into ratios.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
Ankoganit
3070 posts
#17 • 3 Y
Y by tenplusten, Adventure10, Mango247
[asy]
import graph;import geometry;import olympiad;size(10cm);
pair A=(6,6),B=(0,0),C=(10,0),Dee,E,F,G,O,M,X,Y,Z;
real beta=degrees(C/A);pair Dprime=rotate(beta,A)*C;
Dee=extension(A,Dprime,B,C);
E=0.65*A;
path p=circumcircle(B,Dee,E);
pair Ghost=E+C-A;
F=extension(E,Ghost,A,Dee);
G=extension(B,F,Dee,E);
M=(A+G)/2;
O=circumcenter(B,Dee,E);
X=extension(E,F,B,C);Z=extension(X,G,A,B);Y=extension(X,G,A,C);
draw(A--B--C--A--Dee,blue);draw(E--X,magenta);draw(E--Dee,magenta);draw(B--F,magenta);draw(Z--Y--C--M,heavycyan);draw(A--X,heavycyan);draw(A--G,magenta);draw(A--O,heavygreen+dotted);draw(p,orange);
dot(A);dot(B);dot(C);dot(Dee);dot(E);dot(F);dot(G);dot(O);dot(M);dot(X);dot(Y);dot(Z);
label("$A$",A,N);label("$B$",B,SW);label("$C$",C,SW);label("$D$",Dee,SE);label("$E$",E,N);label("$F$",F,ENE);label("$G$",G,SSW);label("$O$",O,W);label("$M$",M,NW*0.4);label("$X$",X,NE);label("$Y$",Y,S);label("$Z$",Z,WNW);
[/asy]

Suppose $EF\cap BC=X,XG\cap AC=Y,XG\cap AB=Z$. Note that $\angle FAC=\angle DAC=\angle ABC=\angle EBD=$ $\angle EFA$, so that $FE||AC$; let $P_{\infty}$ be the point at infinity in this direction.
In the triangle $XBE$, $XZ,ED,BF$ are concurrent cevians and $DF\cap BE=A$, so we have $(E,B;A,Z)-1\implies X(E,B;A,Z)=-1$. Intersecting this pencil with $AC$ we have $(A,Y;C,P_{\infty})=-1\implies C$ is the midpoint of $AY$. But $M$ is the midpoint of $AG$, so $CM||YG\implies CM||XG...(\star )$. But applying $\textsc{Brokard's Theorem}$ to the cyclic quadrilateral $DFEB$, we $XG$ is the polar of $A$ w.r.t. $(O)\implies XG\perp AO$. Combining this with $(\star )$, we arrive at $CM\perp AO$, as desired. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Ankoganit, May 20, 2016, 5:19 AM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
simplyconnected43
15 posts
#18 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
This ends up being a rather nice usage of the perpendicularity lemma and some length chasing. Let $r$ be the circumradius of $(O)$. We want to show, by the perpendicularity lemma, that

\[ CA^2 - OC^2 = MA^2 - MO^2 \]
Observe that since $CAD \sim CBA$, we have that $CA^2 = CD(CB)$. Then, since $CD(CB) = \operatorname{Pow}(C, (O)) = CO^2 - r^2$, we have that $CA^2 - OC^2 = -r^2$. Now I claim that $MA^2 - MO^2 = -r^2$, which will of course finish the problem. By the parallelogram law, we can compute

\[ MO^2 - AM^2 = \frac{2OG^2 + 2OA^2 - 2AG^2}{4} = \frac{2(OG)(OA)\cos{\angle{GOA}}}{2} = OG(OA)\cos{\angle{GOA}} \]
Now, we're basically done: $OA\cos{\angle{GOA}}$ is the length of the projection from $G$ onto $OA$, and this rearranges to $G$ lying on the polar of $A$ wrt $(O)$, which is true by Brokard's theorem.
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
uraharakisuke_hsgs
365 posts
#19 • 1 Y
Y by Adventure10
My solution :
$EF$ cuts $BD$ at $T$, $GT$ cuts $AB$ at $H$ , cuts $AC$ at $A'$
We have : $(HE<HA) = -1 \implies T(BE,HA) = -1 \implies T(CE,A'A) = -1$ $(1)$
But we have $\angle AEF = \angle ADB = \angle CAB$ so $AA' \parallel EF$. $(2)$
Combine $(1)$ with $(2)$ we have $C$ is the midpoint of $AA'$ $\implies CM \parallel TG \perp AO$
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
rkm0959
1721 posts
#20 • 2 Y
Y by Adventure10, Mango247
We prove the statement by showing that points $C$ and $M$ lie on the radical axis of the degenerate circle $A$ and circle $(O)$.

It is clear that $C$ lies on the circle since $CA^2 =CD \cdot CB$ is given in the statement.
For $M$, $A$ and $G$ are conjugates wrt $(O)$, so the circle $O$ is orthogonal with the circle having $(AG)$ as its diameter.

This is enough to finish the problem. $\blacksquare$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by rkm0959, Feb 12, 2018, 3:17 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
RAMUGAUSS
331 posts
#21 • 3 Y
Y by Mathematicscanbeproved, RudraRockstar, Adventure10
We can visualize this as $ABD$ as the triangle where $CA$ is tangent to $(ABD)$.Now, it is very much known that any circle passing through $B$,$D$ creates a parallel to $AC$. Here, similarly we can find that $EF$ is parallel to $AC$ (why?).
INSIGHT
Here, we have to prove something related to circumcenter of $(BCFE)$,then we apply brocard to that circle.(Why?).Well , let say $T\equiv FE\cap BC$,after applying brocard we see that $TG$ is perpendicular to $AO$.Now we have to prove that $CM$ is perpendicular to $AO$.So, the problem turn to showing that $TG$ is parallel to $CM$.
PROOF
First observation
Second observation
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by RAMUGAUSS, May 20, 2019, 1:42 PM
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
AlastorMoody
2125 posts
#22 • 2 Y
Y by Pluto1708, Adventure10
China TST 2009 P1 wrote:
Let $ ABC$ be a triangle. Point $ D$ lies on its sideline $ BC$ such that $ \angle CAD = \angle CBA.$ Circle $ (O)$ passing through $ B,D$ intersects $ AB,AD$ at $ E,F$, respectively. $ BF$ meets $ DE$ at $ G$.Denote by$ M$ the midpoint of $ AG.$ Show that $ CM\perp AO.$
Solution: Observe $\angle CAD= \angle ABD =\angle AFE$ $\implies$ $AC||EF$. Let $EF$ $\cap$ $BC$ $=$ $X$. Brokard's Theorem implies, $GX$ $\perp$ $AO$. Hence we want to show $GX$ $||$ $CM$.
\begin{align*} -1= (A, G ; AG \cap EF, AG \cap BC) \overset{X}{=} (A, XG \cap AC; \infty_{AC}, C) \end{align*}Hence, $CM || XG$ as desired $\qquad \blacksquare$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Luis González, Feb 14, 2024, 3:11 AM
Reason: Unhiding solution
Z K Y
The post below has been deleted. Click to close.
This post has been deleted. Click here to see post.
MathLuis
1514 posts
#23
Y by
Top 10 projective geo lets go!
By anti-parallels we have that $EF \parallel AC$, let $EF \cap BC=J$, $AJ \cap ED=X$ and $A'$ reflection of $A$ over $C$.
Now by Ceva-Menelaus config in $\triangle BJA$ and projecting we get:
$$-1=(D, E; X, G) \overset{J}{=} (C, \infty_{AC}; A, GJ \cap AC) \implies GJ \cap AC=A' \implies GJ \parallel MC$$Now by brokard theorem we get $AO \perp GJ \parallel MC$ thus we are done.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by MathLuis, Feb 14, 2024, 1:30 AM
Z K Y
N Quick Reply
G
H
=
a