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k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
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Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
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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
BMN is equilateral iff rectangle ABCD is square
parmenides51   3
N 23 minutes ago by Tsikaloudakis
Source: 2004 Romania NMO SL - Shortlist VII-VIII p8 https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c3950157_
Consider a point $M$ on the diagonal $BD$ of a given rectangle $ABCD$, such that $\angle AMC = \angle  CMD$. The point $N$ is the intersection point between $AM$ and the parallel line to $CM$ that contains $B$. Prove that the triangle $BMN$ is equilateral if and only if $ABCD$ is a square.

Valentin Vornicu
3 replies
parmenides51
Sep 16, 2024
Tsikaloudakis
23 minutes ago
inequality
senku23   1
N an hour ago by giangtruong13
Let x,y,z in R+ prove that 8(x^3+y^3+z^3)2≥9(x^2+yz)(y^2+zx)(z^2+xy).
1 reply
senku23
an hour ago
giangtruong13
an hour ago
D1015 : A strange EF for polynomials
Dattier   1
N an hour ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Find all $P \in \mathbb R[x,y]$ with $P \not\in \mathbb R[x] \cup \mathbb R[y]$ and $\forall g,f$ homeomorphismes of $\mathbb R$, $P(f,g)$ is an homoemorphisme too.
1 reply
Dattier
Mar 16, 2025
Dattier
an hour ago
Cutting a big square into smaller squares
nAalniaOMliO   4
N an hour ago by anudeep
Source: Belarusian National Olympiad 2020
A $20 \times 20$ checkered board is cut into several squares with integer side length. The size of a square is it's side length.
What is the maximum amount of different sizes this squares can have?
4 replies
nAalniaOMliO
Jan 29, 2025
anudeep
an hour ago
2015 Taiwan TST Round 1 Quiz 1 Problem 1
wanwan4343   11
N an hour ago by ariopro1387
Source: 2015 Taiwan TST Round 1 Quiz 1 Problem 1
Find all primes $p,q,r$ such that $qr-1$ is divisible by $p$, $pr-1$ is divisible by $q$, $pq-1$ is divisible by $r$.
11 replies
wanwan4343
Jul 12, 2015
ariopro1387
an hour ago
D1010 : How it is possible ?
Dattier   13
N an hour ago by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Is it true that$$\forall n \in \mathbb N^*, (24^n \times B \mod A) \mod 2 = 0 $$?

A=1728400904217815186787639216753921417860004366580219212750904
024377969478249664644267971025952530803647043121025959018172048
336953969062151534282052863307398281681465366665810775710867856
720572225880311472925624694183944650261079955759251769111321319
421445397848518597584590900951222557860592579005088853698315463
815905425095325508106272375728975

B=2275643401548081847207782760491442295266487354750527085289354
965376765188468052271190172787064418854789322484305145310707614
546573398182642923893780527037224143380886260467760991228567577
953725945090125797351518670892779468968705801340068681556238850
340398780828104506916965606659768601942798676554332768254089685
307970609932846902
13 replies
Dattier
Mar 10, 2025
Dattier
an hour ago
Eventually constant sequence with condition
PerfectPlayer   2
N an hour ago by egxa
Source: Turkey TST 2025 Day 3 P8
A positive real number sequence $a_1, a_2, a_3,\dots $ and a positive integer \(s\) is given.
Let $f_n(0) = \frac{a_n+\dots+a_1}{n}$ and for each $0<k<n$
\[f_n(k)=\frac{a_n+\dots+a_{k+1}}{n-k}-\frac{a_k+\dots+a_1}{k}\]Then for every integer $n\geq s,$ the condition
\[a_{n+1}=\max_{0\leq k<n}(f_n(k))\]is satisfied. Prove that this sequence must be eventually constant.
2 replies
PerfectPlayer
Yesterday at 4:27 AM
egxa
an hour ago
JBMO Shortlist 2021 C2
Lukaluce   5
N an hour ago by Frd_19_Hsnzde
Source: JBMO Shortlist 2021
Let $n$ be a positive integer. We are given a $3n \times 3n$ board whose unit squares are colored in black and white in such way that starting with the top left square, every third diagonal is colored in black and the rest of the board is in white. In one move, one can take a $2 \times 2$ square and change the color of all its squares in such way that white squares become orange, orange ones become black and black ones become white. Find all $n$ for which, using a finite number of moves, we can make all the squares which were initially black white, and all squares which were initially white black.

Proposed by Boris Stanković and Marko Dimitrić, Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 replies
Lukaluce
Jul 2, 2022
Frd_19_Hsnzde
an hour ago
Flips in triangulation
Oksutok   0
an hour ago
Prove that every triangulation of a convex $n$-polygon can be constructed from any other triangulation by at most $2n-10$ flips (if $n>12$).

Note. A flip is an operation that transforms one triangulation to another by removing an edge between two triangles and adding the opposite diagonal to the resulting quadrilateral.
0 replies
Oksutok
an hour ago
0 replies
D1016 : A strange result about the palindrom polynomials
Dattier   4
N 2 hours ago by lbh_qys
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $Q\in \{-1,1,0\}[x]$ with $Q(1)=0$.

Is it true that $\exists P \in \mathbb Z[x]$ palindrom with $P | Q$ ?
4 replies
Dattier
Mar 17, 2025
lbh_qys
2 hours ago
Laura fixing roads with cheap price
CrazyInMath   1
N 2 hours ago by shanelin-sigma
Source: 2024 CK Summer MSG Mock C3; Shortlist C5
In the nation of Peach Blossom Origin, there are $n$ cities numbered $1$ to $n$. City $a$ and city $b$ has a bidirectional road of lengths $(a+b)^a$ if and only if $a<b$ and $a+b$ is a prime number.
As Typhoon Gaemi strikes, all roads are destroyed. The admin Laura wants to repair some roads such that for each pair of city, you can get from one to another just using the repaired roads. However, each unit length of road costs $1$ dollar to fix, and Laura wants to minimize the cost. Prove that Laura would have one unique way to do this.

Proposed by CrazyInMath.
1 reply
CrazyInMath
Aug 16, 2024
shanelin-sigma
2 hours ago
Slightly weird points which are not so weird
Pranav1056   10
N 2 hours ago by kes0716
Source: India TST 2023 Day 4 P1
Suppose an acute scalene triangle $ABC$ has incentre $I$ and incircle touching $BC$ at $D$. Let $Z$ be the antipode of $A$ in the circumcircle of $ABC$. Point $L$ is chosen on the internal angle bisector of $\angle BZC$ such that $AL = LI$. Let $M$ be the midpoint of arc $BZC$, and let $V$ be the midpoint of $ID$. Prove that $\angle IML = \angle DVM$
10 replies
Pranav1056
Jul 9, 2023
kes0716
2 hours ago
classical R+ FE
jasperE3   1
N 2 hours ago by pco
Source: kent2207, based on 2019 Slovenia TST
wanted to post this problem in its own thread: https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c6h1784825p34307772
Find all functions $f:\mathbb R^+\to\mathbb R^+$ for which:
$$f(f(x)+f(y))=yf(1+yf(x))$$for all $x,y\in\mathbb R^+$.
1 reply
jasperE3
Yesterday at 3:55 PM
pco
2 hours ago
Physics disguised as math
everythingpi3141592   7
N 2 hours ago by kes0716
Source: India IMOTC 2024 Day 4 Problem 2
There are $n\ge 3$ particles on a circle situated at the vertices of a regular $n$-gon. All these particles move on the circle with the same constant speed. One of the particles moves in the clockwise direction while all others move in the anti-clockwise direction. When particles collide, that is, they are all at the same point, they all reverse the direction of their motion and continue with the same speed as before.

Let $s$ be the smallest number of collisions after which all particles return to their original positions. Find $s$.

Proposed by N.V. Tejaswi
7 replies
everythingpi3141592
May 31, 2024
kes0716
2 hours ago
Oh no! Inequality again?
mathisreaI   108
N Yesterday at 4:45 PM by Maximilian113
Source: IMO 2022 Problem 2
Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ such that for each $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$, there is exactly one $y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ satisfying $$xf(y)+yf(x) \leq 2$$
108 replies
mathisreaI
Jul 13, 2022
Maximilian113
Yesterday at 4:45 PM
Oh no! Inequality again?
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: IMO 2022 Problem 2
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mathisreaI
9 posts
#1 • 14 Y
Y by nguyentuantai_, timothywang835, dangerousliri, PHSH, Stuart111, megarnie, suh, S.Ragnork1729, Kabir_Basanta, kamatadu, Schur-Schwartz, deplasmanyollari, ItsBesi, cubres
Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ such that for each $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$, there is exactly one $y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ satisfying $$xf(y)+yf(x) \leq 2$$
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jasperE3
11098 posts
#2 • 14 Y
Y by nguyentuantai_, timothywang835, strong_boy, yee5487, Donya, Evan_fan, Gato_combinatorio, angelthirty, Lightosv, I.owais, grboy, Sedro, Frank25, MS_asdfgzxcvb
Claim: $f$ is decreasing
Let $a>b$. By taking $x=a$, there is some $c$ with $af(c)+cf(a)\le2$. By taking $x=c$, we know that $cf(b)+bf(c)>2$ since $a\ne b$. Then $2<cf(b)+af(c)$, so by adding this to $af(c)+cf(a)\le2$, we get $f(a)<f(b)$.

Now we can claim that $\boxed{f(x)=\frac1x}$, which is indeed a solution (by AM-GM, we have $xf(y)+yf(x)\ge2\sqrt{xf(x)yf(x)}=2$ with equality iff $x=y$). Let $u\in\mathbb R^+$ be arbitrary, proving $f(u)=\frac1u$ suffices.

Suppose $f(u)>\frac1u$. Then let $2\ge uf(v)+vf(u)$ by taking $x=u$. We have:
$$2\ge uf(v)+vf(u)>uf(v)+\frac vu\ge2\sqrt{vf(v)}$$by AM-GM, so $vf(v)\le1$. Then $vf(v)+vf(v)\le2$, so by taking $x=v$ we find that $u=v$. This yields a contradiction as $f(v)\le\frac1v$.

Suppose $f(u)<\frac1u$, and let $d$ be any positive real. Then $uf(u+du)+(u+du)f(u)>2$ by taking $x=u$ and $y=u+du$, but:
$$uf(u+du)+(u+du)f(u)\le uf(u)+(u+du)f(u)<2+d$$since $f$ is decreasing and $f(u)<\frac1u$. Then $uf(u+du)+(u+du)f(u)\le2$, contradiction.

The only remaining option is $f(u)=\frac1u$ as desired.
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Whitewizard314
13 posts
#3 • 2 Y
Y by nguyentuantai_, timothywang835
Let $g:\mathbb{R^+} \to \mathbb{R^+}$ be a function such that $g(x)=f(x)/x$ for positive real $x$.
Then the given condition is equivalent to : For every $x \in R^+$ there exists exactly one $y \in \mathbb{R^+} $ such that $g(x)+g(y)\leq 2/xy$.
Let's call such a pair $(x,y)$ a good pair. Let $G$ be the set of all good pairs. Then obviously $(y,x) \in G$ while $(x,z) \notin G$ for $y\neq z$.

1) $g(x)$ is strictly decreasing.
Let $0<a<b$ be positive real numbers.
Case 1: $(a,b) \notin G$
Suppose $(b,c) \in G$ . $\therefore$ $(a,c) \notin G$. $\therefore$ $g(a)+g(c)>2/ac$ and $g(b)+g(c) \leq 2/bc$. By combining these two, we have $g(a)-g(b)\geq{\frac{2}{c}}({\frac{1}{a}}-{\frac{1}{b}})>0$. $\therefore$ $g(a)>g(b)$.
Case 2: $(a,b) \in G$
Let $d \in \mathbb{R^+}$ such that $a<d<b$. $\therefore$ $(a,d),(d,b)\notin G$
By using the result in Case $1$ we have $g(a)>g(d)$ and $g(d)>g(b)$. $\therefore$ $g(a)>g(b)$
2) If $(x,y)\in G$ then $g(x)+g(y)=2/xy$
Suppose there exists $(x,y) \in G$ which doesn't hold the above. $\therefore$ $g(x)+g(y)<2/xy$. $\therefore$ $\exists$ $n>0$ so that $g(x)+g(y)<{\frac{2}{x(y+n)}}$. But $g(x)+g(y)>g(x)+g(y+n)$. $\therefore$ $g(x)+g(y+n)<{\frac{2}{x(y+n)}}$ which is a contradiction because $(x,y+n) \notin G$.
3) $g(x)=1/x^2$ and $f(x)=1/x$ for every $x \in \mathbb{R^+}$.
We've shown that $g(x)+g(y)\geq2/xy\forall x,y\in\mathbb{R^+}$.
$x=y$ $\Rightarrow$ $g(x)\geq1/x^2$. Consider any $(a,b) \in G$. $\therefore$ $2/ab=g(a)+g(b)\geq1/a^2+1/b^2$ $\Rightarrow$ $a=b$. $\therefore$ By step 2, $g(x)=1/x^2.$ $\therefore$ $f(x)=1/x$.
It's not difficult to see that $f(x)=1/x$ is indeed a possible solution.
($x/y+y/x\leq2\iff x=y$)
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MarkBcc168
1593 posts
#4 • 12 Y
Y by nguyentuantai_, timothywang835, IAmTheHazard, rama1728, geometry6, aidan0626, sabkx, Mango247, megarnie, Randomization, lksb, CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid
This solution probably is (or close to) the weirdest solution I found on any math Olympiad question. In particular, it hinges on the uncountability of $\mathbb R$. Please help check if it's correct.

The only answer is $f(x) = \tfrac 1x$, which satisfies the equation due to AM-GM inequality $\tfrac xy + \tfrac yx \geq 2$. To prove that there are no other solutions, we first substitute $g(x) = xf\left(\tfrac 1x\right)$, turning the inequality to
$$g\left(\frac 1x\right) + g\left(\frac 1y\right) \leq \frac{2}{xy} \iff g(x)+g(y)\leq 2xy.$$Our intermediate goal is to show that $f(x)\geq x^2$ for all $x>0$. To do so, consider a very small real number $\delta > 0$ (pick later) and partition $\mathbb R^+$ into strips in form $S_n = [n\delta, (n+1)\delta)$ for $n=0,1,2,\dots$.

Consider a strip $S_a$ where $a>1000$. Each number $x\in S_a$ (uncountably infinite numbers) is mapped to another real number $y$ such that $g(x)+g(y)\leq 2xy$. As there are countably many strips, six of them, $a_1,\dots,a_6$ must get mapped $b_1,\dots,b_6$ lying in the same strip $S_b$. Now, note that
  • If $a\ne b$, then just pick the first three $a_1,a_2,a_3$ and $b_1,b_2,b_3$. We have $a_i\ne b_j$ for all $i,j$.
  • If $a=b$, then these six numbers must pair up to at least $3$ pairs. Therefore, we can pick $a_1,a_2,a_3$, $b_1,b_2,b_3$ such that $g(a_i) + g(b_i)\leq 2a_ib_i$ and $a_i\neq b_j$ whenever $i\ne j$.
Now, we contend that $a$ and $b$ must be close. Note that in what follows, all constants in the $O$ are absolute, not depending on $\delta$.
Claim: $a-b = O(\sqrt a)$.

Proof: We have the following table to visualize the argument.
\begin{tabular}{c|ccccc}
& $g(a_i)$ & & $g(b_i)$ & & $g(a_i)+g(b_i)$ \\[4pt] \hline
1 & $\min$ & + & $\geq(b\delta)^2$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
2 & $\geq(a\delta)^2$ & + & $\min$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
3 & $\geq(a\delta)^2$ & + & $\geq(b\delta)^2$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
\end{tabular}Note that since $g(a_i) + g(a_j) \geq 2a_ia_j \geq 2(a\delta)^2$, we have that $g(a_i) \geq (a\delta)^2$ for all but one $i$. Similarly, $g(b_i)\geq (b\delta)^2$ for all but one $i$. Therefore, for some $i$, $g(a_i)\geq (a\delta)^2$ and $g(b_i)\geq (b\delta)^2$. This gives
$$\delta^2(a^2+b^2) \leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1) \implies a^2+b^2 \leq 2ab+2a+2b+2,$$giving the desired bound. (Explicitly, $|a-b| < 1+\sqrt{4a+3}$.) $\blacksquare$
Next, we contend that $g(a_1), g(a_2), g(a_3)$ and $g(b_1), g(b_2), g(b_3)$ must be close together. In particular,

Claim: We have $g(a_i) = \delta^2(a^2+O(a))$. Similarly, $g(b_i) = \delta^2(a^2+O(a))$.

Proof: We first define some notation. Let
\begin{align*}
m_a &= \min\{g(a_1), g(a_2), g(a_3)\}, \\
M_a &= \max\{g(a_1), g(a_2), g(a_3)\}, \\
m_b &= \min\{g(b_1), g(b_2), g(b_3)\}, \\
M_b &= \max\{g(b_1), g(b_2), g(b_3)\}. \\
\end{align*}Then, we prove that $m_a$ and $m_b$ can't be to small. To do so, we construct the table similar to before
\begin{tabular}{c|ccccc}
& $g(a_i)$ & & $g(b_i)$ & & $g(a_i)+g(b_i)$ \\[4pt] \hline
1 & $m_a$ & + & $\geq 2(b\delta)^2-m_b$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
2 & $\geq 2(a\delta)^2-m_a$ & + & $m_b$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
3 & $\geq 2(a\delta)^2-m_a$ & + & $\geq 2(b\delta)^2-m_b$ & = & $\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1)$ \\[4pt]
\end{tabular}This time, we have
$$2\delta^2(a^2+b^2) - m_a - m_b\leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1) \implies m_a+m_b\geq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a)).$$Then, we note that
$$M_a + m_b \leq g(a_i) + g(b_i) \leq 2\delta^2(a+1)(b+1) = 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a)),$$and analogously, $m_a+M_b \leq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a))$. Therefore, we have three inequalities
\begin{align*}
m_a + m_b &\geq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a)) \\
m_a + M_b &\leq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a)) \\
m_b + M_a &\leq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a)).
\end{align*}Subtracting the first and second gives $M_b - m_b = \delta^2O(a)$. However, we also have $M_b + m_b \geq 2(b\delta)^2 = 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a))$, so $m_b \geq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a))$. Analogously, $m_a \geq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a))$. Therefore, using the second and third inequalities gives the upper bound $M_a,M_b\leq 2\delta^2(a^2+O(a))$. $\blacksquare$
Now, we link this to the entire strip $S_a$.

Claim: $g(x) \geq \delta^2(a^2+O(a))$ for all $x\in S_a$.

Proof: If $x\in\{a_1,a_2,a_3,b_1,b_2,b_3\}$, we are already done. Otherwise,
$$g(x) + g(a_1) \geq 2xa_1 \geq 2\delta^2a^2,$$giving the conclusion as well. $\blacksquare$
By taking $\delta \to 0$ and $a = \left\lfloor\tfrac x\delta\right\rfloor$, we have
$$g(x) > \delta^2\left(\frac{x^2}{\delta^2} + O\left(\frac{x}{\delta}\right)\right) = x^2 + xO(\delta),$$yielding $g(x) \geq x^2$ for all $x$. For each $x$, there exists $y$ such that
$$2xy \geq g(x)+g(y)\geq x^2+y^2,$$forcing $x=y$ and $g(x)=x^2$, done.
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Leartia
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#5 • 2 Y
Y by nguyentuantai_, timothywang835
Motivation: You want to have something that lets you perturb $y$ for a given $x$ and use uniqueness to get $f(x)=\dfrac{1}{x}.$
Continuity would be great but this is supposed to be high school level so you naturally try to show monotonicity as the next best thing.
Let $x_1>x_2$ and $y\in\mathbb{R}^+$ be the unique number such that $x_1f(y)+yf(x_1)\leq 2.$
Due to the uniqueness of $y$ we have that $x_2f(y)+yf(x_2)>2.$ Since $2\geq x_1f(y)+yf(x_1)>x_2f(y)+yf(x_1)$ and $x_2f(y)+yf(x_2)>2$ we have $f(x_1)<f(x_2).$ Thus the function is decreasing.
Now perturbation will give you what you want.
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jj_ca888
2726 posts
#6 • 22 Y
Y by timothywang835, richrow12, FishHeadTail, mathitoo, oolite, CherryMagic, miiirz30, lgkarras, 554183, SerdarBozdag, cj13609517288, aidan0626, sabkx, GustavoPudim, ehuseyinyigit, megarnie, Math_legendno12, poirasss, CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid, EpicBird08, ike.chen, RobertRogo
This could have been a 1/4 :(. Cute little problem though.

I claim our answer is $\boxed{f(x) = \tfrac 1x}.$

Define $x \sim y$ if $y$ is the unique value that makes the statement true for $x$. Note that $y \sim x$ too, so this property is commutative.

First, we prove $x \sim x$ for all $x$. Suppose FTSoC that $x \sim y$ with $x \neq y$. Then, $x \not \sim x$ and $y \not \sim y$. Hence $2xf(x) > 2$ and similarly $2yf(y) > 2$, so $f(x) > \tfrac 1x$ and $f(y) > \tfrac 1y$. It turns out that\[xf(y) + yf(x) > \frac{x}{y} + \frac{y}{x} > 2\]since AM-GM equality can never hold, contradiction, as desired.

So, $x \sim x$ always $\implies f(x) \leq \tfrac{1}{x}$. Now, suppose some $f(c) < \tfrac 1c$, so $f(c) = \tfrac {1}{c + \epsilon}$ for some $\epsilon$. Note that $c \sim c + \epsilon$ then, since\[cf(c + \epsilon) + (c+\epsilon)f(c) = cf(c + \epsilon) + 1 \leq 1 + \frac{c}{c + \epsilon} \leq 2\]which is bad since $c$ can only $\sim$ one number, already established to be itself. Hence, $f(x) = \tfrac 1x$ for all $x$, as desired. $\square$
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hyay
181 posts
#7 • 2 Y
Y by timothywang835, Nartku
The only solution is $f(x) = \frac{1}{x}$ for all $x$. AM-GM verifies that $y=x$ is the unique value satisfying $xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2$ for any $x$.

First, we show that $xf(x) \leq 1$ for all $x$. Assume otherwise, then consider $x,y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ with $xf(x) > 1$ satisfying the given inequality. By AM-GM,
\[2 \geq xf(y) + yf(x) \geq 2\sqrt{(xf(x))(yf(y))} \implies yf(y) < 1\]Hence, $z=y$ is the unique solution to the inequality
\[yf(z) + zf(y) \leq 2\]But we know $z=x$ is also a solution, so $x=y$, and $xf(x) = yf(y) < 1$, contradiction.

This implies
\[xf(y) + yf(x) > 2 \text{ for all } x \neq y\]Now assume that for some $x$, there is $c < 1$ such that $f(x) = \frac{c}{x}$. Let $y=x+\epsilon$, then
\[2 < xf(y) + yf(x) \leq \frac{x}{x+\epsilon} + \frac{c(x+\epsilon)}{x}\]for all $\epsilon\neq 0$. But $\lim_{\epsilon\to 0} RHS = 1 + c < 2$, contradiction.

Hence, we are done.
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IndoMathXdZ
691 posts
#8 • 2 Y
Y by timothywang835, I.owais
2022 IMO/2 wrote:
Let $\mathbb{R}^+$ denote the set of positive real numbers. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}^+$ such that for each $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$, there is exactly one $y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ satisfying
\[ xf(y) + yf(x) \le 2 \]
The answer is only $\boxed{f(x) = \frac{1}{x}}$. This works, as for $y = x$, we have $2xf(x) = 2$ and for $y \not= x$, by AM-GM, $xf(y) + yf(x) > 2$. We'll now prove that there are no other solutions.
Claim 01. For all $x \not= y$, we have
\[ \frac{2}{xy} < \frac{f(x)}{x} + \frac{f(y)}{y} \le \frac{1}{x^2} + \frac{1}{y^2} \]Proof. Let us suppose that the unique $y \in \mathbb{R}^+$ satisfying $xf(y) + yf(x) \le 2$ is not $x$. We therefore conclude that $2xf(x) > 2$ and $2yf(y) > 2$, i.e. $f(x) > \frac{1}{x}$ and $f(y) > \frac{1}{y}$. However, this implies
\[ \frac{2}{xy} \ge \frac{f(x)}{x} + \frac{f(y)}{y} > \frac{1}{x^2} + \frac{1}{y^2} \ge \frac{2}{xy} \]which is a contradiction. Therefore, we must have $xf(x) \le 1$ for all $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$; and furthermore for all $x \not= y$, we must have
\[ \frac{f(x)}{x} + \frac{f(y)}{y} > \frac{2}{xy} \]as claimed.
Now, consider the function $g: \mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ such that $g(x) = x^2 - xf \left( \frac{1}{x} \right) \ge 0$ for all $x \in \mathbb{R}^+$. Therefore the condition above rewrites to
\[ g(a) + g(b) = a^2 + b^2 - a f \left( \frac{1}{a} \right) - b f \left( \frac{1}{b} \right) < (a - b)^2 \]for any $a \not= b$. Let us write this as $Q(a,b) : g(a) + g(b) < (a - b)^2$.
Claim 02. $g \equiv 0$.
Proof. We have $0 \le g(a) \le g(a) + g(b) < (a - b)^2$ for all $b \not= a$. Thus,
\[ 0 \le g(a) \le \lim_{b \to a} (a - b)^2 = 0 \implies g(a) = 0 \]for any $a \in \mathbb{R}^+$, as desired.
This forces $f(x) = \frac{1}{x}$, as desired.
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MathisWow
82 posts
#9 • 5 Y
Y by timothywang835, JG666, sa2001, Mango247, ehuseyinyigit
This problem is a joke.
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asdf334
7584 posts
#10 • 3 Y
Y by timothywang835, sabkx, Mango247
I am struggling more on the IMO 1/4s than the IMO 2/5s.
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khina
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#12 • 1 Y
Y by timothywang835
solution?

This problem is quite nice and creative. A good p2!
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BlazingMuddy
281 posts
#15 • 2 Y
Y by timothywang835, teomihai
I think this suits P1 more than P2... I'm disappointed that the uniqueness resolves that quickly for a P2. It's probably nicer as a P1 (compared to 2019 A1?), while P1 could fit as an easy-medium P2, I think.



Write $R^+ = \mathbb{R}^+$. For each $x \in R^+$, we claim that the unique $y \in R^+$ satisfying $xf(y) + yf(x) \leq 2$ is $y = x$. In particular, this gives us $x f(x) \leq 1$ and $x f(y) + y f(x) > 2$ for each $x, y \in R^+$.

To prove the claim, fix some $x \in R^+$, and suppose that the unique $y$ is distinct from $x$. Then, we have $2 xf(x) \leq 2 \to xf(x) \leq 1$, and similarly $y f(y) \leq 1$. But then $2xy < xy (x f(y) + y f(x)) = x^2 y f(y) + y^2 x f(x) \leq 1 + 1 = 2$, a contradiction.

Now, for any $x \in R^+$, denote $g(x) = 1 - x f(x)$. We have $g(x) \geq 0$ for each $x \in R^+$, and also $2xy < xy (x f(y) + y f(x)) = x^2 (1 - g(y)) + y^2 (1 - g(x)) \iff x^2 g(y) + y^2 g(x) < (x - y)^2$ for each $x, y > 0$. For fixed $y$, this means $y^2 g(y) < (y + c)^2 g(y) \leq (y + c)^2 g(y) + y^2 g(y + c) < c^2$ for any $c > 0$. Thus $y^2 g(y) < c$ for any $c > 0$ (for example, by replacing $c$ with $\sqrt{c}$). Since $g(y) \geq 0$ and $y > 0$, this forces $g(y) = 0 \to y f(y) = 1 \to f(y) = \dfrac{1}{y}$ for any $y > 0$.



P.S. Writing $\mathbb{R}^+$ as $R^+$ is actually deliberate; I think the above solution should work even if we are working over the set of positive elements of a linear ordered ring $R$. In the case where $R$ is not a field, no such function $f$ exists; otherwise, if $R$ is a field, then $f(x) = 1/x$ is the unique solution. This is why I do not use division at all in the above solution (almost...). An easier solution would start with dividing the original inequality by $xy$ as in #8.

One can still prove $y^2 g(y) < c$ for any $c > 0$, for example, as follows: if $c \geq 1$ then $y^2 g(y) < 1^2 \leq c$; otherwise $y^2 g(y) < c^2 < c$.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by BlazingMuddy, Jul 13, 2022, 3:41 AM
Reason: Typo again
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MarkBcc168
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#16 • 3 Y
Y by timothywang835, Euler365, NobleNeon111
I wonder if the following variant breaks some solutions. My countability solution still works if we take more $a_i$'s and $b_i$'s.
Quote:
Determine all $f : \mathbb R^+ \to \mathbb R^+$ such that for each $x\in\mathbb R^+$, there are at least one but at most $2022$ positive real numbers $y$ such that $xf(y)+yf(x)\leq 2$.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by MarkBcc168, Jul 13, 2022, 3:38 AM
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DNCT1
235 posts
#17 • 2 Y
Y by timothywang835, paul.thai.1803
Hope this is true
Let $y_x>0$ be the unique element for every $x>0$ we have $xf(y)+yf(x)\leq 2$.
Assume that $y_x\neq x$ then we have $2xf(x)>2\implies f(x)>\frac{1}{x}$ for some $x>0 (1)$.
Then by $AM-GM$: $$2\ge xf(y_x)+y_xf(x)>xf(y_x)+\frac{y_x}{x}\ge 2\sqrt{y_xf(y_x)}\implies f(y_x)<\frac{1}{y_x}$$By $(1)$ we see that $y_{y_{x}}=y_x$, otherwise we get $f(y_x)>\frac{1}{y_x}$, a contracdition.
Let $x\to y_x$ then we have $$y_xf(y)+f(y_x)y>2\quad\forall y>0,y\neq y_x$$.
But since $x\neq y_x$ so $y_xf(x)+xf(y_x)>2$, a contracditon. This inffer that we get $y_x=x\quad\forall x>0$ and so
$$xf(y)+yf(x)>2\quad\forall x,y>0 / x\ne y , \ f(x)\leq \frac{1}{x}$$That is $$\displaystyle\frac{2-\frac{x}{y}}{y}\leq \frac{2-xf(y)}{y}<f(x)\le \frac{1}{x}\quad\forall x,y>0, x\neq y\ (2)$$$$\frac{2-\frac{y}{x}}{x}-\frac{1}{x}<f(y)-f(x)<\frac{1}{y}-\frac{2-\frac{x}{y}}{y}\quad\forall x,y>0,x\neq y$$Thus $\lim_{y\to x} f(y)=f(x)\quad\forall x>0$ so $f$ is continous on $\mathbb{R^+}$.
By $(2)$ and squeeze theorem we have $$f(y)=\lim_{x\to y}f(x)=\frac{1}{y}\quad\forall y>0$$So $f(x)=\frac{1}{x}\quad\forall x>0$ and we're done.
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rama1728
800 posts
#18 • 2 Y
Y by timothywang835, NobleNeon111
I didn't expect this.....

Let \(g(x)\) be the unique positive real satisfying the given inequality.

I claim that \(f\) is decreasing. Assume that \(f(a)\ge f(b)\) and \(a\ge b\) for some two positive reals, then note that \[g(a)f(b)+bf(g(a))\le g(a)f(a)+af(g(a))\le 2\]contradicting uniqueness of \(g(a)\). Therefore, \(f\) is strictly decreasing.

Now, assume that there exists a positive real \(x_0\) for which \(f(x_0)<\frac{1}{x_0}\). Then, clearly \(g(x_0)=x_0\) (since it satisfies the inequality and must be unique). That means \[(x_0+\varepsilon)f(x_0)+x_0f(x_0+\varepsilon)>2\]for \(\varepsilon>0\). Now, since \(f(x_0)<\frac{1}{x_0}\) by assumption, we must have \[\frac{\varepsilon}{x_0}+x_0f(x_0+\varepsilon)>1\]or \[f(x_0+\varepsilon)>\frac{x_0-\varepsilon}{x_0^2}\]And as \(f\) is decreasing: \[f(x_0)>f(x_0+\varepsilon)>\frac{x_0-\varepsilon}{x_0^2}\]so \[x_0^2f(x_0)>x_0-\varepsilon\]which is a contradiction, as we tend \(\varepsilon\rightarrow 0^+\), because \(x_0^2f(x_0)<x_0\).

This implies that \(f(x)\ge \frac{1}{x}\) for all \(x\). Assume now that there exists a positive real \(t\) for which \(f(t)>\frac{1}{t}\). Then, \[2\ge g(t)f(t)+tf(g(t))>\frac{g(t)}{t}+\frac{t}{g(t)}\ge 2\]a contradiction. Therefore, we must have \(f(x)=\frac{1}{x}\) for all \(x\).

Note that this solution works, since we have the unique positive real satisfying \[\frac{x}{g(x)}+\frac{g(x)}{x}\le 2\]is \(g(x)=x\).
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