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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.

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0 replies
jlacosta
Apr 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
Dear Sqing: So Many Inequalities...
hashtagmath   32
N 3 minutes ago by aiops
I have noticed thousands upon thousands of inequalities that you have posted to HSO and was wondering where you get the inspiration, imagination, and even the validation that such inequalities are true? Also, what do you find particularly appealing and important about specifically inequalities rather than other branches of mathematics? Thank you :)
32 replies
+1 w
hashtagmath
Oct 30, 2024
aiops
3 minutes ago
Squares on height in right triangle
Miquel-point   1
N 5 minutes ago by LiamChen
Source: Romanian NMO 2025 7.4
Consider the right-angled triangle $ABC$ with $\angle A$ right and $AD\perp BC$, $D\in BC$. On the ray $[AD$ we take two points $E$ and $H$ so that $AE=AC$ and $AH=AB$. Consider the squares $AEFG$ and $AHJI$ containing inside $C$ and $B$, respectively. If $K=EG\cap AC$ and $L=IH\cap AB$, $N=IL\cap GK$ and $M=IB\cap GC$, prove that $LK\parallel BC$ and that $A$, $N$ and $M$ are collinear.
1 reply
Miquel-point
Yesterday at 8:20 PM
LiamChen
5 minutes ago
true or false statement
pennypc123456789   3
N an hour ago by Dattier
if $a,b,c$ are positive real numbers, $k \ge 3$ then
$$
\frac{a + b}{a + kb + c} + \dfrac{b + c}{b + kc + a}+\dfrac{c + a}{c + ka + b} \geq \dfrac{6}{k+2}$$
3 replies
pennypc123456789
3 hours ago
Dattier
an hour ago
H is incenter of DEF
Melid   1
N an hour ago by Melid
Source: own?
In acute scalene triangle ABC, let H be its orthocenter and O be its circumcenter. Circumcircles of triangle AHO, BHO, CHO intersect with circumcircle of triangle ABC at D, E, F, respectively. Prove that incenter of triangle DEF is H.
1 reply
Melid
an hour ago
Melid
an hour ago
Inequality results about some function
CatalinBordea   2
N an hour ago by Rohit-2006
Source: Romania National Olympiad 2016, grade x, p.2
Let be a function $ f:\mathbb{R}\longrightarrow\mathbb{R} $ satisfying the conditions:
$$ \left\{\begin{matrix} f(x+y) &\le & f(x)+f(y) \\   f(tx+(1-t)y) &\le & t(f(x)) +(1-t)f(y) \end{matrix}\right. , $$for all real numbers $ x,y,t $ with $ t\in [0,1] . $

Prove that:
a) $ f(b)+f(c)\le f(a)+f(d) , $ for any real numbers $ a,b,c,d $ such that $ a\le b\le c\le d $ and $ d-c=b-a. $
b) for any natural number $ n\ge 3 $ and any $ n $ real numbers $ x_1,x_2,\ldots ,x_n, $ the following inequality holds.
$$ f\left( \sum_{1\le i\le n} x_i \right) +(n-2)\sum_{1\le i\le n} f\left( x_i \right)\ge \sum_{1\le i<j\le n} f\left( x_i+x_j \right) $$
2 replies
CatalinBordea
Aug 25, 2019
Rohit-2006
an hour ago
confusing inequality
giangtruong13   4
N an hour ago by giangtruong13
Let $a,b,c>0$ such that: $a^2b^2+ c^2b^2+ a^2c^2=3(abc)^2$. Prove that: $$\sum \frac{b+c}{a} \geq 2\sqrt{3(ab+bc+ca)}$$
4 replies
giangtruong13
Apr 18, 2025
giangtruong13
an hour ago
Find the value
sqing   9
N an hour ago by sqing
Source: 2025 Tsinghua University
Let $A= \lim_{n\to\infty}\tan^n\left(\frac{\pi}{4}+\frac{1}{n}\right)  . $ Find the value of $[100A] .$
9 replies
1 viewing
sqing
Today at 9:57 AM
sqing
an hour ago
Advanced topics in Inequalities
va2010   14
N an hour ago by sqing
So a while ago, I compiled some tricks on inequalities. You are welcome to post solutions below!
14 replies
va2010
Mar 7, 2015
sqing
an hour ago
The point F lies on the line OI in triangle ABC
WakeUp   13
N an hour ago by Nari_Tom
Source: All-Russian Olympiad 2012 Grade 10 Day 2
The point $E$ is the midpoint of the segment connecting the orthocentre of the scalene triangle $ABC$ and the point $A$. The incircle of triangle $ABC$ incircle is tangent to $AB$ and $AC$ at points $C'$ and $B'$ respectively. Prove that point $F$, the point symmetric to point $E$ with respect to line $B'C'$, lies on the line that passes through both the circumcentre and the incentre of triangle $ABC$.
13 replies
WakeUp
May 31, 2012
Nari_Tom
an hour ago
VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY OPEN TO HIGH/MIDDLE SCHOOLERS
im_space_cadet   0
2 hours ago
Hi everyone!
Do you specialize in contest math? Do you have a passion for teaching? Do you want to help leverage those college apps? Well, I have something for all of you.

I am im_space_cadet, and during the fall of last year, I opened my non-profit DeltaMathPrep which teaches students preparing for contest math the problem-solving skills they need in order to succeed at these competitions. Currently, we are very much understaffed and would greatly appreciate the help of more tutors on our platform.

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This is a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to have a solid activity to add to their college resumes that requires low effort from tutors and is very flexible with regards to time.

This is the link to our non-profit for anyone who would like to view our initiative:
https://www.deltamathprep.org/

If you are interested in this opportunity, please send me a DM on AoPS or respond to this post expressing your interest. I look forward to having you all on the team!

Thanks,
im_space_cadet
0 replies
1 viewing
im_space_cadet
2 hours ago
0 replies
(2^n -1)!! -1 is divided by 2^n
parmenides51   5
N 2 hours ago by parmenides51
Source: 2023 Grand Duchy of Lithuania, MC p4 (Baltic Way TST)
Note that $k\ge 1$ for an odd natural number $$k! ! = k \cdot (k - 2)  \cdot  ...  \cdot  1.$$Prove that $2^n$ divides $(2^n -1)!! -1$ for all $n \ge 3$.
5 replies
1 viewing
parmenides51
Mar 23, 2024
parmenides51
2 hours ago
Transforming a grid to another
Severus   3
N 2 hours ago by Project_Donkey_into_M4
Source: STEMS 2021 Cat B P5
Sheldon was really annoying Leonard. So to keep him quiet, Leonard decided to do something. He gave Sheldon the following grid

$\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0\\ 
\hline
1 & 1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0\\ 
\hline
1 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0\\ 
\hline
1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1\\ 
\hline
1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 0\\
\hline
0 & 0 & 0 & 1 & 0 & 0\\
\hline
\end{tabular}$

and asked him to transform it to the new grid below

$\begin{tabular}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline
1 & 2 & 18 &24 &28 &30\\
\hline
21 & 3 & 4 &16 &22 &26\\
\hline
23 &19 & 5 & 6 &14 &20\\
\hline
32 &25 &17 & 7 & 8 &12\\
\hline
33 &34 &27 &15 & 9 &10\\
\hline
35 &31 &36 &29 &13 &11\\
\hline
\end{tabular}$

by only applying the following algorithm:

$\bullet$ At each step, Sheldon must choose either two rows or two columns.

$\bullet$ For two columns $c_1, c_2$, if $a,b$ are entries in $c_1, c_2$ respectively, then we say that $a$ and $b$ are corresponding if they belong to the same row. Similarly we define corresponding entries of two rows. So for Sheldon's choice, if two corresponding entries have the same parity, he should do nothing to them, but if they have different parities, he should add 1 to both of them.

Leonard hoped this would keep Sheldon occupied for some time, but Sheldon immediately said, "But this is impossible!". Was Sheldon right? Justify.
3 replies
Severus
Jan 24, 2021
Project_Donkey_into_M4
2 hours ago
Inspired by Bet667
sqing   1
N 2 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ x,y\ge 0 $ such that $k(x+y)=1+xy. $ Prove that$$x+k^2y+\frac{1}{x}+\frac{k^2}{y} \geq \frac{k^2(k+1)^2+(k-1)^2}{k}$$Where $ k\in N^+.$
Let $ x,y\ge 0 $ such that $2(x+y)=1+xy. $ Prove that$$x+4y+\frac{1}{x}+\frac{4}{y} \geq \frac{37}{2}$$
1 reply
sqing
Today at 3:10 AM
sqing
2 hours ago
FE inequality from Iran
mojyla222   2
N 2 hours ago by sami1618
Source: Iran 2025 second round P5
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}^+ \to \mathbb{R}$ such that for all $x,y,z>0$
$$
3(x^3+y^3+z^3)\geq f(x+y+z)\cdot f(xy+yz+xz) \geq (x+y+z)(xy+yz+xz).
$$
2 replies
mojyla222
Yesterday at 9:20 AM
sami1618
2 hours ago
R to R FE
a_507_bc   10
N Apr 3, 2025 by jasperE3
Source: Baltic Way 2023/4
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(f(x)+y)+xf(y)=f(xy+y)+f(x)$$for reals $x, y$.
10 replies
a_507_bc
Nov 11, 2023
jasperE3
Apr 3, 2025
R to R FE
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Baltic Way 2023/4
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a_507_bc
676 posts
#1
Y by
Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that $$f(f(x)+y)+xf(y)=f(xy+y)+f(x)$$for reals $x, y$.
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SBLNuclear17
75 posts
#2
Y by
Quite an interesting question. Here's my partial solution:
Make x=0, y=-f(0), then we will have f(f(0)-f(0))+0f(-f(0))=f(0*-f(0)-f(0))+f(0).
Which means f(-f(0))=0
Make x=-f(0),y=0, then we will have f(0)^2=0, f(0)=0
Make y=0, then we will know f(f(x))=f(x)
(not sure about the rest)
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Kimchiks926
256 posts
#3 • 5 Y
Y by Tintarn, Deadline, Tellocan, math_comb01, Beeoin
This problem is proposed by me. Hope you all enjoyed it!

Official Solution
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tadpoleloop
311 posts
#4
Y by
I think maybe I can tidy it up a bit.

Solution
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by tadpoleloop, Nov 11, 2023, 9:02 PM
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eulerleonhardfan
50 posts
#5
Y by
Let $p(x,y)$ denote the given assertion.
Since $f(x)=0$ is a solution, suppose that $f$ is not always 0.
$p(x, \frac{f(x)}{x}):$ $f(\frac{f(x)}{x})=\frac{f(x)}{x}$ for all $x\neq 0$
$p(0, -f(0)): f(-f(0))=0$
If $f(0) \neq 0$, then $$f(\frac{f(-f(0))}{-f(0)})=\frac{f(-f(0))}{-f(0)}=0$$Let there be some real number $t \neq 0$ s.t. $f(t) \neq 0$. Then
$$f(\frac{f(\frac{f(t)}{t})}{\frac{f(t)}{t}})=f(\frac{\frac{f(t)}{t}}{\frac{f(t)}{t}})=f(1)=1$$Let there be some real number $u\neq 0$ s.t. $f(u)=0$. This is impossible as $$p(1, u): f(u+1)=u+1$$and $$p(u, 1): f(u+1)=f(2u)+1$$yielding $$f(2u)=u$$Taking $f$ on both sides, we get $f(u)=f(f(2u))=f(2u)=u=0$, a contradiction.
The finishing steps are the same as the official solution.
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megarnie
5585 posts
#6
Y by
Solved with vsamc

The only solutions are $\boxed{f\equiv 0}$ and $\boxed{f(x) = x}$, which both work. Now we prove they are the only solutions. Let $P(x,y)$ denote the given assertion.

We may assume that $f$ is nonconstant since the only constant solution is clearly zero.

For $x\ne 0$, $P\left( x, \frac{f(x)}{x} \right): x f\left( \frac{f(x)}{x} \right) = f(x)$, so $f\left( \frac{f(x)}{x} \right) = \frac{f(x)}{x}$. Let $f(0) = c$.

$P(0,x): f(x + c) = f(x) + c$, so $f(-c) = 0$. If $c\ne 0$, then $\frac{f(-c)}{-c} =0$ is a fixed point of $f$, so $c = 0$.

$P(x,0): f(f(x)) = f(x)$.

$P(f(x), 1): f(f(x) + 1) + f(x)f(1) = f(f(x) + 1) + f(x)\implies f(x) f(1) = f(x)\implies f(1) = 1$. Now let $f(-1) = d$. We see that $f(d) = d$.

$P(-1,x): f(x + d)  = f(x) + d$.

$P(x, d): f(f(x) + d) +  xd = f(xd + d) + f(x)$. Since $f(f(x) + d) = f(f(x)) + d = f(x) +d $, we see $f(xd + d) = xd + d$. If $d\ne 0$, then setting $x$ to $-\frac{1}{d} - 1$ gives $f(-1) = -1$, so $d = -1$, which implies $f(x - 1) = x-1$, so $f$ is the identity. Now we assume $d = 0$.

$P(1,x): f(x +1) + f(x) = f(2x) + 1$. Hence $f(2x) = f(x + 1) + f(x) - 1$ for each $x$. Thus, $f(-2) = f(-1) + f(0) - 1 = -1$. Hence $\frac{f(-2)}{-2} = 2$, so $f(2) = 2$.

$P(x, 2): f(f(x) + 2) + 2x = f(2x + 2) + f(x) = f(x) + f(x+1) + f(x+2) - 1$. Plugging $x = -2$ here gives $f(-1 + 2) - 4 = f(-2) + f(-1) + f(0) - 1$, so $-3= -2$, absurd! Therefore, $d\ne 0$, so $f(x) = x$ is our only nonconstant solution.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by megarnie, Nov 12, 2023, 3:26 PM
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Cali.Math
128 posts
#7
Y by
We uploaded our solution https://calimath.org/pdf/BalticWay2023-4.pdf on youtube https://youtu.be/TPsMv_clprQ.
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solasky
1566 posts
#8
Y by
Solution
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MathLuis
1498 posts
#9
Y by
Denote $P(x,y)$ as the assertion of the following F.E.
By $P(0,-f(0))$ we get $f(-f(0))=0$, now by $P(-f(0),x)$ we get $(1-f(0))f(0)=f(0)$ which gives $f(0)=0$.
Now $P(x.0)$ gives $f(f(x))=f(x)$, $P(-1,x)$ gives $f(x+f(-1))=f(x)+f(-1)$, and for $x \ne 0$ by $P \left(x, \frac{f(x)}{x} \right)$ we get $f \left(\frac{f(x)}{x} \right)=\frac{f(x)}{x}$. Since $f(x)=0$ is a solution suppose there exists $d$ s.t. $f(d) \ne 0$ then by $x=f(d)$ here we get $f(1)=1$ and by $P(1,x)$ we get $f(x+1)+f(x)=f(2x)+1$, now by indooks we get $f(x+nf(-1))=f(x)+nf(-1)$ for any integer $n$ so in the previous equation set $x$ to be $x+nf(-1)$ to get that $f(x+nf(-1)+1)=f(2x)-f(x)+nf(-1)+1$, also remember that $f(nf(-1))=nf(-1)$ and now $f(nf(-1)+1)=nf(-1)+1$ follow directly. From $P(x,nf(-1))$ we get $f(nf(-1)x)=nf(-1)x$ so if $f(-1) \ne 0$ then we get $f(x)=x$ for all reals $x$.
So suppose otherwise that $f(-1)=0$ then $f(-2)=-1$ but this means $f(-1)=-1$ which contradicts $f(-1)=0$.
Therefore the only solutions to this F.E. are $f(x)=x$ and $f(x)=0$ for all reals $x$, thus done :cool:
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Teirah
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nice problem : )
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jasperE3
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Let $P(x,y)$ be the assertion $f(f(x)+y)+xf(y)=f(xy+y)+f(x)$.
$P(0,-f(0))\Rightarrow f(-f(0))=0$
$P(-f(0),0)\Rightarrow f(0)=0$
$P(x,0)\Rightarrow f(f(x))=f(x)$
$P(-1,x)\Rightarrow f(x+f(-1))=f(x)+f(-1)$
P(x,f(-1))\Rightarrow f(xf(-1))=xf(-1)$
So if $f(-1)\ne0$ we have the solution $\boxed{f(x)=x}$, which fits. Otherwise:
$P(f(x),1)\Rightarrow f(x)f(1)=f(x)4
So if $f(1)\ne1$ we have the solution $\boxed{f(x)=0}$, which fits. Otherwise:
$P(1,-1)\Rightarrow f(-2)=-1$
$P(-2,1)\Rightarrow-2=-1$
So no more solutions.
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