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k a May Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
May 1, 2025
May is an exciting month! National MATHCOUNTS is the second week of May in Washington D.C. and our Founder, Richard Rusczyk will be presenting a seminar, Preparing Strong Math Students for College and Careers, on May 11th.

Are you interested in working towards MATHCOUNTS and don’t know where to start? We have you covered! If you have taken Prealgebra, then you are ready for MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Basics. Already aiming for State or National MATHCOUNTS and harder AMC 8 problems? Then our MATHCOUNTS/AMC 8 Advanced course is for you.

Summer camps are starting next month at the Virtual Campus in math and language arts that are 2 - to 4 - weeks in duration. Spaces are still available - don’t miss your chance to have an enriching summer experience. 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 upcoming events:
[list][*]May 9th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, Casework 2: Overwhelming Evidence — A Text Adventure, a game where participants will work together to navigate the map, solve puzzles, and win! All are welcome.
[*]May 19th, 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, What's Next After Beast Academy?, designed for students finishing Beast Academy and ready for Prealgebra 1.
[*]May 20th, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 1 Math Jam, Problems 1 to 4, join the Canada/USA Mathcamp staff for this exciting Math Jam, where they discuss solutions to Problems 1 to 4 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz!
[*]May 21st, 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Mathcamp 2025 Qualifying Quiz Part 2 Math Jam, Problems 5 and 6, Canada/USA Mathcamp staff will discuss solutions to Problems 5 and 6 of the 2025 Mathcamp Qualifying Quiz![/list]
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0 replies
jlacosta
May 1, 2025
0 replies
Worst Sillies of All Time
pingpongmerrily   65
N 15 minutes ago by SmartGroot
Share the worst sillies you have ever made!

Mine was probably on the 2024 MathCounts State Target Round Problem 8, where I wrote my answer as a fraction instead of a percent, which cost me a trip to Nationals that year.
65 replies
+1 w
pingpongmerrily
May 30, 2025
SmartGroot
15 minutes ago
Worst math problems
LXC007   51
N an hour ago by CJB19
What is the most egregiously bad problem or solution you have encountered in school?
51 replies
LXC007
May 21, 2025
CJB19
an hour ago
Phillips Exeter is looking for math kids! That means YOU!
enya_yurself   64
N an hour ago by idk12345678
I have received some insider information that may or may not prove to be helpful to you all. I am not sure where the best place to post this is, but somebody recommended msm so here I am.

[quote]admissions was explicitly told to accept more math kids, 25 26 and 27 have been pretty disappointing for the math dept bc of covid[/quote]
(source: a friend who talked to a faculty member on the admissions committee)

This means that Phillips Exeter is looking for more people like you all! I hope y'all choose to apply!

Remember that Exeter offers need blind financial aid :)
64 replies
enya_yurself
Aug 9, 2024
idk12345678
an hour ago
9 Square roots
A7456321   21
N an hour ago by RandomMathGuy500
Me personally I only have $\sqrt2=1.414$ memorized but I'm sure there are people out there with more!
21 replies
A7456321
May 29, 2025
RandomMathGuy500
an hour ago
integral
Arytva   0
Yesterday at 5:11 PM
$\int_0^1 \int_0^1 \frac{1}{\sqrt{1-x^2}}\;\frac{1}{(2x^2-2x+1)+4xt}\,dx\,dt$
0 replies
Arytva
Yesterday at 5:11 PM
0 replies
Original problem about formal series
oty   6
N Yesterday at 12:16 PM by oty
Source: Mazurkiewicz-Sierpinski
Let $f : [0,1] \to \mathbb{R}$ continuous such that $f(0)=0$ , $m\in \mathbb{N}$ and $u >0$ .
1)Prove that we can find $P \in \mathbb{Q}[X]$ such that :
\[ \forall x \in [0,1] :  |f(x)-x^{m}P(x)| \leq u \]
2) Let $(P_{n})_{n\geq 1} \in \mathbb{Q}[X]^{\mathbb{N}}$ such that $P_{n}(0)=0$ for all $n$ .
Prove that we can find a power series $\sum_{n\geq 1} a_{n} x^{n} $ and an extractrice $\phi$ such that :
\[ \forall x \in [0,1] , n \geq 1,  |P_{n}(x)-S_{\phi(n)}(x)| \leq \frac{1}{n} \]
3) for every continuous function $f : [0,1] \to \mathbb{R}$ there is an extractrice $\phi$ such that
$(S_{\phi(n)})_{n \geq 1}$ converge uniformely to $f$ in $[0,1]$

3) is a conclusion of the above
it seems a more powerful version of weistrass theorem .
6 replies
oty
Feb 6, 2018
oty
Yesterday at 12:16 PM
D1040 : A general and strange result
Dattier   1
N Yesterday at 12:00 PM by Dattier
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $f \in C([0,1];[0,1])$ bijective, $f(0)=0$ and $(a_k) \in [0,1]^\mathbb N$ with $ \sum \limits_{k=0}^{+\infty} a_k$ converge.

Is it true that $\sum \limits_{k=0}^{+\infty} \sqrt{f(a_k)\times f^{-1}(a_k)}$ converge?
1 reply
Dattier
Saturday at 12:46 PM
Dattier
Yesterday at 12:00 PM
3xn matrice with combinatorical property
Sebaj71Tobias   0
Yesterday at 6:33 AM
Let"s have a 3xn matrice with the following properties:
The firs row of the matrice is 1,2,3,... ,n in this order.
The second and the third rows are permutations of the first.
Very important, that in each column thera are different entries.
How many matrices with thees properties are there?

The answer for 2xn matrices is well-known, but what is the answer for 3xn, or for kxn ( k<=n) ?
0 replies
Sebaj71Tobias
Yesterday at 6:33 AM
0 replies
Handouts/Resources on Limits.
Saucepan_man02   1
N Yesterday at 4:29 AM by Saucepan_man02
Could anyone kindly share some resources/handouts on limits?
1 reply
Saucepan_man02
Saturday at 3:54 AM
Saucepan_man02
Yesterday at 4:29 AM
Problem 2, Grade 12th RMO Shortlist - Year 2002
sticknycu   6
N Yesterday at 12:24 AM by loup blanc
Let $A \in M_2(C), A \neq O_2, A \neq I_2, n \in \mathbb{N}^*$ and $S_n = \{ X \in M_2(C) | X^n = A \}$.
Show:
a) $S_n$ with multiplication of matrixes operation is making an isomorphic-group structure with $U_n$.
b) $A^2 = A$.

Marian Andronache
6 replies
sticknycu
Jan 3, 2020
loup blanc
Yesterday at 12:24 AM
D1039 : A strange and general result on series
Dattier   1
N Saturday at 11:26 PM by alexheinis
Source: les dattes à Dattier
Let $f \in C([0,1];[0,1])$ bijective, $f(0)=0$ and $(a_k) \in [0,1]^\mathbb N$ with $ \sum \limits_{k=0}^{+\infty} a_k$ converge.

Is it true that $\sum \limits_{k=0}^{+\infty} f(a_k)\times f^{-1}(a_k)$ converge?
1 reply
Dattier
May 30, 2025
alexheinis
Saturday at 11:26 PM
2023 Putnam A2
giginori   22
N Saturday at 11:14 PM by yayyayyay
Let $n$ be an even positive integer. Let $p$ be a monic, real polynomial of degree $2 n$; that is to say, $p(x)=$ $x^{2 n}+a_{2 n-1} x^{2 n-1}+\cdots+a_1 x+a_0$ for some real coefficients $a_0, \ldots, a_{2 n-1}$. Suppose that $p(1 / k)=k^2$ for all integers $k$ such that $1 \leq|k| \leq n$. Find all other real numbers $x$ for which $p(1 / x)=x^2$.
22 replies
giginori
Dec 3, 2023
yayyayyay
Saturday at 11:14 PM
IMC 1994 D2 P3
j___d   4
N Saturday at 8:56 PM by krigger
Let $f$ be a real-valued function with $n+1$ derivatives at each point of $\mathbb R$. Show that for each pair of real numbers $a$, $b$, $a<b$, such that
$$\ln\left( \frac{f(b)+f'(b)+\cdots + f^{(n)} (b)}{f(a)+f'(a)+\cdots + f^{(n)}(a)}\right)=b-a$$there is a number $c$ in the open interval $(a,b)$ for which
$$f^{(n+1)}(c)=f(c)$$
4 replies
j___d
Mar 6, 2017
krigger
Saturday at 8:56 PM
number theory problem
danilorj   1
N Saturday at 7:47 PM by solidgreen
Let $t$ be an integer, show that there are infinite perfect squares of the form $3t^2+4t+5$
1 reply
danilorj
Saturday at 1:37 PM
solidgreen
Saturday at 7:47 PM
quadratics
luciazhu1105   24
N Mar 23, 2025 by cheltstudent
I really need help on quadratics and I don't know why I also kinda need a bit of help on graphing functions and finding the domain and range of them.
24 replies
luciazhu1105
Feb 14, 2025
cheltstudent
Mar 23, 2025
quadratics
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luciazhu1105
18 posts
#1
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I really need help on quadratics and I don't know why I also kinda need a bit of help on graphing functions and finding the domain and range of them.
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sadas123
1330 posts
#2
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For quads just rememebr factoring styles and easily factoring binomails, and how to find the roots of an equation using the quadratic formula, also know how to do complex manipulations to get the answer for a quadratic equation with product and sum of the roots.
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stanleydai
42 posts
#3
Y by
for quadratics learn to graph them, factoring and expanding with foil method, quadratic formula, and Vieta's Formula's for quadratic equations.
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studentnumbertwo
23 posts
#4
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PLZ help How do I remember the quadratic formula???????????
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mithu542
1584 posts
#5
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This is a very helpful song that helped me memorize it, if it helps (not rickroll trust)
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by mithu542, Mar 4, 2025, 2:13 PM
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Andyluo
1010 posts
#6
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studentnumbertwo wrote:
PLZ help How do I remember the quadratic formula???????????

understand that its a generalized process of completing the square, and just memorize it
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ultimatehero
301 posts
#7
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the more you see the formula and use it in problems, the easier it will become to memorize.
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anticodon
201 posts
#8 • 1 Y
Y by stanleydai
just complete the square if you aren't sure on the quadratic formula. Some problems are easier with CTS (ex - solving $x^2+4x+1=0$) so don't rely too heavily on formulas. Some equations are easily factorable.

For graphing, it is helpful to understand transformations of $f(x)=x^2$ and other parent functions; horizontal transformations always come first and do opposite operations in the opposite order of PEMDAS, etc.
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eddie.li
32 posts
#9
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don’t worry about memorizing the formula.just use it a lot and you’ll get used to it.i bet you can memorize it
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dipinsubedi
6 posts
#10
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i just stared at it for 1 hour and memorized it
(-b +- sqrt b^2 - 4ac )/2a
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pingpongmerrily
3846 posts
#11
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quadratics you just need a lot of practice
like take an algebra class or go through questions and just solve solve solve
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kamuii
232 posts
#12
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studentnumbertwo wrote:
PLZ help How do I remember the quadratic formula???????????

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOXYMRcWbF8
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KF329
467 posts
#13
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mithu542 wrote:
This is a very helpful song that helped me memorize it, if it helps (not rickroll trust)

haha why did it actually help tho
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Charizard_637
125 posts
#14
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$x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4ac}}{2a}$

All you need to know is the minimum/maximum of a quadratic which is $\dfrac{-b}{2a}$ and memorize the discriminant of a function, and the $\pm$ sign, that's it
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KF329
467 posts
#15
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$x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^{2} - 4ac}}{2a}$
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KF329
467 posts
#16
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That's cool to write
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sadas123
1330 posts
#17
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KF329 wrote:
That's cool to write

Latex genius :clap:
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Charizard_637
125 posts
#18
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KF329 wrote:
That's cool to write

no it is not it took me a full five minutes to fancy up the quadratic formula in $\LaTeX$ :sob:
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KF329
467 posts
#19
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Nah I didn’t actually write it I just copied the latex from when u wrote it :D I’m lazy ik
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giratina3
556 posts
#20
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You get used to the quadratic formula from Algebra 1 and on for the school curicullum. It becomes common knowledge when you go into AMC 10s, but if you're struggling to remember the quadratic formula, catchy songs always help... at least it did for me. I always have a song about the periodic table I sing whenever I'm bored, and the elements just come out of my mouth from thin air.
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KF329
467 posts
#21
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Haha, same with me, I like to remember songs for things like the periodic table, as well as the digits of $\pi$, but memorising the digits of $\pi$ might not be necessary
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cheltstudent
639 posts
#22
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I would say $nth$ vertex would be quite useful
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skronkmonster
2192 posts
#23
Y by
anticodon wrote:
just complete the square if you aren't sure on the quadratic formula. Some problems are easier with CTS (ex - solving $x^2+4x+1=0$) so don't rely too heavily on formulas. Some equations are easily factorable.

For graphing, it is helpful to understand transformations of $f(x)=x^2$ and other parent functions; horizontal transformations always come first and do opposite operations in the opposite order of PEMDAS, etc.

Yep, I rarely use the quadratic formula when asked to solve a quadratic, because it’s so cumbersome. Not a good approach for math contests. Just complete the square unless you need to do otherwise. Useful functions: $f(x) = |x|, f(x) = x^3, f(x) = \sqrt{x}$.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by skronkmonster, Mar 22, 2025, 3:29 PM
Reason: Fix latex
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KF329
467 posts
#25
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agreed :D
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cheltstudent
639 posts
#26
Y by
Hello, I am a Quadratic Vieta user, and anything else seems really confusing for me.
Recommend some sort of AoPS resources that I could use to get better.
I am like at Chap 10 of intro to Algebra A.
I am in Grade 7, should I really know anything else?
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