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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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Contests & Programs AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
AMC and other contests, summer programs, etc.
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k a March Highlights and 2025 AoPS Online Class Information
jlacosta   0
Mar 2, 2025
March is the month for State MATHCOUNTS competitions! Kudos to everyone who participated in their local chapter competitions and best of luck to all going to State! Join us on March 11th for a Math Jam devoted to our favorite Chapter competition problems! Are you interested in training for MATHCOUNTS? Be sure to check out our AMC 8/MATHCOUNTS Basics and Advanced courses.

Are you ready to level up with Olympiad training? Registration is open with early bird pricing available for our WOOT programs: MathWOOT (Levels 1 and 2), CodeWOOT, PhysicsWOOT, and ChemWOOT. What is WOOT? WOOT stands for Worldwide Online Olympiad Training and is a 7-month high school math Olympiad preparation and testing program that brings together many of the best students from around the world to learn Olympiad problem solving skills. Classes begin in September!

Do you have plans this summer? There are so many options to fit your schedule and goals whether attending a summer camp or taking online classes, it can be a great break from the routine of the school year. Check out our summer courses at AoPS Online, or if you want a math or language arts class that doesn’t have homework, but is an enriching summer experience, our AoPS Virtual Campus summer camps may be just the ticket! We are expanding our locations for our AoPS Academies across the country with 15 locations so far and new campuses opening in Saratoga CA, Johns Creek GA, and the Upper West Side NY. Check out this page for summer camp information.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the following events:
[list][*]March 5th (Wednesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, HCSSiM Math Jam 2025. Amber Verser, Assistant Director of the Hampshire College Summer Studies in Mathematics, will host an information session about HCSSiM, a summer program for high school students.
[*]March 6th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar on Math Competitions from elementary through high school. Join us for an enlightening session that demystifies the world of math competitions and helps you make informed decisions about your contest journey.
[*]March 11th (Tuesday), 4:30pm PT/7:30pm ET, 2025 MATHCOUNTS Chapter Discussion MATH JAM. AoPS instructors will discuss some of their favorite problems from the MATHCOUNTS Chapter Competition. All are welcome!
[*]March 13th (Thursday), 4:00pm PT/7:00pm ET, Free Webinar about Summer Camps at the Virtual Campus. Transform your summer into an unforgettable learning adventure! From elementary through high school, we offer dynamic summer camps featuring topics in mathematics, language arts, and competition preparation - all designed to fit your schedule and ignite your passion for learning.[/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.

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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
Lots of Cyclic Quads
Vfire   104
N an hour ago by ravengsd
Source: 2018 USAMO #5
In convex cyclic quadrilateral $ABCD$, we know that lines $AC$ and $BD$ intersect at $E$, lines $AB$ and $CD$ intersect at $F$, and lines $BC$ and $DA$ intersect at $G$. Suppose that the circumcircle of $\triangle ABE$ intersects line $CB$ at $B$ and $P$, and the circumcircle of $\triangle ADE$ intersects line $CD$ at $D$ and $Q$, where $C,B,P,G$ and $C,Q,D,F$ are collinear in that order. Prove that if lines $FP$ and $GQ$ intersect at $M$, then $\angle MAC = 90^\circ$.

Proposed by Kada Williams
104 replies
Vfire
Apr 19, 2018
ravengsd
an hour ago
Interesting inequality
sqing   1
N an hour ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b\geq 2  . $ Prove that
$$ (a^2-1)(b^2-1) (1-ab)+\frac{27}{8}a^2b^2\leq 27$$$$ (a^2-1)(b^2-1)(1-a^2b^2 )+\frac{81}{4}a^2b^2     \leq 189$$$$ (a^2-1)(b^2-1)(1-a^2b^2 )+ 162  ab  \leq 513$$$$  (a^2-1)(b^2-1) (1-a^2b^2 )+21 a^2b^2\leq \frac{3219}{16}$$$$ (a^2-1)(b^2-1) (1-ab)+\frac{27}{8}a^2b^2\leq\frac{415+61\sqrt{61}}{18}$$
1 reply
sqing
2 hours ago
sqing
an hour ago
Minimal Grouping in a Complete Graph
swynca   1
N an hour ago by swynca
Source: 2025 Turkey TST P1
In a complete graph with $2025$ vertices, each edge has one of the colors $r_1$, $r_2$, or $r_3$. For each $i = 1,2,3$, if the $2025$ vertices can be divided into $a_i$ groups such that any two vertices connected by an edge of color $r_i$ are in different groups, find the minimum possible value of $a_1 + a_2 + a_3$.
1 reply
1 viewing
swynca
4 hours ago
swynca
an hour ago
Nice FE as the First Day Finale
swynca   1
N an hour ago by swynca
Source: 2025 Turkey TST P3
Find all $f: \mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ such that, for all $x,y \in \mathbb{R}-\{0\}$,
$$ f(x) \neq 0 \text{ and } \frac{f(x)}{f(y)} + \frac{f(y)}{f(x)} - f \left( \frac{x}{y}-\frac{y}{x} \right) =2 $$
1 reply
swynca
4 hours ago
swynca
an hour ago
Cn/lnn bound for S
EthanWYX2009   0
2 hours ago
Source: 2025 March 谜之竞赛-2
Prove that there exists an constant $C,$ such that for all integer $n\ge 2$ and a subset $S$ of $[n],$ satisfy $a\mid\tbinom ab$ for all $a,b\in S,$ $a>b,$ then $|S|\le \frac{Cn}{\ln n}.$

Created by Yuxing Ye
0 replies
2 viewing
EthanWYX2009
2 hours ago
0 replies
Natural function and cubelike expression
sarjinius   2
N 2 hours ago by Kaimiaku
Source: Philippine Mathematical Olympiad 2025 P8
Let $\mathbb{N}$ be the set of positive integers. Find all functions $f : \mathbb{N} \to \mathbb{N}$ such that for all $m, n \in \mathbb{N}$, \[m^2f(m) + n^2f(n) + 3mn(m + n)\]is a perfect cube.
2 replies
sarjinius
Mar 9, 2025
Kaimiaku
2 hours ago
hard problem
Noname23   3
N 2 hours ago by Noname23
problem
3 replies
Noname23
Sunday at 4:57 PM
Noname23
2 hours ago
average FE
KevinYang2.71   78
N 2 hours ago by rhydon516
Source: USAJMO 2024/5
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}\rightarrow\mathbb{R}$ that satisfy
\[
f(x^2-y)+2yf(x)=f(f(x))+f(y)
\]for all $x,y\in\mathbb{R}$.

Proposed by Carl Schildkraut
78 replies
KevinYang2.71
Mar 21, 2024
rhydon516
2 hours ago
Roots, bounding and other delusions
anantmudgal09   28
N 2 hours ago by kes0716
Source: INMO 2021 Problem 6
Let $\mathbb{R}[x]$ be the set of all polynomials with real coefficients. Find all functions $f: \mathbb{R}[x] \rightarrow \mathbb{R}[x]$ satisfying the following conditions:

[list]
[*] $f$ maps the zero polynomial to itself,
[*] for any non-zero polynomial $P \in \mathbb{R}[x]$, $\text{deg} \, f(P) \le 1+ \text{deg} \, P$, and
[*] for any two polynomials $P, Q \in \mathbb{R}[x]$, the polynomials $P-f(Q)$ and $Q-f(P)$ have the same set of real roots.
[/list]

Proposed by Anant Mudgal, Sutanay Bhattacharya, Pulkit Sinha
28 replies
anantmudgal09
Mar 7, 2021
kes0716
2 hours ago
Inspired by my own results
sqing   5
N 2 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a ,  b  $ be reals such that $ a+b+ab=1. $ Show that$$ 1-\frac{1 }{\sqrt2}\le \frac{1}{a^2+1}+\frac{1}{b^2+1}\le 1+\frac{1 }{\sqrt2} $$Let $ a ,  b\geq 0 $ and $ a+b+ab=1. $ Show that$$ \frac{3}{2}\le \frac{1}{a^2+1}+\frac{1}{b^2+1}\le 1+\frac{1 }{\sqrt2} $$
5 replies
sqing
Yesterday at 8:32 AM
sqing
2 hours ago
Polygon formed by the edges of an infinite chessboard
AlperenINAN   1
N 2 hours ago by AlperenINAN
Source: Turkey TST 2025 P5
Let $P$ be a polygon formed by the edges of an infinite chessboard, which does not intersect itself. Let the numbers $a_1,a_2,a_3$ represent the number of unit squares that have exactly $1,2\text{ or } 3$ edges on the boundary of $P$ respectively. Find the largest real number $k$ such that the inequality $a_1+a_2>ka_3$ holds for each polygon constructed with these conditions.
1 reply
AlperenINAN
4 hours ago
AlperenINAN
2 hours ago
Interesting inequality
sqing   5
N 2 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b\geq 2  . $ Prove that
$$(a^2-1)(b^2-1) -6ab\geq-15$$$$(a^2-1)(b^2-1)  -7ab\geq  -\frac{58}{3}$$$$(a^3-1)(b^3-1)  -\frac{21}{4}a^2b^2\geq -35$$$$(a^3-1)(b^3-1)  -6a^2b^2\geq-\frac{2391}{49}$$
5 replies
sqing
6 hours ago
sqing
2 hours ago
Gunn Math Competition
the_math_prodigy   13
N 3 hours ago by the_math_prodigy
Gunn Math Circle is excited to host the fourth annual Gunn Math Competition (GMC)! GMC will take place at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, California on Sunday, March 30th. Gather a team of up to four and compete for over $7,500 in prizes! The contest features three rounds: Individual, Guts, and Team. We welcome participants of all skill levels, with separate Beginner and Advanced divisions for all students.

Registration is free and now open at compete.gunnmathcircle.org. The deadline to sign up is March 27th.

Special Guest Speaker: Po-Shen Loh!!!
We are honored to welcome Po-Shen Loh, a world-renowned mathematician, Carnegie Mellon professor, and former coach of the USA International Math Olympiad team. He will deliver a 30-minute talk to both students and parents, offering deep insights into mathematical thinking and problem-solving in the age of AI!

View competition manual, schedule, prize pool at compete.gunnmathcircle.org . Stay updated by joining our Discord discord.gg/fqcxukv3Dq server. For any questions, reach out at ghsmathcircle@gmail.com or ask in Discord.
13 replies
the_math_prodigy
Mar 8, 2025
the_math_prodigy
3 hours ago
[TEST RELEASED] Mock Geometry Test for College Competitions
Bluesoul   12
N 5 hours ago by Bluesoul
Hi AOPSers,

I have finished writing a mock geometry test for fun and practice for the real college competitions like HMMT/PUMaC/CMIMC... There would be 10 questions and you should finish the test in 60 minutes, the test would be close to the actual test (hopefully). You could sign up under this thread, PM me your answers!. The submission would close on March 31st at 11:59PM PST.

I would create a private discussion forum so everyone could discuss after finishing the test. This is the first mock I've written, please sign up and enjoy geometry!!

~Bluesoul

Leaderboard
12 replies
Bluesoul
Feb 24, 2025
Bluesoul
5 hours ago
USAMO vs USAJMO Prestige
elasticwealth   47
N Today at 12:36 AM by axusus
Just curious, what does everyone think about the prestige of a USAMO qualification vs a USAJMO qual? Obv USAMO > USAJMO but how much?

And while we’re at it, what about amc 10 dhr vs amc 12 dhr? Thoughts?

Edit: also how much is a perfect score on 10/12 worth? Asking for a friend….
47 replies
elasticwealth
Feb 17, 2025
axusus
Today at 12:36 AM
USAMO vs USAJMO Prestige
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elasticwealth
297 posts
#1
Y by
Just curious, what does everyone think about the prestige of a USAMO qualification vs a USAJMO qual? Obv USAMO > USAJMO but how much?

And while we’re at it, what about amc 10 dhr vs amc 12 dhr? Thoughts?

Edit: also how much is a perfect score on 10/12 worth? Asking for a friend….
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by elasticwealth, Feb 17, 2025, 4:16 AM
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jellybeanzzz
473 posts
#2 • 3 Y
Y by elasticwealth, centslordm, Alex-131
Under what context are you asking about prestige? If it’s within the AoPS community, I doubt that many really differentiate between the two olympiads. Realistically, making USAJMO but not making USAMO says only this: you were within the top 300 students for 10th grade and below, but weren’t able to maintain your position relative to others once you hit 11th grade.

Since you’re asking about dhr even as a usamo qual I’m gonna assume you’re asking in the context of college app awards? dhr means absolutely nothing if you are a usamo qualifier.
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elasticwealth
297 posts
#3
Y by
jellybeanzzz wrote:
Under what context are you asking about prestige? If it’s within the AoPS community, I doubt that many really differentiate between the two olympiads. Realistically, making USAJMO but not making USAMO says only this: you were within the top 300 students for 10th grade and below, but weren’t able to maintain your position relative to others once you hit 11th grade.

Since you’re asking about dhr even as a usamo qual I’m gonna assume you’re asking in the context of college app awards? dhr means absolutely nothing if you are a usamo qualifier.

I made jmo but am concerned 251 (12b+ii) won’t make, so I’m coping by reminding myself I have amc 12 dhr (which doesn’t mean much :( )

And yes, asking in terms of college/general perception by camps, professors, students etc
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by elasticwealth, Feb 17, 2025, 4:11 AM
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hsuya1
167 posts
#4 • 1 Y
Y by khina
Omg 251 will make just stop
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elasticwealth
297 posts
#5
Y by
ayush_agarwal wrote:
Omg 251 will make just stop

Not the point of the thread, I hope you’re right tho :pray
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axusus
811 posts
#6
Y by
no way 251 doesnt make
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Equinox8
1730 posts
#7 • 9 Y
Y by elasticwealth, studymoremath, Sedro, cdm, whslovemath, greenturtle3141, Alex-131, aidan0626, happyhippos
Alright, this probably isn't what you're looking for, but I'm a high school senior this year. Never made AIME and never will. And I understand it's easier for me to say this, but you should be proud of what you have achieved. I've finished my college applications and have gotten some back. Even without top-tier scores in competitions I'm still doing fine, and will be going to college next year (although it might put me in extreme debt. But I digress). I've found passions outside of competitive math that I love doing for their own sake. I'm not saying it's what you're doing, but I get the vibe that lots of people on this site could reevaluate their reasons for competition math. I don't do competition math because I want to write it on a resume, I enjoy them because they're a fun way to exercise my thinking. Prestige is almost a trap: you can never get enough of it.

And to answer your question more directly, the "general public" (myself included) probably wouldn't understand the distinctions between USAMO and USAJMO. My perception is that you're very bright. In my view, DHR means more than you probably think it does. It means you've stuck to it, pouring so much effort into competitive math, regardless of your motivation, and you should be proud of that. You scored in the top 1% of everyone who took the AMC 12. It's so easy to compare yourself to others, but take a second, breathe, and be proud of how far you've come already.

Here's a post from someone more qualified than I am, with lots of the same ideas, if that's what you're looking for.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by Equinox8, Feb 17, 2025, 4:27 AM
Reason: +B-T post
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elasticwealth
297 posts
#8
Y by
Thank you. I was asking more from a college app awards section standpoint but thanks for sharing :)
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Equinox8
1730 posts
#9
Y by
elasticwealth wrote:
Thank you. I was asking more from a college app awards section standpoint but thanks for sharing :)

Not sure if anyone who isn't an admissions officer can tell you that definitively, but there's no reason to not list it. Best of luck for when you do apply/if you already have.
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LearnMath_105
127 posts
#10
Y by
just saying even making usajmo puts you in the top 400ish math students in the world and seeing as each college probably has ~100 math majors you'll likely make a really good college (t20 probably? not qualified to talk abt this part)

@below
usamo is top 200 11th graders and below and then usajmo is basically the next 200 that are 10th graders and below
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by LearnMath_105, Feb 17, 2025, 5:27 AM
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studymoremath
413 posts
#11
Y by
Wait wouldn't USAMO and USAJMO qualification carry the same prestige? They're both top ~300 the only difference is whether you popped off earlier in life or later
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jellybeanzzz
473 posts
#12 • 2 Y
Y by elasticwealth, centslordm
As OP has clarified he’s asking about college applications, I would like to mention that showing improvement is always good. “Popping off later,” or growth, is evidence that you have a high ceiling in terms of learning.

also 251 is qualifying chill :skull: focus on getting your oly skills up, “USAMO ___ Medalist” looks a lot better than “USAMO Qualifier”
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mathleticguyyy
3217 posts
#13 • 17 Y
Y by aidan0626, LemonMatcha, Pengu14, elasticwealth, balllightning37, studymoremath, Rong0625, centslordm, Andyluo, Lhaj3, justJen, happypi31415, Tem8, cappucher, DankBasher619, PaixiaoLover, vrondoS
The numbers had been posted. He sat at the desk and stared at them for a long time. The room was quiet but for the whir of the ceiling fan, its slow revolutions stirring the stale air like some ponderous clock measuring out the last minutes of a life. His fingers curled around the edge of the desk, and he read the number again.

Two seventy two point five.

His breath caught in his throat. His stomach twisted. That couldn’t be right. He read it again, and then again, his vision blurring at the edges. 251 was supposed to be safe. More than safe. A fortress of a score, built on years of precedent, an ironclad assurance that he would qualify. And yet, it had failed him. It was impossible. The world did not care. The sun would still rise, a great indifferent eye peeling back the dark, and it would burn just the same whether he had scored 251 or 272.5 or nothing at all.

He reached for the scrap of paper where he had written the sum himself just that morning. The AMC score, the AIME, the weight of it all turned into numbers and formulas, a machinery that ground out judgment with no need for human feeling. He had done the math once, twice. Had counted the points like a man counting coins in the last hours before foreclosure. But there was no mistaking it. He was short. He was really short.

In the kitchen, the faucet dripped. He thought about turning it off tighter, but he did not move. Somewhere out beyond the window, cars hummed along the road, their engines carrying people toward destinations unknown. The night settled in. The numbers remained what they were. There was no appeal to be made. No god to pray to who could turn back the clock and offer him another AIME problem correct, another few marks scrawled true instead of false.

His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk. His breath came shallow. He could feel his pulse thudding in his ears, his head suddenly light. He let the paper fall from his hands and watched it flutter to the floor. The air moved and took it where it would. He thought of the months spent preparing, the books with their pages worn thin, the problems worked over until his fingers ached, and now, at the end of it all, a number on a screen telling him the door was closed. Not even with a bang. Just a quiet shutting. A number that meant something and nothing all at once.

In the morning, the sun would rise. The faucet would drip. He would wake and go about his life, and the world would not change for him. But tonight, he sat in the quiet of the room, listening to the slow tick of time and the hush of things passing beyond his reach.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by mathleticguyyy, Feb 17, 2025, 6:24 AM
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Pengu14
405 posts
#14 • 2 Y
Y by Lhaj3, Airbus320-214
272.5 isn’t even a possible index lol
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studymoremath
413 posts
#15
Y by
mathleticguyyy wrote:
The numbers had been posted. He sat at the desk and stared at them for a long time. The room was quiet but for the whir of the ceiling fan, its slow revolutions stirring the stale air like some ponderous clock measuring out the last minutes of a life. His fingers curled around the edge of the desk, and he read the number again.

Two seventy two point five.

His breath caught in his throat. His stomach twisted. That couldn’t be right. He read it again, and then again, his vision blurring at the edges. 251 was supposed to be safe. More than safe. A fortress of a score, built on years of precedent, an ironclad assurance that he would qualify. And yet, it had failed him. It was impossible. The world did not care. The sun would still rise, a great indifferent eye peeling back the dark, and it would burn just the same whether he had scored 251 or 272.5 or nothing at all.

He reached for the scrap of paper where he had written the sum himself just that morning. The AMC score, the AIME, the weight of it all turned into numbers and formulas, a machinery that ground out judgment with no need for human feeling. He had done the math once, twice. Had counted the points like a man counting coins in the last hours before foreclosure. But there was no mistaking it. He was short. He was really short.

In the kitchen, the faucet dripped. He thought about turning it off tighter, but he did not move. Somewhere out beyond the window, cars hummed along the road, their engines carrying people toward destinations unknown. The night settled in. The numbers remained what they were. There was no appeal to be made. No god to pray to who could turn back the clock and offer him another AIME problem correct, another few marks scrawled true instead of false.

His fingers tightened around the edge of the desk. His breath came shallow. He could feel his pulse thudding in his ears, his head suddenly light. He let the paper fall from his hands and watched it flutter to the floor. The air moved and took it where it would. He thought of the months spent preparing, the books with their pages worn thin, the problems worked over until his fingers ached, and now, at the end of it all, a number on a screen telling him the door was closed. Not even with a bang. Just a quiet shutting. A number that meant something and nothing all at once.

In the morning, the sun would rise. The faucet would drip. He would wake and go about his life, and the world would not change for him. But tonight, he sat in the quiet of the room, listening to the slow tick of time and the hush of things passing beyond his reach.

Amen life goes on no matter what
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