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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.

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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
max power of 2 that divides \lceil(1+\sqrt{3})^{2n}\rceil for pos. integer n
parmenides51   2
N an hour ago by Inspector_Maygray
Source: Gulf Mathematical Olympiad GMO 2017 p4
1 - Prove that $55 < (1+\sqrt{3})^4 < 56$ .

2 - Find the largest power of $2$ that divides $\lceil(1+\sqrt{3})^{2n}\rceil$ for the positive integer $n$
2 replies
parmenides51
Aug 23, 2019
Inspector_Maygray
an hour ago
Points in general position
AshAuktober   1
N an hour ago by Rdgm
Source: 2025 Nepal ptst p1 of 4
Shining tells Prajit a positive integer $n \ge 2025$. Prajit then tries to place n points such that no four points are concyclic and no $3$ points are collinear in Euclidean plane, such that Shining cannot find a group of three points such that their circumcircle contains none of the other remaining points. Is he always able to do so?

(Prajit Adhikari, Nepal and Shining Sun, USA)
1 reply
AshAuktober
Yesterday at 2:15 PM
Rdgm
an hour ago
GMO 2017 #1
m2121   3
N an hour ago by Inspector_Maygray
Source: GMO 2017
1- Find a pair $(m,n)$ of positive integers such that $K = |2^m-3^n|$ in all of this cases :

$a) K=5$
$b) K=11$
$c) K=19$

2-Is there a pair $(m,n)$ of positive integers such that : $$|2^m-3^n| = 2017$$3-Every prime number less than $41$ can be represented in the form $|2^m-3^n|$ by taking an Appropriate pair $(m,n)$
of positive integers. Prove that the number $41$ cannot be represented in the form $|2^m-3^n|$ where $m$ and $n$ are positive integers

4-Note that $2^5+3^2=41$ . The number $53$ is the least prime number that cannot be represented as a sum or an difference of a power of $2$ and a power of $3$ . Prove that the number $53$ cannot be represented in any of the forms $2^m-3^n$ , $3^n-2^m$ , $2^m-3^n$ where $m$ and $n$ are positive integers
3 replies
m2121
Sep 28, 2017
Inspector_Maygray
an hour ago
2^a + 3^b + 1 = 6^c
togrulhamidli2011   0
an hour ago
Find all positive integers (a, b, c) such that:

\[
2^a + 3^b + 1 = 6^c
\]
0 replies
togrulhamidli2011
an hour ago
0 replies
Inequality stroke
giangtruong13   0
an hour ago
Let $a,b,c$ be real positive numbers such that: $a+b+c=abc-2$. Prove that $$\sum \frac{1}{\sqrt{ab}} \leq \frac{3}{2} $$
0 replies
+1 w
giangtruong13
an hour ago
0 replies
Help to prove an inequality
JK1603JK   2
N an hour ago by whwlqkd
Source: unknown
If a,b,c\ge 0: ab+bc+ca=1 then prove \frac{a\left(b+c+2\right)}{bc+2a}+\frac{b\left(c+a+2\right)}{ca+2b}+\frac{c\left(a+b+2\right)}{ab+2c}\ge 3
* Please help me convert it to latex form. Thank you.
2 replies
JK1603JK
2 hours ago
whwlqkd
an hour ago
Perfect Squares, Infinite Integers and Integers
steven_zhang123   0
2 hours ago
Source: China TST 2001 Quiz 5 P1
For which integer \( h \), are there infinitely many positive integers \( n \) such that \( \lfloor \sqrt{h^2 + 1} \cdot n \rfloor \) is a perfect square? (Here \( \lfloor x \rfloor \) denotes the integer part of the real number \( x \)?
0 replies
1 viewing
steven_zhang123
2 hours ago
0 replies
f(f(x)+y)+f(x+y)=2x+2f(y)
parmenides51   3
N 2 hours ago by Burmf
Source: 2015 AGCN Competition p1 by bobthesmartypants https://artofproblemsolving.com/community/c5h1128876p5232794
Find all functions $f:\mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}\to \mathbb{R}_{\ge 0}$ satisfying$$f(f(x)+y)+f(x+y)=2x+2f(y)$$
3 replies
parmenides51
Dec 5, 2023
Burmf
2 hours ago
2^a + 3^b + 5^c = n!
togrulhamidli2011   2
N 2 hours ago by togrulhamidli2011
\[
\text{Find all non-negative integers } (a, b, c, n) \text{ such that}
\]\[
2^a + 3^b + 5^c = n!
\]
2 replies
togrulhamidli2011
2 hours ago
togrulhamidli2011
2 hours ago
[ELMO1] System of Functional Equations
v_Enhance   27
N 2 hours ago by NicoN9
Source: ELMO 2014, Problem 1, by Evan Chen
Find all triples $(f,g,h)$ of injective functions from the set of real numbers to itself satisfying
\begin{align*}
  f(x+f(y)) &= g(x) + h(y) \\
  g(x+g(y)) &= h(x) + f(y) \\
  h(x+h(y)) &= f(x) + g(y) 
\end{align*}
for all real numbers $x$ and $y$. (We say a function $F$ is injective if $F(a)\neq F(b)$ for any distinct real numbers $a$ and $b$.)

Proposed by Evan Chen
27 replies
v_Enhance
Jun 30, 2014
NicoN9
2 hours ago
Concavity of a function
pii-oner   0
5 hours ago
Hi everyone,

I am studying the concavity of the function

\[
f(x) = \sqrt{1 - x^a}, \quad a \geq 0
\]
on the interval \( x \in [0,1] \).

I computed the second derivative and found that for \( a \geq 1 \), the function appears to be concave. However, I am uncertain about the behavior at the endpoints.

Does anyone have insights on confirming concavity rigorously for \( a \geq 1 \) and understanding the behavior at the endpoints? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
0 replies
pii-oner
5 hours ago
0 replies
Putnam 2017 B3
goveganddomath   34
N Today at 4:16 AM by OronSH
Source: Putnam
Suppose that $$f(x) = \sum_{i=0}^\infty c_ix^i$$is a power series for which each coefficient $c_i$ is $0$ or $1$. Show that if $f(2/3) = 3/2$, then $f(1/2)$ must be irrational.
34 replies
goveganddomath
Dec 3, 2017
OronSH
Today at 4:16 AM
3-dimensional matrix system
loup blanc   1
N Today at 3:33 AM by alexheinis
Let $A=\begin{pmatrix}1&1&0\\0&1&1\\0&0&1\end{pmatrix}$.
i) Find the matrices $B\in M_3(\mathbb{R})$ s.t. $A^TA=B^TB,AA^T=BB^T$.
EDIT. ii) Show that each solution of i) is in $M_3(K)$, where $K=\mathbb{Q}[\cos(\dfrac{2}{3}\arctan(3\sqrt{3}))]$.
iii) Solve i) when $B\in M_3(\mathbb{C})$.
EDIT. In iii) we again consider the transpose of $B$ and not its conjugate transpose.
1 reply
loup blanc
Yesterday at 1:04 PM
alexheinis
Today at 3:33 AM
Square of a rational matrix of dimension 2
loup blanc   9
N Today at 1:28 AM by ysharifi
The following exercise was posted -two months ago- on the Website StackExchange; cf.
https://math.stackexchange.com/questions/5006488/image-of-the-squaring-function-on-mathcalm-2-mathbbq
There was no solution on Stack.

-Statement of the exercise-
We consider the matrix function $f:X\in M_2(\mathbb{Q})\mapsto X^2\in M_2(\mathbb{Q})$.
Find the image of $f$.
In other words, give a method to decide whether a given matrix has or does not have at least a square root
in $M_2(\mathbb{Q})$; if the answer is yes, then give a method to calculate at least one of its roots.
9 replies
loup blanc
Feb 17, 2025
ysharifi
Today at 1:28 AM
3-dimensional matrix system
loup blanc   1
N Today at 3:33 AM by alexheinis
Let $A=\begin{pmatrix}1&1&0\\0&1&1\\0&0&1\end{pmatrix}$.
i) Find the matrices $B\in M_3(\mathbb{R})$ s.t. $A^TA=B^TB,AA^T=BB^T$.
EDIT. ii) Show that each solution of i) is in $M_3(K)$, where $K=\mathbb{Q}[\cos(\dfrac{2}{3}\arctan(3\sqrt{3}))]$.
iii) Solve i) when $B\in M_3(\mathbb{C})$.
EDIT. In iii) we again consider the transpose of $B$ and not its conjugate transpose.
1 reply
loup blanc
Yesterday at 1:04 PM
alexheinis
Today at 3:33 AM
3-dimensional matrix system
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loup blanc
3557 posts
#1
Y by
Let $A=\begin{pmatrix}1&1&0\\0&1&1\\0&0&1\end{pmatrix}$.
i) Find the matrices $B\in M_3(\mathbb{R})$ s.t. $A^TA=B^TB,AA^T=BB^T$.
EDIT. ii) Show that each solution of i) is in $M_3(K)$, where $K=\mathbb{Q}[\cos(\dfrac{2}{3}\arctan(3\sqrt{3}))]$.
iii) Solve i) when $B\in M_3(\mathbb{C})$.
EDIT. In iii) we again consider the transpose of $B$ and not its conjugate transpose.
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by loup blanc, Yesterday at 11:05 PM
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alexheinis
10470 posts
#2
Y by
a) Since $A$ is invertible we can write $B=CA$ for some $C$. Then $A^TA=B^TB\iff A^TA=A^TC^TCA\iff C^TC=I$ hence $C$ is an orthogonal matrix.
Also $AA^T=BB^T\iff AA^T=CAA^TC^T\iff (AA^T)C=C(AA^T)$.
Now $\Phi:=AA^T$ has distinct eigenvalues which one can easily check.
Hence we have an ONB $p,q,r$ of eigenvectors and the spaces $L(p),P(q),L(r)$ are invariant under $C$. Since $C$ is orthogonal we have $C(p)=\pm p, C(q)=\pm q,C(r)=\pm r$ and we find 8 solutions.
I will try later to write them down explicitly, note that $C=kI+l\Phi+m\Phi^2$ for some constants $k,l,m$.
Note that $C^2=I$ and that $C=\pm I$ are obvious solutions.

A slight update on how to continue: we have $\Phi^3=5\Phi^2-6\Phi+I$ and using this one can express $C^2$ on the basis $I,\Phi,\Phi^2$. Then $C^2=I$ rewrites as $k^2+5m^2+2lm=1,2kl=12lm+29m^2, l^2+2km+10lm+19m^2=0$.

A different way is to use $Cp=(k+l\lambda+m\lambda^2)p$ where $\lambda$ is the eigenvalue corresponding to $p$.
Then $k+l\lambda+m\lambda^2=\pm 1, k+l\mu+m\mu^2=\pm 1, k+l\nu+m\nu^2=\pm 1$. For each choice of signs we get one solution $(k,l,m)$.
This post has been edited 3 times. Last edited by alexheinis, an hour ago
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