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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:
[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.
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0 replies
jlacosta
Mar 2, 2025
0 replies
Complex numbers should be easy
RenheMiResembleRice   1
N 39 minutes ago by GreekIdiot
Source: Wenjing Kong
I cant do the last part. :(
1 reply
RenheMiResembleRice
Yesterday at 8:32 AM
GreekIdiot
39 minutes ago
Integer FE
GreekIdiot   0
44 minutes ago
Let $\mathbb{N}$ denote the set of positive integers
Find all $f: \mathbb{N} \rightarrow \mathbb{N}$ such that for all $a,b \in \mathbb{N}$ it holds that $f(ab+f(b-1))|bf(a+b)f(3b-2+a)$
0 replies
GreekIdiot
44 minutes ago
0 replies
Mathhhhh
mathbetter   12
N an hour ago by Amkan2022
Three turtles are crawling along a straight road heading in the same
direction. "Two other turtles are behind me," says the first turtle. "One turtle is
behind me and one other is ahead," says the second. "Two turtles are ahead of me
and one other is behind," says the third turtle. How can this be possible?
12 replies
mathbetter
Mar 20, 2025
Amkan2022
an hour ago
Find interger root
Zuyong   2
N an hour ago by WallyWalrus
Source: ?
Find $(k,m)\in \mathbb{Z}$ satisfying $$9 k^4 + 30 k^3 + 44 k^2 m + 105 k^2 + 20 k m - 120 k + 36 m^2 + 80 m - 240=0$$
2 replies
Zuyong
Oct 24, 2024
WallyWalrus
an hour ago
k A USAMO Dream - AIME II result
shiningsunnyday   29
N May 7, 2017 by reaganchoi
What is a dream?

[quote="Dictionary"]
dream |drēm|
noun
a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep: I had a recurrent dream about falling from great heights.
• [ in sing. ] a state of mind in which someone is or seems to be unaware of their immediate surroundings: he had been walking around in a dream all day.
• a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal: I fulfilled a childhood dream when I became champion | the girl of my dreams | [ as modifier ] : they'd found their dream home.
• an unrealistic or self-deluding fantasy: maybe he could get a job and earn some money—but he knew this was just a dream.
• a person or thing perceived as wonderful or perfect: her new man's an absolute dream | it was a dream of a backhand | she's a couturier's dream.
[/quote]

A dream is a sensation that is conjured up in your mind one night. It's one that is given to you almost as if by accident. Some may dismiss it, and most of the times, it's forgotten the morning after.

Alternatively, it's an obligation, a responsibility - a purpose that is given to you that only you can fulfill. It's not something one should take for granted. It's something for which you would squeeze out every, single, bit of your mind and body in order to fulfill. It gives life purpose, for a man without a goal is like a boat without a destination.

It also requires sacrifice - it involves doing deliberately what others think you can't - what others may dismiss as "in your dreams." It's having the courage to swim against the current, to look like the round ball in the square hole.

And ever since this dream visited me a bit more than 2 years ago, back when I was just an above average math student - ignorant, clueless, I've felt myself on a mission to pursue it, to shape every action in my life around my desire to be the best I can be. Without this dream, I would never be where I am.

God bless AoPS and everyone who believed in me. It still doesn't feel real as I'm saying this, but:
\[129 + 12 \cdot 10 = 249 \Rightarrow \text{USAMO!}\]
29 replies
shiningsunnyday
Mar 23, 2017
reaganchoi
May 7, 2017
k USAMdarn results and AP talk
shiningsunnyday   3
N May 5, 2017 by First
...tied a certain Michael last year on USAMO :o :P

So yea, my hours flailing around on 2 and 5 didn't get me anything, but I guess I'll live with a 14. :D I guess the HM will have to wait till next year. :P

This week was a soul-drainer - AP Chem Monday, AP Physics Tuesday, APUSH and AP CSP today. Apart from stats next Thurs, I'm pretty much done with life as all my AP classes have evaporated into free periods.

So ISEF schedule also came out, which is really exciting since we'll have a trip to Universal Studios in LA! I'm mostly hoping to meet cool people and learn some cool ideas. ...Of course this also means counting tomorrow CJ and I will have only 7 full days to work on our project.

Apart from that, I've been planning my trip this summer to Ross - hoping to stop by bay area and LA to visit my mom and aunt (before Ross) and going to Connecticut and Massachusetts (after Ross) to visit colleges. If anyone wanna meet up hit me up on FB.

Peace.
3 replies
shiningsunnyday
May 5, 2017
First
May 5, 2017
k USAMO Day 2
shiningsunnyday   6
N Apr 22, 2017 by agbdmrbirdyface
7/0-1/0

I guess my MOP dream will forever remain a dream...

First spent a solid 10 mins crying about the subject distribution. Then had P4 solved in exactly one hour and written up my induction solution in the next 30 mins. Then spent rest of time (~2.5 hours) flailing around and making incorrect claims on 5 and 6 so most likely 7/0/0.

That puts me at a total of 14-16. I really hope I can get a point or two from P2 or maybe P5 to give me a bit of breathing room above the massive tie that'll probably occur at 14.

Even though I know a lot of factors don't work your way, it still would've been nice if all the olympiad geo configs/lemmas I studied didn't get learned for nothing...

I guess I'll just be thankful for making it to this position this year in the first place?
6 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 21, 2017
agbdmrbirdyface
Apr 22, 2017
k USAMO Day 1
shiningsunnyday   6
N Apr 20, 2017 by champion999
7/0-2/0

5-minute-solved P1 (tried a few cases and gg) and had it written up in the first 10 mins, then spent the next ~45 mins trying to draw a legit diagram for P3 (then got scared after drawing it, which I kind of regret since in reality it was quite doable). Spent rest of time on the cancer combo - making a lot of random observations and insights and induction stuff and whatnot but can't finish.

If P4 is doable C or A and P5 geo, then MOP hope still alive. If P4 is G then I guess I'll settle for 14-16.

What I'm really mad at is after I got home at around 2 AM, I was forced up a couple of hours later for school (apparently if I miss another class I can't go to ISEF cause attendance issues), so right now I'm sitting in my classes and walking around looking dead. Hopefully I can get ~3 hours of sleep time before the battle tonight.

Whatever it is, I'm going all-out tonight - will buy 3 red bulls to make sure by the end of it I'll have squeezed out every drop of juice I had left to give. Let this be the best experience of my life. :)

Will write full reflection afterwards.
6 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 20, 2017
champion999
Apr 20, 2017
k USAMO tomorrow - how to activate beast mode
shiningsunnyday   7
N Apr 19, 2017 by dragojeff
Good luck to everyone!

A battle-tested trick to my JMO/AMO blog readers to activate beast mode tomorrow:

[quote="Casual conversation with crush"]
you: let's make a bet
you: if i get into MOP, u must agree to go on a date with me
crush: ok fine *sounds like a good bet*. what if u don't?
you: ...then i'll agree to go on a date with u
[/quote]

Will make her laugh for sure - else money back guaranteed. There's also nothing to lose if you don't get it. If you do, jackpot!

EDIT: JUST REALIZED USAMO IS TOMORROW.

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HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
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7 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 18, 2017
dragojeff
Apr 19, 2017
k Some updates - last day as a 16 year old, USAMO
shiningsunnyday   5
N Apr 15, 2017 by agbdmrbirdyface
What's funny is that USAMO is next week - my proctor is still turning over in her head the fact she has agreed to sacrifice two nights of sleep to watch a fat nerd furiously scribbling away on paper for 9 hours, a show you can't miss.

I've also kinda stopped sleeping these days - I'm about midway adjusting to pacific time (I typically sleep from after dinner to 10 PM before doing homework/math the rest of the night). The calm of the ungodly hours of the night has returned from last semester - it's very peaceful and beautiful... until the hilarious times when I have to leave my hotel room (did I mention this before?) to get some food/caffeine at the store at 3 AM and the girl at the hotel front desk gives me a lunatic look every time I pass. :P

Quite frankly, I'm not too concerned with the result - if I get my butt swept, I'll laugh and learn to be thankful for making it here in the first place, and move on. If I get two problems, I'll be satisfied and move on. If I get MOP, I'll be thrilled and start researching into what clothes I should buy to attract the girls at CMU. At the end of the day, it's the joy of exploring mathematical ideas that's important - everything else (scores, honors, technicalities) serve their purposes but really are just distractions.

As I reflect, I've come quite a long way since last year.

Not just in accomplishments - but in terms of how I think and deal with situations. Last year, I was really upset at how static everything is at my school (everyone with fixed mindsets, repeating the same tasks everyday, etc.). This year, I realized I should just be thankful of USAMO + ISEF, opportunities I sought out for me to be myself and connect with like-minded peers. What I saw as extremely stressful and negative last year are more funny and positive in nature this year - and I've learned to let challenges, opposition, etc. things that I disagree with, roll off of me so I can focus on developing myself to be who I want to be - which is what's truly important. At school, I'm now more appreciative of the more accepting people - who I now feel very comfortable with. I'm also more comfortable with haters/judgers - after all, I can't thank them enough; they not only give me more insight into the world but also they've made me so much stronger over the past year.

I think the prevailing impressions of those who hear about me from others are for the most part misguided - it's shocking how deeply-rooted stereotypes is in our society. Those who get to know me, on the other hand, actually (I think) see me as genuine and perhaps as interesting. One of my closest friends here, for example, likes doing work with me late after school in the library. As we're both kind of misfits, I like to play aloud my Kpop and he likes to play aloud his communist songs while working and we both don't judge - it's nice having these peers.

For another, I met the USAMO girl yesterday who's really nice. Hoping to hang out with her, esp. after ISEF and everything.

Ok time to math now.
5 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 13, 2017
agbdmrbirdyface
Apr 15, 2017
k Best day of my life
shiningsunnyday   12
N Apr 12, 2017 by adik7
One of this year's four international USAMO qualifiers just transferred to my school, and she's a girl!

Yay I'll get to meet her tomorrow and talk to our contest coordinator tomorrow about USAMO.

This might be the biggest shock I've received this year.

So shocking in fact, I need to ask a favor for my contribs - if I faint (which I'm about to) and never wake up, please carry on this blog and the MOP dream for me.

It was a pleasure writing for all of you gu-
12 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 11, 2017
adik7
Apr 12, 2017
k Spring hormones + Summer 2017 + USAMO prep
shiningsunnyday   11
N Apr 11, 2017 by PiDude314
The fact I haven't hugged a girl for 5 years now has really taken a toll on my hormones. Increasingly so every year around spring, my hormones begin bubbling, pushing against the lid that I put into place the summer before freshman year as part of a contract I made with myself, and every year, the situation is getting more desperate.

Last year, I released some of my feelings through my post "I've Finally Done It" (still one of my most popular posts!?). During spring break last year, which I spent by myself in a hotel room in a random resort 30 miles out of Shanghai, I spent every night watching or reading some anime or love stories online just to take my mind off math.

Just today, I caught myself tickling my heart watching videos like this.

Now, as my 17th birthday is right around the corner, I'm beginning to understand a bit why it is that during this time period specifically I have these sorts of feelings. Perhaps it's just the focus vacuum that occurs after math competition season - as the APs come around and teachers are wrapping up teaching the course syllabus and students are given more freedom to yolo/date/make-mistakes. It might also be the senioritis that has overtaken my school - with seniors ditching classes, dating, not paying attention in class, etc. It's hard not being sucked up in your surroundings.

My own dating history has been far from worthy of mention, the closest I got to a girl being a hug (and this was in 6th grade). I'm not sure what kind of toll 5 years of biding my hormones will take on me next year when I come out of my cage. I'm also concerned with my social skills with girls (which is about 5 years premature) - in school, I've always avoided girls as much as I can, at most answering a homework question in a tactful way. In addition, the girls at school seem to hold a bit of a prejudice against me - after all, they're quite convinced I'm already in a relationship with my math problems.
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This actually brings me to this summer. Ideally, I really wanted to go to SUMaC. With a month in between the start of summer and the program, I could also do a lot of things - learn math, learn something new, get a six-pack, learn to dance, write a book with librian2000, visit colleges, and self-study a guide on how to talk to girls. With a boy-girl ratio of 1:1 at SUMaC, it would also be a nice practical experience for me to exercise my newly-attained theoretical knowledge in the highly esoteric field of boy-girl relationships.

Unfortunately, I got a demoralizing slap in the face with a brutal rejection. :(

Of course, a huge congrats to my brother-in-arms deathllama9 on getting accepted (he was also my back-up dance partner if two girls are bi and I would otherwise end up partner-less). Unfortunately, we'll have to wait a bit longer before I can meet him in real life. :(

Nevertheless, fortunately, Ross is a go for me summer 2017!!! 6 weeks of freedom to play with beautiful mathematical ideas with interesting people definitely sounds nice, esp. after hearing great things about it from High, who attended last year. Although the duration is a tad bit too long (darn three-quarters of summer) and the boy-girl ratio a tad bit too high, I hope I can still gain a lot from the experience?
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On the other hand, USAMO prep is going slightly better - I just completed Yufei Zhao's Cyclic Quads handout and am now working on the problems - it was pretty good, as well as 110 for geo. For alg, I suck so much now I can't close off 105 (had to use hints on some problems), so I kind of rage-quitted and am now just working on some WOOT algebra/number theory problem sets.

I also learned the hard way that taking 5 AP exams is not a good supplement to pursuing extracurricular passions - esp. with the course-work to go along with it. To younger readers - don't do it!

Anyways time to sleep and daydream about my crush now (it's only 10: 30 PM, this is a first...) so I'll have energy tomorrow to fight the world.
11 replies
shiningsunnyday
Apr 8, 2017
PiDude314
Apr 11, 2017
k Olympiad struggles
shiningsunnyday   6
N Mar 30, 2017 by zephyrcrush78
Before that, let me quickly address my new blog title. I've been surprisingly calm the past few days - I've envisioned myself finally achieving my USAMO dream so many times in my head that when it finally happened I had a hard time differentiating it from my imagination. At first, I strongly considered leaving the title as it is (and will probably change it back to "A USAMO Dream" after USAMO). I think more than anything, I'm still the exact same person as before the AIME - the same boy chasing his dream, and I hope my blog forever portrays me as that. Nevertheless, one of my greatest fears is that of complacency - which is why I changed my title to A MOP Dream. "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."

Over the past few days of spring break, I've noticed a general trend of my thought process from before to after attempting an olympiad problem.

[quote="My thoughts"]
Me: *watching this* :love:
Me: *closes window* ok oops break's over back to math
Me: er ok what problem should I do hm let me try 2013 AMO 1, hoping for insta-solve cause I'm quite confident in my geo 1/4 skills
Me: *draws diagram* *messes up circle with compass - ARGHHH*
Me: RIP *redraws diagram* wth these two points almost coincide this is a trash diagram
Me: *redraws another diagram* *stares at it for 30 mins without any observations*
Me: *realizes I forgot all my geo lemmas*
Me: RAGE QUIT!1!1!
Me: *checks facebook* *checks Skype* *checks YouTube* wait nigahiga's new kpop video out? *click*
*rip*

x20 times (end up attempting like 20 problems and solving none)

*later, remembers I'm super behind on school work and that my job during spring break is to catch up on everything*
*realizes I haven't gotten anything done the whole day"
*rage-stress*
*does homework/procrastinate rest of night*
[/quote]

So apparently 3 months of doing only comp math rendered my previous oly-skills nonexistent?

This is getting ridiculous - right after I changed my blog title and now there's serious question as to whether I can make it out the test not getting swept. USAMO is in 3 weeks and I'm in horrible condition for doing olympiad problems (perhaps burnout after everything that happened...) - any urgent advice!?

Also my aunt is coming back for visiting and attending my grandma's burial tomorrow - and she's bringing with her my WOOT goody box! Maybe the WOOT shirt will activate my inner beast?
6 replies
shiningsunnyday
Mar 28, 2017
zephyrcrush78
Mar 30, 2017
k AIME Narration + Spring break + What now?
shiningsunnyday   9
N Mar 28, 2017 by agbdmrbirdyface
As tomorrow officially starts spring break, I can finally sit down today to reflect a bit. I'm still not fully convinced of what happened this past week - first the best of show at regionals, then the 12 on the AIME II which many say is comparable to last year's II.

First, a brief narration of the AIME.

I can say today was possibly the hardest day of the semester - as I was completely dead in the morning after staying up till 4 AM procrastinating on Facebook and celebrating with friends while listening to Kpop catching up on the 4 overdue projects I needed to submit today (I submitted a grand total of one). According to others I looked like a zombie the whole day, and during chemistry class I caught myself staring into space for half a minute straight. I had planned to talk to 4 teachers, but ended up only talking to one, our ISEF sponsor to check up on our registration process.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extracurricular wise, I don't have any intense regime this spring break, more so to just let my interest drive me.

In preparing for USAMO, I do feel being invited to take the premier math contest of the nation is an incredible honor but at the same time an obligation to try my best, even if I'm not a serious contender for MOP (!?) or whatever, esp. considering those who wish they were in my position but cannot. That's why I feel it would be disrespectful for both myself (and all the hard work I put in) and others if I weren't to try my absolute best. And that is why, I'm planning to change up my circadian cycle entirely after break (that is, sleeping in the afternoon and solving problems every night) since I'll be taking it from 12: 30 AM to 5 AM both days (unfortunately, I'm not as good as Evan Chen). I just hope I can knock out one problem each day. I'm thinking WOOT, PFTB and Lemmas, will be my go-to sources (PFTB more so for interest, just to read and absorb, as opposed to actually solving all the problems).

Unfortunately, I no longer have the time and effort to rage-solve Olympiad problems 5 hours a day to the ungodliest hours of night like last semester, as APs are coming up and my GPA has long sunk miles underwater (it will take every bit of my time during spring break to salvage it).

At the same time, I'll have to do a bit more research on the math awards offered at ISEF, as I really hope CJ and I can come home not empty-handed (we're going to scrap all the applications and just focus on the mathematics), so that'll be incredibly fun. I'll also get to miss this pointless college essay one week getaway workshop that our counselors is forcing all the juniors to attend (and we have to pay for the resorts!).

So a brief schedule of things coming up:
[list]
[*]Present - April 4 - Spring break
[*]April 4 - USAMO qualifier list out; it becomes official!
[*]April 7 - SUMaC decisions out; deathllama9 and my fates determined
[*]April 15 - My birthday
[*]April 19-20 - USAMO
[*]Week of May 1 - 5 AP exams - APUSH, Chem, Physics, CS Principles, Stats
[*]May 14-19 - ISEF in Los Angeles
[*]June 3 - Flying to US to take SAT
[*]Then (hopefully) Ross or SUMaC and college apps! Hoping to do something fun like design an app with a friend at school or help out librian2000 with his AIME geo book.
[/list]
9 replies
shiningsunnyday
Mar 24, 2017
agbdmrbirdyface
Mar 28, 2017
Inspired by Izho 2025
sqing   10
N Mar 20, 2025 by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b\geq 0 $ and $ (a - b)^2 + a + b  \leq 2.$ Prove that
$$ 1 \geq   a^3 +  b^3 - ab\geq -\frac{1}{27}$$
10 replies
sqing
Mar 20, 2025
sqing
Mar 20, 2025
Inspired by Izho 2025
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
Source: Own
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sqing
41172 posts
#1
Y by
Let $ a,b\geq 0 $ and $ (a - b)^2 + a + b  \leq 2.$ Prove that
$$ 1 \geq   a^3 +  b^3 - ab\geq -\frac{1}{27}$$
Z K Y
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lbh_qys
425 posts
#2
Y by
sqing wrote:
Let $ a,b\geq 0 $ and $ (a - b)^2 + a + b  \leq 2.$ Prove that
$$ 1\geq a^3 +  b^3 - ab\geq -\frac{1}{27}$$

According to the AM-GM inequality, for any non-negative real numbers \(a\) and \(b\), the inequality
\[
a^3 + b^3 + \frac{1}{27} \ge ab
\]holds, and the left-hand side is almost indistinguishable from Izho 2025.
Z K Y
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sqing
41172 posts
#3
Y by
Let $ a, b\geq 0 $ and $  (a-b)^2 + a + b \leq 2 $. Prove that
$$-\frac{1}{25}<a^3 + b^3+ a^5+ b^5- ab \leq3$$
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by sqing, Mar 20, 2025, 3:08 AM
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sqing
41172 posts
#4
Y by
Nice.Thank lbh_qys.
Z K Y
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lbh_qys
425 posts
#5
Y by
sqing wrote:
Let $ a, b\geq 0 $ and $  (a-b)^2 + a + b \leq 2 $. Prove that
$$\frac{1}{25}<a^3 + b^3+ a^5+ b^5- ab$$

When \(a = b = 0.3\), \(a^3 + b^3 + a^5 + b^5 - ab \approx -0.03 < 0\); do you mean \(-\frac{1}{25} \)?
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by lbh_qys, Mar 20, 2025, 3:05 AM
Z K Y
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sqing
41172 posts
#6
Y by
Let $ a,b\geq 0 $ and $ (a - b)^2 + a + b  \leq 2.$ Prove that
$$ 2 \geq   a^3 +  b^3 +a^2b^2- ab\geq  \frac{17\sqrt{17}-71}{32}$$
Z K Y
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sqing
41172 posts
#7
Y by
Yeah.Sorry.Thanks.
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lbh_qys
425 posts
#8
Y by
sqing wrote:
Let $ a, b\geq 0 $ . Prove that
$$-\frac{1}{25}<a^3 + b^3+ a^5+ b^5- ab $$

$$a^3 + b^3 + a^5 + b^5 -ab \geq a^3+b^3-ab \geq  -\frac{1}{27} > -\frac{1}{25}$$
maybe $-\frac{1}{32}$
This post has been edited 2 times. Last edited by lbh_qys, Mar 20, 2025, 3:41 AM
Z K Y
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sqing
41172 posts
#9
Y by
very nice.Thank lbh_qys.
Z K Y
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lbh_qys
425 posts
#10
Y by
sqing wrote:
Let $ a, b\geq 0 $ and $  (a-b)^2 + a + b \leq 2 $. Prove that
$$a^3 + b^3+ a^5+ b^5- ab \leq3$$
sqing wrote:
Let $ a,b\geq 0 $ and $ (a - b)^2 + a + b  \leq 2.$ Prove that
$$ 2 \geq   a^3 +  b^3 +a^2b^2- ab$$

When $(a-b)^2 + a + b \leq 2$, then

$$a^5 + b^5 \leq 2$$$$a^2 b^2 \leq 1$$Thus, they can be deduced from \(a^3 + b^3 - ab \leq 1\).
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sqing
41172 posts
#11
Y by
very nice.Thank lbh_qys.
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