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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
Inequalities
sqing   2
N 26 minutes ago by alexheinis
Let $ a,b,c $ be real numbers such that $ a^2+b^2+c^2=1. $ Prove that$$ |a-b|+|b-2c|+|c-3a|\leq 5$$$$|a-2b|+|b-3c|+|c-4a|\leq \sqrt{42}$$$$ |a-b|+|b-\frac{11}{10}c|+|c-a|\leq \frac{29}{10}$$
2 replies
sqing
Today at 5:05 AM
alexheinis
26 minutes ago
Two very hard parallel
jayme   5
N an hour ago by jayme
Source: own inspired by EGMO
Dear Mathlinkers,

1. ABC a triangle
2. D, E two point on the segment BC so that BD = DE= EC
3. M, N the midpoint of ED, AE
4. H the orthocenter of the acutangle triangle ADE
5. 1, 2 the circumcircle of the triangle DHM, EHN
6. P, Q the second point of intersection of 1 and BM, 2 and CN
7. U, V the second points of intersection of 2 and MN, PQ.

Prove : UV is parallel to PM.

Sincerely
Jean-Louis
5 replies
jayme
Yesterday at 12:46 PM
jayme
an hour ago
Number theory
XAN4   1
N an hour ago by NTstrucker
Source: own
Prove that there exists infinitely many positive integers $x,y,z$ such that $x,y,z\ne1$ and $x^x\cdot y^y=z^z$.
1 reply
XAN4
Apr 20, 2025
NTstrucker
an hour ago
R+ FE with arbitrary constant
CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid   25
N 2 hours ago by DeathIsAwe
Source: APMO 2023/4
Let $c>0$ be a given positive real and $\mathbb{R}_{>0}$ be the set of all positive reals. Find all functions $f \colon \mathbb{R}_{>0} \to \mathbb{R}_{>0}$ such that \[f((c+1)x+f(y))=f(x+2y)+2cx \quad \textrm{for all } x,y \in \mathbb{R}_{>0}.\]
25 replies
CyclicISLscelesTrapezoid
Jul 5, 2023
DeathIsAwe
2 hours ago
Challenging Optimization Problem
Shiyul   4
N 2 hours ago by vanstraelen
Let $xyz = 1$. Find the minimum and maximum values of $\frac{1}{1 + x + xy}$ + $\frac{1}{1 + y + yz}$ + $\frac{1}{1 + z + zx}$

Can anyone give me a hint? I got that either the minimum or maximum was 1, but I'm sure if I'm correct.
4 replies
Shiyul
Yesterday at 8:20 PM
vanstraelen
2 hours ago
Geometry Angle Chasing
Sid-darth-vater   1
N 2 hours ago by vanstraelen
Is there a way to do this without drawing obscure auxiliary lines? (the auxiliary lines might not be obscure I might just be calling them obscure)

For example I tried rotating triangle MBC 80 degrees around point C (so the BC line segment would now lie on segment AC) but I couldn't get any results. Any help would be appreciated!
1 reply
Sid-darth-vater
Yesterday at 11:50 PM
vanstraelen
2 hours ago
Combo with cyclic sums
oVlad   1
N 2 hours ago by ja.
Source: Romania EGMO TST 2017 Day 1 P4
In $p{}$ of the vertices of the regular polygon $A_0A_1\ldots A_{2016}$ we write the number $1{}$ and in the remaining ones we write the number $-1.{}$ Let $x_i{}$ be the number written on the vertex $A_i{}.$ A vertex is good if \[x_i+x_{i+1}+\cdots+x_j>0\quad\text{and}\quad x_i+x_{i-1}+\cdots+x_k>0,\]for any integers $j{}$ and $k{}$ such that $k\leqslant i\leqslant j.$ Note that the indices are taken modulo $2017.$ Determine the greatest possible value of $p{}$ such that, regardless of numbering, there always exists a good vertex.
1 reply
oVlad
Yesterday at 1:41 PM
ja.
2 hours ago
Stronger inequality than an old result
KhuongTrang   20
N 3 hours ago by KhuongTrang
Source: own, inspired
Problem. Find the best constant $k$ satisfying $$(ab+bc+ca)\left[\frac{1}{(a+b)^{2}}+\frac{1}{(b+c)^{2}}+\frac{1}{(c+a)^{2}}\right]\ge \frac{9}{4}+k\cdot\frac{a(a-b)(a-c)+b(b-a)(b-c)+c(c-a)(c-b)}{(a+b+c)^{3}}$$holds for all $a,b,c\ge 0: ab+bc+ca>0.$
20 replies
KhuongTrang
Aug 1, 2024
KhuongTrang
3 hours ago
Incircle of a triangle is tangent to (ABC)
amar_04   11
N 3 hours ago by Nari_Tom
Source: XVII Sharygin Correspondence Round P18
Let $ABC$ be a scalene triangle, $AM$ be the median through $A$, and $\omega$ be the incircle. Let $\omega$ touch $BC$ at point $T$ and segment $AT$ meet $\omega$ for the second time at point $S$. Let $\delta$ be the triangle formed by lines $AM$ and $BC$ and the tangent to $\omega$ at $S$. Prove that the incircle of triangle $\delta$ is tangent to the circumcircle of triangle $ABC$.
11 replies
amar_04
Mar 2, 2021
Nari_Tom
3 hours ago
Inspired by hlminh
sqing   1
N 3 hours ago by sqing
Source: Own
Let $ a,b,c $ be real numbers such that $ a^2+b^2+c^2=1. $ Prove that$$ |a-kb|+|kb-c|+|c-a|\leq 2\sqrt {k^2+1}$$Where $ k\geq 1.$
$$ |a-kb|+|kb-c|+|c-a|\leq 2\sqrt {2}$$Where $0< k\leq 1.$
1 reply
sqing
4 hours ago
sqing
3 hours ago
Inequality with n-gon sides
mihaig   3
N 3 hours ago by mihaig
Source: VL
If $a_1,a_2,\ldots, a_n~(n\geq3)$ are are the lengths of the sides of a $n-$gon such that
$$\sum_{i=1}^{n}{a_i}=1,$$then
$$(n-2)\left[\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\frac{a_i^2}{(1-a_i)^2}}-\frac n{(n-1)^2}\right]\geq(2n-1)\left(\sum_{i=1}^{n}{\frac{a_i}{1-a_i}}-\frac n{n-1}\right)^2.$$
When do we have equality?

(V. Cîrtoaje and L. Giugiuc, 2021)
3 replies
mihaig
Feb 25, 2022
mihaig
3 hours ago
Advanced topics in Inequalities
va2010   23
N 3 hours ago by Novmath
So a while ago, I compiled some tricks on inequalities. You are welcome to post solutions below!
23 replies
va2010
Mar 7, 2015
Novmath
3 hours ago
JBMO TST Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022 P3
Motion   7
N 3 hours ago by cafer2861
Source: JBMO TST Bosnia and Herzegovina 2022
Let $ABC$ be an acute triangle. Tangents on the circumscribed circle of triangle $ABC$ at points $B$ and $C$ intersect at point $T$. Let $D$ and $E$ be a foot of the altitudes from $T$ onto $AB$ and $AC$ and let $M$ be the midpoint of $BC$. Prove:
A) Prove that $M$ is the orthocenter of the triangle $ADE$.
B) Prove that $TM$ cuts $DE$ in half.
7 replies
Motion
May 21, 2022
cafer2861
3 hours ago
Radical Axes and circles
mathprodigy2011   4
N 4 hours ago by spiderman0
Can someone explain how to do this purely geometrically?
4 replies
mathprodigy2011
Today at 1:58 AM
spiderman0
4 hours ago
Rubik's cube problem
ilikejam   20
N Mar 30, 2025 by jasperE3
If I have a solved Rubik's cube, and I make a finite sequence of (legal) moves repeatedly, prove that I will eventually resolve the puzzle.

(this wording is kinda goofy but i hope its sorta intuitive)
20 replies
ilikejam
Mar 28, 2025
jasperE3
Mar 30, 2025
Rubik's cube problem
G H J
G H BBookmark kLocked kLocked NReply
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ilikejam
34 posts
#1
Y by
If I have a solved Rubik's cube, and I make a finite sequence of (legal) moves repeatedly, prove that I will eventually resolve the puzzle.

(this wording is kinda goofy but i hope its sorta intuitive)
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jkim0656
934 posts
#2
Y by
if u say "eventually," doesn't that mean an infinite number of moves?
I mean all rubik's cubes can be solved from any position in 20 moves, so with luck and infinite time you will get those 20 or less moves all correct.
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aidan0626
1855 posts
#3
Y by
oh i've thought about this before
imagine all possible rubik's cube positions as vertices, and put them on a directed graph, with an edge from one position to another if the sequence turns the first position into the second
note that every vertex has an indegree of 1 and outdegree of 1
now assume you can't resolve the puzzle, that means you get stuck in a cycle not containing the original position
but to get into such a cycle without the original position, there must be a vertex with an indegree greater than 1 (not sure how to rigorously show this, but inuitively makes sense), which is a contradiction
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kred9
1021 posts
#4
Y by
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.
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jkim0656
934 posts
#5
Y by
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

dang well said
that's smart
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jasperE3
11234 posts
#6
Y by
Theorem 4.2.2 provides an upper limit with only face turns (standard HTM) of $1260$ moves.
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fruitmonster97
2478 posts
#7
Y by
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

I must be missing something, but what if(theoretically) every position except the solved state is in a loop? Yes, the first unsolved position will repeat, but that yields no insight on why the solved face should repeat?
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Coolmanppap3
1 post
#8
Y by
fruitmonster97 wrote:
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

I must be missing something, but what if(theoretically) every position except the solved state is in a loop? Yes, the first unsolved position will repeat, but that yields no insight on why the solved face should repeat?

In theory, that solution would take a long time, but it will happen, right? Imagine it like a circle. Every time you bend the circle to make another, the start still remains, even though there is a detour. In a sense, it would loop back, after many loops. (I have no idea btw)
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greenturtle3141
3547 posts
#9
Y by
The generalization of this is phrased in terms of group theory: "in a finite group, every element has a finite order". Here the group is the permutations you can make on a rubiks cube through legal moves. the order of a certain combination of moves is how many times it needs to be repeated to go back to the "nothing happened" outcome (called the "group identity").
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mpcnotnpc
53 posts
#10
Y by
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

Wait is this true? This only implies that some state might repeat, doesn't mean that the initial state will.
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vincentwant
1324 posts
#11
Y by
mpcnotnpc wrote:
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

Wait is this true? This only implies that some state might repeat, doesn't mean that the initial state will.

correct me if im wrong but if its not the initial state then its not a group (im rusty at group theory tho so)
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joeym2011
493 posts
#12
Y by
Redacted, misinterpreted problem
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by joeym2011, Mar 28, 2025, 11:18 PM
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kred9
1021 posts
#13
Y by
fruitmonster97 wrote:
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

I must be missing something, but what if(theoretically) every position except the solved state is in a loop? Yes, the first unsolved position will repeat, but that yields no insight on why the solved face should repeat?
mpcnotnpc wrote:
kred9 wrote:
By the Pigeonhole Principle, there must be some state of the cube that is achieved twice after applying this algorithm arbitrarily many times. Therefore, repeating the algorithm some number of times brings a state back to itself, and hence it will bring the solved state back to itself.

Wait is this true? This only implies that some state might repeat, doesn't mean that the initial state will.

I'll address these two concerns with my solution. Write the algorithm as $g$. Then suppose $g^a$ and $g^b$ correspond to the same state (some distinct values of $a$ and $b$ must satisfy this by PHP). Therefore, applying the algorithm $b-a$ times to a state returns that state back to itself. This is true no matter what state we are currently at, since every piece is unique on the cube. This means that after $b-a$ algorithms at the beginning, we will return to the solved state.
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ilikejam
34 posts
#14
Y by
my solution was that every square (the small ones, there are 9 on each side) moves to a certain position, and the square that was in that position moves to a new one, etc. this will eventually become a cycle, and even though there may be more than one such cycle, given enough repetitions, all the cycles will eventually loop back to the starting, and thus solved, state.
This post has been edited 1 time. Last edited by ilikejam, Mar 28, 2025, 11:46 PM
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ilikejam
34 posts
#15
Y by
jkim0656 wrote:
if u say "eventually," doesn't that mean an infinite number of moves?
I mean all rubik's cubes can be solved from any position in 20 moves, so with luck and infinite time you will get those 20 or less moves all correct.

no i mean i have a certain sequence of moves, maybe like ULU that i repeat until it solves itself
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mpcnotnpc
53 posts
#16
Y by
oop im not familiar with rubik's cube rules, but "legal" moves don't incorporate like turning a side back and forth right; cuz that's like a finite sequence?
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jasperE3
11234 posts
#17
Y by
If you turn a side back and forth by $90^\circ$ and then $-90^\circ$ then trivially the puzzle gets resolved after applying this finite sequence of legal moves.
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wuwang2002
1206 posts
#18
Y by
jasperE3 wrote:
Theorem 4.2.2 provides an upper limit with only face turns (standard HTM) of $1260$ moves.

when i was small i counted all 1260 moves and surprisingly didn’t mess up (so much dedication)
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mpcnotnpc
53 posts
#19 • 1 Y
Y by fAaAtDoOoG
jasperE3 wrote:
If you turn a side back and forth by $90^\circ$ and then $-90^\circ$ then trivially the puzzle gets resolved after applying this finite sequence of legal moves.

:skull: mb
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ilikejam
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#20
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some clarifications:
mpcnotnpc wrote:
oop im not familiar with rubik's cube rules, but "legal" moves don't incorporate like turning a side back and forth right; cuz that's like a finite sequence?

no i mean like no breaking the cube, only twisting the sides, back and forth is ok.
jasperE3 wrote:
If you turn a side back and forth by $90^\circ$ and then $-90^\circ$ then trivially the puzzle gets resolved after applying this finite sequence of legal moves.

yes, however the problem is to prove that every sequence eventually solves the cube, not to find just one.
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jasperE3
11234 posts
#21
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I was responding to #16 not the original post.
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